I Love my Epson Printers!

Hints and Tips:  Do you have a hint or a tip when using Epson printers?  Please share it with me. Email me.  I will post them for everyone.

1.  If your printer starts making weird sounds and all the lights come on try lubricating the guide bar with lubricant.  Use a silicone based product.  Put some on a rag and wipe down the bar.  Viola, no more noises!

2.  Have you tried printing on cloth?  I just cut my cloth to the size I need, iron a piece of freezer paper to the back.  Then just print as you normally would.  Remove the freezer paper.  This is great for those times that your kids need to make a flag for school.  No need to run out and buy fabric.  Of course, it is not washable.  There are products that say they can set the colors so they don't wash out.  I have heard that it doesn't work.

3. I saw a thin silk fabric demonstrated recently.  It comes with a backer sheet.  This would be great for making your own scarves.  I will have to look into this further.

 

 

Coming attractions:  See the projects that everyone created in the Anything Printed on an Epson Swap.

 

Here are the specs for the new printers.  All I can say is that they are great!!!!  I printed some on the Premium Glossy roll paper at 2880 dpi and you can't tell them from a 35mm print.  You can get more information on them at the Epson web site.

If you have any questions please send me an email.  

 

The newest printers are the Stylus 780, 890 and 1280. The 890 is replacing the 870 and the 1280 is replacing the 1270. The key differences are:

** NEW RESOLUTION: 6 color 2880 x 720 dpi on photo paper (1440 x 720 dpi on all other paper). This creates sharper detail in photographs, text, line art, and solid fill areas.

** NEW BORDER FREE PRINTING: You can print to all four edges of the paper. You don't have to trim prints or tear perforations. On the 780, no competitive printer offers this feature; it's the easiest way to print photographs.

 

 
EPSON Stylus Photo 780
EPSON Stylus Photo 890
EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
  $199.00 $299.00 $499.00
 $50 mail in rebate- final price $149   
Printing Method 6-color (CcMmYK) Micro Piezo ink jet technology, borderless printing 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10 and 8.5 x 11 support 6-color (CcMmYK) Micro Piezo ink jet technology, borderless printing 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10 and 8.5 x 11 support 6-color (CcMmYK) Micro Piezo ink jet technology, borderless printing 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10 & 8.5 x 11, 11 x 14 and 13 x 19 support
Configuration Monochrome head: 48 nozzles, Color head: 240 nozzles Monochrome head: 48 nozzles, Color head: 240 nozzles Monochrome head: 48 nozzles, Color head:48 nozzles x 5 (CMY)
Resolution 2880 x 720 dpi; 1440 x 720 dpi; 720 x 720 dpi; 360 x 360 dpi; 120 x 120 dpi 2880 x 720 dpi; 1440 x 720 dpi; 720 x 720 dpi; 360 x 360 dpi; 120 x 120 dpi 2880 x 720 dpi; 1440 x 720 dpi; 720 x 720 dpi; 360 x 360 dpi; 180 x 180 dpi
Ink Droplet Size 4 picoliters 4 picoliters 4 picoliters
Print Speed 4" x 6" Photo: 54 secs. , 8" x 10" Photo: 1 min. 50 secs. Black text memo: Approx. 8 ppm. 4" x 6" Photo: 48 secs. , 8" x 10" Photo: 1 min. 51 secs. Black text memo: Approx. 9 ppm. 4" x 6" Photo: 54 secs. , 8" x 10" Photo: 1 min. 50 secs. Black text memo: 9 ppm
Sound Level 47 dB(A) 42 dB(A) 42 dB(A)
Ink Technology EPSON Photo Ink (Lightfast Inks)* EPSON Photo Ink (Lightfast Inks)* Epson Photo Ink (Lightfast Inks)*
Printer Language EPSON ESC/P Raster, EPSON Remote EPSON ESC/P Raster, EPSON Remote EPSON ESC/P Raster; IBM X24E
Software Driver Windows USB- Windows 98, 2000, Me or later; Windows Parallel- Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me or later; Macintosh USB- Macintosh System 8.5.1 or later Windows USB- Windows 98, 2000, Me or later; Windows Parallel- Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me or later; Macintosh USB- Macintosh System 8.5.1 or later Windows USB- Windows 98, 2000, Me or later; Windows Parallel- Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me or later; Macintosh USB- Macintosh System 8.5.1 or later
Input Buffer 256 KB 256 KB 256 KB
Interface USB, Parallel (IEEE-1284) USB, Parallel (IEEE-1284) USB, Parallel (IEEE-1284)
Print Direction Bidirectional with logic seeking Bidirectional with logic seeking Bidirectional with logic seeking
Paper Handling      
Single Sheets Letter, legal, A4, B5, A5, A6, half letter, executive, user definable (4" to 44"), 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10" Letter, legal, A4, A6, 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", user definable (4" to 44") Letter, legal, A4, A6, 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", user definable (4" to 44"), 11" x 14", A3 + (SB)
Thickness N/A N/A NA
Types Supports a variety of EPSON photo papers, plain and bond papers. Supports a variety of EPSON photo papers in cut sheets, and roll types (4", 8.3"); plain and bond papers. Plain, bond, EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Matte Paper - Heavyweight, High Quality Ink Jet Paper, Photo Paper,Transparences, Photo Quality Glossy Film, Self-Adhesive Sheets, Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards, Photo Paper, Iron-on Transfer Paper, Banner Paper, and roll papers.
Envelope Types No. 10, DL, C6 No. 10, DL, C6 No. 10, DL, C6
Printable Area 8.5" x 11" (full-bleed letter size); Top Margin, 0"; Bottom Margin, 0", Left Margin, 0"; Right Margin, 0", 8.5" x 44" (maximum) 8.5" x 11" (full-bleed letter size); Top Margin, 0"; Bottom Margin, 0", Left Margin, 0"; Right Margin, 0", maximum printable area 8.5" x 44" 13" x 44" (maximum printable area), 13" x 19" (full-bleed Super B), Top Margin, 0"; Bottom Margin, 0", Left Margin, 0"; Right Margin, 0"
Paper Capacity Input paper tray: 100 Sheets/ 10 envelopes, Output paper tray: 30 sheets Input paper tray: 100 Sheets/ 10 envelopes/ 30 transparency files. Output paper tray: 50 sheets Input paper tray: 100 Sheets/ 10 envelopes, Output paper tray: 50 sheets
Physical Dimensions 17.7" L x 9.7" W x 7.2" H, 8.36 lb 18.5" L x 11.4" W x 6.9" H, 13.2 lb 24" x 12.2" x 6.9" 18.48 lb
Environmental Conditions Temperature: Operating: 50° to 95°F (10° to 35°); Storage: -4° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C), Humidity: Operating: 20% to 80% releative humidity, Storage: 5% to 85% relative humidity (no condensation) Temperature: Operating: 50° to 95°F (10° to 35°); Storage: -4° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C), Humidity: Operating: 20% to 80% releative humidity, Storage: 5% to 85% relative humidity (no condensation) Temperature: Operating: 50° to 95°F (10° to 35°); Storage: -4° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C), Humidity: Operating: 20% to 80% releative humidity, Storage: 5% to 85% relative humidity (no condensation)
Safety Approvals Safety standards: UL1950, CSA22.2 950, FCC part 15 subpart B class B, CSA C108.8 class B Safety standards: UL1950, CSA22.2 950, FCC part 15 subpart B class B, CSA C108.8 class B Safety standards: UL1950 with D3, CSA22.2 950 with D3, RFI: FCC part 15 subpart B class B, CSA C108.8 class B
Power Requirements      
Rated Voltage 120V AC +/-10% 120V AC +/-10% 120V AC +/-10%
Rated Frequency 50 to 60 Hz 50 to 60 Hz 50 to 60 Hz
Rated Current 0.4 Amp (max.) 0.4 Amp (max.) 0.4Amp (max.)
Power Consumption Approx. 17 W (self test mode) Approx. 15 W (self test mode) Approx. 8 W (self test mode)
Ink Cartridge Life      
Automatic ink low/Ink out detection Yes Yes Yes
Black Ink Life 540 pages text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern), 378 pages of graphic (5% coverage) 540 pages text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern), 378 pages of graphic (5% coverage) 540 pages (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern) 378 pages of graphics at 5% coverage
Color ink life 220 pages ( 15% coverage) 220 pages ( 15% coverage) 330 pages @ 15% coverage
Shelf life N/A 2 years from production date; 6 months from first cartridge use N/A
Warranty Standard one year limited warranty in the U.S. and Canada including EPSON Exchange program. (Additional warranties available beyond one year). Standard one year limited warranty in the U.S. and Canada including EPSON Exchange program. (Additional warranties available beyond one year). Standard one year limited warranty, including EPSON Exchange Program (in U.S. and Canada only)
PCMCIA Card Slot N/A N/A N/A
Software EPSON Software™ Film Factory™, Arcsoft™ PhotoImpression™ 3.0, and QBeo™ PhotoGenetics™ 2.0 TE EPSON Software™ Film Factory™ TE, Arcsoft™ PhotoImpression 3.0™, and QBeo™ PhotoGenetics™, Arcsoft™ PhotoStudio 2000 Adobe Photoshop LE, EPSON Software™ Film Factory™TE, QBeo™PhotoGenetics™, Monaco EZ color™' software offer, PostScript Option - Epson Stylus RIP (available April '01)
Print Volume 25,000 25,000 N/A
* Per Wilhelm Research Labs (Wilhelm-Research.com), lightfastness rated approximately 25 years before noticeable fading occurs in normal indoor display conditions in a glass frame, when using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Matte Paper- Heavyweight; approximately 6-7 years under the same conditions when using EPSON Photo Paper. Results will vary depending on lighting conditions, humidity, framing under glass, color intensity, color range and print media. Water-resistant prints are produced using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper and EPSON Photo Paper. Fine Mode: Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software application, page complexity, amount of page covered and print setting. Per Wilhelm Research Labs (Wilhelm-Research.com), lightfastness rated approximately 25 years before noticeable fading occurs in normal indoor display conditions in a glass frame, when using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Matte Paper- Heavyweight; approximately 6-7 years under the same conditions when using EPSON Photo Paper. Results will vary depending on lighting conditions, humidity, framing under glass, color intensity, color range and print media. Water-resistant prints are produced using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper and EPSON Photo Paper. Fine Mode: Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software application, page complexity, amount of page covered and print setting. Per Wilhelm Research Labs (Wilhelm-Research.com), lightfastness rated approximately 25 years before noticeable fading occurs in normal indoor display conditions in a glass frame, when using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Matte Paper- Heavyweight; approximately 6-7 years under the same conditions when using EPSON Photo Paper. Results will vary depending on lighting conditions, humidity, framing under glass, color intensity, color range and print media. Water-resistant prints are produced using Genuine EPSON ink cartridges and EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper and EPSON Photo Paper. Fine Mode: Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software application, page complexity, amount of page covered and print setting.