Stylus Photo R280 - Printer EPSON - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL Stylus Photo R280 EPSON

Paper support Right edge guide Left edge guide Sheet feeder Printer cover Front tray Front cover Front tray extensions CD/DVD tray Adapter

Cartridge cover Print head Ink button Power button Paper/Cancel button

USB port

Accessories

Ink Cartridges

Cartridge Part number
Black 78
Cyan 78
Magenta 78
Yellow 78
Light Cyan 78
Light Magenta 78
High-Capacity Black 77
High-Capacity Cyan 77
High-Capacity Magenta 77
High-Capacity Yellow	77
High-Capacity Light Cyan	77
High-Capacity Light Magenta	77

Note:

Try the High Capacity 77 cartridges available at http://www.epson.com/highcapacity (U.S. sales) or http://www.epson.ca (Canadian sales).

You may use any combination of cartridge sizes. If you've installed a high-capacity black cartridge (77), for example, you can still use a regular capacity magenta cartridge (78).

You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from Epson Supplies Central ^SM at www.epson.com/ink3 (U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian sales). You can also purchase supplies from an Epson authorized reseller. To find the nearest one, call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766).

Epson Media

Paper name* Size Part number Sheet count
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041934		S042181S042174	5060100
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041405 50
Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041808		S041727	40100
Epson Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss	Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041982 40
	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041331 20
Epson Photo Paper Glossy	Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041809	S042038	50100
	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041141	S041649S041271	2050100
Epson Bright White Paper	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041586 500
Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte	Borderless 8 × 10 inches S041467 50
	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041257	S042180	50100
Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte Double-sided	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041568 50
Epson Presentation Paper Matte	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)	S041062	100
	Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)	S041067 100
Epson Photo Quality Self-Adhesive Sheets	A4 (8.3 × 11.7 inches)	S041106	10
Epson Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper	Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)	S041153	10

* Availability of paper types varies by location.

Printer Specifications

Printing

Epson MicroPiezo ^® head with DX5 ^™ variable droplets

Mechanical

Paper feed Friction

Paper path Sheet feeder, top entry

Sheet feeder

capacity 120 sheets of 20 lb (75 g/m ^2 paper

Dimensions

Storage Width: 17.7 inches (450 mm)

Depth: 11.1 inches (282 mm)

Height: 7.4 inches (187 mm)

Printing Width: 17.7 inches (450 mm)

Depth: 22.5 inches (571 mm)

Height: 11.3 inches (288 mm)

Weight 11.9 lb (5.4 kg) without ink cartridges

Ink Cartridges

Colors Black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan light magenta

Cartridge life Within 6 months after opening package, at 77 °F (25 °C)

Dimensions

(W× D× H) 0.5× 2.9× 2.2 inches

(12.7 × 73.5 × 55.3 mm)

Storage

temperature -4 to 104 °F (-20 to 40 °C)

1 month at 104^ F ( 40^ C)

Freezing

temperature* 3.2 °F (-16 °C)

* Ink thaws and is usable after approximately 3 hours at 77 °F (25 °C).

Note:

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.

For best printing results, use up a cartridge within six months of opening the package.

Cartridge 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.

Electrical

Rated Voltage		100-120 VModel	220-240 VModel
Input voltage range*		AC 90 to 132 V	AC 198 to 264 V
Rated frequency range		50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency range		49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current		0.6 A(Max. 0.9 A)	0.3 A(Max. 0.5 A)
Power consumption	ISO/IEC10561Letter Pattern	Approx. 12 W
	Sleep mode	Approx. 1.0 W	Approx. 1.2 W
	Power off mode	Approx. 0.2 W	Approx. 0.3 W

* Check the label on the back of the printer for its voltage.

Environmental

Temperature

Operation 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)

Storage -4 to 104 °F (-20 to 40 °C)

1 month at 104^ F ( 40^ C)

Humidity (without condensation)

Operation 20 to 80% RH

Storage 5 to 85% RH

Safety Approvals

Safety standards UL 60950-1

CAN/CSA-22.2 No. 60950-1

EMC

FCC part 15 Subpart B class B

CAN/CSA-CEI/IEC CISPR 22 Class B

USB Interface

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (Device Class for computers)

Paper

Single sheets

Size A4 (8.3 × 11.7 inches)
	A6 (4.1 × 5.8 inches)Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)Half-letter (5.5 × 8.5 inches)4 × 6 inches5 × 7 inches3.5 × 5 inches8 × 10 inches16:9 (4 × 7.11 inches)User Defined up to 8.5 × 44 inches
Paper type Plain bond paper or special paper distributed by Epson
Thickness 0.003 to 0.004 inch (0.08 to 0.11 mm)
Weight (for plain bond paper)	17 lb (64 g/m2) to 24 lb (90 g/m2)

Envelopes

Size No. 10 (4.1 × 9.5 inches)

DL (4.3 × 8.7 inches)

C6 (4.5 × 6.4 inches)

Paper type Plain bond paper

Weight 20 lb (75 g/m2) to 24 lb (90 g/m2)

Note:

Poor quality paper may reduce the print quality and cause paper jams or other problems. If you have print quality problems, switch to a higher grade paper.

Do not load curled or folded paper and use paper only under these conditions:

Temperature: 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)

Humidity: 40 to 60% RH

Printable area

A The	minimum top margin is 0.12 inches (3.0 mm).
B-L The	the minimum left margin is 0.12 inches (3.0 mm).
B-R The	the minimum right margin is 0.12 inches (3.0 mm).
C The	minimum bottom margin is 0.12 inches (3.0 mm).
D-L The	the minimum left margin is 0.20 inches (5.0 mm).
D-R	The minimum right margin is 0.20 inches (5.0 mm).
E	The minimum bottom margin is 0.78 inches (20.0 mm).

* When you print with the borderless feature, print quality may decline in the expanded area. Before printing large jobs using the borderless setting, print a single sheet to confirm printout quality.

Note:

Always load paper into the sheet feeder with the short edge first. Load envelopes with the flap edge left and the flap side down.

CDs or DVDs

12-cm CD/DVD 120 mm 18 mm

8-cm CD/DVD 18 mm 80 mm

If you print in the following areas of the disc, the disc or CD/DVD tray may get stained with ink:

Inner hub area	18 to 42 mm
Outer periphery area	117 to 120 mm for a 12-cm CD/DVD77 to 80 mm for a 8-cm CD/DVD

Checking the Printer's Lights

To diagnose problems, check the printer's lights:

Lights Explanation
Green ⏻ power light flashes	The printer is receiving a print job, replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning the print head.
Red ⏻ paper out light is on and green ⏻ power light flashes	If you're printing on paper, your paper ran out. Load more paper and press the paper button to resume printing.If you're printing on a CD or DVD, the CD/DVD tray is not inserted. Insert the tray, then press the paper button.
Red ⏻ paper out light and green ⏻ power light flash	If you're printing on paper, it is jammed in the printer. Press the paper button to eject the paper. If that doesn't work, turn off the printer, open the cover, and pull the paper out from the front, including any torn pieces. Then turn on the printer, reload paper, and press the paper button.If you're printing on a CD or DVD, the CD/DVD tray has not ejected. Pull out the tray and press the paper button.
Red ⏻ ink light flashes and green ⏻ power light is on	One of the cartridges is nearly expended. Check the message that appears on your screen to determine which cartridge is nearly expended or follow the instructions in the next section to check the ink supply. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge.
Red ⏻ ink light and green ⏻ power light are on	One of the cartridges is nearly expended or not installed. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge, then follow the instructions in the next section to install it.If you have just installed a new cartridge, it may be incompatible with the printer or incorrectly installed. Reinstall it or replace it with the correct cartridge, as described in the next section.
Green ⏻ power light is off; red ⏻ paper out and ⏻ ink lights flash	Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the printer, then open the cover and remove any jammed paper or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on again. If the lights are still on, contact Epson.
Red ⏻ paper out and red ⏻ ink light flash alternately and green ⏻ power light is off	The printer may have an internal error. Turn it off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it on again. If the lights are still flashing, contact Epson.

Replacing an Ink Cartridge

□When the red ink light flashes, one or more ink cartridges are low on ink.
☐When the red ink light stays on, you need to replace the cartridge(s).

You'll also see a message on your screen when you print telling you which cartridge is low or expended.

When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if printouts don't look their best. If the quality doesn't improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace the cartridge even if the red ink light is off.

Caution:

You cannot print when an ink cartridge is expended, even if other cartridges are not expended. Leave the expended cartridge(s) installed until you have obtained a replacement, or the ink remaining in the print head nozzle may dry out.

A window may appear on your computer screen if you try to print when ink is low. On a Windows computer that is connected to the Internet, you may see a screen asking if you want to receive ink offers and other updates from Epson.

Click Accept or Decline to continue.

Note:

To disable checking for ink offers or updates from Epson, see the instructions in your on-screen User's Guide.

Checking the Ink Supply

Note:

Epson cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-genuine ink. If you install non-genuine ink cartridges, the ink cartridge status will not be displayed.

If any of the ink cartridges installed in the printer is broken, incompatible, or improperly installed, the ink cartridge status will not be accurately displayed.

When you use your printer as a shared printer on a network, the client operating systems may not be able to communicate directly with the printer and some functions will not be available for the client.

To check your ink supply, do one of the following:

□Windows: Double-click the printer icon on your taskbar.

☐Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility2. Select SP R280 Series in the printer list, click OK, and select EPSON StatusMonitor.

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges

Be 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.

Caution:

Leave the expended cartridge installed until you have obtained a replacement, or the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out.

Note:

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.

Do not open ink cartridge packages until you are ready to install the ink. Cartridges are vacuum packed to maintain reliability.

1. Make sure the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and make sure the front tray is in the paper (lower) position.
2. Make sure the printer is turned on. (The green power light should be on, but not flashing.) Then open the printer cover.
3. Press and release the ink button.

☐ If you are replacing a low or expended cartridge, the print head moves to the ink cartridge check position, and the cartridge that needs to be replaced stops under the mark. The green power light begins to flash.

Diagram illustrating the process of printer printing and drop-off, showing steps from paper feeding to print output.

☐If you are replacing a cartridge before it is low or expended, the print head moves directly to the ink cartridge replacement position. Skip to step 6.

Note:

Don't hold down the Ink button for more than 3 seconds, or the printer will start to clean the print head.

Caution:

Do not move the print head by hand; this may damage your printer. Always press and release the 📄k button to move it.

Be careful not to touch the white flat cable inside the printer.

Prohibition sign showing a hand using a device to stop or remove electrical equipment, with red prohibition symbol

1. Press the ink button again.

☐ If more than one cartridge is low or expended, the next cartridge moves under the mark. Repeat this step.
☐If all the low or expended cartridges have been identified, the print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position.

Note:

If an ink cartridge is low, you may continue to use it until it is expended.

1. Open the cartridge cover.

Illustration of a printer with an open lid and internal components, showing a close-up of the printer's internal structure (no text or symbols present)

1. Remove the new cartridge from its package.

Caution:

Be careful not to break the hooks on the front of the ink cartridge when you remove it from the package.

Always install an ink cartridge immediately after removing the old cartridge. If the cartridge is not installed promptly, the print head may dry out and be unable to print.

Do not touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge. This can damage the ink cartridge.

Prohibition sign showing a hand pointing at a device with a green button, enclosed in a red circle.

1. Remove the yellow tape from the bottom of the ink cartridge.

Illustration of hands performing a mechanical operation with a yellow component and red arrow indicating direction (no text or symbols)

Caution:

You must remove the yellow tape from the cartridge before you install it; otherwise, print quality may decline or you may not be able to print.

If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing the yellow tape, take the cartridge out of the printer, remove the yellow tape, and then reinstall it.

Do not remove the transparent seal from the bottom of the cartridge; otherwise, the cartridge may become unusable.

Prohibition sign with red circle and prohibition symbol, featuring a battery icon with 'BANANA' text

Do not remove or tear the label on the cartridge; otherwise, ink will leak.

Prohibition sign with red circle and downward arrow, indicating no prohibition or rejection of a device.

1. Squeeze the back tab of the used cartridge as you lift it straight up and out of the printer and dispose of it properly. Don't take the cartridge apart or try to refill it.

Diagram showing a hand inserting colored components into a printer drawer, with numbered arrows indicating process steps.

Warning:

If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If discomfort or vision problems continue after a thorough flushing, see a doctor immediately.

1. Lower the new ink cartridge into the holder. Push down gently until the cartridge clicks into place.

Illustration of a hand inserting colorful items into a machine (no text or symbols visible)

1. If you need to replace other ink cartridges, repeat steps 6 through 9 before continuing with step 11.

2. Close the cartridge cover.

Hand inserting a color palette into an ATM machine, with a red downward arrow indicating compression (no text or symbols present)

1. Close the printer cover and press the ink button. The printer begins charging the ink delivery system.

The green power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about one and a half minutes. When it's finished, the green power light stops flashing and stays on, and the red ink light goes out.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the green power light is flashing, unless the print head hasn't moved or the printer hasn't made noise for more than 5 minutes.

Do not insert the CD/DVD tray until ink charging is complete.

Note:

If the red ∅nk light flashes after the print head moves to its home (far right) position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly. Press the ∅nk button two or more times (until the print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position), open the cartridge cover, and press down the ink cartridge until it clicks into place.

Paper Loading Guidelines

You can load up to 120 sheets of plain paper and up to 20 sheets of photo paper. You can load the following number of sheets of Epson special media:

Paper name Loading capacity
Epson Premium Bright White Paper 120 sheets
Epson Presentation Paper Matte 80 sheets
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper GlossyEpson Premium Photo Paper GlossyEpson Premium Photo Paper Semi-glossEpson Photo Paper GlossyEpson Premium Presentation Paper MatteEpson Premium Presentation Paper Matte Double-sidedEpson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster	20 sheets
Epson Iron-on Cool Peel Transfer PaperEpson Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets	1 sheet

Follow these guidelines when loading paper:

☐ Leave enough space in front of the printer for the paper to be fully ejected.
- Don't load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide. Make sure the paper is under the tabs on the left and right edge guides.
- Load the printable side face-up. It's often brighter or whiter than the other side.
□Always load the short edge first, even when printing in landscape mode.
☐Load letterhead or preprinted paper into the printer top edge first.
☐ If you experience paper feeding problems, try loading fewer sheets.
☐ If you're using special paper, follow the instructions that came with it.

Selecting the Paper Type Setting

To obtain optimal image quality, it is important to select the correct paper Type or Media Type setting. This setting tells your printer what kind of paper or CD/DVD you're using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly.

The table below lists the settings you should choose for your paper.

For this paper/media Select this setting
Plain paperEpson Bright White Paper	Plain Paper/Bright White Paper
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy	Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy
Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy	Premium Photo Paper Glossy
Epson Photo Paper Glossy Photo Paper	Paper Glossy
Epson Presentation Paper Matte	Presentation Paper Matte
Epson Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss	Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss
Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster	Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
Epson Premium Presentation Paper MatteEpson Premium Presentation Paper Matte Double-sidedEpson Photo Quality Self-adhesive SheetsEpson Iron-on Cool Peel Transfer Paper	Premium Presentation Paper Matte
Ink jet-printable CDs and DVDs CD/DVDCD/DVD Premium Surface
Envelopes Envelope

Printing on CDs and DVDs

You can use the CD/DVD tray to print customized text, graphics, and photos directly on any ink jet-printable CD or DVD. The Epson Print CD software makes it easy to import your own photos, add text, and modify your designs with a variety of special effects. You can print on both regular 12-cm and 8-cm CDs and DVDs.

Caution:

Use only ink jet-printable CDs and DVDs for printing. Thermal-printable and regular CDs and DVDs should not be used with this printer.

Guidelines for Printing on CDs and DVDs

Make sure the data, music, or video is burned on your CD or DVD before you print. Otherwise, dirt or scratches on the surface may cause errors when you burn the data.
☐You can set the printable area for your CDs or DVDs using Epson Print CD. Make sure the settings you choose are appropriate for the CD or DVD you are printing on; otherwise, you may stain the CD/DVD tray, CD, or DVD.
☐Moisture on the printable surface of your CDs or DVDs may cause smearing.
☐Before using or touching the printed surface of your CDs or DVDs, make sure you dry them for 24 hours.
☐Depending on your CD or DVD type, smearing may occur or the printed surface may be sticky even after it has dried. If smearing or stickiness occurs, you can adjust the print density (see your online User's Guide for instructions), or try a different brand of CD or DVD.
☐If you accidentally print on the CD/DVD tray, immediately wipe off the ink.

The printable area of a CD or DVD is shown below:

12-cm CD/DVD 8-cm CD/DVD 120 mm 18 mm 80 m 18 mm

Note:

If you print in the inner hub or outer periphery areas of the disc, the disc or CD/DVD tray may get stained with ink:

☐Inner hub area: 18 to 42 mm

☐Outer periphery area: 117 to 120 mm (12-cm CD/DVD), 77 to 80 mm (8-cm CD/DVD)

Inserting a CD or DVD

Before you insert a CD or DVD, make sure the printer is turned on. Otherwise, the disc may not be positioned correctly. Then follow these steps:

1. Open the front cover.

Illustration of a printer with a red arrow indicating compression or disassembly (no text or symbols present)

1. Lift the front tray up with both hands, then pull it out of the paper position (lower notches).

Illustration of hands operating a printer with a red arrow indicating compression or disassembly (no text or symbols present)

1. Set the front tray in the CD/DVD position (upper notches).

Diagram illustrating printer tool path and movement, showing step-by-step assembly with red arrows indicating motion direction.

1. Place the CD or DVD on the CD/DVD tray with the white or printable side face-up. Make sure the disc lies flat in the tray.

Note:

Use one CD/DVD at a time.

Caution:

Before you position the CD or DVD, make sure that no dust or dirt is on the CD/DVD tray, as this may damage the disc's data side.

Be sure to use the CD/DVD tray provided with this printer. If you use another CD/DVD tray, there may be a gap in the print position and printing may not be performed properly.

To print on a small CD or DVD (8-cm), place the small CD/DVD adapter on the tray first, then place the CD or DVD inside the adapter.

Caution:

Make sure you always use the small CD/DVD adapter when you print on 8-cm CDs or DVDs and that the CD or DVD and adapter lie flat on the tray; otherwise the printer may be damaged.

12-cm CD/DVD 8-cm CD/DVD Always use this piece with 8-cm CDs or DVDs

1. Firmly insert the CD/DVD tray along the base of the front tray until it meets resistance. Continue sliding the tray into the printer until the arrows on the CD/DVD tray and the front tray are aligned.

Caution:

Make sure both sides of the CD/DVD tray slide into the brackets on the front tray.

Do not insert the CD/DVD tray while the printer is printing; otherwise, your printer may be damaged or the surface of the CD or DVD may become dirty or scratched.

Make sure the CD/DVD tray slides under the bracket (on both sides) Make sure the arrow marks match

Designing CDs and DVDs

You can use the Epson Print CD program (included on the Printer Software CD-ROM) to create and print a design with images, graphics, and text. See your on-screen User's Guide for instructions.

Printing Your Design

After you have created your design and loaded a CD or DVD, you're ready to print.

1. Open the File menu and select Print.

2. Windows: Make sure EPSON Stylus Photo R280 Series is selected.

Macintosh: Click the Select Printer button, then select Stylus Photo R280 from the printer list and click OK.

1. Select CD/DVD or CD/DVD Premium Surface as the Media Type setting.

2. Select None as the Print Confirmation Pattern setting (Windows) or Test Print Pattern setting (Macintosh).

3. Click Print.

Note:

After you print, handle the CD or DVD carefully. To allow the ink to dry, wait at least 24 hours before playing the disc or inserting it in a drive. Keep printed discs away from moisture and direct sunlight.

If you select CD/DVD Premium Surface as the Media Type setting in the Printer Settings window and use a high quality CD/DVD, you can create high quality CD/DVD labels.

Caution:

Be sure to place the front tray in the paper (lower) position when you're done printing on CDs and DVDs.

If you need to adjust the print position or color, see your on-screen User's Guide.

Cleaning the Print Head

If your printouts are unexpectedly light or faint, or you notice light or dark bands across your printout, you may need to clean the print head. This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly. Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if quality declines.

You can clean the print head using the 📋nk button on the printer or using the Head Cleaning utility on your computer. You can also run a nozzle check to see if the print head needs cleaning.

Note:

Clean the print head only when print quality declines (for example, if you see lines in your printout or colors are incorrect or missing).

Before you clean the print head, check the print head nozzles first (as described in the next section) to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.

If the red △ ink light comes on or flashes, you cannot clean the print head. In this case, replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Caution:

If you don't use your printer often it is a good idea to print a few pages at least once a month to maintain good print quality.

Before you check the print head nozzles or clean the print head, make sure the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and make sure the front tray is in the paper (lower) position.

Checking the Print Head Nozzles

You can check the print head nozzles using your computer or the buttons on the printer.

Using Your Computer

1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red ink light is not on. (If the red ink light is on, you need to replace a cartridge.)

2. Make sure letter-size plain paper is loaded in the printer.

3. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower right corner of your screen). Select Nozzle Check.

Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility2. Select SPR280 Series in the printer list, click OK, and select Nozzle Check.

You see a screen like the following:

Nozzle Check To perform a nozzle check, make sure that the device is on end connected to the computer. Also make sure that A4 or Letter size plain paper is loaded in the sheet feeder. Click Print to print a nozzle check pattern or click Finish to quit. Print Finish

1. Click Print or Next. The nozzle check pattern prints:

Print head does not need to be cleaned:

Print head needs to be cleaned:

1. If there are no gaps or lines, click Finish.

If there are gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, click Clean. Then read the on-screen instructions and skip to step 3 under "Running the Head Cleaning Utility" ("Using Your Computer") to clean the nozzles.

Using the Buttons on the Printer

1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, that the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and the red ◇ ink light is not on. (If the red ◇ ink light is on, you need to replace a cartridge.)

2. Turn the printer off and make sure the front tray is in the paper (lower) position.

3. Make sure letter-size plain paper is loaded in the printer.

4. Hold down the paper button, then press the power button. Hold down both buttons until the power light begins to flash, then release the power button.

Diagram showing printer operation with labeled steps ① and ②, showing a printer's print area being inserted.

1. When the nozzle check starts to print, release the paper button. Check the printed nozzle check pattern to see if there are gaps in the lines.

Print head does not need to be cleaned:

Print head needs to be cleaned:

1. If there are no gaps or lines, the print head does not need to be cleaned.

If there are gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, follow the instructions in the next section to clean the nozzles.

Running the Head Cleaning Utility

Using Your Computer

1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, that the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and the red △ ink light is off. (If the red ◁ink light is flashing or on, you need to replace a cartridge.)

2. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar and select Head Cleaning.

Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility2. Select SP R280 Series in the printer list, click OK, and select Head Cleaning.

You see a screen like the following:

Click Start to clean the print head nozzles. Because cleaning consumes ink, only clean the print head when faint areas or gaps appear in your pinpoint. Use the Nozzle Check utility first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. When the Ink light is on or flashing to prompt you to replace the ink cartridge or to indicate the ink is low, there is not enough ink to perform a head cleaning. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first. Caution: Do not insert CD/DVD tray until cleaning has finished.

1. Click Start or Next.

Cleaning takes several seconds. The printer runs a head cleaning cycle and the green power light flashes.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while head cleaning is in progress. You may damage it.

Do not insert the CD/DVD tray until cleaning has finished.

1. When the green ⏻ power light stops flashing, make sure paper is loaded in the printer, then do the following:

Windows: Click Print Nozzle Check Pattern, then click Print.

□Macintosh OS X: Click Confirmation, then click Next.

The nozzle check pattern is printed. (See "Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern" on page 13 for details.)

1. If there are no gaps or lines, click Finish.

If there are still gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, click Clean to clean the print head again.

If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three times, turn the printer off and wait overnight. This allows any dried ink to soften. Then, try cleaning the print head again.

Using the Buttons on the Printer

1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red ink light is off. (If the red ink light is flashing or on, you need to replace a cartridge.)

2. Hold down the ink button on the printer for approximately 3 seconds.

The printer runs a head cleaning cycle and the green ⏻ power light flashes. Cleaning takes several seconds.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while head cleaning is in progress. You may damage it.

Do not insert the CD/DVD tray until cleaning has finished.

1. When the green ⏻ power light stops flashing, make sure paper is loaded in the printer, then print a nozzle check to determine whether you need to clean the print head again. See "Checking the Print Head Nozzles" on page 11 for more information.

If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three times, turn the printer off and wait overnight. This allows any dried ink to soften. Then, try cleaning the print head again.

Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern

Examine the nozzle check pattern you printed. Each staggered line should be solid, with no gaps, as shown.

Five horizontal striped panels in yellow, black, light blue, pink, and cyan, arranged horizontally (no text or symbols)

□If your printout looks okay, you're done.

☐If you see any gaps (as shown below), clean the print head again.

Abstract pattern of horizontal lines and rectangles in yellow, black, blue, and purple (no text or symbols)

Aligning the Print Head

If your printouts look grainy or blurry, or you see light or dark lines, you may need to align the print head.

Note:

You may also see lines in your printouts if your cartridges are low on ink or you need to clean the print head.

Before you align the print head, make sure the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and make sure the front tray is in the paper (lower) position.

1. Turn on the printer.

2. Make sure none of the lights are indicating errors.

3. Load several sheets of plain, letter-size paper.

4. Do one of the following:

Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower right corner of your screen). Select Print Head Alignment.

□Macintosh: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility2. Select SP R280 Series in the printer list, click OK, then select Print Head Alignment.

1. Follow the instructions on the screen to print the alignment pattern. You see a window like this one:

Print Head Alignment A+A Look at the alignment sheet. Find the square without any visible bands in sets #1 through #4. Select the number that corresponds to that square from the list below for all sets. Then click Finish. If every square contains a band, select the square with the thinnest band or bands. Then click Realignment. #1 5 #2 5 #3 5 #4 5 Finish Realignment Cancel

1. Look at the four sets of patterns in your printout. For each set, look at the printed squares to determine which one in each set is the most even, with no streaks or lines, and enter its number in the corresponding box on the screen.

If every square in a set contains a line or lines, select the square with the thinnest line or lines. Then click Realignment and Print to print another alignment sheet and repeat this step.

1. Click Finish to close the Print Head Alignment utility.

Cleaning the Printer

To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it several times a year.

Tip:

To keep your Epson product looking like new, make sure you don't place anything on top of the cover or use it as a writing surface. If you need to clean the cover, use only a soft, nonabrasive microfiber-type cloth.

Warning:

Don't touch the gears or any other parts inside the printer.

1. Load several sheets of letter-size paper.
2. Press the paper button to feed and eject paper.
3. Repeat step 2 if necessary.

Caution:

☐ Do not apply grease to the metal parts under the ink cartridge holder.
☐ Never use a hard or abrasive brush, or benzine, alcohol, or paint thinner for cleaning; they can damage the printer components and case.
☐Don't get water on the printer components and don't spray or apply lubricants, oils or grease inside the printer.
- Don't use any cleaning sheets included with special paper; they may jam inside the printer.

Transporting the Printer

If you need to ship your printer, you must prepare it for transportation by packing the printer in its original box or one of a similar size.

Caution:

When storing or transporting the printer, do not tilt it, stand it up vertically, or turn it upside down. Otherwise, ink may leak from the cartridges.

Leave the ink cartridges installed. Removing the cartridges can dehydrate the print head and may prevent the printer from printing.

1. Turn on the printer. Wait until the print head returns to the home (far right) position, then close the printer cover.

2. Turn off the printer and unplug its power cord. Then disconnect the power cord and USB cable from the printer.

3. Open the printer cover. Secure the print head with tape, as shown below, then close the printer cover.

Diagram of a printer with a blue zigzag mechanism inserted into the internal frame, showing internal structure and page layout (no text or symbols)

1. Remove any paper from the printer, then push down the paper support extension and close the paper support.
2. Repack the printer and its attachments in the original box using the protective materials that came with them.

Keep the printer level as you transport it.

After transporting the printer, remove the tape securing the print head. Then plug in your printer, turn it on, and test it. If you notice a decline in print quality, clean the print head; if output is grainy or blurry, align the print head.

Related Documentation

CPD-23761 Epson Stylus Photo R280 Start Here (English/French)

CPD-23763 Epson Stylus Photo R280 Quick Guide (English)

CPD-23764 Epson Stylus Photo R280 Guide Rapide (French)

CPD-23765 Epson Stylus Photo R280 CD-ROM with on-screen User's Guide (English/French)