Epson Stylus Color 880i

Product Controls

Power Button - Turns power on and off. It is important to use the printer's Power button rather than a power strip to control power to the printer.

Cleaning Button - Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the black and color ink out lights are off. Press and hold the cleaning button for three seconds. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the printer makes some noise and the power light flashes. When the cleaning cycle is complete, the power light will stop flashing.

Load/Eject Button - Loads or ejects paper in the printer.

Printer Test - You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer itself or some other source. Follow these steps to run the printer check:

1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.
2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
4. Hold down the load/eject button, then press and release the power button. Continue holding down the load/eject button until the power light starts to flash, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, ink counter, and a nozzle check pattern. If the pattern has gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head.
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on your printer and computer. If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. If the check page doesn't print, you may have a problem with your printer.

How does Micro Piezo technology compare to thermal technology?

Epson's Micro Piezo (M.P.) technology outperforms thermal technologies in all areas: pressure method - electromechanical (M.P.) vs. boiling (thermal), print head life - permanent (M.P.) vs. disposable (thermal), ink flexibility range - wide (M.P.) vs. limited (thermal), potential for improvement - significant (M.P.) vs. limited (thermal). Micro Piezo technology provides the highest resolution, smallest dot size, precise dot volume, precise dot shape, precise dot placement, and fastest head firing times. Thermal technology creates satellites and misting which Micro Piezo technology eliminates.

What is the proper way to turn off the printer?

Make sure that whenever you turn off the printer, you are always using the printer's power button. This will assure that the print head is properly parked in the correct position. Never use an external switch, such as a power strip, surge protector, or power protector, to turn off the printer. It can be harmful to your printer if you turn the printer off using an external switch.

Which ink cartridges does the Stylus COLOR 880i use?

The EPSON Stylus Color 880i printer uses the following black and color ink cartridges. Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the expiration date on the package:

Black ink cartridge T019201 (U.S.), T019311 (Canada)
Color ink cartridge T020201 (U.S.), T020311 (Canada)

Can I use the cleaning sheets that I may find included with any special media I purchase?

No. These sheets can jam and damage the printer.

Can I use sheet labels with this printer?

Yes, EPSON makes Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets. To avoid paper jams, only load one Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet at a time. Also, set the Media Type in the printer driver to the "Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper" setting.

What is the correct way to load transparency paper?

Before loading the transparency, place the included support sheet or a sheet of plain paper beneath the transparency (or beneath the stack of transparencies if you are loading more than one). You can load up to 10 transparencies at a time, but if you have more than one transparency loaded, the minimum top margin you can use is 1.2 inches. Also, you may get better results by loading one sheet at a time. Insert the transparency sheet making sure that the notch is at the top right side of the sheet. Remember to choose the correct Media Type setting in the printer driver software. Please refer to your User's Guide for detailed information.

What are the system requirements for using this printer?

PC Compatible

• An IBM (r) compatible PC with at least a 486/25 MHz (for Windows 95 or Windows NT (r) 4.0) or 486/66 MHz (for Windows 98 or Windows 2000) Pentium (r) or better processor
• Microsoft (r) Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000
• 16MB of RAM (32MB for Windows 95 or Windows 98 recommended; 64MB recommended for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000)
• 50MB of free hard disk space (100MB or more recommended)
• VGA or better display adapter and monitor
• CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer software
• Parallel connection: a high-speed, bidirectional IEEE 1284 compliant parallel cable, up to 10 feet long (3 meters); the cable must have a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for your computer, and a 36-pin, Centronics (r) compatible connector for the printer.
• USB connection: a computer running Windows 98 or Windows 2000, with a Windows-compliant USB port and a shielded USB "AB" cable up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. Using an improperly shielded USB cable-especially a cable more than 6.5 feet (2 meters) long may cause the printer to malfunction.

An Apple (r) iMac (tm) series or Power Macintosh (r) G3 with USB port

• An Apple (r) iMac (tm) series or Power Macintosh (r) G3 or G4 with USB port
• For iMac: Mac (r) OS 8.5 or later (Mac OS 8.5.1 or later recommended)
• For Power Macintosh G3 or later: Mac OS 8.5.1 or later
• 16MB of available RAM (more recommended)
• 50MB of free hard disk space (100MB recommended)
• VGA display or better
• CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer software
• A shielded USB "AB" cable up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. Using an improperly shielded USB cable-especially a cable more than 6.5 feet (2 meters) long-may cause the printer to malfunction.

If your iMac is running OS 8.1, you need to upgrade your operating system before installing your printer software. To find out which operating system your iMac is running, select About This Computer from the Apple menu. If you're running OS 8.5 or 8.5.1 on your iMac, Apple recommends that you install iMac Update 1.1. Download the update for your system from Apple's website.

What do I do if I see a "New Hardware Found" window before I install my printer software using Microsoft Windows 95/98?

Cancel the window by clicking on "Do not install a driver" and then "OK". You cannot install the printer driver software by using the "New Hardware Found" window.

How do I install the driver from the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880i CD-ROM in Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 with a parallel connection?

1. Insert the EPSON printer software CD in your CD-ROM Drive
2. Click "Start", Select "Run", and type "D:\EPSON.exe" (Where D is your CD-ROM drive letter)
3. Then click "OK"
4. You will see the License Agreement window. Read the agreement and click "Agree"
5. Select Install Printer Driver from the Main Menu screen.
6. Click "OK" on the EPSON Printer Utility Setup screen.
7. Click "OK when setup is complete.
8. Return to the main menu screen to install your Creative Software.

What should I do if my computer locked up during installation in Windows 95 or Windows 98 and the "Installing Printer Driver" dialog box does not close as normal

If a previous Epson Printer Driver was installed in the system it could cause the installation of the new printer to hang.

If you find that the "Installing Printer Driver" dialog box does not close after 1 minute, use the following procedure to complete the driver installation:

1. To determine if you do have a lock up, Press the Ctrl+Alt+Del buttons on your keyboard and examine the EPSON Printer Utility Setup task. If it shows that the task is Not Responding, then your installation has locked up. If this is the case procede to step 2 otherwise your installation has not locked up and should complete normally.
2. Highlight the E_srcv0x task in the list, where x is 1, 2 or 3.
3. Click the "End Task" button to stop the E_ srcv0x task. The installation should complete normally.

How do I remove the printer driver from Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/2000?

1. Double-click My Computer, then double-click the Control Panel icon.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Click EPSON Printer Software in the program list, and click the Add/Remove button (Change/Remove button on Windows 2000).
3. In the next window, make sure your EPSON Stylus COLOR 880i printer icon is selected and click OK. Then follow the on-screen instructions.
4. If you're using the USB port, click EPSON USB Printer Devices in the program list; then click the Add/Remove (or Change/Remove) button.
5. Restart your computer when you're done.

How do I install a printer driver from the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880i CD-ROM on a Macintosh with USB connection?

A USB "AB" cable is required.

1. Turn off your printer.
2. Turn on your computer and wait until you see the Macintosh desktop icons.
3. Turn on your printer.
4. Insert your printer software CD into your CD-ROM drive
5. Double-click on the EPSON Icon
6. Click "Agree" to the license agreement.
7. Click 'Continue' at the first screen.
8. At the installer screen, click 'Install' and follow the on-screen instructions to install your printer software, select your default paper size, click "OK" and restart your system.
9. You need to select your printer in the Chooser Setup.
10. Open the Apple menu and click 'Chooser'.
11. Click the Stylus Color 880i icon, "USB Port1 or 2" should appear as your printer port.
12.Turn on background printing, if you want to use it. Then close the chooser.

How do I uninstall the printer driver from my Macintosh?

1. Insert your printer software CD-ROM. When the CD-ROM window opens, double-click the EPSON icon.
2. Click Install Printer Driver.
3. On the installer screen, click the arrow in the Easy Install list at the top and select Uninstall. Then click the Uninstall button at the bottom and follow the instructions. When you're finished, click Quit.
4. Restart your Macintosh.

How do I install my ink cartridge for the first time?

First Ink Cartridge Installation (takes approximately two minutes). Turn the printer on. The power light will flash, the ink out lights will come on, and the ink cartridge holders will automatically move left to the installation position. Remove the yellow tape seals from the black and color ink cartridges. Do not remove the blue label from the top of either ink cartridge. If the blue label has been removed from an ink cartridge, the cartridge will not function correctly and it will need to be replaced Install the cartridges into the printer. Make sure the labels on the ink cartridges are facing up. The black ink cartridge goes on the left and the color ink cartridge goes on the right. Once the ink cartridges have been inserted into their holders, push down the ink cartridge clamps until they lock in place, and then press the cleaning button to begin charging the ink delivery system. Charging can take up to two minutes and is complete when the power light stops flashing. With the new IEEE-1284.4, D4 mode parallel port technology and the Status Monitor 3, you can connect the printer to the PC and the Status Monitor 3 will walk you through the initial cartridge installation. This only works for the first cartridge installation.

How do I replace an ink cartridge when an ink low or out condition occurs?

To install a replacement ink cartridge, power off and on the printer. Raise the printer cover, then press down the paper feed load/eject button until the print heads move to the left. Unclamp and remove the old ink cartridge. Open the new cartridge packaging and remove the yellow tape seal from the new ink cartridge. Do not remove the blue label from the top of the ink cartridge. Install the new ink cartridge and press the paper feed button to begin charging the ink delivery system. Charging takes about two minutes and is complete when the power light stops flashing.

I installed new ink cartridges and the printer is now doing continuous cleaning cycles. Is there something wrong with my printer?

When an ink cartridge is installed into the printer, it will take approximately 2 minutes to charge the ink system and initialize the printer. While the ink is charging the power light will flash. Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing (unless the power light is flashing AND the printer has not moved or made noise for over 5 minutes). This initialization is a normal and necessary process.

The colors of my image on my monitor do not match the output from my printer. What is wrong?

First you must have an understanding of how color is produced. A monitor displays color by transmitting Red, Green and Blue (RGB) light into your eyes. A printer uses existing light to reflect Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK (CYMK) light into your eyes. It is virtually impossible to have these two different color types (transmissive and reflective) to match perfectly. Also, due to its transmissive nature, the monitor is able to display a much wider range of colors than a reflective product, such as a piece of paper with ink on it.

Secondly, most monitors are not calibrated for correct color display out of the box, they have to be calibrated to produce accurate colors. Adobe PhotoShop includes a basic monitor calibrator to do this; it is the Adobe Gamma utility. This utility is contained in the Control Panel in Windows and on the Macintosh. Some of the higher-end monitor calibrators use a suction cup device that sticks on the monitor and reads a range of colors displayed on the monitor. These hardware/software combination devices create much more accurate color profiles than the strictly software solutions.

Also, what type of color matching system (CMS) are you using when printing your image? The color matching system can greatly affect the output color of your image. For information on how to use the various color management system available, please check the CMS user documentation or the website of the manufacturer.

To ensure that the images your Epson Color printer produces are as close as possible to the images displayed on your monitor you should do the following:

• Calibrate your monitor
• Experiment with various Color Management Systems
• Try using the ICM (Windows 95 or 98) or ColorSync (Macintosh) setting

The quality of my printed output is unacceptable. What can I do to improve this?

First verify that you are using the correct printer driver for your printer model. Make sure that the printer's paper thickness lever is set to 0 for regular paper and + for envelopes or thicker media: If MicroWeave is off, turn this feature on in advanced settings. 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.

Secondly verify that the printable side of the paper is face up, and check the type of paper being used. EPSON brand paper, which is specifically designed for the Stylus ink jet series of printers, delivers the best-printed output. If your output is faint, check the printer driver to make sure you have selected a print resolution other than Economy. 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.

Also, try testing the printer to another computer. 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.

How do you select the correct media type?

Your printer automatically adjusts itself for the type of paper you select in your printer software. That's why the Media Type setting is so important. It tells your printer what kind of paper you're using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly. Before you print, always check your Media Type setting.

Only garbled text is printing. Why?

The interface cable may not be securely connected. Turn off the printer and computer. Disconnect and reconnect the cable on both the printer and computer. Make sure the printer is directly connected to the computer and not through a pass through device such as a switchbox. Make sure the printer cable is fully-shielded and meets the printer's specifications (a fully shielded IEEE-1284.4, D4 mode, compliant parallel cable is recommended with a length of 6 feet or less if you are using a PC). Try printing a screen from a DOS prompt. If the DOS print screen is garbled, try using a different printer cable. If you are only experiencing the issue when trying to print from Windows (but the DOS print screen prints OK), make sure you are using the correct driver. Select the Stylus COLOR 880i as your default printer driver. Check for and delete any stalled print jobs.

Note: D4 Mode of the parallel interface must be disabled (OFF) in order to print from DOS or Windows 3.x. Please read the next question and answer for instructions.

How can I print using Windows 3.x, DOS applications or from the DOS prompt with this printer?

D4 Mode of the parallel interface must be disabled (OFF) in order to print from Windows 3.x or DOS. Take the following steps to set the D4 Mode.

1. Turn on the printer while holding down the Cleaning button.
2. The paper out light will start blinking.
3. Release the Cleaning button and immediately press the Load/Eject button and hold it for about 20 seconds.
4. The Paper Out, Color Ink Out and Black Ink Out LED's will light.
5. Release the Load/Eject Button.
6. Press the Cleaning Button and observe the LED conditions as follows to select the desired D4 Mode:

Paper Out LED - ON = D4 Mode ON
Black Ink Out LED - ON = D4 Mode OFF
Color Ink Out LED - ON = D4 Mode AUTO

NOTE: Be sure to set the D4 Mode to AUTO for normal operation.

I'm having problems printing from an iMac OS 8.1 system. What is wrong?

Make sure you have the latest iMac ROM update installed from Apple. 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.

How can I increase my print speed from my PC?

Verify that your system meets the system requirements. The print speed is dependent upon the amount of RAM in your system, the type and speed of your computer's processor, and the amount of free hard drive space and degree of fragmentation of hard drive space in your computer.

Verify that you are using the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880i driver. Increasing or maximizing physical RAM, lowering the print resolution, and if you are printing multiple copies of the same document, activate the "High Speed" option in the printer driver settings. If you're using single plain paper to print, check that the printer's blue paper thickness lever is set to the (Ø) position and not to the (+) position for envelopes. Close any background applications that are running. On a PC creating a unique spool directory improves printing performance by eliminating spooling conflicts within Windows. If your computer supports ECP/DMA mode, it should be enabled for maximum print speeds (see your computer documentation for details).

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, make sure your program settings are correct.

Can I still use the printer to print black only if the color cartridge is empty.

You cannot print if either ink cartridge is empty. Leave the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement. Otherwise the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out. It's best to always have an extra cartridge on hand.

When I try to print in Windows 95 or 98, the message "The printer is out of paper" or "The printer is off-line" appears in the despooler. What do I do?

Examine the printer's control panel to make sure the printer does not show a paper out error. Also, the interface cable may not be securely connected. Turn off the printer and computer. Disconnect and reconnect the cable on both the printer and computer. Make sure the printer cable is fully shielded and meets the printer's specifications. Try printing a screen from a DOS prompt. If the DOS print screen does not print or is garbled, try using a different printer cable (a Belkin cable with a length of 6 feet or less is recommended).

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 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 again 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 a service.

The power light is on, but nothing prints. What should I do?

Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the printer cable is securely connected to the printer and computer ports. Turn on the printer and computer and try printing again. If the cable was not the issue, turn off the printer and computer, disconnect the interface cable and run a nozzle check. If the nozzle check works, try checking for and deleting any stalled print jobs.

The printer sounds like it is printing, but no ink is on the paper. What's wrong?

The print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check must be performed as a cycle. After printing a nozzle check, 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, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 3 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.

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, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check must be performed as a cycle. After printing a nozzle check, 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, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 3 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.

Vertical lines are not aligned or vertical banding appears. How do I align the print head on my printer?

First make sure you are using the most current version of the printer driver, which is available on the EPSON web site. To align the print head, make sure a high quality ink jet paper is loaded and the printer has power. Access the "Utility" tab (if you are using Windows) or click the "Utility" button (if you are using a Macintosh) located in your printer driver settings. Click the Print Head Alignment icon and follow the instructions on the screen. Make sure the #8 alignment pattern is aligned perfectly. If not, choose one of the other alignment pattern numbers with the most perfect alignment and reprint the alignment sheet. Make sure to use the printer's power switch to turn off the printer, otherwise the settings will not be saved.

If you have already tried to align the print head and did not have any success, try turning high speed off in the printer driver settings. Also, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the head cleaning section found in the Utility section of the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check pattern must be performed as a cycle. After printing a nozzle check pattern, 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, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 3 cycles if necessary.

What should I do if the printed image has horizontal banding?

Make sure the Media Type settings in the driver match the paper type you're using. Make sure that the paper is loaded with the printable side (whiter) face up. Check if either of the ink out lights are flashing (ink low). If an ink out light is flashing (ink low), change appropriate cartridge. If no ink out light are flashing (ink low) or on, try cleaning the print head, Check that the paper thickness lever is set to the correct position for the type of paper you are using. See the Media Loading and Handling Guidelines section in your users guide for details.

How can I stop the printer from feeding multiple pages at the same time?

Make sure the paper you are using meets specifications (see paper specifications in the Appendix of your User's Guide). Remove the stack of paper and fan the edges to separate the sheets. Reload the paper, then press the Load/Eject button to see if it feeds the paper correctly.

Sometimes the paper doesn't eject all the way or is wrinkled. What should I do?

Make sure the correct paper size is selected in your application and/or printer software. If the paper doesn't eject fully, it may be too long for the printer. If the paper is wrinkled, the paper may be damp or too thin. Check the paper specifications in the Appendix of your User's Guide for ranges of paper size and thickness you can print with, as well as environmental requirements for storage.

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). 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.

The printer does not have a Data light. How do I know when the printer is receiving information?

The Power light functions as the Data light. When the Power light flashes, the printer is processing information from the computer. When the Power light remains solid, the printer has completed the print job and is ready to receive another.

If I want to clear the printer's memory, what should I do?

Make sure that you cancel the print job from the computer before you try to clear the printer's memory. Also, make sure the printer is no longer printing. After canceling the print job from the computer, turn the printer off, wait 10 seconds, and then turn on the printer again.

Why does the image look inverted, as if viewed in a mirror?

You may have accidentally used the "Flip Horizontal" option in the printer driver or a similar feature in your application. Turn off the setting in the printer driver and/or software application and try printing again.

The paper out light is flashing. What's wrong?

This indicates a paper jam. Remove all paper from the printer, and then reload the paper. Make sure the paper is pushed against the right edge guide, and slide the left edge guide against the other side of the paper. Then, press the load/eject button.

Why are all the lights on the printer flashing?

When all the lights flash, that indicates a maintenance request.

All lights are off. Why won't the printer initialize?

The printer may not be receiving any power. Turn the printer off. Remove the interface cable from the back of the printer, unplug the power cord, plug it back into the outlet, and try turning the power on again. If you still do not get power to the printer, try another outlet. Make sure the outlets you are connecting to are not controlled by a switch or timer and are able to operate other equipment.

The black or color Ink Out light is flashing or on solid.

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.