Epson Stylus Color 980 User manual

Daily Use
Daily Use
4012511 Rev.0
cover-F BK
4012511 Rev.0
cover-F PMS301
4012511 Rev.0
cover-F
4012511 Rev.0
cover-F DICF43
DIC220
Printed in Japan
00.XX-XX 4012511-00
XXX

R4C623
Rev_C
A5 size FRONT.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Where to Find Information
The following guides are included with your printer.
Setup Guide
This guide will help you to install the printer software and set up
your printer so that you can start printing.
Daily Use guide
This guide provides information about normal printer operations.
It also contains troubleshooting tips and customer support
information.
Online guides included on CD-ROM
The guides contained on the CD-ROM included with your printer
help you to learn more about your printer and color printing. To
view these guides, you must have a Web browser installed on
your computer. The included guides are as follows:
❏Reference Guide Provides detailed information about
printer software settings, printing on
special paper, maintenance, and problem
solving.
❏Color Guide Includes sample images, explanations and
troubleshooting information that will
answer your questions about color imaging
and printing.
Opening the Reference Guide or Color Guide:
Insert the printer software CD in the CD-ROM drive.
For Windows, select Online Guide in the Installer dialog box and
click . Then, click View Reference Guide or View Color
Guide to open the guide.
For Macintosh, double-click the Online Guide icon in the EPSON
window and then the EPSON STYLUS COLOR 980 icon. Then,
click View Reference Guide or View Color Guide to open the
guide.
Note:
It is possible to install the Reference Guide on your hard disk. See
“Installing in Windows” or “Installing in Macintosh” in your Setup
Guide for instructions.

R4C623
Rev_C
A5 size FRONT.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SEIKO EPSON
CORPORATION. The information contained herein isdesigned only for use with this EPSON
printer. EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
Neither SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of
this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by the purchaser
or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized
modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to strictly
comply with SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION's operating and maintenance instructions.
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from
the use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original
EPSON Products or EPSON Approved Products by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from
electromagnetic interference that occurs from the use of any interface cables other than those
designated as EPSON Approved Products by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.
EPSON is a registered trademark and EPSON Stylus is a trademark of SEIKO EPSON
CORPORATION.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners. EPSON disclaims any and all rights in those marks.
Copyright © 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.

iii
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SHORT.TOC
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Contents
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A Few Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
For United Kingdom Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Printer Parts and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Loading Special Paper, Envelopes,
and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Loading Special Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Printing with Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Making Changes to Printer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Previewing your printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Getting Information Through Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Printing with Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Making Changes to Printer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Previewing your printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Double-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Using Double-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Replacing an Empty Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

iv
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SHORT.TOC
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Checking the Print Head Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Aligning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Using the Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Typical Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cancelling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Printing with DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Installing the Printer Driver for DOS Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Changing the Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Changing the default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

1
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions
Read all of the instructions in this section before using your
printer. Also, be sure to follow all warnings and instructions that
are marked on the printer.
❏Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.
Do not insert objects through the slots.
❏Do not to spill liquid on the printer.
❏Use only the type of power source that is indicated on the
printer’s label.
❏Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets.
Avoid using outlets that are on the same circuit as
photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on
and off.
❏Avoid electrical outlets that are controlled by wall switches
or automatic timers.
❏Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources
of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the
base units of cordless telephones.
❏Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord.
❏If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure that
the total ampere rating of the devices that are plugged into
the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating.
Also, make sure that the total ampere rating of all devices that
are plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall
outlet’s ampere rating.
❏Do not attempt to service the printer yourself.

2
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
❏Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions:
The power cord or plug is damaged; liquid has entered the
printer; the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged;
the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct
change in performance.
❏If you plan to use the printer in Germany, the building
installation must be protected by a 10 or 16 amp circuit
breaker to provide adequate short-circuit protection and
over-current protection for this printer.
Note for German-speaking users:
Bei Anschluss des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muss
sichergestellt werden, dass die Gebäudeinstallation mit einer
10 A- oder 16 A-Sicherung abgesichert ist.
A Few Precautions
Read the information in this section before using the printer,
handling the ink cartridges, or choosing a location for the printer.
Using the printer
Observe the following when using the printer.
❏Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the ink
cartridges during printing.
❏Do not move the print head by hand; otherwise, you may
damage the printer.
❏Always turn the printer off using the Ppower button. When
this button is pressed, the Ppower light flashes briefly and
then goes off. Do not unplug the printer or turn off the power
to the outlet until the Ppower light stops flashing.
❏Before transporting the printer, make sure that the print head
is in the home (far right) position and that the ink cartridges
are in place.

3
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Handling the ink cartridges
Observe the following when handling the ink cartridges.
❏Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. Do not allow
children to drink from or otherwise handle the cartridges.
❏Be careful when you handle the used ink cartridges, as there
may be some ink around the ink supply port. If ink gets on
your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If
ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If
discomfort or vision problems remain after a thorough
flushing, see a doctor immediately.
❏Do not shake an ink cartridge; this can cause leakage.
❏Install an ink cartridge immediately after you remove it from
its package. Leaving the cartridge unpacked for a long time
before use may result in reduced print quality.
❏Once you install an ink cartridge, do not open the clamp or
remove the cartridge except to replace it with a new one.
Otherwise, the cartridge may become unusable.
❏Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the
cartridge carton: otherwise, it may result in reduced print
quality. For best results, use up the ink cartridges within six
months of first installing them.
❏After bringing an ink cartridge inside from a cold storage site,
allow it to warm up at room temperature for at least three
hours before using it.
❏Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place.
❏Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them. This
could damage the print head.

4
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Choosing a place for the printer
Observe the following when choosing a place for the printer.
❏Place the printer on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond
the printer base in all directions. The printer will not operate
properly if it is tilted or at an angle.
❏Avoid places that are subject to rapid changes in temperature
and humidity. Also, keep the printer away from direct
sunlight, strong light, and heat sources.
❏Avoid places that are subject to shocks and vibrations.
❏Leave enough room around the printer to allow for sufficient
ventilation.
❏Avoid places subject to dust.
❏Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be
easily unplugged.
Note for French-speaking users:
Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de contacte où la fiche
peut être débranchée facilement.
ENERGY STAR Compliance
As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined
that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines
for energy efficiency.
The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is
a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment
industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal
computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, and
scanners, in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power
generation.

5
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
For United Kingdom Users
Use of options
EPSON (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or
problems arising from the use of any options or consumable
products other than those designated as Original EPSON
Products or EPSON Approved Products by EPSON (UK) Limited.
Safety information
wWarning:
This appliance must be earthed. Refer to the rating plate for
voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the
supply voltage.
Important:
The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured
in accordance with the following code:
Green and yellow — Earth
Blue — Neutral
Brown — Live
If you have to fit a plug:
As the colours of the mains lead for this appliance may not match
the coloured markings used to identify the terminals in a plug,
please proceed as follows:
The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in
the plug that is marked with the letter Eor the earth symbol (G).
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug that
is marked with the letter N.
The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug that
is marked with the letter L.

6
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SAFE.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a
qualified electrician.
Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
wWarnings
must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
cCautions
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
Notes
contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your
printer.

7
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PARTS.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Printer Parts and Functions
Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions
sheet feeder
edge guides
output tray extension
output tray
printer cover
paper suppor
t
ink cartridge clamps
adjust lever
control panel
Print head

8
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PARTS.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Buttons
Lights
Button Function
P
power
Turns the printer on and off.
Clears the printer's memory if pressed twice while the
power is on.
E
load/eject
Loads or ejects paper if pressed and released within
2seconds.
Resumes printing if pressed and released after a paper
out error.
R
cleaning
Moves the print head to the ink cartridge replacement
position if pressed for 3 seconds while the Bblack or A
color ink out light is flashing or on.
Returns the print head to its home position after ink
cartridge replacement.
Performs print head cleaning if pressed for 3 seconds
when the Bblack or Acolor ink out light is off.
Light Description
P
power
On when the printer is on.
Flashing when printer is receiving data, printing,
replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning
the print head.
S
paper out
On when the printer is out of paper. Load paper in the
sheet feeder, then press the Eload/eject button to
resume printing.
Flashing when the paper is jammed. Take all of the
paper out of the feeder, then reload the paper. If the
light continues to flash, turn off the printer and gently
pull all of the paper out of the printer.
B
black ink
out
On when the black ink cartridge is empty. Replace the
black ink cartridge (T003).
Flashing when the black ink cartridge is nearly empty.
A
color ink
out
On when the color ink cartridge is empty. Replace the
color ink cartridge (T005).
Flashing when the color ink cartridge is nearly empty.

9
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PAPER.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Loading Special Paper, Envelopes,
and Other Media
Loading Special Paper and Other Media
You can print on a wide variety of special media, including ink
jet paper, photo quality glossy film, photo paper, transparencies,
index cards, and adhesive sheets.
When loading special media that is distributed by EPSON, read
the instruction sheets packed with the media first and keep the
points listed below in mind. For more details on using special
media, see “Paper Handling” in the online Reference Guide.
❏Make sure that the printable side of the paper is facing up
when loading media into the sheet feeder. See the instruction
sheets packed with the media to determine which side is the
printable surface. Some types of media have cut corners to
help identify the correct loading direction, as shown in the
illustration.
❏Make sure that the paper stack fits under the arrow mark that
is located on the inside surface of the left edge guide.
cut corner
printable
side up

10
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PAPER.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Loading capacities for EPSON special media
See below to find the loading capacities for EPSON special media.
* Do not print on support sheets that are loaded under special media.
Media Type Loading Capacity
360 dpi Ink Jet Paper and
Photo Quality Ink Jet
Paper
Up to the arrow mark on the left edge
guide.
Photo Quality Ink Jet
Cards, Ink Jet Note
Cards, and Ink Jet
Greeting Cards
Up to 30 cards.
Always place the included support sheet*
under the cards.
Photo Quality Glossy Film One sheet at a time or a maximum of 20
sheets. When loading multiple sheets, set
the minimum top margin of the page to
30 mm.
Always put a support sheet* or a sheet of
plain paper under the glossy film.
Ink Jet Transparencies Up to 30 transparencies.
Always put a sheet of plain paper under
the stack of transparencies.
Photo Quality Self
Adhesive Sheets
One sheet at a time.
Photo Paper Up to 20 sheets.
For 200 ×300 mm Photo Paper, you can
only load one sheet at a time. Always put
a support sheet* under the stack of Photo
Paper.
Premium Glossy Photo
Paper
One sheet at a time.
Photo Stickers 16 and
Photo Stickers 4
One sheet at a time.
Panoramic Photo Paper
and Iron-On Cool Peel
Transfer Paper
One sheet at a time.
Matte Paper-
Heavyweight
Up to 20 sheets.
Always put a support sheet* under the
stack of Matte Paper-Heavyweight.

11
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PAPER.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
About special media cleaning sheets
Cleaning sheets that are packaged with EPSON special media
should not be used with this printer. The cleaning function
performed by these sheets is not necessary with this type of
printer and the sheets may jam in the printer.
Loading Envelopes
When printing on envelopes, please note the following:
❏You can load up to 10 envelopes in the sheet feeder.
Note:
The folding quality and thickness of envelopes varies widely. If the
total thickness of the stack of envelopes exceeds 10 mm, press each
envelope in the stack flat before loading.
❏Set the adjust lever to the “+” position. To do this, open the
printer cover and reposition the lever.
Note:
❏Return the adjust lever to the “0” position, which is the normal
position, after you finish printing on envelopes. Leaving the
lever in the “+” position may cause gaps to appear in images
that are printed on other media.
❏When the adjust lever is in the “+” position, make sure that the
High Speed check box in the printer driver’s Advanced dialog
box is cleared. To clear this check box, you may also need to
change the Print Quality setting.

12
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size PAPER.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
❏Load envelopes flap edge first with the flap side down, as
shown in the illustration.
❏Do not use envelopes that are curled or folded. Flatten the
envelope flaps before loading. Avoid using envelopes that are
too thin as they may curl during printing.
❏Select Plain Paper as the Media Type setting in the printer
driver.
Available envelopes sizes are:
No.10, DL, C6, 132 mm
×
220 mm

13
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SOFTW.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
Printing with Windows
Printer Software Introduction
The printer software CD-ROM which comes with your printer
includes a printer driver and printer utilities. The printer driver
lets you choose from a wide variety of settings to achieve the best
results with your printer. The printer utilities help you to check
the printer and keep it in top condition.
Getting more information
For information on using the printer driver, see “Making Changes
to Printer Settings” on page 15.
For information on using the printer utilities, see “Using the
Printer Utilities” in the online Reference Guide.
Note:
The specific features available in the printer software vary, depending
on the version of Windows that you are using.
Online help provides more information about the printer
software. See “Getting Information Through Online Help” on
page 20 for instructions on accessing help.
Accessing the printer software
You can access the printer software from most Windows
applications, from the Windows Start menu (Windows 98, 95,
2000, and NT 4.0), or from the Control Panel (Windows 3.1).
When you access the printer software from a Windows
application, the settings that you make apply only to the
application that you are using.

14
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SOFTW.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
LProof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
When you access the printer software from the Start menu, the
settings that you make apply to all of your Windows applications.
Refer to the appropriate section below.
From Windows applications
Follow the steps below to access the printer software from
Windows applications.
1. From the File menu, click Print or Print Setup.
2. In the dialog box that appears, click Printer, Setup, Options,
or Properties. (Dependingon your application, you may need
to click a combination of these buttons.) The printer driver
opens.
From the Windows Start menu (Windows 98, 95, 2000, and
NT 4.0)
Follow the steps below to access the printer software from the
Start menu.
1. Click Start, point to Settings, then click Printers.
2. For Windows 98 and 95, select your printer, then click
Properties on the File menu. For Windows 2000, select your
printer, then click Printing Preferences on the File menu. For
Windows NT 4.0, select your printer, then click Document
Defaults on the File menu. The printer driver opens.
From the Control Panel (Windows 3.1)
Follow the steps below to access the printer software from the
Control Panel in Windows 3.1.
1. Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main program
group.
2. Double-click the Printers icon.

15
R4C623
short.bk Rev_C
A5 size SOFTW.FM
10/18/00 Pass 0
R
Proof Sign-off:
Ichihara _______
N.Nomoto _______
R.Thomson _______
3. Select your printer in the Installed Printers list.
4. Click Setup. The printer driver opens.
Making Changes to Printer Settings
The printer driver features the following menus and settings.
Note:
The Layout menu is available only for Windows 98, 95, 2000, and
NT 4.0 users.
The Mode settings on the Main menu are arranged to give you
three levels of control over the printer driver, as explained below.
Main: Media Type, Ink, Mode, Print Preview
Paper: Paper Size, Copies, Orientation, Printable Area
Layout: Reduce/Enlarge, Double-Sided Printing, Multi-Page,
Watermark