Epson Stylus Pro 7900 User Manual

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The Epson Stylus Pro 7900 and Pro 9900 require little maintenance to keep 
working at their best. This chapter describes the following routine 
procedures:
Checking printer status 
Checking and cleaning the print head
Aligning the print head
Replacing ink cartridges
Changing the date and time
Performing additional maintenance tasks
Replacing the paper cutter blade
Replacing the maintenance tank
Cleaning the printer
Transporting or storing the printer
In addition to the features described in this chapter, you can also use the 
menu system on the printer to fine-tune a variety of printer settings. For 
more information, see the electronic User’s Guide included on the CD-ROM 
that came with your printer. 
Checking Printer Status
Using the control panel, you can check the amount of ink remaining, the 
total number of prints, and the status of your maintenance tank(s), and other 
information. You can print out a status check (described in the next section), 
or view the printer’s status on the LCD display (see page 152) or a printer 
driver screen (see page 153). 
Chapter 5: 
Maintaining 
and 
Transporting 
the Printer
 
						

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Printing Status Information
The status check sheet shows some of the current default settings, the page 
count, and the status of the maintenance tank. 
1. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
2. Press r 
Menu. 
3. Press d to select 
TEST PRINT, then press r. 
4. Press d to select 
STATUS SHEET, then press r. 
5. Press 
OK to start printing. 
Viewing Status Information
1. Press r Menu. 
2. Press d to select 
PRINTER STATUS, then press r. 
3. Do one of the following: 
To check the firmware version, press r again. When done, press l.
To check the amount of ink left, press d to select INK LEVEL, then 
press r. The percentage of ink left in the first cartridge is displayed. 
Continue pressing d to see the status of the remaining cartridges. 
When done, press l. 
To check how much capacity the maintenance tank(s) have, press d 
to select 
MAINTENANCE TANK, then press r. The percentage 
remaining for each tank is displayed. As the tank is filled, the 
percentage drops. When done, press l.
To check job history, press d to select JOB HISTORY, then 
pressr. For the last 10 print jobs saved in the printer, you see the 
ink used (in milliliters) and paper used (in square centimeters). The 
most recent job is saved as No. 0. When done, press the l button. 
To check the total number of prints, press d to select TOTAL 
PRINTS
, then press r. When done, press l. 
To check the status of the printer for myEpsonPrinter.com, press d 
to select 
EDM STATUS, then press r. When done, press l.
Note: You can replace 
the ink cartridges, cutter 
blade, and maintenance 
tank yourself. Other 
printer parts need to 
be replaced by an 
authorized Epson service 
technician. 
Note: You can change 
the units of 
measurement from 
centimeters to inches 
and feet using 
maintenance mode on 
the printer’s control 
panel. See page 164 for 
instructions.
 
						

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4. Press   to exit the menu.
For more information about the Printer Status menu, see your on-screen 
User’s Guide.
Checking Printer Status From the Printer Driver
The Epson Status Monitor utility installed with your printer driver lets you 
check the levels of ink in the printer and the level of the maintenance 
tank(s). Follow the steps below to use the utility to check the status.
1. Do one of the following to access the printer utilities:
Mac OS X: Open the EPSON Printer Utility3 in your 
Applications folder. Select your printer and click OK.
Windows Vista: Click  , select Control Panel, select Hardware 
and Sound
, and click Printers. Right-click the icon for your 
printer and select 
Printing Preferences. Click the Utility tab.
Windows XP: Click Start and select Control Panel. Double-click 
Printers and Faxes. Right-click your printer icon and select 
Printing Preferences. Click the Utility tab.
2. Click the 
EPSON Status Monitor 3 icon.
Tip: On a Macintosh, you 
can also run maintenance 
utilities by clicking the 
Utility button in the print 
job window or the  icon 
on the printer settings 
screen.
If you added a shortcut 
icon for your printer to 
the Windows taskbar, 
you can right-click it and 
select any utility you 
want to run. See 
page 150 to add the icon.
 
						

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The software checks the amount of ink in the printer and maintenance 
tank(s) and displays one of these windows:
Checking and Cleaning the Print Head
If your printed image shows a color shift or horizontal lines, you should 
check the print head to see if any nozzles are clogged or deflected. If 
necessary, you can run a cleaning cycle to clear the nozzles.
You can also turn on Auto Nozzle Check from the printer’s control panel. 
The printer will then check the nozzles periodically or before each print job 
and clean them if necessary. 
Running the Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning Utilities
Follow these steps to use your printer software to check the print head 
nozzles and clean them if necessary:
1. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
2. Do one of the following to access the printer utilities:
Mac OS X: Open the EPSON Printer Utility3 in your 
Applications folder. Select your printer and click OK.
Windows Vista: Click  , select Control Panel, select Hardware 
and Sound
, and click Printers. Right-click the icon for your 
printer and select 
Printing Preferences. Click the Utility tab.
Tip: On a Macintosh, you 
can also run maintenance 
utilities by clicking the 
Utility button in the print 
job window or the  icon 
on the printer settings 
screen.
If you added a shortcut 
icon for your printer to 
the Windows taskbar, 
you can right-click it and 
select any utility you 
want to run. See 
page 150 to add the icon.
 
						

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Windows XP: Click Start and select Control Panel. Double-click 
Printers and Faxes. Right-click your printer icon and select 
Printing Preferences. Click the Utility tab.
You see a menu like the following:
3. Select the 
Nozzle Check icon and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. After the pattern is printed, use at least a 10
× eye loupe to examine it. 
If the pattern looks good, as shown below, the print head is clean.
If any dots or segments are missing or deflected, as shown below, 
run a cleaning cycle as described on page 157. Then print another 
nozzle check pattern to make sure the nozzles are clean.
If the nozzles are still clogged after three cleaning cycles, run a power 
cleaning cycle as described on page 157.
Caution: Don’t run a 
cleaning cycle while 
thick media is loaded in 
the printer.
 
						

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Checking and Cleaning the Print Head Using the Control 
Panel
You can print a nozzle check from the control panel and examine it to 
determine whether any nozzles are clogged or deflected. Then you can run a 
cleaning cycle if necessary. 
1. Press r 
Menu. 
2. Press d until 
TEST PRINT is selected, then press r. NOZZLE CHECK is 
selected.
3. Press r
, then press OK to start printing the nozzle check pattern.
4. After the pattern is printed, use at least a 10
× eye loupe to examine it. 
If the pattern looks good, as shown below, the print head is clean.
If any dots or segments are missing or deflected, as shown below, 
run a cleaning cycle as described on page 157. Then print another 
nozzle check pattern to make sure the nozzles are clean.
If the nozzles are still clogged after three cleaning cycles, run a power 
cleaning cycle as described on page 157.
Automatically Checking and Cleaning the Print Head
The printer automatically checks the nozzles and cleans them if necessary. 
You can specify how often you want this to happen or turn this feature off. 
You can also have a nozzle check pattern printed on a regular basis, so you 
can check it yourself.
1. Press r 
Menu. PRINTER SETUP is selected. Press r again.
2. Press d until 
AUTO NOZZLE CHECK is selected, then press r. 
Caution: Don’t run a 
cleaning cycle while 
thick media is loaded in 
the printer.
 
						

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3. Select one of the following, then press OK:
 ON: PERIODICALLY—The printer periodically checks its nozzles 
and runs a cleaning cycle if necessary (default). 
 ON: EVERY JOB—The printer automatically checks its nozzles 
and runs a cleaning cycle if necessary before each print job. This 
process uses a very small amount of ink (and no paper) and is 
recommended if you are running large print jobs unattended. 
—The printer will not perform automatic nozzle checks and 
cleaning cycles.
4. Press 
l, then select PRINT NOZZLE PATTERN and press r.
5. Select 
ON: EVERY PAGE to have the nozzle check pattern printed 
before each print job, or 
ON: EVERY 10 PAGES or OFF. These settings 
take effect only when you print on roll paper. 
6. Press 
OK to save the setting.
Running Cleaning Cycles
You can run several types of cleaning cycles from the control panel (or from 
the Epson LFP Remote Panel2): normal cleaning, power cleaning, and 
cleaning each pair of ink colors. 
Run the power cleaning only if the normal cleaning process is not sufficient 
to clear the nozzles. The power cycle uses a large quantity of ink, so it is 
recommended only as a last resort. 
The cartridges need to be at least 50% full to use power cleaning. You may 
need to replace a low cartridge to run the cleaning cycle. After cleaning, you 
can reinsert the old cartridge.
1. Print a nozzle check to make sure the print head needs cleaning, as 
described on page 156.
2. Make sure the printer is ready and the red B ink 
Check light on the 
printer’s control panel is not on or flashing.
3. Press r 
Menu. 
Caution: Don’t run a 
cleaning cycle while 
thick media is loaded in 
the printer.
 
						

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4. Press d until MAINTENANCE is selected, then press r. 
5. Press d until 
CLEANING is selected, then press r. 
6. Select one of the following, then press r:
 NORMAL CLEANING—Press OK to start the cleaning cycle.
 CLEAN EACH COLOR—Press r, select the color pair you want to 
clean, then press 
OK to start the cleaning cycle.
 POWER CLEANING—Press OK to start the cleaning cycle.
7. When cleaning is finished and the Power light stops flashing, print the 
nozzle check again to confirm that the head is clean.
For effective cleaning, always run a nozzle check between cycles. 
If the pattern is still missing segments or has deflections after a power 
cleaning cycle, turn the printer off and leave it overnight, then clean the 
print head again the following morning with regular cleaning cycles. If 
you still see no improvement, contact Epson for assistance. 
Aligning the Print Head
Aligning the print head is the most important thing you can do to ensure the 
best print quality. If banding appears on your prints, if they look grainy or 
blurry, or if you see misregistration or “ghosting,” you need to align the print 
head. 
Although you can align the print head using the printer utility software, it’s 
also easy to align from the printer’s control panel. This will do the most 
thorough job in the shortest time, and it’s all automatic.
If you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to run a nozzle check before 
aligning the print head (page 156). This ensures that the print head 
alignment patterns print correctly.
Follow these steps to align the print head using the control panel:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on. Then load Epson Enhanced Matte 
paper. 
2. Press r 
Menu. 
Note: You must use at 
least a 10
× eye loupe to 
examine the nozzle check 
pattern for deflected 
nozzles. 
Tip: To properly align the 
print head, you can also 
use Epson Doubleweight 
Matte Paper or Ultra 
Premium Photo Paper 
Luster. 
 
						

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3. Press u or d until HEAD ALIGNMENT is selected, then press r. 
PAPER THICKNESS is selected. 
4. Press r, then select the paper type loaded in the printer and press 
OK.
5. Press l three times, then press d to select 
ALIGNMENT. 
6. Press r to select 
AUTO, then press r again. UNI-D (uni-directional) is 
highlighted. This is the type of alignment to start with.
7. Press r, then press 
OK to start the alignment process.
Each head alignment takes about 7 minutes. The printer’s white beam 
sensor reads the alignment pattern and adjusts the printer automatically. 
Make sure you don’t open the front cover or turn off the printer during 
this process.
8. When the uni-directional alignment is finished, press r. 
9. Select 
HEAD ALIGNMENT, then select ALIGNMENT. 
10. Select 
BI-D ALL and press OK to start the alignment process.
11. When done, press   to exit head alignment mode. 
Replacing Ink Cartridges
Before you begin a large print job, you should check your ink levels. If one of 
your cartridges is low, you can replace it before you start. Or you can wait 
until the ink is expended, replace the cartridge, and then continue the job 
without any loss of print quality. However, it is best to replace a low ink 
cartridge before starting a large print job.
The easiest way to check ink levels is from the control panel LCD display. 
The numbers above the ink icons on the LCD display correspond to the 
11 ink cartridge slots on the printer.
The icons show the approximate amount of ink remaining.Tip: You can store 
partially used ink 
cartridges for up to 
6 months. If you do so, 
Epson recommends 
covering the openings 
with tape.
 
						

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When the red BInk Check light is flashing and INK LOW appears on the 
LCD display, the indicated cartridge is almost expended. Make sure you 
have a replacement cartridge. When the light stays on and 
REPLACE INK 
CARTRIDGE 
is displayed, the cartridge is expended. You must replace the 
cartridge before you can continue printing.
You can install any combination of 150, 350, and 700 ml cartridges. Use the 
following Epson UltraChrome
® HDR ink cartridges: 
You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from an Epson Professional 
Imaging Authorized Reseller. To find the nearest reseller, visit 
www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales), www.epson.ca (Canadian sales), or 
call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). Or you can purchase online at 
www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian sales).
Before you start, make sure the printer is turned on. Then follow these steps:
1. Note the color of the cartridge that is low or expended. 
2. Press the
  button. 
If ink in one or more cartridges is expended, the corresponding ink 
cover is unlocked.
If the ink is not expended, select the ink bay you want to open and 
press 
OK.
Ink baySlot no.Cartridge150 ml350 ml700 ml
Left 1 Cyan (C) T642200 T596200 T636200
2 Orange (O) T642A00 T596A00 T636A00
3 Yellow (Y) T642400 T596400 T636400
4 Light Cyan (LC) T642500 T596500 T636500
5 Matte Black (MK) T642800 T596800 T636800
6 Photo Black (PK) T642100 T596100 T636100
Right 7 Vivid Magenta (VM) T642300 T596300 T636300
8 Light Black (LK) T642700 T596700 T636700
9 Green (G) T642B00 T596B00 T636B00
10 Light Light Black (LLK) T642900 T596900 T636900
11 Vivid Light Magenta 
(VLM)T642600 T596600 T636600Note: We recommend 
that you use genuine 
Epson cartridges and do 
not refill them. The use of 
other products may affect 
your print quality and 
could result in printer 
damage.
Yields vary considerably 
based on images printed, 
print settings, paper type, 
frequency of use, and 
temperature. For print 
quality, a small amount of 
ink remains in the 
cartridge after the 
“replace cartridge” 
indicator comes on.
For best printing results, 
use up a cartridge with 
six months of opening the 
package.
Caution: Leave the 
expended cartridge in the 
printer until you are ready 
to replace it.
To prevent ink reporting 
errors, never replace the 
ink cartridges with the 
printer turned off.