Epson Stylus Pro 7880 User Manual

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Your print appears blurry or 
smeared.◗Make sure the Media Type setting in the printer software is correct.
◗If you’re printing on non-Epson media, you may need to adjust the paper 
thickness setting, drying time, or color density. Use your printer software 
(page 87 for Mac OS X or page 113 for Windows) to choose the correct 
setting. When you’re done printing with a custom paper configuration, be 
sure to return the setting to standard (STD). 
◗Your paper doesn’t meet the required specifications or wasn’t stored in a 
dry, humidity-free environment. Load new paper.
◗If you’re using cut sheet media, make sure the printable side is face up.
◗Ink has leaked into the paper path. Wipe the paper path area of the printer 
with a soft, clean cloth. See page 156 for cleaning instructions.
◗Turn off the High Speed setting.
◗The PLATEN GAP setting is too narrow. Use the control panel to change the 
setting to WIDE or WIDER. See page 68 for instructions.
◗Run a nozzle check and cleaning cycle (see page 135).
◗You may need to uninstall and reinstall the printer driver (see page 178).
The bottom edge of your 
print is smeared.◗The paper is curled toward the printable side. Flatten the paper or curl it 
toward the other side. 
◗Make sure the Media Type setting in your printer software is correct.
◗If you’re printing on non-Epson media, you may need to adjust the paper 
thickness setting or drying time. Use your printer software (page 87 for Mac 
OS X or page 113 for Windows) to choose the correct setting. When you’re 
done printing with a custom paper configuration, be sure to return the 
setting to standard (STD). 
◗If printing on thick paper, the PLATEN GAP setting may be incorrect. Use the 
control panel to change the setting to WIDE or WIDER; see page 68.
ProblemSolution 
 
						

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Solving Operational Problems
If you can’t turn the printer on, if it stops printing unexpectedly, or if 
nothing prints, check the following: 
Paper is loaded correctly. 
The printer is plugged securely into a working electrical outlet that’s not 
controlled by a switch or timer.
The interface cable is securely connected to the printer and your system.
The voltage supplied by the electrical outlet matches the voltage on the 
printer’s rating label. If not, turn off the power and unplug the power 
cord immediately. Contact Epson for assistance; see page 13 for details.
If none of these suggestions help, try the solutions below.
ProblemSolution
The printer stops printing 
unexpectedly.◗If the  Pause light is flashing, the printer is performing a maintenance 
procedure or waiting for ink to dry. Check the display message and lights on 
the control panel. Wait until the  Pause light stops flashing.
◗Check the display message and lights on the control panel to see if an error 
has occurred. Follow the instructions for the messages beginning on 
page 164.
The printer sounds as if it’s 
printing, but nothing prints.◗Follow the instructions beginning on page 135 to clean the print head.
◗Communication between the computer and printer may have been 
momentarily interrupted. Try restarting the computer and printing again.
Nothing prints. ◗Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the interface cable is securely 
plugged in. Then restart the printer and computer.
◗Make sure the interface cable meets the requirements; see page 13 or 14.
◗The printer port setting doesn’t match the printer connection port 
(Windows).
Windows Vista: Click   > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > 
Printers. Right-click the icon for your printer, then select Properties. Click 
the Ports tab and make sure your printer port is selected
Windows XP: Click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware 
> Printers and Faxes. Right-click the icon for your printer, then select 
Properties. Click the Ports tab and make sure your printer port is selected.
◗Download and install the latest driver for Macintosh or Windows from the 
Epson website at www.proimaging.epson.com.
 
						

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Solving Miscellaneous Printing Problems
If your printouts are not what you expected, try the suggestions below:
ProblemSolution
Your print has incorrect or 
garbled characters.◗Make sure your software is installed correctly and the printer is selected. 
◗Clear any stalled print jobs from the Printer Setup Utility (Mac OS X). 
◗Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the interface cable is securely 
plugged in at both ends.
Your print has incorrect 
margins.◗Check the page size or paper size settings in your application. Make sure 
they are within the printer’s printable area.
◗Make sure the Paper Size and Borderless settings in your printer software 
are correct for the paper you’re using.
◗Paper is loaded incorrectly. Follow the instructions beginning on page 45 to 
reload the paper. 
◗The ROLL PAPER MARGIN setting on the PRINTER SETUP menu is 
incorrect. See page 206for more information.
Your image is inverted.◗Turn off the Flip Horizontal or Mirror Image setting in your printer software. 
See page 84 (Mac OS X) or page 109 (Windows) for instructions. 
Blank paper is printed.◗Make sure your software is installed correctly and the printer is selected. 
◗Make sure the Paper Size setting in your printer software is correct for the 
paper you’re using. 
◗Make sure the Paper Source setting in your printer software is correct. 
A ruled line on your print 
appears to shift.◗Align the print head as described on page 139.
◗Run a nozzle check and cleaning cycle; see page 135.
Color images print in black 
only.◗Make sure the Color setting is correct in your printer software.
The printer continues to feed 
paper after you have 
cancelled a job.◗Press the  Pause button on the printer to clear any print job data in the 
printer’s buffer. Then press and hold the  Pause button to reset the printer.
◗Make sure the paper source is set correctly.
Roll paper cannot be cut.◗The paper cutter blade may be dull. Follow the instructions on page 151 to 
replace the blade.
◗The paper may be too thick to cut with the built-in cutter. Cut the paper with 
scissors. See page 56 for a list of media that cannot be used with the cutter.
◗Make sure   appears on the LCD display. If not, press the 
lPaper 
Source button to select this setting. Also check the Auto Cut settings in your 
printer software.
 
						

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Solving Paper Problems
If paper feed or paper jam problems occur frequently, try one or more of the 
following solutions:
For roll paper, try adjusting the Paper Suction setting. See page 74 for 
more information. You can also adjust this setting through your printer 
driver.
For heavy or thick media, follow the instructions on page 65 to load the 
media correctly.
Make sure the paper is not folded, wrinkled, or damp.
Make sure the printer’s environment falls within the required 
temperature and humidity range.
Make sure the paper is not too thick or too thin. See page 45, page 182, 
and page 184 for paper specifications.
Make sure no foreign objects are inside the paper path.
Make sure the printer isn’t located in a brightly lit area. The paper 
sensors may not operate correctly.
Make sure the Media Type and Paper Source settings in the printer 
software are correct.
Make sure the PLATEN GAP setting is correct for the paper or media 
you’re printing on. See page 68 for more information.
If you’re not using Epson media, use a paper configuration to adjust for 
the paper’s thickness and drying time; see page 74.
Printing is too slow. ◗Turn on the High Speed setting.
◗Choose a lower resolution in your printer software for faster printing.
◗Clear space on your hard drive or run a defragmentation utility. 
◗Don’t run too many applications at the same time. 
◗Turn off virtual memory.
◗Add RAM to your system.
◗Consider upgrading your system to support USB 2.0.
ProblemSolution
 
						

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Fixing Paper Eject Problems
If the paper is curled too tightly to eject properly, you can attach the paper 
guides to the printer. There are two paper guides for the Epson Stylus 
Pro 7880 and five for the Pro 9880.
Attach the guides to the bottom of the printer as shown:
Do one of the following:
If you are feeding paper in front of the printer, 
move the guides to the forward position.
Epson Stylus Pro 7880 Epson Stylus Pro 9880
 
						

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If you are feeding paper backward (under the printer), gently squeeze the 
paper guides and push them to the backward position, as shown below:
Clearing Paper Jams
When roll paper gets jammed in the printer, printing stops and you see a 
PAPER JAM message on the LCD display. Follow these steps to clear a 
paper jam:
1. Cut the paper at the paper insertion slot.
2. Release the paper lever.
Note: If banding appears 
on your print, leave the 
paper guides in the 
forward position.
Caution: To avoid 
damaging the printer, 
never move the paper 
lever while the PPower 
light is flashing.
 
						

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3. Open the front cover if necessary.
4. Carefully pull down the jammed paper.
Caution: Do not touch the area shown below or you may damage the 
printer.
5. Close the front cover, if necessary. Press the PPower button to turn the 
printer off and then back on.
6. Make sure the bPaper
 light is on and the following message appears on 
the LCD display: 
PAPER OUT. LOAD PAPER. Then reload your 
paper.
 
						

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Solving Problems With the Optional Auto 
Take-Up Reel
If you have problems using the optional Auto Take-Up Reel, try these 
solutions:
Make sure you turned the printer off and then on again after installing 
the Auto Take-Up Reel, and that the cable is securely connected to both 
the printer and Auto Take-Up Reel.
Make sure there is enough slack in the roll paper as it feeds paper to 
ensure that it interrupts the sensor so the Auto Take-Up Reel can turn. 
See page 193 for details.
Make sure the Auto switch is set for the direction in which you loaded 
the paper to be taken up. See page 198 for details.
Make sure you pressed the printer’s lPaper Source button to select 
(Auto Cut Off).
If the Sensor light flashes slowly when you are not printing, the sensor 
may be misaligned or there may be an obstacle in the sensor’s beam. 
Make sure nothing is impeding the sensor’s beam and adjust the sensor, 
if necessary. See page 199 for instructions.
If the Sensor light is flashing rapidly, the Auto Take-Up Reel is locked. 
Turn the printer off, then turn it on again to unlock it.
If the Sensor light is off, the Auto Take-Up Reel may be turned off or 
the sensor cables may be disconnected. See page 199 to locate the 
sensors and check to make sure the cables are connected securely.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Printer Driver
If you need to uninstall and then reinstall the printer driver software for any 
reason, follow the instructions in the appropriate section below. 
Macintosh
1. Open the Applications folder, then the Utilities folder.
2. Double-click 
Printer Setup Utility, select your printer, and then click 
Delete.
 
						

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3. If you want to reinstall your printer software, restart your Macintosh. 
Then follow the instructions in the Printer Guide to install the software.
Windows
1. Do one of the following
Windows Vista: Click   
> Control Panel > Uninstall a program. 
Select 
EPSON Printer Software in the program list.
Windows XP: Click 
Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove 
Programs. 
Select EPSON Printer Software in the program list and 
click 
Change/Remove.
2. Select your printer icon and click 
OK. Follow the on-screen instructions 
to uninstall your software. 
3. If you want to reinstall your printer software, restart your computer. 
Then follow the instructions in the Printer Guide to install the software. 
Tip: Check the Epson 
Pro Imaging website at 
www.proimaging.epson.
com for updated drivers 
and utilities that may 
become available.
 
						

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