Epson Stylus Color 740i

Why can't I print from a particular Windows application in color?

Make sure the correct driver is selected and the Color option is enabled in the printer driver. Try printing again. If the image comes out monochrome, print from a resident program within Windows, such as Paintbrush. If the results are successful from Paintbrush, contact the software manufacturer of the application for assistance. If the results are not successful, troubleshoot the pertinent areas within Windows, such as the video driver.

Is there a driver for Windows NT 4.0?

Yes, there is a Windows NT 4.0 driver on the CD-ROM bundled with the printer. The file is also available from alternate sources. The driver is available for download from the EPSON Internet web site.

How do I install the printer driver from the CD-ROM in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0?

Make sure your printer is connected to your computer and that both are turned off. Then, turn on your computer but leave your printer off. Once you see the Windows desktop icons, insert the EPSON printer software CD in your CD-ROM Drive. If Windows 95 or 98 launches the installation program automatically, you will see either the "Epson License Agreement" window or the "Epson" window. If the installer does not launch automatically, click the "Start" button, select "Run", type "D:\EPSON" (if your CD-ROM drive uses a different letter, substitute it for "D"), and click "OK". If you now see an "Epson License Agreement" window, read the agreement and the click the "Agree" button to continue with the installation. If the window you see is called "Epson" and not "Epson License Agreement", click one time on the words "Re-install Printer Driver", and then when a second window called "Epson" appears, click one time on the words "Re-install Printer Driver" again. At this point, you will see a window called "Epson Printer Utility Setup". Click one time on the icon representing your printer so that it highlights, and then click one time on the "OK" button. When a second window called "Epson Printer Utility Setup" appears, click on the "OK" button one time. When the "Welcome" window appears, click one time on the "Next" button. When the "Choose Destination Location" window appears, click on the "Next" button. When the "Start Copying Files" window appears, click on the "Next" button. When the "Setup Complete" window appears, click one time on the "Finish" button.

What are the minimum requirements to use this printer with a PC?

You will need an IBM compatible PC with at least a 386/25 MHz for Windows 3.1x, 486/25 MHz for Windows 95, 486/66 MHz for Windows 98 or 486/25 MHz for Windows NT 4.0. At least 16MB of RAM (32MB recommended for Windows 3.1, 95, or 98; 64MB recommended for Windows NT 4.0). 50MB of free hard disk space for storing images (100MB or more is recommended) and VGA/Super VGA or better display adapter and monitor. For a parallel connection a shielded twisted-pair parallel cable (6 to 10 feet long and must have a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for your computer and a 36-pin Centronics compatible connector for the printer). Double-speed CD-ROM drive (quad-speed or faster recommended) for installing the printer software.

Does the printer support USB technology?

Yes, the printer comes with a built in USB port. A Windows 98 USB printer driver is on the CD-ROM bundled with the printer and is also available from the EPSON Internet web site. A Macintosh driver is available for download from the EPSON on-line services. It is highly recommended that you download and install the iMac Update 1.0 from Apple's website before installing printer. Also, be sure to download and install the latest Epson USB driver for your printer from Epson's web site.

How do I install a printer driver on a Macintosh?

Start or restart your Macintosh with all Extensions OFF, except the "Apple CD-ROM" extension. Before installing the driver, go to the Chooser, ensure AppleTalk is inactive, then close the Chooser. Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. A window should open up with the three folders labeled Disk 1, Disk 2 and Disk 3. Double-click on Disk 1. Double-click on the Installer icon, then click Install. Click on Continue. Select the default Paper Size setting you would like the driver set to and then Click OK. After the system has finished installing files you will be prompted to restart your Macintosh, click Restart. After restart, go to the Chooser and for a serial connection select the SC 740 printer icon. Select the port. Disable Background printing. Close the Chooser. If you must use Background printing, your system must have a minimum of 6MB of unused RAM that can be dedicated to the EPSON Monitor3 and your operating system. If you are using Background printing, go to the EPSON Monitor3, go to File and select Get Info. Change the Minimum amount setting to 2000 and the Preferred amount setting to 3000, then close the EPSON Monitor3.

How can I verify that the iMac Update 1.0 is installed or not?

From the iMac's desktop, select File, Fine and type Mac OS ROM and click on Find. Highlight the Mac OS ROM and select File and click on Get Info. The Created date should be August 28, 1998 or later. If it is not, you will need to download and install the iMac Update 1.0 from Apple's website.

If I restart my iMac my printouts will print with large gaps between the text or an image. How can I resolve this?

To correct this issue, download and install the iMac Update 1.0 from Apple's website.

Can I use the USB/Parallel adapter kit with my Stylus Color 740?

The USB/Parallel adapter kit is not necessary to connect the Stylus Color 740 with the Apple iMac. The Stylus Color comes with a built in USB port, therefore the only cable needed is a standard USB A/B cable. NOTE: that you will also need to download and install the USB printer driver for iMac from EPSON's Website as well as the iMac Update 1.0 from Apple's website.

Why are my margins incorrect?

The paper may be loaded incorrectly. Make sure that the left and right edge guides are flush against both sides of the paper. Make sure the margins are set correctly in your software application (margins are not adjustable via the printer driver), and make sure you are not trying to print outside of the printable area of the page for your paper size (printable area of the page specifications are available in the User's Manual). Make sure the correct paper size is selected in the printer driver settings.

Is there a postscript driver available for this printer?

Epson does not produce a postscript driver for this printer.

The printer won't feed paper. What should I do?

Power the printer on and press the Load/Eject button to see if paper will load. If no paper loads, make sure the paper isn't curled or creased, isn't too old, isn't loaded above the arrow on the left edge guide, and that the paper isn't jammed in the printer. If the Paper Out light is on solid, reload the paper, making sure the paper edge guide is adjusted to fit the paper's width, and then press the Load/Eject button again to see if the paper will now load. If the Paper Out light is flashing, turn the printer off, reload the paper, turn the printer back on, and try pressing Load/Eject gain to see if the printer will now successfully load the paper. If the printer still will not load paper, power the printer off, remove the printer cable, and make sure all of the packing materials are removed. If the problem persists, the printer may need to be sent in for service.

Calibration doesn't seem to have any effect. What should I do?

Make sure that whenever you turn off the printer, you are always using the printer's power button. Never use an external switch, such as a power strip, surge protector, or power protector, to turn off the printer. If you turn the printer off using an external switch, calibration settings will not be saved.

What do I need to do to print with my Stylus printer on a LocalTalk network?

A: The printer is not a LocalTalk printer.

I removed the EPSON label from the top of one of my ink cartridges. What should I do?

Do not install the cartridge. If you have already installed it and the printer is printing correctly, change the cartridge immediately. If you have already installed the cartridge, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its EPSON label at the time it was installed, and now the nozzle check will not print completely even after running cleaning cycles, your printer may need a service.

How can I get the highest quality prints from my printer?

Verify that you are using the correct printer driver for your printer model. Make sure that the printer's paper adjust lever is set to 0 for regular paper and + for envelopes or thicker media. If MicroWeave is off, turn this feature on. If High Speed is on, turn it off. Make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper or media loaded. Also, the Halftoning and Color Adjustment Mode options may be set incorrectly for your document type. Let the printer driver automatically select the settings for the best quality. The paper you are using may be damaged, old, dirty or loaded incorrectly. Remove the paper and reload a new stack ensuring that the printable side is face up. If your output is faint, check the printer driver to make sure you have selected a print resolution other than Economy. For vertical banding (white or colored lines running through an image or text) or rough or grainy images, run the Print Head Alignment utility to align the print heads. If the image does not contain the colors you expected, the color settings on your application software may need adjustment. Refer to your software documentation for help on adjusting colors. If the previous steps do not resolve the issue, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, print a nozzle check and examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, clean the print heads by running the head cleaning utility in the printer driver. Then, print another nozzle check. The nozzle check and head cleaning are recommended as a cycle in order for the head cleanings to be most effective. If there are still gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 6 cycles if necessary. If the nozzle check prints completely, and you're still experiencing a problem, make sure you are using the most current version of the printer driver. You can obtain the latest printer driver from the EPSON web site. The resolution of your image may also be set too low. Increase the image resolution using your image-editing software, or decrease the size of the image. Another troubleshooting test to try is moving the printer to another computer with a different printer cable. This will eliminate the possibility of a defective printer cable, parallel port, or software issue. If you're still experiencing a problem, try replacing the ink cartridge and make sure you are using a genuine EPSON ink cartridge which has an EPSON label on top of it. If the EPSON label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. Using an ink cartridge which does not have the EPSON label on it may damage the printer. If you have already installed a cartridge which is missing the EPSON label, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its EPSON label at the time it was installed, and now head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, your printer may require a service.

My printouts are missing color and/or black print. How can I resolve this issue?

If the printer is printing blank pages, make sure you are using the correct printer driver and make sure the paper size is correctly selected in the driver. If the printer is printing black only, the Ink option in the printer driver may be set to Black instead of Color or a setting in the software may be set to print black only. Also, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, print a nozzle check and examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, clean the print heads by running the head cleaning utility in the printer driver. Then, print another nozzle check. The nozzle check and head cleaning are recommended to be performed as a cycle in order for the cleaning cycles to be most effective. If there are still gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 6 cycles if necessary. If the nozzle check is not printing completely, and if the head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, try replacing the ink cartridge. Also, make sure you are using a genuine EPSON ink cartridge which has an EPSON label on top of it. If the EPSON label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. Using an ink cartridge which does not have the EPSON label on it may damage the printer. If you have already installed a cartridge which is missing the EPSON label, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its EPSON label at the time it was installed, and now head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, your printer may require a service.

How do I install the ink cartridge?

If this is the first ink cartridge that has ever been installed into the printer, then the print heads will automatically move slightly to the left when the printer's power is turned on. Otherwise, if either of the printer's ink out lights are flashing or solid, then hold down the cleaning button for three seconds. If neither of the ink out lights are solid or flashing, then hold down the load/eject Button for three seconds. The print heads will have moved slightly to the left and the power light will be flashing at this point. Remove the yellow tape seal from the ink cartridge and install it. Do not remove the EPSON label from the top of the ink cartridge. The ink in a cartridge missing the EPSON label will be exposed to air and will thicken such that print head clogging and possible print head failure can occur. If the EPSON label has been removed from the ink cartridge, the cartridge will not function correctly and it will need to be replaced. More importantly, to avoid potential damage to the printer, do not install the cartridge if the EPSON label has been removed. Lower the ink cartridge clamp, pushing down on the clamp until it locks into place. Press the same button you initially pressed to move to print heads to the left, or if this is the first ink cartridge installation press the cleaning button. The printer will now begin charging the ink delivery system. When the printer is done charging, the Power light will stop flashing. Detailed instructions and illustrations can be found in your printer documentation.

The black and/or color Ink Out light is flashing or on. What does this mean?

If the light is flashing, the ink supply is getting low and you will need to replace the cartridge soon. If the light is on solid, the ink cartridge is completely empty and will need to be replaced in order to continue printing. Make sure you only remove the yellow tape seal from the top of any ink cartridge you install into the printer. If the EPSON label has been removed from the ink cartridge, the cartridge will not function correctly and it will need to be replaced. More importantly, to avoid potential damage to the printer, do not install the cartridge if the EPSON label has been removed.

Why are the colors in my image incorrect?

Due to the fact that your monitor and printer use different technologies to represent colors, your printed colors cannot exactly match the colors you see on your monitor screen. Check the ink setting in the printer driver and make sure it is set to Color, not Black. Make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper or media loaded. Let the printer driver automatically select other settings for the best quality. Check to see that the paper is loaded correctly by removing the paper and reloading it, making sure that the printable side is face up. You can also adjust various color settings in your printer driver and possibly your application software to correct color problems in your image. Also, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, print a nozzle check and examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, clean the print heads by running the head cleaning utility in the printer driver. Then, print another nozzle check. A nozzle check and head cleaning must be performed as a cycle in order for the cleaning cycles to work. If there are still gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 6 cycles if necessary. If the nozzle check is not printing completely, and if the head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, try replacing the ink cartridge. Any ink cartridge installed into the printer must have an EPSON label on top of it. If the EPSON label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. Using an ink cartridge which does not have the EPSON label on it may damage the printer. If you have already installed a cartridge which is missing the EPSON label, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its EPSON label at the time it was installed, and now head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, your printer may require a service.

When I print from Appleworks 5.0.3 / 5.0.4 or Word 98 from my Macintosh (PowerMac / G3 / G4 / iMac / DV iMac) to my EPSON Stylus Color/Photo inkjet printer, some of the text is cut off on the right edge. What can I do to correct this?

Follow the steps below to correct the issue of characters clipping from Appleworks and Word 98.

Appleworks:

1) Open document.
2) Click on Edit, then Preferences.
3) Topic should be set to Text.
4) Under the Options, enable "Fractional Character Widths".
5) Click OK and print the document.
6) When the file is saved, it will save the setting along with it.

Word 98:

1) Open document.
2) Click on Tools, then Preferences.
3) Click on the Print tab.
4) Under the options for current document only, select "Fractional Widths".
5) Click OK and print the document.
6) When the file is saved, it will save the setting along with it.