Epson R2880 Printer Support Page

Please read this page to ensure your getting the best use out of your Epson R2880 printer in terms both of results and reliability.

TOPICS (click to jump)
Lyson ICC Profiles
Printer Head Cleaning
Printer Banding / Incomplete Nozzle Check
CIS Installation
CIS Inkjet Head Recovery
CIS Ink level reset / Cartridge recognition - 8 Channel CIS
CIS Ink level reset / Cartridge recognition - 9 Channel CIS
Inaccurate Colour
Further Help

Lyson ICC Profiles

For PC users: To download these profiles you will require Winzip. Go to http://www.winzip.com/downwz.htm to download this software.
For Mac users: For MAC OSX 10.3 or later, there is a bulit in utility that opens these zip files. For earlier Mac operating systems, you will require StuffIt Expander! CLICK HERE to download this software.
For profile help and support, CLICK HERE
Click your paper type to download your profile...

PROFILES FOR WINDOWS AND MAC

Marrutt 265gsm Pro Photo Satin

Marrutt 265gsm Pro Photo Gloss

Marrutt 280gsm Gloss Fine Art

Marrutt 170gsm Pro Photo Matt

Marrutt 310gsm Standard Fine Art

Marrutt 300gsm Smooth Fine Art

Marrutt 275gsm Silk Fine Art

Marrutt 225gsm Portfolio Fine Art

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Printer Head Cleaning

Before each printing session, carry out a nozzle check to ensure that all ink channels are firing. If they are not, make sure that you have not run out of ink, and then perform up to a maximum of four nozzle checks and cleans to restore a good nozzle print out.

THE BEST TIP OF ALL: Problem prevention is always better than problem solving! Turn you printer on for a few minutes once every few days - especially when you are not using your printer for long periods. When you turn a printer on, it goes through a mini head-clean which can prevent the build up of dried ink on the underside of your ink head. - If you go on holiday, why not leave your printer switched 'on' and connect your print to the mains through an inexpensive central heating timer switch, set to turn on for a few minutes every other day - when you return, your print head will be in perfect order, ready to print.

For dirty rollers or poor paper feed action, we recommend Platen Cleaner Spray. This will remove any build-up of dried ink or paper fibres. We advise you to use this spray applied to a sheet of paper to create a cleaning sheet, which will maintain your inkjet roller friction, and maintain good paper feed characteristics.

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Printer Banding / Incomplete Nozzle Check

There are many causes of printer banding and these are often simple mistakes which can be easily corrected. Before you attempt any printer cleaning methods we suggest you go through this fault finding checklist:

You have a perfect nozzle check and the text underneath is clear and crisp. (performed in printer drivers utility)

You have a perfect head alignment. (performed in printer drivers utility)

The CIS containers are at least 50% full

The CIS tubes are not kinked or damaged

The print resolution is correct (usually 'Best Photo' or 'level 4')

The CIS breathers on top of the reservoirs are clear of any ink

You have the selected the correct media setting. (set in printer driver properties)

- If this is unsuccessful, read on:

Problem with a single channel (e.g. black): The aim of this printer head cleaning technique is to attempt to force ink through the nozzles, thus clearing any dried ink.

Produce a solid block of the colour you are experiencing problems with in Adobe Photoshop. This is done using the paint bucket tool.

Print it up to 6 times A3 size on 'Best Photo' setting

Keep printing until you get a solid colour

If you are experiencing a problem with a certain channel using a bulk system please ensure the bottle is filled to the top, and the tubes are not pinched off or damaged in any way

If you have problem with more than one channel you may like to run a purge file at the best print quality (the slowest print) in order to gain a complete nozzle check. Right click here and select "save target as" save this in any folder or on your desktop - you can then open this up in Photoshop for printing. Print this up to 6 times or until your nozzle check come good.

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CIS Installation

To view the illustrated step-by-step installation instructions for the R2880 CIS, click the links below...

8 Channel CIS
9 Channel CIS

You can also view a video demonstrating this process from the links below:

8 Channel CIS
9 Channel CIS

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CIS Inkjet Head Recovery

If you have a Continuous Ink System and you are experiencing a lack of ink in one (or more) of your channels you may have lost your ink flow.

To recover this flow, and get back to a perfect nozzle check, you must take out the cartridge that is causing problems (to do this you will need to move the carriage to the cartridge change position, if you do not know how to do this, the procedure is explained in your original CIS instructions manual) and place it on a piece of tissue paper.

Take a CIS syringe from your original CIS kit (If you have not got a syringe, you can purchase one from here)

Remove the bung from the top of the CIS cartridge that is causing problems and insert the Syringe inside the hole of this cartridge.

Slowly pull up on the syringe until approximately 5ml of ink is present inside the syringe (not just foam or air).

Take the syringe out of the hole and insert the rubber bung back into the hole on the top of the cartridge.

Place cartridge back in the printer.

You can then syringe the ink back into the correct ink container so no ink is wasted.

Rinse out the syringe with water over a sink and keep safe in case you need it again.

Perform a nozzle check.

Please note: You may need to leave the printer for 20 minutes to allow the ink to settle before you obtain a perfect nozzle check.

If the nozzle check is not complete after no more than 2 head cleans please contact us.

We demonstrate further head cleaning methods for printers such as the Epson R2880 in our Bad Nozzle Check Basics training video

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CIS Ink level reset / Cartridge recognition - 8 Channel CIS

Initially Installing the CIS Cartridges: These Epson printer CIS systems are fitted with auto reset chips (ARC) which are easily reset without taking out the cartridges. When first installing these systems, make sure that each cartridge is securely pressed in to position, and an audible ‘click’ is heard.

How to reset the Ink Levels: When a light above each cartridge comes on, simply push the ink change button, allow the cartridge carrier to travel to the ink change position, then gently squeeze the reset switch(s) between your finger and thumb - do not press with a single finger, in case you break off the reset switch stalk.
Once you have squeezed the reset switch, press the ink change button again, and the ink light should extinguish, once the green light stops flashing. If your lights continue to stay on despite a reset procedure, this indicates that either the chip needs cleaning (rub with a dry paper towel) or that the cartridge chip needs replacing. See step 13 of the R2880 CIS Installation instructions for illustrated instructions.

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CIS Ink level reset / Cartridge recognition - 9 Channel CIS

In addition to the above technical support notes, if you are using a Lyson CIS system for the 2880 nine channel (individual cartridges), always make sure that each cartridge is securely clicked in to it’s own housing, and that the correct colour cartridge is inserted into the colour indicated on the cartridge housing.

Please Note: If a light comes on, this indicates that your should reset the cartridge chip concerned by moving the cartridges to the ink change position (press the middle ink change button), and take out that particular cartridge by a few millimetres, then securely click it back into position.

Pressing the ink change button should then extinguish the light when the green light stops flashing. If this does not happen, clean the chip with a dry paper towel and re-insert the cartridge.
This technique is described step-by-step below:

Take the offending cartridge out.

Clean the chip using a cotton bud.

It is also necessary to ensure the metal contacts/prongs where the chip rests are in place and uniform. If this is not the case there is a printer fault.

Place the cartridge back inside the printer head.

Once the cartridge is placed back inside the print head, turn both the printer and your computer off for 10 minutes to reset the printer driver. It is also a good idea to take out the power lead. When you turn the printer and computer back on the printer should recongnise the cartridge.

If this does not solve the problem, contact us for a new CIS cartridge, as the most likely fault is that the cartridge chip memory has failed.

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Inaccurate Colour

First of all, please ensure you have a perfect nozzle check (this is carried out in the utilities section of your Epson printer driver). If you do not have a perfect nozzle check, please refer to the printer head cleaning section of this page. Once you have confirmed you have a perfect nozzle check, ensure you are selecting the correct profile and have the correct printer settings in Adobe Photoshop for that profile. These are:

IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP PRINT WITH PREVIEW:
Select correct profile
Intent: Perceptual
Use Black point compensation: unchecked

IN EPSON PRINT DRIVER:
Media type:
Gloss, Satin and Semi Gloss Papers = Epson Premium semigloss (PC Users), Premium Luster Photo Paper (Mac Users)
*Fine Art Papers = Watercolor Paper Radiant White
Matt Papers = Archival Matt Paper
Print Resolution:
PC = Best Photo (level 4)
Mac = SuperFine 1440dpi
High Speed: On

Color Management
Select "Color Controls"
Gloss, Satin and Semi Gloss Papers = Color Controls selected. Mode: “Adobe RGB”, Gamma: “2.2”
*Fine Art and Matt Papers = Off (No color adjustment)

* For Fine Art Papers: Be sure to select “Manual-Roll” as the Paper Source. Use the rear media feeds on your printer provided by Epson for more reliable take up of thicker papers. Consult the “Help” documentation in the printer driver for details.

NOTE. For generic gloss profiles, any colour cast can be dialled out by adjusting the cyan, magenta, and yellow sliders. Ensure only small adjustments are made as they can have a dramatic effect on the overall tone of the print. Any amount you subtract from a colour should be added to the other two so that the net effect is zero. For example a warm cast could be compensated for by reducing the magenta by -2, and adding +1 to both the yellow and cyan.
Due to the settings used for Fine Art and Matt papers this technique cannot be used for these media types.

Epson R2880 inkjet printers do vary quite noticeably one printer to another, so it is advisable to install a free ICC profile for your printer/paper/ink combination. You can download free ICC generic profiles and the installation instructions from the Profile Section at the top of this page.

For professional photographers and critical enthusiasts, it may be best to commission one custom ICC printer profile for your favourite inkjet media to guarantee best possible colour accuracy and image quality. We have two specialists who look after professional photographers, and one profiling specialist who assists enthusiasts (non-professionals). Please contact us for their links

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Further Help

If you are still experiencing difficulties with your Epson R2880 printer, please contact us and we will do our best to help you.

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