Epson Stylus Color 900 User manual

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DOS User's Guide
Installing the Printer Driver for DOS Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Changing the Print Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using the default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Changing the default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Troubleshooting and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Running a printer operation check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Problems and solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ink cartridge problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Cleaning the print heads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Aligning the print head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cleaning the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Transporting the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
International character sets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Characters available with ESC ( ^ command. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4009815
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Copyright © 1998 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION,
Nagano, Japan

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Installing the Printer Driver for DOS Programs
Most DOS software programs include a driver for EPSON
ESC/P 2™ printers,and require you to select the printer name from
a list to install the printer driver. To take advantage of your printer's
advanced built-in scalable fonts and graphics handling, you must
select an appropriate driver.
If your printer is not included in the list, contact your software
manufacturer to obtain updated software.
If the manufacturer does not have an updated printer driver for your
printer, select an alternative printer name from those below, starting
from the top.
When printing black only:
LQ-870/1170
LQ-570 (+)/1070(+)
SQ-870/1070
LQ-850
LQ-500
When printing black and color:
EPSON Stylus PRO
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR II
LQ-860
LQ-2550
Note:
The drivers for theprinters listed above do not provide all EPSON STYLUS
COLOR 900 features, such as 720-dpi printing, 1440-dpi printing and
MicroWeave.
DOSsoftwarevariesgreatly.Seetheprintingsectionofyoursoftware
manual for information on accessing the printer driver settings.

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Changing the Print Settings
You can change many print settings such as print direction and
loadingposition.Becausethesesettingstakeeffecteachtimeyouturn
on the printer, they are also called default settings.
The factory default settings are designed to meet the needs of most
users, so you may not need to change them.The table below lists the
features you can select in the default-setting mode.
Settings Options
Font Courier, Roman, Sans Serif, Prestige, Script,
Roman T, Sans Serif H, Draft
Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi,
Proportional
Print direction Auto, Bi-D, Uni-D
Loading position 8.5 mm, 3 mm, Others
I/F mode Auto, Parallel, Serial, USB, Optional
Auto I/F wait time 10 seconds, 30 seconds
Network I/F mode Off, On
Parallel I/F transfer rate Fast, Normal
Software ESC/P 2, IBM X24E
Auto CR (IBM mode only) Off, On
AGM (IBM mode only) Off, On
Auto line feed Off, On
0 slash 0, 0 with slash
Character table Standardmodel:Italic,PC437,PC850,PC860,
PC861, PC863, PC865, BRASCII, Abicomp,
Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC858, ISO 8859-15
Allother models: Italic,PC437,PC437 Greek,
PC850, PC852, PC853, PC855, PC857, PC866,
PC869, MAZOWIA, Code MJK, ISO 8859-7,
ISO Latin 1T, Bulgaria, PC774, Estonia,
ISO 8859-2,PC866 LAT,PC866 UKR,PCAPTEC,
PC708, PC720, PCAR864, PC860, PC861,
PC863, PC865, BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8,
ISO Latin 1, PC858, ISO 8859-15

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For more details, see the next section, “Using the default settings”.
To change a setting, see “Changing the default settings” on page 8.
Note:
Most software controls the character table and auto line feed. If your
software controls these features, you may never need to set them with the
control panel.
Using the default settings
Print direction
Your printer has three direction settings: Auto, Bi-D, and Uni-D.
Auto causes the printer to switch automatically between
bidirectional (for text data) and unidirectional (for graphics data).
Bi-D causes theprint heads to print in bothdirections. This provides
the fastest printing. Uni-D causes the print heads to print in one
direction only. This provides maximum alignment for both graphics
and character printing.
Note:
Most software controls this setting. If your software does, you may never
need to set it with the control panel.
Font
Use this setting to select the default font.
Pitch
With this setting, you can specify the default character pitch (font
size).

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I/F (interface) mode
You may need to change the I/F mode so that your printer and
computer can communicate properly. If you select Auto, the printer
automaticallyselectstheinterfacethatisreceivingdata,andusesthat
interface untiltheendoftheprintjob.Thissettingallowsyoutoshare
the printer among multiple computers without changing the
interface mode.
Check your computer documentation if you are not sure of the type
of interface your computer requires.
Auto I/F (interface) wait time
If you select Auto as the I/F mode option, you can set the interface
timeout to10 secondsor 30 seconds.The printer doesnot accept data
from another interface unless it receives no data from the current
interface for the period set in Auto I/F wait time.
Software
Use this setting to specify the type of control codes you want to use
to control the printer. If you select ESC/P 2, the printer emulates an
EPSON ESC/P 2 printer.If you select IBM X24E,the printer operates
as an IBM Proprinter™ X24E. If possible, select EPSON ESC/P 2 in
your application programs. This will allow you to use the most
advanced font and graphics handling available.
Auto CR
This feature is available when you select IBM X24E emulation as the
Softwaresetting.WhenAutoCRison,theautocarriagereturnoption
performs acarriage-return line-feed (CR LF) operationwheneverthe
print position exceeds the right margin. If this is off, the printer does
not print characters beyond the right margin, and does not perform
a linewrap until it receives a CR command.
AGM (Alternate Graphics Mode)
This feature is available when you select IBM X24E emulation as the
Software setting. When AGM is on, the printer can use high-
resolution 24-pin graphics commands. The default is off.

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Character table
Charactertablescontainthe charactersand symbols used in different
languages. The printer prints text based on the selected character
table. For the available character tables, see “Character Tables” on
page 28.
Auto line feed
When the Auto line feed feature is on, each carriage return (CR) code
is accompanied by a line feed (LF) code. If your printed text is
unexpectedly double-spaced, set this feature to Off. If text lines print
on top of each other, set it to On.
Network I/F mode
If your printer is connected to a single computer, leave this feature
off.If you want to share the printer with another computer, turn this
feature on. When this feature is on, data may be present in the
printer’s buffereven thoughtheprinter isnot printing.Alwaysmake
sure the printer does not receive data before turning off the printer.
Loading position
If you want to print more lines on a page, set this feature to 3 mm. If
you set the top margin with your software, that setting is added to
the default-setting value.
0 slash
If you want touse the zero character which has a slash, set this feature
to 0 with slash. The slash allows you to easily distinguish between
an uppercase letter “O” and a zero.
Parallel I/F transfer rate
This setting specifies the interface transfer rate. For most printing,
leave this setting set to Fast. If you encounter problems, set it to
Normal.

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Changing the default settings
Tochangetheprinter’sdefaultsettings,usethecontrolpanelbuttons;
the control panel lights show your selections.
1. Make sure the printer is turned off and A4 or Lettersize paper is
loaded in the sheet feeder.
2. Hold down the
Rcleaning button and turn on the printer to
enter the default-setting mode.
The printer loads a sheet of paper and prints a brief summary
and instructions. It instructs you to select the language that you
want messages printed in (English, French, German, Italian,
Spanish, or Portuguese).
3. Press the
Rcleaning button until the control panel lights
indicate the language of your choice, as shown below.
o= On, n= Off
4. Press the
Eload/ejectbutton to print the current default settings
and the next instructions in the language you selected. The
printed instructions include submenu tables that list all of the
settings you can change and show you how the control panel
lights appear for each selection. Use the instruction sheets to
change the settings from the control panel.
Language
S B A
English
n n o
French
n o n
German
n o o
Italian
o n n
Spanish
o n o
Portuguese
o o n

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5. After making your changes, exit the default-setting mode by
turning off the printer.
Note:
You may exit the default-setting mode any time by turning off the printer.
Any changes you have made remain in effect until you change them again.
If you want to check the current default settings, enter the default-
setting mode again and print the current settings. Current settings
are indicated with arrows.
Selecting fonts
Your printer has eight built-in character fonts including two EPSON
fonts:EPSONRomanTandEPSONSans SerifH.(RomanTissimilar
to the Times™ font; Sans Serif H is similar to Helvetica™.)
To select a font, enter the default-setting mode. See “Changing the
default settings” on page 8.
Note:
The font selections you make with your software override your printer’s
control panel selections. For best results, use your software to select fonts.
The following table shows the available fonts.
Fonts Sample
EPSON Courier
EPSON Roman T
EPSON Sans Serif H
EPSON Roman
EPSON Sans Serif
EPSON Prestige
EPSON Script
Draft

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Note:
❏Roman T and Sans Serif H fonts are available in proportionally spaced
fonts only.
❏Some of the character tables might not be able to print with EPSON
Roman T and EPSON Sans Serif H fonts. In these cases, selected
character tables are printed with EPSON Roman.
Scalable fonts
The size of the Roman, Sans Serif, Roman T, and Sans Serif H fonts
can be selected from 8 to 32 points in 2-point increments through
your software or by sending an ESC/P 2™ command. See the
documentation that came with your software for information on
selecting the size of scalable fonts.
EPSON
Roman
EPSON
Roman T
EPSON
Sans Serif
EPSON
Sans Serif H
scalable sample

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance
This section describes what you can do if you are having problems
printing. See also “Maintenance” and “Troubleshooting” in your
Setup & Daily Use manual.
Running a printer operation check
Performing a printer operation check can help you determine
whether the problem comes from the printer or the computer.
To print a printer operation check page, follow these steps.
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.
2. Unlock the wire clips on both sides of the interface connector,
and remove the ground connectorifnecessary. Then disconnect
the cable from the printer’s interface connector.
3. Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet
feeder.

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4. Holddownthe
Eload/ejectbutton(➀intheillustrationbelow)
and press the
Ppower button (➁in the illustration below) to
turn on the printer. Then release both buttons.
The printer prints an operation check page includingthe version
of your printer’s ROM, the ink counter code, the current code
page, and a nozzle check pattern.
❏If theoperation check page results appearas shown in step 4,the
printer itself is all right and the problem probably lies in the
printer software settings, application settings, the interface cable
(be sure to use a shielded cable), or the computer itself.
The above sample is in black and white, but the actual test prints in color
(CMYK).

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❏If the operation check page does not print satisfactorily, for
example, if any segment of the printed lines is missing, there is
a problem with the printer. This could be a clogged ink nozzle
or a misaligned print head.
The above sample is in black and white, but the actual test prints in color
(CMYK).
Problems and solutions
Most printer problems have simple solutions. Define the problem
from those below and apply the recommended solutions.
Print quality problems
If you want toimproveprint quality,see the following problems and
solutions.
Horizontal banding
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet
feeder.
❏Clean the printheads toclearclogged ink nozzles. See“Cleaning
the print heads” on page 22.
❏Checkthe
Bblackand Acolorinkoutlights.Ifalightisflashing,
replace an ink cartridge. See “Replacing Ink Cartridges” in your
Setup & Daily Use manual.
segments are missing

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Vertical misalignment or banding
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet
feeder.
❏Run the Print Head Alignment utility. See “Aligning the print
head” on page 24.
❏Clean the print heads to clear clogged ink nozzles. See “Cleaning
the print heads” on page 22.
Color gaps
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Make sure your paper is not damaged, dirty, or old. Also, make
sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder.
❏Clean the print heads to clear clogged ink nozzles. See “Cleaning
the print heads” on page 22.
❏Checkthe
Bblackand Acolor ink out lights. If a light isflashing,
replace an ink cartridge. See “Replacing Ink Cartridges” in your
Setup & Daily Use manual.
Incorrect or missing colors
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet
feeder.
❏Clean the print heads. See “Cleaning the print heads” on page
22.If colorsarestillincorrectormissing,replacetheinkcartridge.

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Blurry or smeared printouts
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Make sure the paper is dry and the printable side is face up.
❏If you’re printing on thick media, such as envelopes or cards, set
the adjust lever to the “+” position.
❏If you’re printing on glossy media or transparencies, place a
support sheet (or a piece of plain paper) beneath the stack, or
load one sheet at a time.
❏Clean theprint heads.See “Cleaning the print heads” on page22.
❏Run the Print Head Alignment utility. See “Aligning the print
head” on page 24.
❏Ink may have leaked inside the printer; wipe the inside of the
printer as shown below with a soft, clean cloth.
Wipe here.

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Printouts are not what you expected
If any of the following problems have occurred, see the solutions
given below.
Incorrect or garbled characters
Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the printer’s interface
cable is plugged in securely.
Incorrect margins
Check the margin settings in your application software.
Printing is too slow
Try one or both of these solutions:
❏Don’t run too many applications at the same time. Close any
applications you are not currently using.
❏Delete unnecessary files to make room on your hard disk drive.
Printer doesn’t print
If any of the following problems have occurred, see the solutions
given below.
All lights are off
❏Press the
Ppower button and make sure the printer is on.
❏Turn off the printer and make sure the power cord is plugged in
securely.
❏Make sure the power outlet is working and is not controlled by
a wall switch or timer.

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Lights came on and then went out
The printer’s voltage may not match the outlet rating. Turn off the
printer and unplug it immediately. Then, check the printer labels.
Ifthe voltagedoesn’tmatch,DO NOTPLUG YOURPRINTER BACK
IN. See “Where to Get Help” in your Setup & Daily Use manual.
Only the power light is on
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the printer’s
interface cable is plugged in securely.
❏Make sure there’s no packing material in the printer.
❏Turn off the printer and computer and disconnect the printer’s
interface cable. Then print an operation check page. See
“Running a printer operation check” on page 11.
❏If it prints, make sure the printer software and your application
software is installed correctly.
Note:
If you’re trying to print a large image, your computer may not have
enough memory to print.
❏If the above doesn’t work, replace the ink cartridges. See
“Replacing Ink Cartridges” in your Setup & Daily Use manual.
The paper out light is flashing or on
❏If the
Spaper out light is flashing, remove the jammed paper.
❏If the
Spaper out light is on, load more paper in the sheet feeder.

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One of the ink out lights is flashing or on
❏If the
Bblack or Acolor ink out light is flashing, ink is low.
Prepare a replacement cartridge.
❏If the
Bblack or Acolor light is on, ink is out. Replace the
corresponding cartridge.See “Replacing InkCartridges”inyour
Setup & Daily Use manual.
Ink out lights are on and the other lights are flashing
Follow these steps.
1. Remove any paper in the printer.
2. Turn the printer off. Check forandremoveany foreign objects
or pieces of paper from inside the printer. Also, make sure
that there is sufficient space around the vent on the back of
the printer allowing for proper ventilation. Remove any
objects blocking the vent. Then turn the printer back on.
3. If the error is not cleared, contact your dealer.
Paper doesn't feed correctly
If any of the following problems have occurred, see the solutions
below.
Paper doesn't feed
Remove the stack of paper and check that:
❏The paper isn’t curled or creased.
❏The paper isn’t too old. See the instructions that came with the
paper for more information.
❏The paper isn’t loaded above the arrow on the left edge guide.
❏The paper isn’t jammed inside. If it is, remove the jammed paper.

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Multiple pages feed
Remove the stack of paper and:
❏Make sure the paper is not too thin.
❏Fan the edges of the stack to separate the sheets, then reload the
paper.
The paper jams
Press the
Eload/eject button to eject the jammed paper. If the error
message does not clear, open the cover and remove all the paper
inside, including any torn pieces. Then load the paper again.
If the paper jams frequently, make sure you:
❏Use smooth, high-quality paper, loaded with the printable side
up.
❏Fan the stack before loading it.
❏Don’t load paper above the arrow mark on the left edge guide.
❏Adjust the left edge guide to fit your paper.
Paper isn't ejected fully or is wrinkled
Try one or more of these solutions:
❏Ifthepaperdoesn’tejectfully,pressthe
Eload/ejectbutton.Also
check the paper sizesettingin your application or printer driver.
❏If the paper is wrinkled when it comes out, it may be damp or
too thin. Load a new stack.
Note:
Store any unused paper in its original package in a dry area.

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Ink cartridge problems
If output quality does not improve even after cleaning and aligning
the print head, you may need to replace one or both of the ink
cartridges.
Toreplace an ink cartridge beforethe
Bblackor Acolor ink out light
flashes, follow these steps.
If the
Bblack or Acolor ink out light is flashing or is on, replace the
empty ink cartridge as described in “Replacing Ink Cartridges” in
your Setup & Daily Use manual.
cCaution:
❏Once you remove an ink cartridge, it becomes unusable and
cannot be reinstalled even if ink remains.
❏Leave the old cartridge installed in the printer until you are
ready to replace it with a new one.
1. Make sure the printer ison. The
Ppower light should be on, but
not flashing.
2. Lower the output tray; then open the printer cover.
3. Hold down the
Eload/eject button for three seconds; the print
head moves to the black cartridge replacement position. The
Ppower light begins flashing.