Page 1: Where To Find Information
. Then, click View Reference Guide to open the guide. For Macintosh, double-click the Online Guide icon in the EPSON window and then the EPSON STYLUS Photo 1290 or 890 icon. Then, click View Reference Guide to open the guide.
Page 2 CORPORATION. The information contained herein is designed only for use with this EPSON printer. EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers. Neither SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of...
Page 5: Table Of Contents
Contents Safety Instructions Safety Instructions ............1 1 1 1 Safety Instructions Safety Instructions .
Page 6 Making Settings on the Layout Menu ..... 48 Printing with Macintosh ..... . . Printing with Macintosh .
Page 7: Safety Instructions
Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions Read all of the instructions in this section before using your printer. Also, be sure to follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer. When setting up your printer Observe the following when setting up the printer: ❏...
Page 8: When Choosing A Place For The Printer
❏ Do not attempt to service the printer yourself. ❏ Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: The power cord or plug is damaged; liquid has entered the printer; the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged; the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct change in performance.
Page 9: When Handling The Ink Cartridges
❏ Take care not to spill liquid on the printer. ❏ Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the ink cartridges during printing. ❏ Do not move the print head by hand; otherwise, you may damage the printer. ❏...
Page 10: Energy Star Compliance
Do not touch the ink supply port or surrounding area. ENERGY STAR Compliance As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
Page 11: Warnings, Cautions, And Notes
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment. Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.
Page 13: Setup Guide
Reference Guide CD-ROM roll paper holder paper support adapter protective film The package contents may vary in certain locations. The illustration in this Guide show the EPSON Stylus Photo 1290; the EPSON Stylus Photo 890 is a small type of the printer.
Page 14: Unpacking The Printer
Unpacking the Printer Remove all tape and protective materials from the printer. ➀ ➁ ➂ Attaching the Paper Support Adapter, Roll Paper Holder and Paper Support Hold the paper support adapter so that the arrows on the adapter facing toward the front of the printer, and insert the adapter into the slot at the rear of the printer.
Page 15: Connecting The Printer
Note: At this time you may mount the roll paper holder temporarily, by inserting it into any slots at the rear of the paper support adapter. You do not need to actually mount the roll paper. ➀ ➁ ➂ Ð Connecting the Printer Your printer connects to your computer via the parallel or USB interface.
Page 16 Using a USB interface for Windows and Macintosh users To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard, shielded USB cable. Follow these steps. Copyright© 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan. Printed in...
Page 17: Installing The Printer Software
Installing the Printer Software After connecting the printer to your computer, you need to install the software included on the “Printer Software for EPSON Stylus Photo 1290” or “Printer Software for EPSON Stylus Photo 890” CD-ROM shipped with your printer.
Page 18: Installing In Windows
The Nozzle Check, Head Cleaning, and Print Head Alignment utilities help you keep your printer in top operating condition. EPSON Status Monitor 3 (for Windows) or EPSON StatusMonitor (for Macintosh) notifies you of printer errors and displays printer status information such as the amount of ink remaining.
Page 19 ❏ The Problem Solver provides tips and instructions to help you solve most problems that you may encounter when printing. The Problem Solver can be accessed through the EPSON folder, Status Monitor 3, or the printer software. For details, see the “Troubleshooting”...
Page 20 OK. Note: If an error message appears, either the printer software or the EPSON USB printer device driver is not installed correctly. See "Troubleshooting" in the Daily Use guide for details. Installing EPSON PhotoQuicker 1. After the setup is complete, the installer dialog box appears again.
Page 21: Installing In Macintosh
1. Turn on your Macintosh and insert the software CD in the CD-ROM drive. The EPSON printer software CD-ROM opens automatically. 2. If the Install Printer Driver/Utility folder appears in the EPSON folder, open it and then double-click the Installer icon. Note: ❏...
Page 22 When background printing is on, you can use your Macintosh while it is preparing a document for printing. In order to use the EPSON Monitor3 utility to manage print jobs, background printing must be turned on. 3. Close the Chooser.
Page 23: Installing The Ink Cartridges
Installing EPSON PhotoQuicker 1. After setup is complete, the installer dialog box appears again. Double-click the EPSON PhotoQuicker, then double-click the Installer icon inside it. 2. The installer dialog box appears. Click Install. 3. When a message appears informing you that installation is complete, click Quit.
Page 24 Using the printer's control panel If you are a Macintosh user or cannot access the Setup utility, use the printer’s control panel to install the ink cartridges. Before installing the ink cartridges, note the following. Warning: The ink cartridges are self-contained units. Under ordinary use, ink will not leak from a cartridge.
Page 25 Caution: Do not move the print head by hand. Doing so may damage the printer. 3. Push back the release tabs and lift up the ink cartridge clamps. 4. Open the ink cartridge packages. Next, remove only the yellow tape seals from each cartridge.
Page 26 Caution: ❏ You must remove the yellow tape seals from the cartridges before installing them; otherwise, the cartridges will become unusable and you will be unable to print. ❏ If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing the yellow tape seal, you must remove the cartridge and install a new one.
Page 27 Caution: Make sure that the ink cartridge tabs are not under the tabs protruding from the base of the opened ink cartridge clamps, as this can damage the clamps. Note: Install both ink cartridges. If either of the cartridges is not installed, the printer will not work.
Page 28: Checking The Printer
Checking the printer Before printing your first page, you need to make sure that the printer is working correctly by loading paper, then printing a nozzle check page and, if necessary, cleaning the print head. Refer to the appropriate section below. Loading paper Follow the steps below to load plain paper in the printer.
Page 29 Checking the print head nozzles Make sure that the printer is turned off. Hold down the maintenance button (➀ in the illustration) and press the P power button (➁ in the illustration) to turn on the printer. Then release only the power button first. When the printer starts the nozzle check, release the maintenance button.
Page 30: Printing Your First Page
2. Hold down the maintenance button for three seconds. The printer starts cleaning the print head and the P power light begins flashing. Print head cleaning takes about thirty seconds to complete. Caution: Never turn off the printer while the P power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.
Page 31: For Windows Users
For Windows users Follow the steps below to print the sample file. 1. Make sure that A4 or Letter size EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper is loaded in the printer. 2. Insert the printer software CD in the CD-ROM drive. If the Installer dialog box appears, click Quit.
Page 32: For Macintosh Users
Print dialog box (or a similar dialog box). 11. Click Close, Print, or OK to print. You may need to click a combination of these buttons. While printing, the EPSON Progress Meter is displayed, showing the printing progress and the status of your printer. Note: If the sample file does not print correctly, see “Problem Solver”...
Page 33 3. Open the Install Printer Driver/Utility folder in the EPSON folder and then double-click the README file. 4. Click Page Setup on the File menu. The following dialog box appears. 5. Select the paper size that is loaded in the printer from the Paper Size list.
Page 34 Media Type and Ink settings that you make. 12. Click Print to start printing. While printing is in progress, the EPSON Progress Meter is displayed, showing the printing progress and the status of your printer.
Page 35: Printer Parts And
Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions...
Page 36: Printer Parts
Printer Parts paper support extension sheet feeder paper support printer cover paper support adapter output tray output tray extension edge guides roll paper holder parallel interface cable connector USB interface cable connector...
Page 37: Buttons
ink cartridge clamps print head adjust lever control panel ink cartridge replacement button Buttons Button Function Turns the printer on and off. power Clears the printer's memory if pressed twice while the power is on. Loads or ejects paper if pressed and released within two seconds.
Page 38: Lights
Loads and ejects roll paper. roll paper Feeds roll paper in reverse to a position where it can be easily removed from the sheet feeder, if pressed for more than 3 seconds. Clears the error light if pressed after removing roll paper.
Page 39 Black: T007 Standard Capacity T010 Light Capacity Color: T009 (Stylus Photo 1290) T008 (Stylus Photo 890) Flashing when the print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position. The light will flash faster if the color ink is out than if the black ink is out.
Page 40: Loading Paper
Loading instructions When loading special media distributed by EPSON, read the instruction sheets packed with the media first and keep the following points in mind. Caution: Cleaning sheets packaged with EPSON special media should not be used with this printer.
Page 41 ❏ Load the media printable side up in the sheet feeder. See the instruction sheets packed with the media to determine which side is the printable side. Some types of media have cut corners to help identify the correct loading direction, as shown in the illustration.
Page 42: Loading Capacities For Epson Special Media
Loading capacities for EPSON special media Refer to the chart below to find the loading capacities for EPSON special media. Media Type Loading Capacity 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper and Up to the arrow mark on the left Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper edge guide.
Page 43: Loading Envelopes
Matte Paper-Heavyweight. For A3 and Super A3 size, you can only load one sheet at a time (only for Stylus Photo 1290). Premium Glossy Photo Paper One sheet at a time. Ink Jet Back Light Film One sheet at a time.
Page 44 ❏ Load envelopes flap edge first with the flap side down, as shown in the illustration. Available envelopes sizes are: No.10, DL, C6, 132 mm × 220 mm ❏ Do not use envelopes that are curled or folded. ❏ Flatten envelopes before loading. ❏...
Page 45: Using Roll Paper
If it is cut on a diagonal or not cleanly, the paper may not feed smoothly or the print may extend off the edge of the paper. ❏ EPSON recommends using media distributed by EPSON to ensure high-quality results. Loading the Roll Paper Follow the directions below to mount the Roll paper holder and load the roll paper.
Page 46 1. Set roll paper in the roll paper holder. Note: Remove the transparent sheet after setting the roll paper into the holders. 2. Check that the end of the roll is cut perpendicularly to the edges as shown. For A4 and 329-mm width paper, cut along one of the parallel lines on the back.
Page 47 3. To uncurl the paper, roll the paper inside the protective film packaged with the printer in the direction opposite to the paper’s curl, as shown below. 4. Remove the paper support and lower the output tray. Then, turn on the printer. 5.
Page 48 6. Gently insert the end of the paper into the printer as far as it will go, flush with the right edge guide. Slide the left edge guide against the left edge of the printer. 7. To load the paper correctly, you must hold the paper in place with your hand while you press the roll paper button.
Page 49: Removing The Roll Paper From The Printer
The roll paper is now loaded. Next, set up the printer software and try printing. For details on setting up the printer software, refer to “Printing on Roll Paper” in the online Reference Guide. Removing the Roll Paper from the Printer After the print job is complete, press the roll paper button;...
Page 50 Note: EPSON recommends that you use a triangle or other tool to ensure that the end of the roll is cut perpendicularly. A diagonal cut may cause paper feed problems. 3. Once you have cut the paper, hold down the roll paper button for about 3 seconds.
Page 51: Printing With Windows
Printing with Windows Printer Software Introduction The printer software which comes with your printer includes a printer driver and printer utilities. The printer driver lets you choose from a wide variety of settings to get the best results from your printer. The printer utilities help you check the printer and keep it in top operating condition.
Page 52: Making Settings On The Paper Menu
Note: You should always make the Media Type setting first, as this setting determines what other settings are available. Select the type of paper you loaded. Specifies Color or Black ink printing. The Mode settings provide various setting options. Refer to the Problem Solver or access Technical Support Web Site for help by clicking here.
Page 53 The settings which are available vary depending upon whether the sheet feeder or the roll paper is selected as the Paper Source setting. Select the paper souce that you want to use. To print documents with no margins and to produce “full- bleed”...
Page 54: Making Settings On The Layout Menu
Making Settings on the Layout Menu You can make Reduce/Enlarge, Double-Sided Printing, Multi- Page, and Watermark settings on the Layout menu. To fit your document to the paper size that you will print To print on both sides of the paper.
Page 55: Printing With Macintosh
If you encounter any problems when using the printer software, refer to the EPSON Technical Support Web Site. To access the web site from the printer software CD-ROM, insert the CD in the CD- ROM drive and open the Install Printer Driver/Utility folder in the EPSON folder, and then double-click the Technical Support Web Site icon.
Page 56 Note: You should always make the Media Type setting first, as this setting determines what other settings are available. Preview icon button EPSON Status Monitor icon button Background Printing icon button Specifes Color or Black ink printing. Select the number of copies you wish to print.
Page 57: Making Settings In The Page Setup Dialog Box
Making settings in the Page Setup dialog box In the Page Setup dialog box, you can change the paper size, specify the paper orientation, print on both sides of the paper, rotate your document by 180 degrees, reduce or enlarge your printout, and adjust the printable area.
Page 58: Making Settings In The Layout Dialog Box
Making settings in the Layout dialog box You can modify the page layout of your document using the printer driver settings located in the Layout dialog box. To open this dialog box, click Print on the File menu of your application, then click the Layout icon button in the Print dialog box.
Page 102: Replacing Ink Cartridges
Replacing Ink Cartridges Using the Printer's Control Panel This printer uses ink cartridges equipped with IC chips. The IC chip accurately monitors the amount of ink used by each cartridge, so even if a cartridge is removed and later inserted again, all of its ink can be used.
Page 103 Caution: ❏ EPSON recommends the use of genuine EPSON ink cartridges. Other products not manufactured by EPSON may cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSON's warranties. ❏ Leave the old cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement;...
Page 104 P power light begins to flash, and the error light begins to flash or remains on. To discover which cartridge requires replacing, refer to the table below, or check EPSON Status Monitor 3 (for Windows) or EPSON StatusMonitor (for Macintosh).
Page 105 4. Remove the new ink cartridge from its protective bag and then only peel off the yellow tape seal. Do not touch the green chip on the side of the cartridge. black ink cartridge (T007) color ink cartridge Stylus Photo 1290 (T009) Stylus Photo 890 (T008)
Page 106 Caution: ❏ You must remove the yellow tape seal from the cartridge before installing it; otherwise, the cartridge will become unusable and you will be unable to print. ❏ If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing the yellow tape seal, you must remove the cartridge and install a new one.
Page 107 Caution: ❏ Make sure that the ink cartridge tabs are not under the hinges protruding from the base of the opened ink cartridge clamp, as this could damage the clamp. ❏ After you remove an ink cartridge from the printer, please insert a new one immediately.
Page 108: Troubleshooting
If you encounter a problem, access the Problem Solver or Technical Support in one of the following ways: ❏ From the Windows Start menu Click Start, point to Programs and then to Epson, then click ESP 1290/890 Problem Solver or Technical Support. ❏ From Status Monitor 3 Click Technical Support in the Status Monitor 3 dialog box.
Page 109 To access Technical Support, insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive and open the Install Printer Driver/Utility folder in the EPSON folder, and then double-click the Technical Support Web Site icon.
Page 110: Error Indicators
Obtain a replacement black or color color ink ink cartridge. To determine which cartridge is cartridge is nearly empty, check the ink nearly empty. level using EPSON Status Monitor 3 or EPSON StatusMonitor. Black: T007 (Standard Capacity) T010 (Light Capacity) Color:...
Page 111 Black: T007 (Standard Capacity) T010 (Light Capacity) Color: T009 (Stylus Photo 1290) T008 (Stylus Photo 890) Wrong cartridge (black ink cartridge) The installed Use the appropriate black or color ink black or color ink cartridge. See “Replacing Ink cartridge Cartridges”...
Page 112: Maintenance
Maintenance To keep your printer is good working condition, use the following utilities included in your printer software. To determine which utility to use, locate your problem in the list, then try the solutions recommended for that problem. If you need help accessing the printer software, see “Printing with Windows”...
Page 113: Correcting Usb Problems
Utility Problem and Solution Head The print head Make sure that the printer is Cleaning nozzle are clogged. on and the error light is off. For Windows users, access the printer software and click the Utility tab, then click the Head Cleaning button.
Page 114: Printer Does Not Work Correctly With The Usb Cable
Printer does not work correctly with the USB cable If your printer does not work correctly with the USB cable, try one or both of these solutions: ❏ Use the USB cable (C83623✽) recommended in “System Requirements” on page 141. ❏...
Page 115 ❏ When using Windows 2000, you must follow the steps in the Setup Guide to install the printer software; otherwise, Microsoft’s Universal driver may be installed instead. To check if the Universal driver has been installed, open the Printers folder and right-click the icon for your printer. To open the printer driver, click Printing Preferences on the shortcut menu that appears, then right-click anywhere in the driver.
Page 116 Print to the following port list box. For Windows 2000 users, click the Ports tab and make sure that USBxxx, EPSON Stylus Photo 1290 or 890 is displayed in the Print to the following port(s) list box. Note: If the correct port is not displayed, refer to the next section, “Make...
Page 117 1290 or 890 appears, the printer software is not installed correctly. If neither USB Printer nor EPSON Stylus Photo 1290 or 890 appears under Other devices, click Refresh or unplug the USB cable from the printer, then plug it into the printer again.
Page 118 4. Under Other devices, select USB Printer or EPSON Stylus Photo 1290 or 890 and click Remove. Then, click OK. 5. When the following dialog box appears, click OK. Then click OK to close the System Properties dialog box. 6. Turn off the printer and restart your PC. Then, reinstall the drivers from the beginning, following the instructions in the Setup Guide.
Page 119 Programs utility in the Control Panel, then uninstall EPSON USB Printer Devices. Next, reinstall the software as described in Setup Guide. If EPSON USB Printer Devices is not registered in the Add/Remove Programs list, access the CD-ROM and double- click epusbun.exe. in Win9x folder. Then follow the on-screen...
Page 139: Consumable Products
Consumable Products Consumable products The following ink cartridges and EPSON special media are available for your printer. Ink cartridges You can use the following cartridges with your printer. Type of ink Product numbers of ink Black ink cartridge Standard Capacity: T007...
Page 140 Note: For the latest information of the available media, visit our regional customer service web site. See “Regional Customer Services” on page 140 for details.
Page 141 EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A3+)* S041069 EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards (A6) S041054 EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards (5 × 8”) S041121 EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards (8 × 10”) S041122 EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets (A4) S041106...
Page 142 EPSON Photo Paper (A3)* S041142 EPSON Photo Paper (Super A3/Super B)* S041143 EPSON Photo Paper (4 × 6”) S041134 EPSON Photo Paper (329 mm × 10 M)* S041233 EPSON Panoramic Photo Paper (210 × 594 mm) S041145 EPSON Photo Paper Cards (A4) S041177...
Page 143 S041301 EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper S041302 (100mm × 8M) Ink Jet Black Light Film EPSON Ink Jet Back Light Film (A3)* S041131 * Only with the EPSON Stylus Photo 1290. Note: The availability of special media varies by location.
Page 145: Customer Support
Customer Support Technical Support Web Site EPSON's Technical Support Web Site provides help with problems that cannot be solved using the troubleshooting information in your printer documentation. If you have a Web browser and can connect to the Internet, access that site at:...
Page 146: Regional Customer Services
Regional Customer Services If your EPSON product is not operating properly and you cannot solve the problem using the troubleshooting information in your product documentation, contact customer support services for assistance. If customer support for your area is not listed below, contact the dealer from whom you purchased your product.
Page 147: System Requirements
System Requirements Using the online Reference Guide Refer to the appropriate section below for the minimum system requirements necessary to use the online Reference Guide. For Windows computers ® System Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 98, 95, ® 2000, or NT Pentium 150MHz processor (for Windows Me) i486/66 MHz (for Windows 98) (Pentium or better recommended)
Page 148: For Macintosh Computers
For Macintosh computers System System 8.1 Memory 16 MB RAM (32 MB RAM or more recommended) Hard disk space 4 MB to install the Reference Guide CD-ROM drive Double-speed (quad-speed or faster recommended) 640 × 480 pixel or 800 × 600 pixel resolution, with Display High Color (16 bit) or True Color (32 bit) setting Browser...

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