Epson Stylus PHOTO 1290 User manual

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Where to Find Information
Setup Guide
This guide will help you set up and begin using your printer. It
includes information on setting up your printer and installing the
printer software.
Daily Use guide
This guide provides information on normal printer operation. It
also contains troubleshooting tips and customer support
information.
PhotoQuicker User’s Guide
This guide provides basic information on using the EPSON
PhotoQuicker utility to print your photo data. It also contains
troubleshooting tips.
Reference Guide included on the CD-ROM
The Reference Guide contained on the CD-ROM included with
your printer provides detailed information about printer software
settings, printing on special paper, maintenance, and problem
solving.
To open the Reference 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 to open the guide.
For Macintosh, double-click the Online Guide icon in the EPSON
window and then the EPSON STYLUS Photo 1290 or 890 icon.
Then, click View Reference Guide to open the guide.

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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.
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. Theinformation contained hereinis designed 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.
The illustrations in all guides show the EPSON Stylus
Photo 1290; the EPSON Stylus Photo 890 is a small type

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Copyright © 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.

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Contents
Safety Instructions
Safety InstructionsSafety Instructions
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
11
1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setup Guide
Setup GuideSetup Guide
Setup Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
77
7
Checking the Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Attaching the Paper Support Adapter, Roll Paper Holder and Paper
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Connecting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Installing the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installing the Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Printing Your First Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Printer Parts and
Printer Parts andPrinter Parts and
Printer Parts and Control Panel
Control PanelControl Panel
Control Panel Functions
FunctionsFunctions
Functions . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 29
2929
29
Printer Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Loading Paper
Loading PaperLoading Paper
Loading Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3434
34
Loading Special Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Using Roll Paper
Using Roll PaperUsing Roll Paper
Using Roll Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3939
39
Using the Roll Paper Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Removing the Roll Paper from the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Printing with Windows
Printing with WindowsPrinting with Windows
Printing with Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4545
45
Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Making Settings on the Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Making Settings on the Paper Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

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Making Settings on the Layout Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Printing with Macintosh
Printing with MacintoshPrinting with Macintosh
Printing with Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
4949
49
Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Making settings in the Print dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Making settings in the Page Setup dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Making settings in the Layout dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Replacing Ink Cartridges
Replacing Ink CartridgesReplacing Ink Cartridges
Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
9696
96
Using the Printer's Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Troubleshooting
TroubleshootingTroubleshooting
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
102102
102
Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Consumable Products
Consumable ProductsConsumable Products
Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
133133
133
Consumable products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Customer Support
Customer SupportCustomer Support
Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
139139
139
Technical Support Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Regional Customer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
System Requirements
System RequirementsSystem Requirements
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
141141
141
Using the online Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

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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
marked on the printer.
When setting up your printer
Observe the following when setting up the printer:
❏Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.
❏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.
❏Avoid electrical outlets 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 plugged into the
extension cord does not exceedthecord’s ampere rating. Also,
make sure that the total ampere rating of all devices plugged
into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall outlet’s ampere
rating.

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❏Do not attempt to service the printer yourself.
❏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.
When 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.
❏Leave enough space in front of the printer for the paper to be
fully ejected.
❏Avoid places subject to rapid changes in temperature and
humidity. Also, keep the printer away from direct sunlight,
strong light, or heat sources.
❏Avoid places subject to dust, shocks, and vibrations.
❏Leave enough room around the printer to allow for sufficient
ventilation.
❏Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be
easily unplugged.
When using the printer
Observe the following when using the printer:
❏Do not insert objects through the slots in the printer’s cabinet.

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❏Take care not to spill liquid on 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 out. 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 the ink cartridges are
in place.
When 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 remaining around the ink supply port. If ink
gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and
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 the 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.
❏Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the
cartridge carton. For best results, use up the ink cartridges
within six months of installing them.

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❏Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them. This
could damage the print head.
❏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 touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge.
This may affect normal operation and printing.
❏The IC chip on this ink cartridge retains a variety of cartridge
related-information, such as the amount of ink remaining, so
that a cartridge may be removed and reinserted freely.
However, each time the cartridge is inserted, some ink is
consumed because the printer automatically performs a
reliability check.
❏If you remove an ink cartridge for later use, protect the ink
supply area from dirt and dust and store it in the same
environment as the printer. A valve in the ink supply port
makes covers or plugs unnecessary, but the ink may stain
items that come in contact with this area of the cartridge. Do
not touch the ink supply port or surrounding area.
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.

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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.

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Setup Guide
Checking the Package Contents
The illustration in this Guide show the EPSON Stylus Photo 1290;
the EPSON Stylus Photo 890 is a small type of the printer.
paper support paper manuals
Daily Use
printer
printer software &
Reference Guide CD-ROM
The package contents may vary in certain locations.
black color
ink cartridges
PhotoQuicker
paper support adapterroll paper holder protective film
roll paper

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Unpacking the Printer
Remove all tape and protective materials from the printer.
Attaching the Paper Support Adapter, Roll
Paper Holder and Paper Support
Hold the paper support adapter so that the arrows on the adapter
facing toward the front of the printer, and insert the adapter into
the slot at the rear of the printer.
Insert the roll paper holder into the slots at the back of the paper
support adapter, then insert the paper support into the slot at the
rear of the paper support adapter.
➀➁
➂

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Note:
At this time you may mount the roll paper holder temporarily, by
inserting it into any slots at the rear of the paper support adapter. You
do not need to actually mount the roll paper.
Connecting the Printer
Your printer connects to your computer via the parallel or USB
interface. Macintosh computers can only be connected via the
USB interface. Depending upon your geographic location, you
may need to obtain the appropriate cable. See “Options and
Consumable Products” in the Daily Use guide for details.
➀➁
Ð
➂

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Note:
In order to connect your PC via the USB interface, your computer must
be a Windows Me, 98 or Windows 2000 pre-installed model that comes
with a USB port or Windows Me upgraded from a Windows 98 pre-
installed model.
Using a parallel interface for Windows users
To connect the printer to your PC, you need a shielded, twisted-
pair parallel cable. Follow the directions below.
1. Make sure that both the printer and the computer are turned
off.
2. Plug the cable
connector securely
into the printer's
interface connector.
Then, squeeze the
wire clips together
until they lock in
placeon both sides. If
your printer has a
ground connector
screw to the right of the interface connector, connect the
ground wire to the ground connector screw.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer's parallel
interface. If there is a ground wire at the computer end of the
cable, connect it to the ground connector at the back of the
computer.
Using a USB interface for Windows and Macintosh
users
To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard,
shielded USB cable. Follow these steps.
Printed in
Copyright© 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.

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Note:
❏For best results, you should connect the printer directly to the
computer’s USB port. If you must use multiple USB hubs, we
recommend that you connect the printer to the first tier hub.
❏If your computer has more than one USB port, you may plug the
cable in wherever is convenient.
1. Make sure that both the printer and the computer are turned
off.
2. Plug the appropriate end of
the cable into the USB port on
the back of the printer. (The
end that fits the printer has a
different shape from the end
that fits the computer.)
3. Connect the other end of the
cable to the computer’s USB
port.
Installing the Printer Software
After connecting the printer to your computer, you need to install
the software included on the “Printer Software for EPSON Stylus
Photo 1290” or “Printer Software for EPSON Stylus Photo 890”
CD-ROM shipped with your printer.
The printer software CD-ROM contains:

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❏Printer software (printer driver and utilities)
The printer driver runs, or “drives,” your printer; use it to
make settings such as print quality, speed, media type, and
paper size. The Nozzle Check,Head Cleaning, and Print Head
Alignment utilities help you keep your printer in top
operating condition. EPSON Status Monitor 3 (for Windows)
or EPSON StatusMonitor (for Macintosh) notifies you of
printer errors and displays printer status information such as
the amount of ink remaining. The Status Monitor also guides
you through the ink cartridge replacement process.
❏EPSON PhotoQuicker
This utility lets you print digital photos using a wide variety
of layouts and effects with ease.
❏Online guides
The online Reference Guide helps you learn more about your
printer.
If you wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software
on your CD-ROM, you can use the driver disk creation utility
included on the CD.
Refer to the appropriate section.
Installing in Windows
Follow the instructions in this section to install the printer
software and EPSON PhotoQuicker.
Installing the printer software
Follow these steps to install the printer software.
1. Make sure that your printer is turned off.
2. Turn on your computer and start Windows. If the New
Hardware Found dialog box or any other Wizard appears,
click Cancel.

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3. Insert the printer software CD shipped with your printer in
the CD-ROM drive. The Installer dialog box appears. If it does
not, double-click the My Computer icon, click the CD-ROM
icon, then click Open on the File menu. Then, double-click
EPsetup.exe. (For floppy disk users, insert the disk in a disk
drive and double-click the My Computer icon, then the
floppy disk drive icon, and then Setup.exe.)
4. Select Install Printer Driver/Utility,
and click . Then, click OK in the
dialog box that appears to start
the printer software installation.
If Problem Solver is available in
your location, it is automatically
installed on your hard drive.
Note:
❏It is possible to install the
Reference Guide on your hard drive from the Installer dialog
box, as shown to the right. To install the guide, click Online
Guide and then . Then, click Install Reference Guide
and follow the on-screen instructions. When the installation is
complete, an ESP 1290 890 Guide icon appears in the
EPSON folder. Double-click the icon to open the guide.
❏The Problem Solver provides tips and instructions to help you
solve most problems that you may encounter when printing.
The Problem Solver can be accessed through the EPSON folder,
Status Monitor 3, or the printer software. For details, see the
“Troubleshooting” section of your Daily Use guide.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to turn on your printer.
For Windows Me and 98 users, the printer port configuration
starts automatically.
For printers connected via the USB cable, the USB device
driver installation starts automatically at this point. When a
message appears asking you to restart your computer, do so.

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If you are a Windows 2000 user and using parallel cable, click
the Stop Search button when the USB device driver
installation starts, then follow the on-screen instructions.
6. After turning on the printer, the
Setup utility opens automatically.
Follow the on-screen instructions
to install the ink cartridges, check
the print head nozzles, and clean
the print head. When a message
appears informing you that the
setup is complete, click OK.
Note:
If the Setup utility does not start, proceed to section to install the
ink cartridges using the printer’s control panel.
7. When a message appears informing you that the installation
is complete, click OK.
Note:
If an error message appears, either the printer software or the
EPSON USB printer device driver is not installed correctly. See
"Troubleshooting" in the Daily Use guide for details.
Installing EPSON PhotoQuicker
1. After the setup is complete, the installer dialog box appears
again. Choose Install EPSON PhotoQuicker, click , then
click OK. (If the installer dialog box does not appear
automatically, double-click the My Computer icon, and
double-click the CD-ROM icon, and then EPSON
PhotoQuicker.)
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. When a message appears informing you that the installation
is complete, click Finish.