Printer Software Functions / For Users of Mac OS 8.6 to 9.x

Using the Printer Utilities

EPSON StatusMonitor
Nozzle Check
Head Cleaning
Print Head Alignment
Configuration

EPSON printer utilities allow you to check the current status of this product and to perform the maintenance from your computer.

To use the utilities, click the Utility icon button in the Print or Page Setup dialog box, then click the button for the utility that you want to use.

Note:

Do not use the Nozzle Check, Head Cleaning, or Print Head Alignment utilities while printing is in progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.

Refer to the appropriate section below.

EPSON StatusMonitor

The StatusMonitor utility monitors the status of this product. If it detects an error, it will inform you with an error message.

You can also use this utility to check how much ink is remaining before printing.

To use the StatusMonitor, click the EPSON StatusMonitor button in the Utility dialog box. For details, see Using EPSON StatusMonitor.

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Nozzle Check

The Nozzle Check utility checks the print head nozzles for clogging. Check the nozzles if you notice print quality has declined and after cleaning to confirm that the print head nozzles have been cleared. If the nozzle check indicates the print head needs cleaning, you can access the Head Cleaning utility directly from the Nozzle Check utility. For details, see Checking the Print Head Nozzles.

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Head Cleaning

The Head Cleaning utility cleans the print head. You may need to clean the print head if you notice print quality has declined. Use the Nozzle Check utility first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. For details, see Cleaning the Print Head.

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Print Head Alignment

The Print Head Alignment utility can be used to improve the print quality of your documents. The alignment of the print head may need to be adjusted if vertical lines should appear out of alignment or if white or black or dark or light banding noise should appear in your documents. Follow the on-screen instructions for using this utility.

Through this utility the printer will output four different types of test patterns as follows that are used to check the print head alignment.

Black vertical alignment sheet

Color vertical alignment sheet

Black horizontal alignment sheet

Color horizontal alignment sheet

Click Skip in the Print Head Alignment dialog box to skip the alignment that you do not need.

The following images are examples of the black vertical alignment sheet that will be output by the product first.

From each pattern on the printed test sheet, choose the vertical line that is aligned best. For each pattern, select the corresponding line number from the appropriate drop-down list box in the Print Head Alignment dialog box, then click Next. The new settings will be put into effect.

Note:

If you cannot find a line which is aligned correctly, select the number of the line which is the closest to being correct and click Realignment. The lines you selected will be reset to the center (number 8) position and the alignment test sheet will be printed again.

Click Print in the Print Head Alignment dialog box, then the color vertical alignment sheet will be output. In the same way as using the black vertical alignment sheet, select the line number for each of four patterns, which is corresponding to the vertical line that is aligned best in the color vertical alignment sheet, in the Print Head Alignment dialog box. Then click Next. The new settings will be put into effect.

Click Print in the Print Head Alignment dialog box, then the black horizontal alignment sheet will be output. The following are examples of the black horizontal alignment sheet.

Look for a pattern that does not contain any black or white banding. Next, find the corresponding pattern number from the drop-down list box in the Print Head Alignment dialog box. Click Next. The new settings will be put into effect.

Note:

If all of the patterns contain banding, select the pattern with the least amount of banding and click Realignment. The selected pattern will be shifted to the center position and a new alignment sheet will be printed.

Click Print in the Print Head Alignment dialog box, then the color horizontal alignment sheet will be output. In the same way as using the black horizontal alignment sheet, select the pattern number, which is corresponding to the pattern that does not contain any dark or light banding in the color horizontal alignment sheet, in the Print Head Alignment dialog box. Then click Finish. The new settings will be put into effect.

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Configuration

Click this button to open the Configuration dialog box, where you can change the method by which the StatusMonitor utility notifies you when the status of this product changes. For details, see Using the Configuration Settings dialog box.

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