Epson Stylus Color II User manual

COLOR INK JET PRINTER
Reference Guide
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.
No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein.
Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information
contained herein.
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 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 against 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.
EPSON, EPSON Stylus, and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks and
EPSON ESC/P 2 is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
EPSON Connection is a service mark of Epson America, Inc.
Windows printer driver copyright Software 2000 Ltd Oxford, England. Portions copyright
Seiko Epson 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.
The Energy Star emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service.
Copyright © 1995 by Epson America, Inc. 10/95
Printed on recycled paper with at least 10% post-consumer content

FCC Compliance Statement
For United States Users
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.
❑Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
❑Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
❑Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
❑Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will
invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which
exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the
user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this
equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused
interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For Canadian Users
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian
Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le Ministère des Communications du Canada.
ii

Contents
Introduction
Energy Star Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Energy-saving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Electronic Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 1 Paper Handling
Choosing Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Setting the Paper Thickness and Adjustment Levers . . . . . . 1-3
Setting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Setting the Thickness Adjustment Lever . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Loading Plain Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Loading Special Papers and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Loading Special Papers and Transparencies . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Chapter 2 Controlling the Printer
Using the Printer’s Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Using the Default Setting Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Chapter 3 Maintenance
Cleaning the Print Heads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Selecting the Correct Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Calibrating the Printer When Printing from DOS . . . . . . . . 3-10
iii

Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Print Quality Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Problems with Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Paper Handling Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Paper Jam Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Paper Feeding Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Other Paper Handling Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Appendix A Technical Specifications
Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Safety Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Interface Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Parallel Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Serial Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11
Initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
Appendix B Commands and Character Tables
Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
EPSON ESC/P 2 Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
IBM X24/X24E Emulation Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
International Character Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Characters Available with ESC (^ Command . . . . . . . . . B-9
Glossary
Index
iv

Printer Parts
printer cover
notch
output tray
output tray
extension
control panel
notch
sheet feeder
paper thickness
lever
power switch parallel interface
connector
serial interface
connector
ink cartridge clamps
thickness
adjustment
lever
paper support

Introduction
This manual contains general operating and maintenance
instructions for your EPSON®Stylus®COLOR II, as well as
troubleshooting guidelines and technical specifications. For
instructions on setting up your printer and using the
Microsoft®Windows®or Apple®Macintosh®printer driver,
see the appropriate Setup and Software Guide.
Note:
After you install the driver, check the ReadMe icon in the EPSON
group in Windows or on the Macintosh hard disk for the latest
information about your printer and software.
Your printer supports a wide variety of settings that give you
the flexibility to improve print quality or speed up printing.
Using the printer driver software (described in theSetup and
Software Guide), you can control settings such as document
type, printing mode, and halftoning to produce just the right
effects in your printed documents.
To make your job easy, both the Windows and Macintosh
printer drivers include an option that analyzes the elements on
a page to be printed and automatically adjusts the driver
settings so your printed results are appropriate for the image
type. See the Setup and Software Guide for complete instructions
on using the driver and for color print samples of the kinds of
output the printer can produce.
Energy Star Compliance
As an Energy Star Partner, EPSON has determined
that this product meets the Energy Star guidelines
for energy efficiency.
Introduction 1

The EPA estimates that if all desktop computers, printers, and
other peripheral devices met Energy Star standards, energy
cost savings would exceed $1 billion annually and carbon
dioxide emissions would be reduced by 20 million tons.
All of EPSON’s ink jet printers conform to Energy Star
standards.
Energy-saving Tips
Here are a few tips you can use to be even more energy-wise:
❑If your monitor isn’t Energy Star compliant, turn it off
when you’re not using it.
❑Turn off your computer, printer, and monitor each day
when you are done using them.
❑Use the print preview option in your software before you
print something so you can catch errors before you commit
them to paper.
❑If you have an electronic mail system available to you, send
E-mail rather than memos. Not only is this faster, but you’ll
save paper and storage space too.
How to Use This Manual
After you have set up the printer as described in the Setup and
Software Guide, refer to this manual for the following
information:
Chapter 1, “Paper Handling,” explains how to select the right
paper for your print job and load special paper and other
media in your printer.
2 Introduction

Chapter 2, “Controlling the Printer,” provides instructions for
managing the printer’s operation through its control panel. It
also explains how to access the printer’s Default setting mode.
Chapter 3, “Maintenance,” contains instructions for cleaning
the print heads, replacing the ink cartridges, cleaning and
transporting the printer, and calibrating the printer from DOS.
Chapter 4, “Troubleshooting,” contains troubleshooting
guidelines for any print quality and printer operation problems
you may have.
Appendix A, “Technical Specifications,” gives the
specifications for the Stylus COLOR II printer.
Appendix B, “Commands and Character Tables,” lists the
EPSON ESC/P 2and IBM®X24/X24E emulation commands
supported by the printer and shows the printer’s built-in
character tables.
A Glossary and Index are provided at the end of the manual.
Where to Get Help
If you purchased your printer in the United States or Canada
and you need technical assistance you can call an EPSON Color
Specialist at [phone].
EPSON also provides customer support and service through a
network of Authorized EPSON Customer Care Centers and
provides the following services when you dial(800) 922-8911:
❑EPSON technical information library fax service
❑Product literature on current and new products
❑Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized EPSON
Reseller or Customer Care Center
Introduction 3

❑Technical information on the installation, configuration,
and operation of EPSON products
❑Customer relations.
You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, parts, printed manuals,
and accessories for EPSON products from EPSON Accessories
at [phone] (U.S. sales). In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON
for sales locations.
If you purchased your printer outside the United States or
Canada, contact your EPSON dealer or the marketing location
nearest you for customer support and service.
If you need help with any software program you are using,
see that program’s documentation for technical support
information.
Electronic Support Services
If you have a modem, the fastest way to access helpful tips,
specifications, drivers, application notes, DIP switch or jumper
settings, and bulletins for EPSON products is through the
online services below.
World Wide Web
If you are connected to the Internet and have a Web browser,
you can access EPSON’s World Wide Web site at
http://www.epson.com. EPSON’s home page links users to
What’s New, EPSON Products, EPSON Connection,
SM Corporate
Info and EPSON Contacts. Link to the EPSON Connection for
the latest drivers and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and
the EPSON Chat area. To get in touch with EPSON around the
world, EPSON Contacts includes Contact Information for local
EPSON subsidiaries.
4 Introduction

EPSON Bulletin Board Service
You can call the EPSON Bulletin Board Service (BBS) at
[phone]. No membership is required. Make sure your
communications software is set to 8 data bits with 1 stop bit,
no parity bit, and a modem speed of 28.8 Kbps or less. See the
documentation that came with your communications software
for more information.
CompuServe online support
CompuServe®members can call the Epson America Forum on
CompuServe. If you are already a member, simply type
GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach the Forum.
If you are not currently a member, you are eligible for a free
introductory membership as an owner of an EPSON product.
This membership entitles you to:
❑An introductory credit on CompuServe
❑Your own user ID and password
❑A complimentary subscription to CompuServe Magazine,
CompuServe’s monthly publication.
To take advantage of this offer, call [phone] in the United
States and Canada and ask for representative #529. In other
countries, call the following U.S. telephone number:
[phone], or your local CompuServe access number.
Introduction 5

Important Safety Instructions
Before using your printer, read the following safety
instructions to make sure you use the printer safely and
effectively.
❑Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with
a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer.
❑Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a
radiator or heat register.
❑Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet
or insert objects through the slots.
❑Use only the type of power source indicated on the
printer’s label.
❑Connect all equipment to properly grounded power
outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as
photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch
on and off.
❑Do not let the power cord become damaged or frayed.
❑If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the
total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the
extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating.
Also, make sure the total of all devices plugged into the
wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
❑Except as specifically explained in thisReference Guide, do
not attempt to service the printer yourself.
❑Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions:
If the power cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered
the printer; if the printer has been dropped or the cabinet
damaged; if the printer does not operate normally or
exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions.
6 Introduction

Chapter 1
Paper Handling
Choosing Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Setting the Paper Thickness and Adjustment Levers . . . . . . 1-3
Setting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Setting the Thickness Adjustment Lever . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Loading Plain Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Loading Special Papers and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Loading Special Papers and Transparencies . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
1
Paper Handling 1-1

Read this chapter for information about choosing the best
paper or other media for your printing needs and for
instructions on loading them in your printer.
Choosing Paper and Other Media
You can use most plain paper with your printer and achieve
good results. Coated papers give you better results because
they reduce the amount of ink that is absorbed. However, if the
coated paper does not absorb enough ink, the ink can smear.
To ensure the best results, EPSON provides special papers and
transparencies that are formulated for the inks used in EPSON
ink jet printers. These papers include the following:
❑EPSON special coated paper for 360 dpi. Use this paper for
best results when printing at 360 dpi.
❑EPSON special coated paper for 720 dpi. Use this paper for
best results when printing at 720 dpi. Five sample sheets
are included with the printer.
❑EPSON high-quality glossy paper. Use this paper with
720 dpi to produce camera-ready composites. When
printing on glossy paper, use only EPSON high-quality
glossy paper.
❑EPSON transparency film. When printing transparencies,
use only EPSON transparencies. For best results, use
transparencies within six months of opening the package.
Do not use 720 dpi when printing transparencies.
To order EPSON papers and transparencies, contact your
dealer or call EPSON Accessories at [phone] (U.S. only).
In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON for sales locations.
1-2 Paper Handling

Use the following part numbers when ordering:
Paper or other media Size Part number
Special coated paper for
720 dpi Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) S041062 S041048
Special coated paper for
360 dpi Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) S041060
High-quality glossy paper Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) S041072
Transparency film Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) S041064
Setting the Paper Thickness and Adjustment Levers
Before you start printing, you should check the paper thickness
and adjustment levers to make sure they are set correctly for
the type of paper or other media you are loading.
cCaution:
Before you change the lever settings, make sure there is no
paper in the paper path and that printing is paused. To do this,
press the Pause button or turn off the printer.
Setting the Paper Thickness Lever
The paper thickness lever on the right side of the sheet feeder
has two settings: plain paper and thick paper. Set the lever to
the position that best suits the paper or other media you plan
to use, as shown in the following table and illustration.
Paper type Paper thickness lever position
Standard paper Plain paper
Transparency film Plain paper
Envelopes or labels Thick paper
Paper Handling 1-3

Setting the Thickness Adjustment Lever
Use the table below to set the thickness adjustment lever for
your media type.
Paper type Thickness adjustment lever position
Standard paper 0
Transparency film 0
Envelopes or labels +
Previously smeared documents +
If a document is smeared, set the thickness adjustment lever to
the + position (regardless of the paper type) and print it again.
To access the lever, open the printer cover; the lever is in the
left back corner, as shown in the following illustration.
thick paper
setting
plain paper
setting
1-4 Paper Handling

Loading Plain Paper
The following procedure explains how to load plain bond
paper. For instructions on loading coated or glossy paper,
envelopes, and transparencies, see page 1-7.
You can load up to 100 sheets of plain paper. For paper
specifications, see Appendix A.
Always load plain paper with the printable surface facing
upward. The printable surface is marked with an arrow on
most plain paper packaging.
Note:
You can use these instructions for printing on labels; however, be
sure to set the paper thickness lever to the Thick paper position and
the thickness adjustment lever to the + position. Also make sure no
labels are curled or peeling away from the backing when you load
them.
thickness
adjustment
lever
Paper Handling 1-5

1. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer. Then slide
out the extension.
2. Slide the left edge guide on the sheet feeder to the left as
far as it will go.
3. Fan a stack of paper; then tap it on a flat surface to even the
edges.
1
2
1-6 Paper Handling

4. Load the stack of paper, printable side up, so that its right
edge is firmly against the right side of the sheet feeder. (Do
not load paper above the arrow printed on the inside of the
left edge guide on the sheet feeder.) Then slide the left edge
guide against the left edge of the paper.
5. Change the Media Type and other printer driver settings so
they are appropriate for the paper or labels you loaded. For
instructions see your Setup and Software Guide. (For labels
select Plain paper as your Media Type.)
Loading Special Papers and Other Media
When using special coated paper, glossy paper, transparencies,
or envelopes, keep the following in mind:
❑Use special coated paper and glossy paper within one year
of purchase. Use transparencies within six months.
❑Do not touch the printable surface of the paper; hold the
sheets by their edges. The moisture and oils on your hands
can reduce print quality.
Paper Handling 1-7

❑After printing on high-quality glossy paper or
transparencies, remove each sheet from the output tray
immediately. Make sure each sheet is dry before stacking.
❑You can print on sheets of labels in your printer; just follow
the instructions for loading plain paper on page 1-5.
❑Return unused sheets and envelopes to their original package
as soon as possible after you finish printing. Unfavorable
storage conditions—especially high temperature, humidity,
and direct sunlight—can damage the media.
❑Follow any other special loading procedures included in
the rest of this section.
Loading Special Papers and Transparencies
The following procedure explains how to load coated papers,
glossy paper, and transparencies. You can load up to the
following number of sheets in the sheet feeder:
❑70 sheets of special coated paper
Note:
If you load legal-size special coated paper for 720 dpi, do not load
it more than halfway to the arrow on the left edge guide of the
sheet feeder.
❑50 sheets of transparency film with one sheet of plain paper
beneath the last transparency in the stack
❑30 sheets of high-quality glossy paper with a sheet of plain
paper beneath the last sheet in the stack; to avoid printing
on the plain paper, print your document one page at a time.
If you load a single sheet of glossy paper, place a sheet of
plain paper beneath it and print one page at a time.
1-8 Paper Handling

Note:
If you load multiple sheets of glossy paper, the minimum top
margin is 1.2 inches (30 mm). To print with a smaller top
margin, load and print glossy paper one sheet at a time.
Follow these steps to load special paper or transparency film:
1. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer and slide
out the extension.
2. Slide the left edge guide on the sheet feeder to the left as far
as it will go.
1
2
Paper Handling 1-9