====== Epson FAQ ====== ===== General Questions ===== ==== In which **forum** should I ask Epson questions? ==== Forum: [[http://forums.openprinting.org/list.php?26|Printers from Epson]] ==== Where can I find a **table** of working Epson printers? ==== [[http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi?make=Epson|http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi?make=Epson]] ==== Why does using **''psnup -2''** and **''-4''** causes the image to "slide up?" ==== This is a known, unsolved problem. There is a simple workaround, because CUPS has an internal function for N-up printing.[[http://www.cups.org/sum.html|http://www.cups.org/sum.html]] to see how N-up works under CUPS. ==== How do I print escape codes? ==== Many of the Stylus inkjets are purely raster graphics printers. The do not support the standard Epson ESCP/2 command set of the older 9/25 pin impact printers. They also have new commands for controlling ink drop sizes, 6 colors, etc. Most of them will print ASCII with a fixed width font. Newer Stylus's (740 and onward) need a special sequence before they recognize data on their inputs. ==== How do I monitor the ink levels in the printer? ==== There are two ways. First, there is a new library and command line tool available here:[[http://freshmeat.net/projects/libinklevel/|http://freshmeat.net/projects/libinklevel/]] Second, With [[http://xwtools.automatix.de/|mtink]], or you can also try: escputil -iur /dev/lp0 escputil -iur /dev/usb/lp0 The option **''-iur''** is for USB printers. Use **''-u''** for parallel printers. If in doubt **''escputil --help''** ==== How do I get the TWAIN driver working? ==== TWAIN is a Windows driver. We deal with GNU/Linux issues. Goodbye! ==== Why is the output is shifted up and left on the paper? ==== This may be because you specify the paper size as A4, but at some stage of the filtering, it is converted to Letter. Configure both CUPS and your application for the same page size. This behavior has also been reported when a text file is printed from the command line without specifying paper size. ==== How do I print black without an installed color cartridge? ==== You cannot continue printing with one ink cartridge empty. Before printing, replace the empty cartridge. This is not a feature of the GNU/Linux driver, this is is a designed behaviour with the Epson printers that cannot be changed in software. ==== How can I print with QuadTone inks? ==== [[http://www.harrington.com/QuadToneRIP.html|http://www.harrington.com/QuadToneRIP.html]] ==== How can I generate a test pattern? ==== There is a test pattern generator in the **''gimp-print''** package, located in **''src/testpattern''**. The program is not built by default. You should pass **''--with-testpattern''** on the command line. There is a script file for the pattern generator called**''testpattern.sample''**. The test pattern generator in 4.3 can print 16-bit CMYK or printer-raw images ("printer-raw" means that e. g. you can print in 6 colors on a 6-color printer) using a special file format. ===== Epson ESC/POS for Point of Sale and Receipt Printers ===== ==== Where can I get a sample program implementing ESC/POS? ==== You can[[http://www.openprinting.org//torsten/files/pos_main.c.html|see a sample program]] or download it:[[http://www.openprinting.org//torsten/files/pos_main.c|pos_main.c]] This is what it looks like. #ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H #include #endif #include #include #include #include #include #include int main(int argc, char *argv[[http://www.openprinting.org/|[1]]]) { int fp; char cBuf[64], cOut[[http://www.openprinting.org/16|[2]]]; printf("Hi, welcome\n Press to finish"); fp = open("/dev/ttyS0",O_WRONLY); printf("fp = %i",fp); write(fp,"\n\n\n\n",4); write(fp,"Hello World\n\n\n\n\n",14); write(fp,"\x1D\x56\x01",3); close(fp); return EXIT_SUCCESS; } [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_Photo_820|Epson Stylus Photo 820]] ==== Is the resolution 5760x720dpi supported? ==== There are no plans to support this resolution. In practice, it would offer no advantage over 2880x720; the 4 picolitre drops are plenty large enough to create solid density at 2880x720 DPI, and packing more resolution in already high resolution dimension isn't going to achieve any visible improvement. If you want to try 2880x1440 (which would at least give you more vertical resolution), you can try using the Epson 925 driver. If you really want higher resolution, get the 960, which offers 2880x1440 with 2 picolitre drops; this really does offer visible improvement over the 820, but even on that printer there's awfully little difference in output quality between 2880x1440 and 1440x720, which is the next resolution choice. However, both the 780 and 820 are base model 6-color printers; there's no reason to do this as an "upgrade". The printer may not be doing 5760x720dpi in hardware anyway. The Epson web site always refers to "5760x720 optimized DPI"; there is no explanation as to what "optimized" means here, but it is perhpas some kind of oversampling being done in software. This has been tried before, but yielded no positive results. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_Photo_830|Epson Stylus Photo 830]] ==== How do I setup PDQ? ==== Using the following driver description file. driver "Raw-Printer" { # This PDQ driver declaration file was generated automatically by # foomatic-rip to allow raw (filter-less) printing. language_driver all { # We accept all file types and pass them through without any changes filetype_regx "" convert_exec { ln -s $INPUT $OUTPUT } } filter_exec { ln -s $INPUT $OUTPUT } } Let this printer point to the port of your **''Epson Stylus ''** Photo 830**. Call this printer **''Photo830raw''**. ** Now you have two definitions for your printer, your old one**''Photo830''**, which you set as the default printer, is for all jobs from KDE apps, the command line. The new definition **''Photo830raw''** you use for the GIMP. Enter**''pdq -P Photo830raw''** as printing command there. You may need to add **''-o raw''** to the command. ==== Which drive do I use? ==== Use the Stylus Photo 830U with the ijsgimpprint driver for the Stylus Photo 830. [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_Photo_895|Epson Stylus Photo 895]] ==== Does the flash card reader work with Linux? ==== As of Linux 2.4.21pre5 the card reader is recognised as a USB mass storage device and appears as **''/dev/sd?1''**, typically**''/dev/sda1''** if you don't have other SCSI devices or USB mass storage devices. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_Photo_2200|Epson Stylus Photo 2200]] ==== How do I configure for FireWire? ==== Check whether the printer appears as a SCSI device. cat /proc/scsi/scsi If so, you need a CUPS version with SCSI backend (the current 1.1.x has it): Check for the existence of /usr/lib/cups/filter/scsi When you have this file (with or without update of CUPS), restart the CUPS daemon and do lpinfo -v If there is a SCSI entry, this is the entry for your printer. Use this URI when setting up your print queue. If this does not help, please post on a Forum of CUPS:[[http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php|http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php]] \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_C42SX|Epson Stylus C42SX]] ==== Why can't I print in **''Black and White''**? ==== In some versions of the printer driver (Gimp-Print) the grayscale and black-and-white are broken, print always in color mode, even if the document is black-and-white. This is fixed in recent versions of Gimp-print. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_C60|Epson Stylus C60]] ==== Why does the job stop and the ink light flash? ==== This is the typical behaviour when a cartridge is empty. Open the lid, press the leftmost button and see with which cartridge the printhead stops at the little arrow on the left. This is the empty cartridge. Press the button again, change the cartridge and then press the button to get the head back to the right. Now ink is filled into the printhead which can take some minutes. Do not interupt the electric power for the printer during this time. Pressing the **On/Off** buttonm is OK, as the printer finishes the ink filling before going off. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_C62|Epson Stylus C62]] ==== How do I use higher resolution? ==== Use [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=gimp-print|gimp-print]]. The default resolution is 360 dpi. The C60 driver will do 1440x720. The C62 driver offers 2880x720. ==== Why are print jobs rotated 90 degrees? ==== Try using the lpadmin command as follows lpadmin -p Epson -m Epson-Stylus_C62-gimp-print.ppd -v parallel:/dev/lp0 -E [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_C82|Epson Stylus C82]] ==== Why does nothing happen when I try to print? ==== [[http://space.tin.it/computer/wvtberti/linux/stp_driver/gs_stp.htm|http://space.tin.it/computer/wvtberti/linux/stp_driver/gs_stp.htm]] ==== Why does **''escputil''** not print a pattern to align the heads? ==== It may be that the C82 uses a "soft" head alignment procedure that we don't support yet. You can try the [[http://xwtools.automatix.de/|mtink]] utility. ==== What are good CMY values to make a good gray? ==== You're going to have a lot of difficulty getting a really accurate gray with 4.2. You could try boosting the magenta a bit. You might also want to try 4.3.10, if you're printing from the GIMP; there are additional (linear) color balance sliders that might give you enough control. ==== Why do blacks have green tones? ==== The green cast in dark black tones can be reduced, but only by cranking up the magenta so much that the rest of the image (skin tones in particular) gets very bad. You can do a test print. Make a 20:1 wide:tall aspect ratio horizontal grayscale ramp. Print it the width of your paper at the top of the page. If it's tinted green, add magenta, and so on for the other primaries Repeat by printing farther down on the same piece of paper. Five or six iterations should do it, and -- until you change type of paper or ink -- you're all set. Total expense: Half a page of paper and the corresponding amount of ink. Each print has to be should be separately proofed. ==== Why is the output very stretched out? ==== Change resolution from 1440x1440 to 2880x720 or 2880x1440. [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_Pro_9600|Epson Stylus Pro 9600]] ==== Do i have to purchase the RIP option? ==== No, Gimp-print with either CUPS or Foomatic will take care of the Postscript. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_CX3200|Epson Stylus CX3200]] ==== What kernel version do I need to print? ==== You need at least kernel 2.4.21 (or the current 2.4.21preXX version). Alternatively you can fix your current kernel as shown on the[[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_CX3200|Epson Stylus CX3200 printer entry page]] on openprinting.org. ==== Why doesn't the patch on openprinting.org work? ==== The original author did not specify the kernel version. It is probably 2.4.20 or newer (an early 2.4.21pre). [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Stylus_CX5200|Epson Stylus CX5200]] ==== What are the steps to get it working? ==== These steps worked for one person. 1) Go to Epson Website to download their Photo Image Print System[[http://www.avasys.jp/english/linux_e/pips_e.html|pips]] Download the rpm: **''pips-sc82s-cups-2.6.2-1.i386.rpm''** 2) Unpack the rpm **''rpm -Uvh pips-sc82s-cups-2.6.2-1.i386.rpm''** You may get messages about libcryto and libssl 0.9.6 dependencies failing. If the libraries are in**''/usr/lib''** then force install the RPM rpm -Uvh --nodeps --force pips-sc82s-cups-2.6.2-1.i386.rpm Upon installing, it will automatically modify the**''/etc/service''** and add an entry for the epson status monitor **''ekpstm''**. ----Start of Modification to **''/etc/service''** ----- # written for pips-sc82s-cups cbtd 35586/tcp # pips-sc82-cups end ------End------ This is for the epson status monitor **''ekpstm''**. 3) On some systems, you may need to make sure your usb daemon is running. /etc/rc.d/init.d/usb start \\ 3) To setup the printer, run **''/usr/local/EPKowa/SC82S/setup''** It will ask for the connection type and the printer name used by CUPS. Answer with the following: Connection type: **''/dev/usb/lp0''** Printer name: **''Epson_CX5200''** 4) Now connect the USB cables, and then turn on the printer. Then load the printer module: **''modprobe printer''** 5) Goto the **''/dev/usb''** directory, and you should see **''lp0''** which was automatically created. ls -la /dev/usb/lp0 crw-rw---- 1 lp sys 180, 0 Dec 31 1969 /dev/usb/lp0 6) Launch Epson Status Monitor under X: **''ekpstm''** A status window comes up and it should read all the ink cartridge level (black, cyan, magenta and yellow). In the status field, it should say **''Ready to print''** 7) Download EPS ghostscript filter from [[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=18073|http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=18073]] Download: **''ghostscript-7.05.5-0.i386.rpm''** and **''ghostscript-cups-7.05.5-0.i386.rpm''**. Install them: rpm -Uvh ghostscript-7.05.5-0.i386.rpm rpm -Uvh ghostscript-cups-7.05.5-0.i386.rpm 8) Open a browser, and connect to [[http://127.0.0.1:631/admin|http://127.0.0.1:631/admin]] Select the following choices: Manage Printers" --> "Add Printer" and input these: \\ Printer Name: Epson_CX5200 Location: [[[http://www.openprinting.org/your|http://www.openprinting.org/your]] location here" Description: Epson CX5200 MFP Device: EPSON Inkjet Printer #1 (Photo Image Print System) Make: EPSON Model: EPSON Stylus C80, CUPS+GIMP-print v4.2.1-pre5(en) 9) Click **''Print a Test Page''**. 10) If it doesn't work, see the **''error_log FAQ''** to continue debugging CUPS. ==== How do I setup the scanner? ==== The CX-5200 Scanner part is equivalent to Perfection 1200U. 1) Download [[http://www.avasys.jp/english/linux_e/lsd_e.html|Image Scan]], which is a backend for SANE. Recommended: **''iscan-1.4.0-5.i386.rpm''**. 2) Install the RPM: **''rpm -Uvh iscan-1.4.0-5.i386.rpm ''** 3) Modify the scanner.c sources, and recompile **''scanner.o''** module Become root or su and edit**''/usr/src/linux-2.4.19-16/mdk/drivers/usb/scanner.c''** as follows: find the lines: if (dev->config[[http://www.openprinting.org/0|[3]]].bNumInterfaces != 1) { info("probe_scanner: Only one device interface is supported."); return NULL; } and change them so they look like this. /* if (dev->config[0].bNumInterfaces != 1) { * info("probe_scanner: Only one device interface is supported."); * return NULL; * } */ 4) Add a line to **''scanner.h''** right after**''Perfection 1660 Photo''**, like this: { USB_DEVICE(0x04b8, 0x011e) }, /* Perfection 1660 Photo */ { USB_DEVICE(0x04b8, 0x0801) }, /* CX5200 */ 5) Create a new directory for the modules. mkdir /usr/src/modules and copy the newly modified "scanner.c" and "scanner.h" to this directory. cp scanner.c scanner.h /usr/src/modules 6) Change to the linux source directory **''cd /usr/src/linux''** and make sure the following lines are set to reflect your current Mandriva kernel version. VERSION = 2 PATCHLEVEL = 4 SUBLEVEL = 18 EXTRAVERSION = -8.1mdk 7) Return to the new modules directory **''cd /usr/src/modules''** and compile the modules: gcc -DMODULE -D__KERNEL__ -I/usr/src/linux/include -include \ /usr/src/linux/include/linux/modversions.h -c scanner.c this will produce a module called **''scanner.o''**. 8) gzip scanner.o,**''gzip scanner.o''** 9) Now copy the new modules into the modules directory cp scanner.o.gz /libs/modules/2.4.18-8.1mdk/kernel/drivers/usb 10) Add some lines to **''/etc/modules.conf''**: alias char-major-180-48 scanner options scanner vendor=0x04b8 product=0x0801 11) You should now remove the old **''scanner.o''** **''modprobe -r scanner.o''** but if that fails, you can simply reboot to force a reload. After removing the old module or rebooting, then insmod scanner 12) Change to the **''/dev/usb''** directory **''/dev/usb''** and check that **''scanner0''** is there. It should be automatically generated by **''usbfs''** root:~>ls -la /dev/usb/scanner0 crw-rw---- 1 root usb 180, 48 Dec 31 1969 /dev/usb/scanner0 13) Edit **''/etc/sane.d''** so it looks like this: epson.conf: (only 1 line) usb /dev/usb/scanner0 dll.conf: (only 2 lines) net epson 14) Run **''iscan''** from the Epson Image Scan rpm package. **''iscan''** You can change Resolution to 300dpi and press SCAN button. You should be able to scan. The scanner can't use all of the resolution settings. In addition, Preview does not work. 15) To make it work inside GIMP, make a symbolic link of "iscan" to ~/.gimp-1.2/plug-ins ln -s /usr/bin/iscan ~/.gimp-1.2/plugins The copy function of CX-5200 should work by itself. You can also try Xsane. It will give you more control over the scanner, and Gimp should be able to use it immediatly. ==== Why does the printer output the PostScript source text file? ==== Instead of using **''PostScript Level 2''**, choose one of these * **''Epson Stylus CX5200''** * **''Epson Stylus C82''** * **''Epson Stylus C80''** If you choose **''PostScript Level 2''** for a non-PostScript printer, you have to remove the **''-oraw''** from the printing command. ==== Which PPD do I use? ==== The PPD file that you can download from openprinting.org won't be correct if you're using the native CUPS driver. You should use the one in **''/etc/cups/ppd''**. Try to use the native CX5200, C82, or C80 driver in the GIMP plugin. ==== How do I get Mandriva to load the printer and scanner driver after reboot? ==== 1) Edit **''/etc/rc.d/init.d/usb''** around row 188: if [ "$MOUSE" = "yes" ];then action "Loading USB mouse" /sbin/modprobe mousedev fi if [ "$KEYBOARD" = "yes" ];then action "Loading USB keyboard" /sbin/modprobe keybdev fi if [ "$STORAGE" = "yes" ];then action "Loading USB storage" /sbin/modprobe usb-storage fi if [ "$PRINTER" = "yes" ];then action "Loading USB printer" /sbin/modprobe printer fi if [ "$SCANNER" = "yes" ];then action "Loading USB scanner" /sbin/modprobe scanner fi 2) Edit **''/etc/sysconfig/usb''**: USB=yes KEYBOARD_AT_BOOT=no MOUSE=no KEYBOARD=no STORAGE=yes PRINTER=yes SCANNER=yes 3) Make sure the USB daemon is loaded. This can be done with**''linuxconf''**. Control Tab --> Control Panel --> Control Service Utility Find the **''usb''** daemon, and click on it. When the**''Service usb''** window pops up, make sure**''Startup [[http://www.openprinting.org/checkbox|[4]]] Automatic''** is selected. Click **''Accept''**. 4) Reboot. The scanner and printer modules should be loaded. Run **''lsmod''** to check. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-AcuLaser_C2000|Epson AcuLaser C2000]] ==== Which driver do I use? ==== The driver is Epson's[[http://www.openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=alc2000|alc2000]] ==== Is the **''alc2000''** driver already in GhostScript? ==== Look at the ghostscript drivers from the help output **''gs -h''** If it is not there, then use a recent version of[[http://www.cups.org/ghostscript.php|ESP Ghostscript]] ==== Why do we use GhostScript with this PostScript printer? ==== There is no PPD for it on Epson's site, and with the GhostScript driver you have more control than with a generic Foomatic PPD. \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-EPL-5700L|Epson EPL5700L, EPL5900L, 6100L]] ==== Where do I get the latest driver? ==== [[http://epsonepl.sourceforge.net/|http://epsonepl.sourceforge.net/]] \\ [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-LQ-2550|Epson LQ-2550]] ==== Why is there print corruption 3/4 down the page? ==== The serial configuration problem where the printing is corrupted 3/4 of the way down the page can be sovled by using the following stty entry in the **''/etc/printcap.local''** :stty=parenb raw -echo -echoe -echok -onlcr crtscts:\ Apparently doing this will suppress the unwanted output of extra processing that changes the printer control sequences. \\ ===== Epson LX-300+ ===== ==== Does this printer work with Free Software? ==== Yes. Follow the directions for the[[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=IBM-ProPrinterII|IBM ProPrinter II]]. This printer uses the [[http://www.openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=ibmpro|ibmpro]] driver. \\ ===== Epson LX-800 ===== ==== How do I configure text-mode output? ==== There is a utility available to adjust cpi, font, and a couple of other things. It may work with other epson printers. [[http://home.arcor.de/markusheinz/|http://home.arcor.de/markusheinz/]]