Control Panel

Control panel design varies by location.

Buttons

Button a b P On Mode * Function Turns the printer on and off. Switches the modes between r Copy, s Memory Card, and v Specialty Print. (Lights show which mode is selected.) f g Button x Menu * ud lr 4-way Scroll OK h y Back Function Displays detailed settings for each mode. Selects photos and menu items.
Activates the settings you have selected. Cancels the current operation and returns to the previous menu. Sets the number of copies, or changes the cropping area. Starts copying and printing. Stops copying and printing, or resets the settings you have made.

L [CD Print]

Moves the CD/DVD guide. Runs maintenance programs or adjusts miscellaneous settings. Changes the view of photos on the LCD screen, or crops the photos.

Copies (+ and -) x Start

F [Setup] *

G [Display/Cro p]

y Stop/Clear
* For details on the items in each mode, see Summary of Panel Settings on page 40.

LCD screen

Using the LCD screen
Follow the instructions below to select and change the setting menus and the photos on the LCD screen.

a a b c,d

b,d,e c d
a b c Use Copies + or - to set the number of copies for the selected photo. Press l or r to select the setting item. Press u or d to select the menu item. The highlighted part moves up or down. Press r to open the setting item list. Press u or d to select the setting item and then press OK. Press l or r to change the displayed photo on the LCD screen.

Power saving function

If no buttons are pressed for more than 3 minutes, the printer becomes inactive or a slide show begins if Screen Saver Settings is set to Memory Card Data. After 13 minutes of inactivity, the screen turns black to save energy and the Mode lights turn on and off in a clockwise motion. Press any button (except P On) to return the screen to its previous state.
Adjusting the angle of the LCD screen
You can change the angle of the LCD screen.
The LCD screen may contain a few small bright or dark spots, and because of its features it may have an uneven brightness. These are normal and do not indicate that it is damaged in any way.

Handling Paper

Selecting Paper
Before printing, you need to select the correct paper type setting. This important setting determines how the ink is applied to the paper. Note:

c Caution:

Make sure the CD/DVD guide is not ejected before you start printing. Make sure the Paper Feed setting is set to Front before you start printing. Do not pull out the front paper cassette while the printer is operating.
Store the CD/DVD tray in a flat place. A warped or damaged CD/DVD tray may stop the printer from operating normally.
3. Place your CD/DVD on the tray.

The label surface up.

Make sure the data, music, or video is burned on your ink jet printable CD/DVDs before you print. Moisture on the printable surface may cause smearing. The printed surface is easily smeared immediately after printing. Be sure to let a CD/DVD dry completely before using it or touching the printed surface. Do not allow the printed CD/DVD to dry in direct sunlight. If the CD/DVD tray or the internal transparent compartment are accidentally printed on, immediately wipe off the ink. To print on 8-cm mini CDs, use the EPSON Print CD included in the software CD-ROM. See your online User's Guide.
4. Insert the tray into the CD/DVD guide. c Caution:
Do not insert the tray while the printer is operating, or you may damage the printer.

Loading a CD/DVD

1. Close the output tray extension.
Make sure there is no paper on the output tray.
2. Press L [CD Print] to move the CD/DVD guide. c Caution
Do not press L [CD Print] while the printer is operating. Do not touch the CD/DVD guide while the printer is operating.

Removing a CD/DVD

1. Make sure that printing is finished. 2. Remove the CD/DVD tray by pulling it straight out of the CD/DVD guide. 3. Press L [CD Print] to replace the CD/DVD guide.
Be sure to remove the CD/DVD tray after printing has finished. If you turn the printer on or off with the tray in the CD/DVD guide, you may damage the printer.

Note: Tip:

If you want to copy a thick or large document, you can remove the document cover.
The copied image may not be exactly the same size as the original. Depending on the type of paper used, print quality may decline in the top and bottom areas of the printout, or these areas may be smeared.
Placing Originals on the Document Table
1. Open the document cover and place your original face-down on the document table.

Photos or document:

Open it and pull it straight up.

Copying Photos

CD/DVD:
You can copy photos from mm to mm. You can also copy two photos at the same time. 1. Press v Specialty Print.
2. Select Reprint/Restore Photos, then press OK.

2. Close the cover gently.

3. Press OK.

If your photos have faded over time, select On to bring them back to life.
Cropping and enlarging a photo
If you set Color Restoration to On for a normal color photo, the photo may not be printed correctly.
4. Press OK again. Your photo is previewed. 5. Set the number of copies. 6. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Reprint/Restore Photos on page 45). Then press OK. 7. Press x Start. Note:
If the edges of the copy are cropped off, move the original away from the corner slightly.
You can crop out the rest of the photo and print just the main subject by itself when you copy a photo. 1. Press v Specialty Print. 2. Refer to Copying Photos on page 12 and follow the steps from 2 to 4.
3. Press G [Display/Crop]. You see the cropping screen.

Copying multiple photos

Place each photo horizontally.
4. Use the following button to set the area you want to crop.
5mm 5mm Copies +, u, d, l, r x Menu Change the frame size. Move the frame. Rotate the frame.
x Menu is only available in the Memory Card mode.
You can copy two cm (in.) size photos at the same time. If the edge of the photo is missing after you print, try copying them one at a time. Place your photo 5 mm away from the edge of the document table. Also when you place two photos, position each photo at least 5 mm away from the adjacent photo. You can copy several different sized photos at the same time, as long as they are larger than mm.
5. Press OK to confirm the cropped image. Note:
To readjust the frames position, press y Back to return to the previous screen.
6. When you have finished checking the cropped image, press OK. Note:
The image. icon is displayed on the cropped
7. Set the number of copies.
8. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Reprint/Restore Photos on page 45). Then press OK. 9. Press x Start.

Copying Documents

You can use an index sheet to select the photos you want to print. Printing an index sheet
6. Set the number of copies. 7. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Memory Card mode on page 42). Then press OK. 8. Press x Start.
Selecting photos from the index sheet
Printing with DPOF settings
If your camera supports DPOF, you can use it to preselect photos and the number of copies to print while the memory card is still in your camera. See your cameras instruction manual for details. 1. Insert a memory card containing DPOF data (& page 15). 2. Press OK. 3. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Memory Card mode on page 42). Then press OK. 4. Press x Start.

Scanning the index sheet

Selecting and Printing Photos Using an Index Sheet
Printing the selected photos
2. Selecting photos from the index sheet
On the index sheet, use a dark pen or pencil to fill in the ovals and make your selections.

Good: NOT good:

1. Printing an index sheet
1. Load several sheets of A4-size plain paper into the front paper cassette (& page 8). 2. Press s Memory Card.
3. Select Print Index Sheet, then press OK.
1. In section 1, select the size of paper (& page 6). 2. Select whether to print your photos with or without borders. 3. Fill in the oval to include an optional date stamp. 4. In section 2, select All to print one copy of each photo, or fill in the number beneath each photo to select 1, 2, or 3 copies.
3. Scanning the index sheet and printing the selected photos
4. Select Print Index Sheet. 5. Select the range of photos. Then press OK.
Range All Photos Latest 30 Latest 60 Latest 90 Description Prints all the photos stored on a memory card. Prints 30, 60, or 90 photos from the latest one in order of the file name.
1. Place the index sheet face-down on the document table, so that the top of the sheet is aligned with the left edge of the document table.

6. Press x Start. Note:

Make sure the triangle mark on the upper left corner of the index sheet is printed properly. If the index sheet is not printed correctly, the printer cannot scan it.
2. Close the document cover. 3. Load the size of photo paper you marked on the index sheet into the rear feeder (& page 7). Note:
Make sure you use Ultra Glossy Photo Paper, Premium Glossy Photo Paper, or Premium Semigloss Photo Paper.
If you have more than one index sheet, wait each time until printing is complete. Then repeat the steps above to scan and print from each additional sheet.

Printing onto a CD/DVD

Making settings and printing
1. Press v Specialty Print.

Inner Outer

18 to 46 mm 114 to 120 mm
2. Select Print on CD/DVD, then press OK.
If you are printing in the following areas of the disc, the disc or CD/DVD tray may get stained with ink. Inner hub area Outer periphery area 18 to 42 mm 117 to 120 mm
3. Select the layout, then press OK (& Print settings for Print on CD/DVD on page 48). Note:
When selecting photos for the CD/DVD 4-up or CD/DVD Variety layout setting, you do not have to select the maximum number of photos. Unused areas of the layout will be left blank.
8. Press OK, then try printing again.
Adjusting the print position
1. Press F [Setup]. 2. Select the CD/Sticker Position, and press OK. 3. Select CD/DVD, then press r.
4. Press OK. 5. Select a photo and set the number of copies. 6. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Print on CD/DVD on page 48). Then press OK. Tip:
If you want to print a test sample on paper first, select Plain Paper as the Paper Type.

7. Press x Start.

4. On the LCD screen, make sure Print Photos from Index Sheet is selected, then press OK. 5. Press x Start.

Adjusting the print area

Adjusting the diameter
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Press v Specialty Print. Select Print on CD/DVD, then press OK. Select the layout, then press OK. Press OK. Press x Menu. Select CD Inner-Outer, then press r. Set the inside diameter (Inner) and the outside diameter (Outer), at intervals of 1 mm, and then press OK.
4. Select how far (in millimeters) to move the print position.
6. Press x Menu and change the settings (& Print settings for Print on CD/DVD on page 48). Then press OK. 7. Press x Start.
Replaying a Movie and Printing a Shot
You can replay movies taken on a digital camera and select a scene to print. Note:
Adjusting 1. Up 3. Down Description Move the CD/DVD print position up or down. You can adjust it in 0.1 mm steps from 0.0 to 2.0 mm. Move the CD/DVD print position left or right. You can adjust it in 0.1 mm steps from 0.0 to 2.0 mm. Because the number of pixels for a movie is lower than for a photo you may not get the expected printout quality. The number of pixels depends on the digital camera model and the setting.

1. Connect your device to the printer (& Using an External Storage Device on page 27). 2. Remove any memory cards from the printer. 3. When you see this screen, select which folder to print from, then press OK.
1. Make sure your printer is not printing from a computer. 2. Remove any memory cards from the printer. 3. Press F [Setup]. 4. Select PictBridge Setup, then press OK. 5. Select the print settings (& Print settings for Memory Card mode on page 42). Then press OK. 6. Connect the USB cable from your camera to the USB port on the front of the printer.

USB port

4. Follow the same steps as you would to print from the memory card (& Printing Photos on page 17).
Using PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT
PictBridge and USB DIRECT-PRINT let you print your photos by connecting your digital camera directly to the printer. Make sure your camera and photos meet the following requirements.
7. Make sure your camera is turned on and use it to select the photos, adjust any necessary settings, and print your photos. See your cameras manual for details. Note:
Depending on the settings on this printer and the digital camera, some combinations of paper type, size, and layout may not be supported. Some of the settings on your digital camera may not be reflected in the output.
You can save scans of photos or documents directly to your memory card in JPEG or PDF format. You can also save photos from your memory card directly to an external storage device with a USB cable. c Caution:
Never open the scanner unit while scanning; otherwise, you may damage the printer. Do not remove the card or turn off the printer while the memory card light is flashing, or you may lose data.
Scanning a Photo / Document
If the edges of the photo are cropped off, move the original away from the corner slightly.
Using an External Storage Device
You can copy pictures from your memory card to an external storage device, such as a Zip drive, recordable CD-R/RW drive (with a USB connection), MO drive, or USB flash drive. Note:
Not all USB devices are supported. For details, contact your regional customer support.
2. Select Scan to Memory Card, then press OK.
3. Select the following settings.
Setting Format Scan Area Description Select JPEG or PDF. If the edges of the photo are light in color, select Max Area. Otherwise, select Auto Cropping. Select the type of original you placed on the document table. Select the quality of the scanned documents.

Do not touch the white flat cable inside the printer.
Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges
Make sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start replacing a cartridge, you must complete all the steps in one session. c Caution:
Do not lift up the scanner unit when the document cover is open.
3. Open the cartridge cover.
6. Remove the yellow tape.
Never attempt to open the cartridge cover while the print head is moving. Wait until the print head has stopped at the replacement position.
You must remove the yellow tape from the cartridge before installing it; otherwise, print quality may decline or you may not be able to print. Do not remove the seal.
4. Squeeze the tab and lift it straight up.
Do not refill the ink cartridge. Other products not manufactured by Epson may cause damage that is not covered by Epson's warranties, and under certain circumstances, may cause erratic printer behavior.
Be sure to always install an ink cartridge into the printer immediately following the removal of the current ink cartridge. If the ink cartridge is not installed promptly, the print head may dry out, rendering it unable to print.
If it is difficult to remove the cartridge, lift the cartridge with more force until comes out.
7. Place the new ink cartridge in the cartridge holder and press it down until it clicks into place.
5. Remove the new cartridge from its package. c Caution:
Be careful not to break the hooks on the side of the ink cartridge when you remove it from the package. Do not touch the green chip on the side of the cartridge. This can damage the ink cartridge.
8. Close the ink cartridge cover and press it until it clicks into place. c Caution:
If you find it difficult to close the cover, make sure all the cartridges are firmly seated. Press down on each cartridge until you hear it click into place. Do not attempt to force the cover closed.
9. Close the scanner unit. 10. Press OK. The ink delivery system starts charging. c Caution:

Do not turn off the printer during ink charging as this will waste ink. Do not press L [CD Print] until ink charging is complete.
If a message on the LCD screen still tells you that a cartridge should be replaced, the ink cartridges may not be installed properly. Press OK again, and press down the ink cartridge until it clicks into place.

Maintenance

Checking the Ink Cartridge Status
You can check which cartridge is low. 1. Press F [Setup]. 2. Select Ink Levels, then press OK. You see a graphic showing the ink cartridge status:
Y (Yellow), B (Black), LC (Light Cyan), LM (Light Magenta), M (Magenta), C (Cyan),
Checking and Cleaning the Print Head
If your printouts are unexpectedly light, colors are missing, or you see light or dark lines across the page, you may need to clean the print head. Tip:
To maintain print quality, we recommend printing a few pages on a regular basis.

Checking the print head

You can print a nozzle check pattern to see if any print head nozzles are clogged, or to check the results after cleaning the print head. 1. Load A4-size plain paper into the rear feeder (& page 7). 2. Press F [Setup]. (If you have just finished cleaning the print head, you can start the nozzle check by pressing x Start.) 3. Select Maintenance, then press OK. 4. Select Nozzle Check, then press OK. 5. Press x Start. 6. Examine the nozzle check pattern you printed. If your printout looks like the one shown below, the print head does not need to be cleaned yet. Press OK to return to the main menu.
When your ink starts getting low, is displayed. 3. Press y Back to return to the previous screen. Note:
Epson cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-genuine ink. If non-genuine ink cartridges are installed, the ink cartridge status may not be displayed.
If your printout has gaps like the one shown below, clean the print head as described in the next section.

Cleaning the print head

Follow these steps to clean the print head so it can deliver ink properly. Before cleaning the print head, run a nozzle check to see if the print head needs cleaning (& Checking the print head on page 32).
Make sure the CD/DVD guide is not ejected (& page 10). Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if quality declines. When ink is low, you may not be able to clean the print head. When ink is expended, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first (& Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges on page 29).

Backup Error Error Code xxxxxxxx
An error occurred while formatting. Formatting canceled. An error occurred while saving. Save canceled. Cannot create a folder on the memory card or disk. Operation canceled.
See the documentation for the device transmitting the data. See the documentation for the device transmitting the data. (Cause: The data is not available because of a malfunction in the device.) See the documentation for the device transmitting the data. (Cause: A part of the data is corrupted or cannot be buffered.) Make sure the storage disk has been inserted correctly.

Problems and Solutions

Setup problems
LCD screen and the mode light came on and then went out. The printers voltage may not match the outlet rating. Turn off the printer and unplug it immediately. Then, check the printer labels. c Caution
If the voltage does not match, DO NOT PLUG YOUR PRINTER BACK IN. Contact your dealer.
Error in the data. The document may not be printed correctly.
Cannot recognize the USB device.
The printer makes noise after you turn it on. Make sure the protective tape is not blocking the print head. After releasing the print head, turn off the power, wait a moment, then turn it back on. The printer makes noise after ink cartridge installation. When you install ink cartridges, the ink delivery system must be charged. Wait until charging is finished (the charging message disappears from the LCD screen), then turn off the printer. If you turn it off too soon, it may use extra ink the next time you turn it on. Make sure the ink cartridges are seated securely and no packing material remains in the printer. Open the cartridge cover and push the cartridges down until they click into place. Turn off the power, wait a moment, then turn it back on. A screen that prompts you to restart the computer did not appear after finishing the software installation. The software has not been installed correctly. Eject and insert the software CD-ROM, and then install the software again. The terms on the LCD screen are not displayed in your language. If the language displayed on the LCD screen is not the one you want, select the language you want from the Setup menu.
The margins are incorrect. Make sure your original is positioned in the top left corner of the document table. If the edges of the copy are cropped off, move the original away from the corner slightly. Make sure the paper size settings are correct for the paper you have loaded. Rear feeder: Make sure your paper is loaded short edge first, all the way to the right, with the left edge guide lightly against the paper (& Loading Paper on page 7). Rear feeder: Do not load paper above the c arrow mark inside the left edge guide (& Loading Paper on page 7). Front paper cassette: Do not load paper above the c arrow mark inside the paper guide (Into the front paper cassette on page 8).

Select Actual instead of Auto Fit Page or adjust the Zoom settings.
Change the Expansion setting to adjust the amount of image that extends beyond the paper size during borderless printing. Blank pages are printed. The print head nozzles may need cleaning (& Cleaning the print head on page 33).

Paper feed problems

Paper does not feed correctly. Check the Paper Feed setting, and make sure paper is loaded into the selected feeder. Fan the paper before loading.
Printing and copying problems
LCD screen is off. Make sure that the printer is on. Turn off the printer and make sure that the power cord is securely plugged in. Make sure that your outlet works and is not controlled by a wall switch or timer. The printer makes printing sounds, but nothing prints.
Do not load paper above the c arrow mark (& Loading Paper on page 7). Make sure you are not using paper with binder holes. Multiple pages feed. Load your paper one sheet at a time. Make sure your paper is not too thin. See your online User's Guide.
The print head nozzles may need cleaning (& Cleaning the print head on page 33). Make sure the printer is on a flat, stable surface.

The paper jams

Removing jammed paper inside the printer 1. Press P On to turn off the printer. 2. Lift up the scanner unit.
3. Open the lower rear cover.
4. Carefully remove any paper inside including any torn pieces.
3. Carefully remove any paper inside, including any torn pieces. 4. Close the scanner unit. Note:
If the paper remains near the rear feeder, gently pull it out.
5. Close the lower rear cover.
Removing jammed paper from the front paper cassette 1. Press P On to turn off the printer. 2. Close the output tray. 3. Pull out the front paper cassette and carefully remove any paper inside the printer, including any torn pieces. (& Into the front paper cassette on page 8) 4. Insert the paper cassette. Removing jammed paper from the rear of the printer 1. Press P On to turn off the printer. 2. Remove the upper rear cover by squeezing the hooks on the sides.
6. Reattach the upper rear cover.
Removing jammed paper from the bottom of the printer 1. Press P On to turn off the printer and unplug the power cord from the printer and the electrical outlet. 2. Replace the paper support and remove the front paper cassette. 3. Carefully stand the printer on its side.

CD/DVD jam

The CD/DVD tray is not ejected Press x Start. If the CD/DVD tray is not ejected, carefully pull the CD/DVD tray out of the CD/DVD guide. A CD/DVD slips off the tray into the CD/DVD guide Lift up the CD/DVD guide cover. Carefully remove the disk, and then close the CD/DVD guide cover.

Memory Card Mode

Setting Item View and Print Photos Print All Photos Print by Date Print Index Sheet Print Proof Sheet Slide Show Scan to Memory Card Description Prints only the photos that you choose. Prints all the photos on your memory card. Prints photos by the date they ware taken. Prints thumbnails of the photos on your memory card and lets you select which ones you want to print. Prints a proof sheet of all the photos on your memory card. Displays all photos on your memory card as a slide show and prints photos that you choose. Saves the photos to a memory card.
Print settings for Memory Card mode

Menu Paper Type

Setting Item

Description

Prem.Glossy, Ultra Glossy, Photo Paper, Plain Paper, Matte, PhotoSticker16, Photo Stickers cm (in), cm (in), 16:9 wide size, A4, A6, mm Rear, Front Select Front to feed paper from the front paper cassette. Select Rear to feed paper from the rear feeder.

Paper Size

Paper Feed

Menu Layout

Setting Item Borderless
Description Prints your photo all the way to the edges of the paper.
Your image is slightly enlarged and cropped to fill the sheet of paper. Print quality may decline in the top and bottom areas of the printout, or the area may be smeared when printing. With Border Upper 1/2 Photo ID Prints your photo with a white margin at the edge. Prints your photo on the upper half of the paper. Prints photos at two sizes (35.0 45.0 mm and 50.8 50.8 mm) on the cm (in.) size photo paper. This is useful for printing identification photos. Prints multiple photos on one sheet. The size of each photo is adjusted automatically according to the number of photos to print and the size of paper. In 20-up layout, the numbers and photo dates are printed.
2-up, 4-up, 8-up, 20-up, 30-up, 80-up
When you select a number of photos less than the total, unused areas of the layout will be left blank. 16-up Places 16 images on one photo stickers sheet
When you print a photo stickers sheet, if you select only one photo, 16 copies of the same photo are printed on one sheet. If you select two or more, the number of copies you set for each is printed in a 16-up layout and unused areas of the layout are left blank. XXXXXXXX (The file name for your P.I.F. frame is displayed.) Quality Filter Enhance Prints your photo with the P.I.F. frame.
If your memory card contains P.I.F. frame data, you can choose the P.I.F. data to print with your photo from the Layout option. Select PhotoEnhance to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation of your photos automatically. Select P.I.M. to use your camera's PRINT Image Matching or Exif Print settings. Select the correction mode when you select PhotoEnhance from the Enhance menu. Automatic: Corrects your photos automatically. People: Makes complexions soft and warm. Landscape: Brightens up the color of the landscape. Night Scene: Enhances darkness and light for night scenes.

Draft, Standard, Best Off, Sepia, B&W PhotoEnhance, P.I.M., None

Scene Detection

Automatic, People, Landscape, Night Scene

Menu Reduce Red Eye

Off - This photo, On - Select On - This photo or On - All photos to correct red This photo, Off - All eye. photos, On - All Note: photos Depending on the type of photo, parts of the image other than the eyes may be corrected. When set to On - This photo or On - All photos, the icon is displayed on the images. Brightest, Brighter, Standard, Darker, Darkest Standard, Higher, Highest Sharpest, Sharper, Standard, Softer, Softest Highest, Higher, Standard, Lower, Lowest None, yyyy.mm.dd, mmm.dd.yyyy, dd.mmm.yyyy Off, On -

Brightness

Contrast Sharpness

Saturation

Prints the date your photo was taken.

Camera Text

Select On to print text that you added to your photo using your digital camera.
For details on the availability of this function, see your cameras documentation. Characters are printed at the bottom left along the long edge of your photo. Depending on the size of the paper and the characters, the number of printable characters changes. In some cases, text with more than 33 characters may not be printed. Fit Frame On, Off Select On, to automatically crop your photo to fit inside the space available for the layout you selected. Select Off to turn off automatic cropping and leave white space at the edges of the photo. Select On to increase the print speed. Select Off to improve the print quality (but your photos print more slowly). Select the amount the image is expanded when you select Borderless. Standard: The image is slightly enlarged and cropped to fill the sheet of paper. Mid: Margins might be printed. (Low expansion rate.) Min: Margins might be printed. (Lowest expansion rate.)

Bidirectional

On, Off

Expansion

Standard, Mid, Min

Specialty Print Mode

Reprint/Restore Photos Print Photo Greeting Card Print on CD/DVD Play Movie and Print Photos Makes photo reprints or restores faded photo. Prints a photo with handwritten drawings. Prints photos on CD/DVD or on a CD/DVD jacket. Replays movie and prints photos of the selected scenes.

www.wilhelm-research.com

Category: Desktop All-in-One Inkjet Printers
December 30, 2007 (page 1 of 6)
Ink System: Epson Claria Hi-Definition photo dye-based six-ink system: cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, and black in individual ink cartridges (the piezo inkjet heads are a permanent part of the printer). Maximum resolution: up to 5760 x 1440 dpi (dots per inch); prints with up to five drop sizes and a minimum drop size of 1.5 picoliters. The Claria dye-based inks have been optimized for Epson porous instant-dry glossy photo papers. Paper Size: 4x6-inches to 8.5x11 inches, 8.5x14 inches and A4, B5, A5, and A6. Border-free photos in 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, and 8.5x11 inch sizes. User definable 3.5 to 44 inches in length for panorama prints. Connectivity and Operating Systems: Hi-Speed USB 2.0. Windows Vista, 2000, XP and XP Professional; Mac OS X 10.2.8 10.4, 10.5, or later (both Mac Power PC and Intel Core processors are supported). Software provided includes Epson PrintCD, Epson Web to Page, Epson Scan, and ArcSoft PhotoImpression. Special Features: Photo all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier. Built-in 2.5-inch LCD viewer. Auto duplexing for printing both sides of pages. Auto Photo Correction with face detection with preview on LCD and red-eye removal. Memory card slots for printing directly from digital cameras and mobile phones without the use of a PC if desired; PictBridge and DPOF. Supports Epson PRINT Image Matching and Exif. Direct CD and DVD printing capability lets the user to produce personalized colorful photo and text labels on inkjet printable CDs and DVDs. Price: Epson Stylus Photo RX680: $199.99 (USA) Epson Model No. C11C686201 (RX685 in Europe; RX690 in Latin America, Middle East, Pacific, and Asia). Printer started shipping in September 2007.
The Epson Stylus Photo RX680 (known as the RX685 in Europe and the RX690 in Latin America, Asia, etc.) prints photographs from 4x6-inch to 8.5x11 and A4 sizes, both with and without borders. The all-in-one unit prints, copies, and scans with or without a PC.
The Epson Claria dye-based inks used with the Stylus Photo RX680 are supplied in six individual Epson 78 ink cartridges; Epson 77 highcapacity cartridges are also available in the U.S. Among current dye based ink/microrpous products, Claria inks have comparatively high WIR Display Permanence Ratings.
Display Permanence Ratings and Album/Dark Storage Permanence Ratings
Paper Printed With Dye-Based Epson Claria Hi-Definition Inks
Displayed Displayed Displayed Prints Prints Framed Prints Framed Not Framed Under Glass(3) With UV Filter(4) (Bare-Bulb)(5)
(Years Before Noticeable Fading and/or Changes in Color Balance Occur)2
Album/Dark Storage Unprotected Resistance Are UV Rating at 73F & 50% RH Resistance to High Resistance Brighteners (incl. Paper Yellowing)(6) to Ozone(7) Humidity(8) to Water(9) Present?(10)
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy
(Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper)
98 years 98 years 97 years
82 years 82 years 133 years

now in test(5)

>200 years >200 years 185 years

now in test

now in test now in test

high high

14 years(5)

14 years

Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte
(Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight)

moderate(11)

2007 by Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. As long as this document remains complete and unaltered, it may be freely distributed to your associates, customers, and friends. This PDF may also be reproduced in magazine articles, books, and other hardcopy print publications; however, it may not be posted on websites without written permission. Links to <www.wilhelm-research.com> are welcomed. Address e-mail inquiries to: <info@wilhelm-research.com> Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc., Box 775, Grinnell, Iowa 50112 U.S.A.

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This document originated at <www.wilhelm-research.com> File name: <WIR_Ep_Photo_RX680_2007_12_30.pdf>
Epson Stylus Photo RX680 Print Permanence Ratings (preliminary1)

2007 Henry Wilhelm

December 30, 2007 (page 2 of 6)

Notes on These Tests:

1) The print permanence data presented here are based on tests done with a prototype Epson Stylus Photo RX680 (called the Epson Stylus Photo RX685 in Europe and RX690 in Asia and Latin America) using Epson Claria dye-based inks. Tests are continuing and this webpage will be updated regularly (high stability inks such as these require extended test times). Extensive confirmation tests with commercially packaged Epson inks, papers, and an Epson Stylus Photo RX680 printer purchased by WIR are also being conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research to make certain that the products consumers actually purchase have essentially the same permanence characteristics as those of the prototype products tested earlier in the product cycle, and upon which the data reported here are based. 2) Display Permanence Ratings (DPR) are based on accelerated light stability tests conducted at 35 klux with glass-filtered cool white fluorescent illumination with the sample plane air temperature maintained at 24C and 60% relative humidity. Data were extrapolated to a display condition of 450 lux for 12 hours per day using the Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. Visually-Weighted Endpoint Criteria Set v3.0. and represent the years of display for easily noticeable fading, changes in color balance, and/or staining to occur. See: Henry Wilhelm, How Long Will They Last? An Overview of the Light-Fading Stability of Inkjet Prints and Traditional Color Photographs, IS&Ts 12th International Symposium on Photofinishing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Orlando, Florida, February 2002: <www.wilhelm-research.com> <Wilhelm _IS&T_Paper_Feb_2002.pdf>. For a study of endpoint criteria correlation with human observers, see: Yoshihiko Shibahara, Makoto Machida, Hideyasu Ishibashi, and Hiroshi Ishizuka, Endpoint Criteria for Print Life Estimation, Final Program and Proceedings: IS&Ts NIP20 International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, pp. 673679, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2004. See also: Henry Wilhelm, A Review of Accelerated Test Methods for Predicting the Image Life of Digitally-Printed Photographs Part II, Final Program and Proceedings: IS&Ts NIP20 International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, pp. 664669, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2004. Also available, with color illustrations: <www.wilhelm-research.com> <WIR_IST_2004_11_HW.pdf>. High-intensity light fading reciprocity failures in these tests are assumed to be zero. Illumination conditions in homes, offices, museums, and galleries do vary, however, and color images will last longer when displayed under lower light levels; likewise, the life of prints will be shortened when displayed under illumination that is more intense than 450 lux. Ink and paper combinations that have not reached a fading

Table 1. Standard Home Display Illumination Levels Used by Printer, Ink, and Photo Paper Manufacturers
120 lux/12 hrs/day 450 lux or 500 lux/10 hrs/day or 12 hrs/day
Fuji Hewlett-Packard Epson Canon Lexmark Ilford Konica Minolta Agfa-Gevaert DuPont Ferrania InteliCoat Somerset Arches LexJet Lyson Luminos Hahnemuhle Premier Imaging Products American Inkjet MediaStreet
or color balance failure point after the equivalent of 100 years of display are given a rating of more than 100 years until such time as meaningful dark stability data are available (see discussion in No. 5 below). Eastman Kodak is the only company in the world that bases its home displaylife calculations on 120 lux/12 hours per day, rather than 450 lux/12 hours per day. Some of Kodaks display-life predictions for Kodak Ultima Picture Paper are almost 15X longer than the predictions obtained in the more conservative tests conducted by WIR for this ink/media combination, and can be accounted for by differences in the two test methodologies. For example, Kodak uses 80 klux UVfiltered cool white fluorescent illumination; WIR uses 35 klux glass-filtered cool white fluorescent illumination. Kodak uses a starting density for fading measurements of only 1.0; WIR uses starting densities of both 0.6 and 1.0. Kodak uses the ISO Illustrative endpoint criteria set; WIR uses the visually-weighted WIR. continues next page
December 30, 2007 (page 3 of 6)
Notes on These Tests (continued from previous page):
Table 2. Filtration Conditions Used by Printer, Ink, and Paper Manufacturers with CW Fluorescent Illumination

UV Filter Glass Filter

Fuji Hewlett-Packard Epson Canon Lexmark Ilford Agfa-Gevaert Konica Minolta DuPont Ferrania InteliCoat Somerset Arches LexJet Lyson Luminos Hahnemuhle Premier Imaging Products American Inkjet MediaStreet
tions. For a description of the Kodak tests, see: D. E. Bugner, C. E. Romano, G. A. Campbell, M. M. Oakland, R. J. Kapusniak, L. L. Aquino, and K. E. Maskasky, The Technology Behind the New KODAK Ultima Picture Paper Beautiful Inkjet Prints that Last for Over 100 Years, Final Program and Advanced Printing of Paper Summaries IS&Ts 13th International Symposium on Photofinishing Technology, pp. 3843, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 8, 2004. See also: D. E. Bugner, C. E. Romano, G. A. Campbell, M. M. Oakland, R. J. Kapusniak, L. L. Aquino, and K. E. Maskasky, The Technology Behind the New Kodak Ultima Picture Paper Beautiful Inkjet Prints that Last for Over 100 Years Update May 8, 2004, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York. Available as a PDF file from <www.kodak.com>. Together with Kodaks own test data, the articles also include light stability data for Kodak Ultima Picture Paper obtained from ongoing tests conducted by the Image Permanence Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, New York), and from Torrey Pines Research (Torrey Pines, California). The tests were conducted using the Kodak test procedures and included the use of a UV filter with cool white fluorescent illumination; the Image Permanence Institute and Torrey Pines Research also based print-life calculations on 120 lux for 12 hours per day. 3) In typical indoor situations, the Displayed Prints Framed Under Glass test condition is considered the single most important of the three display conditions listed. All prints intended for long-term display should be framed under glass or plastic to protect them from staining, image discoloration, and other deterioration caused by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke, cooking fumes, insect residues, and other airborne contaminants; this precaution applies to traditional silver-halide black-and-white and color photographs, as well as inkjet, dye-sub, and other types of digital prints. 4) Displayed prints framed with ultraviolet filtering glass or ultraviolet filtering plastic sheet generally last longer than those framed under ordinary glass. How much longer depends upon the specific print material and the spectral composition of the illuminate, with some ink/paper combinations benefitting a great deal more than others. Some products may even show reduced life when framed under a UV filter because one of the image dyes or pigments is disproportionately protected from fading caused by UV radiation and this can result in more rapid changes in color balance than occur with the glass-filtered and/or the bare-bulb illumination conditions. For example, if a UV filter protects the cyan and magenta inks much more than it protects the yellow ink in a particular ink/media combination, the color balance of the image may shift toward blue more rapidly. continues next page

Endpoint Criteria Set v3.0. Kodaks display environment light exposure assumption for calculating display life is 120 lux for 12 hours per day (UV filtered); WIR uses 450 lux for 12 hours per day (glass filtered). Kodak maintains 50% RH in their accelerated tests; WIR uses 60% RH. Key aspects of Kodaks test methodology and assumptions for calculation of years of display are also very different from those used by most other manufacturers of printers, inks, and media. The display lux level assumption of 120 lux (see Table 1) alone makes Kodaks display-life predictions 3.75X greater than the display-life predictions provided by other manufacturers and by WIR. With many ink/media combinations, Kodaks use of a UV filter instead of the glass filter used by other companies in accelerated light fading tests (see Table 2) further increases Kodaks display-life predic-
December 30, 2007 (page 4 of 6)
than it does when a glass filter is used (in which case the fading rates of the cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes or pigments are more balanced in the neutral scale). Keep in mind, however, that the major cause of fading with most digital and traditional color prints in indoor display conditions is visible light and although a UV filter may slow fading, it will not stop it. For the display permanence data reported here, Acrylite OP-3 acrylic sheet, a museum quality UV filter supplied by Cyro Industries, was used. 5) Illumination from bare-bulb fluorescent lamps (with no glass or plastic sheet between the lamps and prints) contains significant UV emissions at 313nm and 365nm which, with most print materials, increases the rate of fading compared with fluorescent illumination filtered by ordinary glass (which absorbs UV radiation with wavelengths below about 330nm). Some print materials are affected greatly by UV radiation in the 313365nm region, and others very little. Gas fading is another potential problem when prints are displayed unframed, such as when they are attached to kitchen refrigerator doors with magnets, pinned to office walls, or displayed inside of fluorescent illuminated glass display cases in schools, stores, and offices. Field experience has shown that, as a class of media, microporous instant dry papers used with dye-based inkjet inks can be very vulnerable to gas fading when displayed unframed and/or stored exposed to the open atmosphere where even very low levels of ozone and certain other air pollutants are present. Resistance to ozone exposure varies considerably, depending on the specific type and brand of dye-based inks and photo paper. In some locations, displayed unframed prints made with certain types of microporous papers and dye-based inks have suffered from extremely rapid image deterioration. This type of premature ink fading is not caused by exposure to light. Polluted outdoor air is the source of most ozone found indoors in homes, offices and public buildings. Ozone can also be generated indoors by electrical equipment such as electrostatic air filters (electronic dust precipitators) that may be part of heating and air conditioning systems in homes, office buildings, restaurants, and other public buildings to remove dust, tobacco smoke, etc. Electrostatic air filtration units are also supplied as small tabletop devices. Potentially harmful pollutants may be found in combustion products from gas stoves; in addition, microscopic droplets of cooking oil and grease in cooking fumes can damage unframed prints. Because of the wide range of environmental conditions in which prints may be displayed or stored, the data given here will be limited by the Unprotected Resistance to Ozone ratings. That is, when ozone resistance tests are complete, in cases where the Unprotected Resistance to Ozone predictions are less than the Display Permanence Ratings for displayed prints that are NOT framed under glass (or plastic), and are therefore exposed to circulating ambient air, the Display Permanence Ratings will be reduced to the same number of years given for Unprotected Resistance to Ozone even though the Display Permanence Rating for unframed prints displayed in ozone-free air is higher. For all of the reasons cited above, all prints made with microporous papers and dye-based inks should always be displayed framed under glass or plastic. For that matter, ALL displayed prints, regardless of the technology with which they are made, should be framed under glass or plastic sheets. This includes silver-halide black-and-white and color prints, dye-sub prints, and inkjet prints made with dye-based or pigmented inks on swellable or microporous papers, canvas, or other materials. 6) Prints stored in the dark may suffer slow deterioration that is manifested in yellowing of the print paper, image fading, changes in color balance, and physical embrittlement, cracking, and/or delamination of the image layer. These types of deterioration may affect the paper support, the image layer, or both. Each type of print material (ink/paper combination) has its own intrinsic dark storage stability characteristics; some are far more stable than others. Rates of deterioration are influenced by temperature and relative humidity; high temperatures and/or high relative humidity exacerbate the problems. Long-term dark storage stability is determined using Arrhenius accelerated dark storage stability tests that employ a series of elevated temperatures (e.g., 57C, 64C, 71C, and 78C) at a constant relative humidity of 50% RH to permit extrapolation to ambient room temperatures (or other conditions such those found in sub-zero, humidity-controlled cold storage preservation facilities). Because many types of inkjet inks, especially those employing pigments instead of dyes, are exceedingly stable when stored in the dark, the eventual life of prints made with these inks may be limited by the instability of the paper support, and not by the inks themselves. Due to this concern, as a matter of policy, Wilhelm Imaging Research does not provide a Display Permanence Rating of greater than 100 years for any inkjet or other photographic print material unless it has also been evaluated with Arrhenius dark storage tests and the data indicate that the print can indeed last longer than 100 years without noticeable deterioration when stored at 73F (23C) and 50% RH. Arrhenius dark storage data are also necessary to assess the physical and image stability of a print material when it is stored in an album, portfolio box, or other dark place. The Arrhenius data given here are only applicable when prints are protected from the open atmosphere; that is, they are stored in closed boxes, placed in albums within protective plastic sleeves, or framed under glass or highquality acrylic sheet. If prints are stored, displayed without glass or plastic, or. continues next page

December 30, 2007 (page 5 of 6)
otherwise exposed to the open atmosphere, low-level air pollutants may cause significant paper yellowing within a relatively short period of time. Note that these Arrhenius dark storage data are for storage at 50% RH; depending on the specific type of paper and ink, storage at higher relative humidities (e.g., 70% RH) could produce significantly higher rates of paper yellowing and/or other types of physical deterioration. 7) Tests for Unprotected Resistance to Ozone are conducted with an accelerated ozone exposure test using a SATRA/Hampden Test Equipment Ltd. Model 903 Automatic Ozone Test Cabinet (with the test chamber maintained at 23C and 50% RH and the ozone concenration in the accelerated test set at 5ppm) and the reporting method outlined in: Kazuhiko Kitamura, Yasuhiro Oki, Hidemasa Kanada, and Hiroko Hayashi (Seiko Epson), A Study of Fading Property Indoors Without Glass Frame from an Ozone Accelerated Test, Final Program and Proceedings IS&Ts NIP19: International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 28 October 3, 2003, pp. 415419. WIR test methods for ozone resistance are described in: Michael Berger and Henry Wihelm, Evaluating the Ozone Resistance of Inkjet Prints: Comparisons Between Two Types of Accelerated Ozone Tests and Ambient Air Exposure in a Home, Final Program and Proceedings: IS&Ts NIP20 International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, pp. 740745, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2004. Also available in PDF format from <www.wilhelm-research.com> <WIR_IST_2004_11_MB_HW.pdf>. 8) Changes in image color and density, and/or image diffusion (image bleeding), that may take place over time when prints are stored and/or displayed in conditions of high relative humidity are evaluated using a humidity-fastness test maintained at 86F (30C) and 80% RH. Depending on the particular ink/media combination, slow humidity-induced changes may occur at much lower humidities even at 5060% RH. Test methods for resistance to high humidity and related test methods for evaluating short-term color drift in inkjet prints have been under development since 1996 by Mark McCormick-Goodhart and Henry Wilhelm at Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. See: Mark McCormick-Goodhart and Henry Wilhelm, New Test Methods for Evaluating the Humidity-Fastness of Inkjet Prints, Proceedings of Japan Hardcopy 2005 The Annual Conference of the Imaging Society of Japan, Tokyo, Japan, June 9, 2005, pp. 9598. Available in PDF format from <www.wilhelm-research.com> <WIR_JapanHardcopy2005MMG_HW.pdf>

See also, Henry Wilhelm and Mark McCormick-Goodhart, An Overview of the Permanence of Inkjet Prints Compared with Traditional Color Prints, Final Program and Proceedings IS&Ts Eleventh International Symposium on Photofinishing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 30 February 1, 2000, pp. 3439. See also: Mark McCormick-Goodhart and Henry Wilhelm, Humidity-Induced Color Changes and Ink Migration Effects in Inkjet Photographs in Real-World Environmental Conditions, Final Program and Proceedings IS&Ts NIP16: International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technologies, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, October 1520, 2000, pp. 7477. See also: Mark McCormick-Goodhart and Henry Wilhelm, The Influence of Relative Humidity on Short-Term Color Drift in Inkjet Prints, Final Program and Proceedings IS&Ts NIP17: International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, September 30 October 5, 2001, pp. 179185; and: Mark McCormick-Goodhart and Henry Wilhelm, The Correlation of Line Quality Degradation With Color Changes in Inkjet Prints Exposed to High Relative Humidity, Final Program and Proceedings IS&Ts NIP19: International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, sponsored by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 28 October 3, 2003, pp. 420425. 9) Data from waterfastness tests are reported in terms of three subjective classes: high, moderate, and low. Both water drip tests and standing water droplets/gentle wipe tests are employed. 10) Fluorescent brighteners (also called UV brighteners, optical brighteners, or optical brightening agents [OBAs]) are white or colorless compounds added to the image-side coatings of many inkjet papers and nearly all plain papers to make them appear whiter and brighter than they really are. Fluorescent brighteners absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation, causing the brighteners to fluoresce (emit light) in the visible region, especially in the blue portion of the spectrum. Fluorescent brighteners can lose activity partially or completely as a result of exposure to light. Brighteners may also lose activity when subjected to high temperatures in accelerated thermal aging tests and, it may be assumed, in long-term storage in albums or other dark places under normal room temperature conditions. With loss of brightener activity, papers will appear to have yellowed and to be less bright and less white. In recent years, traditional chromogenic (silver-halide). continues next page

December 30, 2007 (page 6 of 6)
color photographic papers have been made with UV-absorbing interlayers and overcoats and this prevents brighteners that might be present in the base paper from being activated by UV radiation. It is the relative UV component in the viewing illumination that determines the perceived brightening effect produced by fluorescent brighteners. If the illumination contains no UV radiation (for example, if a UV filter is used in framing a print), fluorescent brighteners are not activated and, comparatively speaking, the paper appears to be somewhat yellowed and not as white. This spectral dependency of fluorescent brighteners makes papers containing such brighteners look different depending on the illumination conditions. For example, prints displayed near windows are illuminated with direct or indirect daylight, which contains a relatively high UV component, and if an inkjet paper contains brighteners, this causes the brighteners to strongly fluoresce. When the same print is displayed under incandescent tungsten illumination, which has a low UV component, the brighteners have little effect. Another potential drawback of brighteners is that brightener degradation products may themselves be a source of yellowish stain. These problems can be avoided by not adding fluorescent brighteners to inkjet photographic papers during manufacture. When long-term image permanence is of critical importance with museum fine art collections, for example papers with fluorescent brighteners should be avoided where possible. 11) Although the waterfastness of the color image itself is very high with this paper, the absorbent paper base itself may become cockled, curled, and physically distorted after contact with water. For this reason, the waterfastness of this paper/ink combination is listed as moderate.