Epson Stylus Photo RX500 User Manual

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 Parts

Accessories

Ink Cartridges

Paper support

Feeder guard

Left edge guide

Cartridge

Black

Part number

T048120

T048220

T048520

T048320

T048620

T048420

LCD screen

Cyan

Light Cyan

Magenta

Light Magenta

Yellow

Scanner lid

Media

On button

Part

Paper name

Size

number

EPSON Premium Bright White

Paper

Letter

S041586

Output

tray

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet

Paper

Letter

S041062

S041061

S041067

S041145

A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)

Legal

Document mat

EPSON Photo Paper

Panoramic (8.3 × 23

inches)

EPSON Glossy Photo Paper

Letter

S041141

S041272

S041271

S041649

Scanner glass

Color button

Borderless 4 × 6

inches, non-perforated

S041458

EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight Letter

S041257

S041467

Borderless

8 x 10 inches

Letter

Memory card

slot cover

EPSON Double-Sided Matte

Paper

S041568

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo

Paper

Letter

S041286

S041667

Transportation lock

USB cable

Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041727

Borderless 5 × 7 inches S041464

Scanner section

Ink cartridges

Borderless 8 × 10

inches

S041465

EPSON All-Purpose Glossy Paper Letter

S041654

S041500

S041331

EPSON ColorLife^®Photo Paper

Letter

EPSON Premium Semigloss

Photo Paper

EPSON Premium Luster Photo

Paper

Letter

S041405

SCR1001

SCR1002

EPSON Semigloss Scrapbook

Photo Paper

PremierArt^™Matte Scrapbook

Photo Paper for Epson

EPSON Photo Quality Self

Adhesive Sheets

A4 (8.3 × 11.7 inches) S041106

Letter S041064

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 - 1

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Color separation

Image data

RGB color filters on CCD

Printable Area

16 bits per pixel per color input

1 to 16 bits per pixel per color output

48 bits total

B-L

B-R

Gamma correction

Light source

Interface

User defined 2 level

White cold cathode fluorescent lamp

USB 2.0 High Speed

Single sheets or cards

Supported Memory Cards

Slot A

Memory Stick^®

Memory Stick PRO

Envelopes

MagicGate Memory Stick

SD (Secure Digital) Card

MMC (MultiMediaCard)

Memory Stick Duo

Margins

Standard sheets

Top (A): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Left (B-L): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Right (B-R): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Bottom (C): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

miniSD Card (adapter required)

Slot B

Slot C

SmartMedia^™(maximum 128MB;

standard 2000 compliant)

xD-Picture Card

CompactFlash^™Type I and Type II

IBM^®Microdrive^™

Sheets copied with

minimum margin

setting

Top (A): 0.06 inch (1.5 mm)

Left (B-L): 0.06 inch (1.5 mm)

Right (B-R): 0.06 inch (1.5 mm)

Bottom (C): 0.06 inch (1.5 mm)

Top (A): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Left (B-L): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Right (B-R): 0.12 inch (3.0 mm)

Bottom (C): 0.78 inch (20 mm)

Slot A

Slot B

Envelopes

Memory

card light

Slot C

Note:

Memory Card Image File Requirements

Depending on the type of paper, the print quality may deteriorate in

the top and bottom areas of the print, or these areas may be

smeared. Before printing large jobs using an extended margin setting,

print a single sheet to confirm print quality.

File format

JPEG or TIF format image files,

DOS FAT taken with a DCF

version 1.0 compliant digital camera

(supports Exif Print v. 2.1 and 2.2)

You can create borderless prints using certain special EPSON papers.

See the User’s Guide for more information.

Media format

Image size

DCF (Design rule for Camera File

system) version 1.0 compliant*

Scanning

Vertical: 120 to 4600 pixels

Horizontal: 120 to 4600 pixels

Scanner type

Flatbed color image scanner

Number of files

Up to 999

Photoelectric device Color CCD line sensor

The DCF standard is set by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology

Indistries Association (JEITA)

Effective pixels

Document size

20,400 × 28,080 pixels at 2400 dpi,

100%

Note:

Letter (8.5 × 11.0 inches) or A4

(8.5 × 11.7 inches); reading area is

selectable with software

You can’t print images whose file names contain double-byte

characters.

Scanning resolution 2400 dpi (main), 4800 dpi (sub)

Output resolution

50 to 6400 dpi (adjustable in one-dpi

increments; resolutions higher than

4800 are interpolated by software)

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 - 3

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Mechanical

Safety Approvals

Paper feed method

Paper path

Friction

Safety standards

EMC

UL 60950, CSA C22.2 No. 60950

Sheet feeder, top feed

FCC part 15 subpart B class B

CSA C108.8 class B

Sheet feeder

capacity

Approx. 80 sheets at 24 lb (90 g/m²)

Dimensions

17.7 × 23.3 × 11.9 inches (W × D × H)

449.6 × 592 × 302.3 mm (W × D × H)

Loading Paper

Single Sheets

Weight

Approx. 19.21 lb (8.7 kg)

1. Open the output tray.

Electrical

Input voltage range* 108 to 132 V

Rated frequency

range

50 to 60 Hz

Rated current

0.8 A

Power consumption Approx. 21 W (ISO 10560 Letter

Pattern)

Approx. 4.0 W in sleep mode

Approx. 0.4 W in power-off mode

Output tray

* Check the label on the back of this product for voltage information

2. Pinch the sides of the left edge guide together as you slide

the guide all the way to the left.

Environmental

Temperature

3. Flip the feeder guard forward.

Operation

Storage*

50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)

– 4 to 140 °F (– 20 to 60 °C)

1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)

Feeder guard

Transit*

– 4 to 140 °F (– 20 to 60 °C)

120 hours at 140 °F (60 °C)

Humidity (without condensation)

Operation

Storage*

20 to 80% RH

5 to 85% RH

4. Insert your paper against the right edge of the sheet feeder.

Then pinch the sides of the left edge guide together as you

slide it against the paper (but not too tightly).

Stored in shipping container

Interface

5. Lower the feeder guard back over the paper.

Also be sure to:

Standard

Based on Universal Serial Bus

Specifications Revision 2.0, Universal

Serial Bus Device Class Definition for

Printing Devices version 1.1

❏ Load the printable side face-up. It’s often whiter or brighter

than the other side.

Bit rate

480 Mbps (high speed device)

NRZI

❏ Load letterhead or preprinted paper top edge first.

Data encoding

Connector

❏ Load paper short-edge first, even for landscape-oriented

USB Series B

documents and photos.

Recommended

cable length

❏ Don’t load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide.

❏ Load up to approximately 80 sheets of plain paper at a time.

6.6 feet (2 meters)

❏ If the paper has a cut corner, position it in the upper right

corner as you load it in the sheet feeder.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Envelopes

Select this Type or Media

Type setting

For this paper

1. Load up to 10 envelopes at a time, flap edge left, and

printable side up, against the right edge of the sheet feeder.

EPSON ColorLife Photo Paper

EPSON Semigloss Scrapbook Photo

Paper

ColorLife Photo Paper

2. Slide the left edge guide against the envelopes (but not too

tightly).

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies

EPSON Photo Stickers*

Ink Jet Transparencies

You can use either Premium Glossy Photo Paper or Ink Jet Transparencies as

your Type or Media Type setting for Photo Stickers. Experiment to see which

setting gives you the best results.

Placing Your Original Document

1. Open the scanner lid.

2. Place your document face-down on the glass, in the corner

shown below. Move your document about 0.1 inch from

the top and side edge so your entire document is scanned.

Note:

For best results, press each envelope flat before loading, or load

one envelope at a time.

3. Select the following settings in your printer software:

❏

Plain paper as the Type (Windows^®) or Media Type

(Macintosh^®) setting

The correct envelope size as the Size (Windows) or

Paper Size (Macintosh) setting

Landscape as the Orientation setting

Selecting the Correct Media Type

3. Close the scanner lid.

Select the Type (Windows) or Media Type (Macintosh)

setting according to these guidelines:

Note:

If you place your document against the guides, the edges next to the

guides won’t be scanned.

Select this Type or Media

For this paper

Type setting

If you need to scan a thick document, such as a book, you can

remove the scanner lid. Press the P On button to turn the Stylus

Photo RX500 off, then unplug it. Open the scanner lid completely.

Then disconnect the cord from the TPU connector on the back of the

scanner and pull the lid straight up. Gently press down the original to

keep it flat on the document table. Be sure to replace the scanner lid

and reconnect the cord when you’re finished.

Plain paper sheets or envelopes

EPSON Premium Bright White Paper

EPSON Iron-On Transfer Paper

Plain paper

Bright White Paper

360 dpi Ink Jet Paper

Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive

Sheets

EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight

EPSON Double-Sided Matte Paper

PremierArt Matte Scrapbook Photo Paper

for Epson

Matte Paper - Heavyweight

Copying Without a Computer

Basic Copying

EPSON Photo Paper

Photo Paper

EPSON Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON All-Purpose Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON Glossy Photo Greeting Cards

Glossy Photo Paper

1. Place your document face-down on the glass, as shown in

the previous section.

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON Photo Stickers^®*

Premium Glossy Photo Paper

Premium Luster Photo Paper

2. Close the scanner lid.

EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper

EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper Premium Semigloss Photo

Paper

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 - 5

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Copy Layout

3. If necessary, press the Copy button to display the copy

mode settings on the LCD screen. Change any necessary

copy settings, as described in “Changing Copy Settings”

below.

Since the copy layout setting determines the options available

with many other settings, select this option first, then select

your other copy settings.

4. Press the x Color button (for both color and grayscale

photos, and for all color documents) or x B&W button

(for black and white copies). Your document is scanned and

then printed.

1. While in copy mode, press the Menu button.

Note:

The Copy button on the control panel is green when copy mode

is enabled.

If you’re using the 2-up or 4-up copy layout settings

described below, repeat these steps for your other photo(s)

or document(s).

2. Press OK to enter copy layout mode.

3. Press the bottom left button to select one of the options in

the table below. Then press the OK button.

Tip:

Your grayscale photos look better when you print them using

the x Color button

Copy Layout

1.Standard

Note:

Press this button

Your copied image size may not be the exact same size as your

original.

Choose from these options:

Changing Copy Settings

Copy Layout setting

Standard

Result

The current copy settings are shown on the LCD screen. You

can change copy settings using the buttons, as described

below.

Copies your original with a

0.12-inch margin on all edges

Stop button

LCD screen and menu navigation buttons

BorderFree

Sizes your original as needed

to fit to the edges of 4 × 6, 5 × 7,

8 × 10-inch, or letter-size paper*

Min Margins

Copies your original with only a

0.06-inch border around the

edges*

Copy button

Select

buttons

Clear/Reset

button

Color button

Note:

Repeat Auto

To clear a setting, press the Clear/Reset button. To clear all the

setting changes you’ve made, press and hold the Clear/Reset button

until you see Resetting on the LCD screen.

Copies an image as many times as

it will fit on one sheet

Works best with originals that are

business card-size or smaller

Number of Copies

Repeat-4, Repeat-9, Repeat-16

Press one or two buttons on the control panel’s numeric

keypad to select the number of copies you want to print.

Copies an image four, nine, or 16

times on one sheet

Works best with originals that are

business card-size or smaller

100%

LTR

Glossy

Photo

2-up

Copies two originals onto one

sheet

Number of copies

Note:

4-up

You can print up to 99 copies. However, if you’re using the 2-up or

4-up Copy Layout setting, you can only select one copy.

Copies four originals onto one

sheet

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Reduce or Enlarge Copies

Press the top right button to resize your image.

Copy Layout setting

Mirror

Result

Copies a mirror image of your

photo onto transfer paper so that

you can iron it onto a shirt or other

cloth article

Press this button

100%

LTR

Glossy

Photo

Wallet

Prints nine wallet-size copies of

the photo on the page

Choose from these options:

Setting

Result

Actual

Prints the image at its original size

If you notice reduced print quality at the bottom of your copy, try using the

Standard setting.

Auto Fit Page

Reduces or enlarges the image, as needed,

to fit the paper size selected on the LCD

screen

Paper Type

Letter ! 4 × 6

4 × 6 ! Letter

Letter ! 5 × 7

5 × 7 ! Letter

4 × 6 ! 8 × 10

8 × 10 ! 5 × 7

Converts the original document size (to the

left of the arrow) to the finished copy size (to

the right of the arrow)

Press the top left button on the LCD screen to choose your

paper type.

Press this

button

100%

LTR

Glossy

Photo

Manual Zoom

You can manually adjust the size of your copies from 25% to

400%.

Choose from these settings:

Paper setting

Use when you’ve loaded

1. While in copy mode, press the Menu button.

Plain

Plain paper, Premium Bright White Paper,

Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper, Iron-On Transfer

Paper, Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets

2. Press the bottom left button until you see Optional

Zoom.

Glossy

Glossy Photo Paper, Photo Paper,

All-Purpose Glossy Paper, Glossy Photo

Greeting Cards

Copy Menu

3.Optional Zoom

Prem. Glossy

Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Photo

Stickers

Prem. Luster

Matte

Premium Luster Photo Paper

3. Press the OK button.

Matte Paper Heavyweight, Double-Sided

Matte Paper, PremierArt Matte Scrapbook

Photo Paper for Epson

4. Press buttons on the numeric keypad to enter the

percentage by which you want to want to enlarge or reduce

your copy. Then press the OK button to save your setting.

ColorLife

ColorLife Photo Paper, Semigloss Scrapbook

Photo Paper

Paper Size

Print Quality

Press the bottom right button to choose your paper size.

Press the bottom left button to choose print quality.

100%

LTR

Glossy

Photo

100%

LTR

Glossy

Photo

Press this button

Note:

Choose from these settings:

The paper sizes available depend on the paper type selected.

❏ Draft for making copies quickly when print quality is not

important

❏ Text for copying text and line art

❏ Photo for copying photos with good print quality

❏ Best for the highest print quality, whether you are copying

photos or other documents

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 - 7

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Lighten or Darken Copies

5. Load several sheets of letter-size paper. (If there are more

than 36 images on the card, you will need multiple sheets of

paper.)

1. Press the Menu button.

2. Press the bottom left button (next to Copy Layout) until

you see Copy Density.

6. Press the x Color button to print the index. After the

index sheet prints, Scan Index appears on the LCD

screen.

3. Press the OK button. You see this LCD screen:

Selecting Photos To Print

Copy Menu

l - oooo nnnn + r

You can select the photos you want to print either by filling in

the ovals on the index sheet and scanning the sheet, or by

selecting photos from the control panel.

4. Press the l Select button to lighten your copy, or the

r Select button to darken it.

Select Photos on an Index Sheet

5. Press the OK button to save your setting.

1. Once you’ve printed the index sheet, fill in the oval beneath

each photo you want to print with a dark pen or pencil.

Cancel Copies and Settings

You can cancel a copy job in progress, or cancel the settings

you’ve changed.

Correct

❏ To cancel a job in progress, press the x Stop button.

Canceling appears on the LCD screen, and your page is

ejected.

Incorrect

2. Near the bottom of the form, fill in the correct oval to select

the type and size of paper you want to use. You can select

from these options:

❏ To cancel all settings and return to the defaults, press and

hold the Clear/Reset button until you see Resetting on

the LCD screen.

Option

Available paper types

Prem. Glossy - 4 × 6

Prem. Glossy - Letter

Prem. Glossy - 8 × 10

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper

Printing from a Memory Card

Glossy - Letter

Glossy - 4 × 6

EPSON Photo Paper

EPSON Glossy Photo Paper

You can print photos directly from your digital camera’s

memory card—and you don’t even have to connect the Stylus

Photo RX500 to a computer.

Matte - Letter

EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight

EPSON Double-Sided Matte Paper

3. Load the type of paper you’ve chosen to print on.

Printing an Index Sheet

4. Make sure Scan Index appears on the LCD screen, then

press OK. (If it doesn’t appear, press the Memory Card

button, then press the top left button on the LCD screen

until you see Scan Index, then press OK.)

In most cases, you’ll want to print an index sheet before

printing photos from your memory card. An index sheet lets

you see small thumbnail images of the pictures on your card

and select the ones you want to print.

5. Place the index sheet face-down on the scanner glass, so that

the top of the sheet is positioned on the upper left side of

the scanner glass, as you face the scanner. See page 5.

1. Make sure the Stylus Photo RX500 is not connected to your

computer (or your computer is turned off) and the Stylus

Photo RX500 is turned on.

6. Press the x Color button. The form is scanned and your

2. Open the memory card cover, and make sure the memory

card light is off and that no cards are in any of the slots.

Then insert your card into the correct slot (see page 3).

images are automatically printed.

Select Photos from the Control Panel

Once the card is inserted, the Stylus Photo RX500 reads

and displays the number of printable images on the card.

1. From a printed index sheet, identify a photo or range of

consecutive photos you want to print.

3. Press the Memory Card button on the control panel.

Print Index appears on the LCD screen.

2. Make sure you’re in memory card mode (if necessary, press

the Memory Card button).

4. Press OK.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

3. Press the top left button next to the LCD screen to select

One image, Range of images, or All images, then

press OK.

Using EPSON Smart Panel

Smart Panel is an easy, step-by-step interface for scanning,

copying, printing, and more.

4. If you want to print one image or a range of consecutive

images, follow the instructions on the LCD screen and use

the numeric keypad to select the images you want to print.

Then press OK.

5. Use the numeric keypad to enter the number of copies you

want to print (up to 99), then press OK.

Note:

The number of copies is how many times each photo prints, not

the number of pages. For example, if you’re using a layout that

fits 8 photos and you select 3 copies, you will get one sheet with

3 photos printed on it.

6. Change any print settings, as needed. Then press the

x Color button to print your images.

You can launch Smart Panel from your computer or from the

control panel of your Stylus Photo RX500. To launch it from

the control panel, follow these steps:

For a complete list of print settings available in memory card

mode, see the User’s Guide or online Reference Guide.

1. Press the Scan button on the control panel.

Print with DPOF

2. Press the top left button next to the LCD screen until you

If your memory card contains photos taken with a camera

that supports DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), you can

pre-select the photos you want to print while the card is still in

the camera.

see To PC on the screen. Then press the OK button.

The first time you do this, you see a window on your

computer asking you to select the program to launch for

this action. Select EPSON Smart Panel, and then select

the Always use this program for this action box.

Click OK.

1. Insert a memory card containing DPOF image files.

2. Load the type of paper you want to print on.

3. Press the Memory Card button to enter memory card

EPSON Smart Panel launches.

Choose from these features:

mode.

4. Using the numeric keypad, enter the number of copies of

each photo you want to print (up to 99), and press OK.

Smart Panel

5. Change any print settings, as needed. Then press the

Features

Description

x Color button to print your images.

Scans and prints photos in various sizes and

layouts. Includes Color Restoration.

For a complete list of print settings available in memory card

mode, see the User’s Guide or online Reference Guide.

RePrint Photos

Scan and Save

Copy Center

Copy to Fax

™

Scans a photo into ArcSoft PhotoImpression,

where you can edit, retouch, enhance, or print it

with templates, frames, and borders.

Scans and prints a document like a photocopier.

When you install your own fax software, scans

your image or document into your PC fax utility.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 - 9

EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Smart Panel

Features

Scanner error – – – > See your

documentation and call service if

necessary.

Press the P On button to turn off

the Stylus Photo RX500. Unlock

the transportation lock, if

necessary. Turn your Stylus Photo

RX500 back on. If the error

message still appears, contact your

dealer or EPSON, as described in

your User’s Guide or online

Reference Guide.

Description

Scans text documents and converts them to

editable text files on your computer (not supported

for Mac OS 8.6).

Edit Text

Scans a photo into ArcSoft PhotoImpression,

where you can edit, retouch, enhance, and print it

with templates, frames, and borders.

Printer error – – – > See your

documentation and call service if

necessary.

Check to make sure you placed the

orange print head holder in its

storage slot, as described on the

Start Here poster. Also, make sure

the transportation lock is unlocked.

Press the P On button to turn off

the Stylus Photo RX500, then turn

it back on. If the error message still

appears, contact your dealer or

EPSON, as described in your

User’s Guide or online Reference

Guide.

View and Create

Scan to Application

Scan to E-mail

Scans a photo or document and lets you choose

which program it opens in.

Scans a photo or document and attaches it to an

e-mail so you can send it right away.

Scans an image and uploads it to EPSON’s photo-

sharing web site.

Multi-page feed error – > Multiple The Stylus Photo RX500 has fed

pages have been fed into the more than one sheet into the paper

printer at once. Remove and reload path. Remove and reload the

the paper, then press the Color

button.

paper. Make sure you lower the

feeder guard back over the paper.

Then press the x Color button.

EPSON Photo Site

Note:

Service required.

Contact your dealer or EPSON, as

described in the User’s Guide or

online Reference Guide.

For details on using all the Smart Panel features, click the ? button in

Smart Panel or see the online Smart Panel User Guide.

Cannot be stored saved in the XXX You can only use the l Save

mode.

button to save settings in copy

mode.

Control Panel Error Messages

Cannot recognize the memory

card. Do you want to format the

card?

Make sure the Stylus Photo RX500

supports your memory card; see

page 3. If it does, then format the

card or insert a new memory card.

To diagnose some problems, check the LCD screen on the

Stylus Photo RX500 for these error messages:

Error Message

Solution

There is not enough free space on No memory card is inserted, an

the memory card. Operation

canceled.

unsupported memory card is

No XXX ink cartridge – – – > Press The indicated ink cartridge is not

the Color button to install new ink installed. Install the cartridge as

inserted, or a card is inserted

incorrectly. Make sure your card is

supported and is inserted in the

correct slot; see page 3 for details.

cartridge.

described on page 11.

XXX ink out – – – > Press the Color The indicated ink cartridge is out of

button to begin replacing the ink

cartridge.

ink. Replace the cartridge as

described on page 11.

There is no Index Sheet or it is not The index sheet is not positioned

set correctly. Please perform again correctly on the scanner glass.

after a check.

Ink cartridge error – – – > Cartridge There is something wrong with the

Make sure the sheet is oriented as

shown on page 5.

replacement is necessary. Press

the Color button to begin.

ink cartridge. Replace the cartridge

as described on page 11.

Check of a picture is not carried out The index sheet was not filled in

or marking is not right. Please

perform again after a check.

Paper jam – – – > Press the Color

button. Remove any remaining

jammed paper by hand.

Paper is jammed. Press the

x Color button to clear the jam.

If it is still jammed, see your

online Reference Guide.

correctly. Be sure to fill in the entire

oval under the image(s) you want

to print. See page 8 for guidelines.

Paper is not selected on the Index Be sure to fill in the entire oval

Paper out – – – > Load paper into

the sheet feeder, then press the

Color button.

Load paper in the sheet feeder,

then press the x Color button to

continue printing.

Sheet or the oval is not filled in

correctly. Check the Index Sheet,

then try again.

under the paper you want to use.

See page 8 for guidelines.

Scanner unit open – – – > Close the Carefully close the scanner unit and

scanner unit

press down on it until it clicks

securely into place.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

6. Examine the printed nozzle check pattern. It should look

like this:

Cleaning the Print Head

If your printouts are unexpectedly light, colors are not correct,

or dots or lines are missing, 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.

❏ If it looks correct, you’re done.

Note:

You can also use a printer software utility to clean the print head right

from your computer. Select the ? or Help button on your printer

settings window for instructions.

❏ If any dots or lines are missing, clean the print head

again; see the previous steps for instructions.

If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning three or four

times, see the “Solving Problems” section of your online

Reference Guide. You can also turn the Stylus Photo RX500 off

and wait overnight—this allows any dried ink to soften—and

then try cleaning the print head again.

1. Make sure your Stylus Photo RX500 is turned on but not

printing, and the ! error light is off. (If the ! error light is

flashing or on, you may need to replace an ink cartridge; see

the next section.)

Caution: When you don’t turn on your Stylus Photo RX500 for a

long time, the print quality can decline. It’s a good idea to turn it on

at least once a month to maintain good print quality.

2. Press the Setup button to enter setup mode. You see this

LCD screen:

Press this

1.Ink levels

button

Press the Color

Replacing an Ink Cartridge

If the ! error light on the EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 is

flashing, or you see an ink cartridge error message on the LCD

screen or computer monitor, you need to replace one of the

cartridges. 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.

3. Press the top left button (next to Ink levels) until you see

Head Cleaning on the LCD screen.

4. Press the x Color button.

Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which Head

Cleaning appears on the LCD screen.

Caution:

Use these ink cartridges within six months of installing them

and before the expiration date on the package:

Never turn off the Stylus Photo RX500 while the message Head

Cleaning appears on the LCD screen, unless it hasn’t moved or

made noise for more than 5 minutes.

❏ Black: T048120

❏ Cyan: T048220

5. When you again see the LCD screen shown below, run a

nozzle check to confirm the print head nozzles are clean.

❏ Magenta: T048320

❏ Yellow: T048420

❏ Light Cyan: T048520

❏ Light Magenta: T048620

Press this

3.Head Cleaning

button

Press the Color

Caution:

Make sure letter-size plain paper is loaded. Press the top left

button until you see Nozzle Check on the LCD screen,

then press the x Color button. The nozzle check pattern

prints.

To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do

not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your EPSON

Stylus Photo RX500 not covered by EPSON’s warranty.

When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer. You

can also call the EPSON Store at (800) 873-7766, or visit

www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call

(800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.

Warning:

Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. If ink gets on your

hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in

your eyes, flush them thoroughly with water.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

Caution:

3. When you see the message Open the scanner on the

LCD screen, use the side grips to open the scanner unit, as

shown. Be sure to keep the scanner lid closed.

To avoid damaging the EPSON Stylus Photo RX500, never move

the print head by hand.

You cannot print if any ink cartridge is empty. Leave the empty

cartridge installed until you have obtained a replacement.

Otherwise the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out.

Checking Ink Cartridge Levels

To check ink levels, follow these steps:

1. Press the Setup button to enter setup mode.

2. If necessary, press the upper left button next to the LCD

screen until Ink levels is displayed, then press the

x Color button.

4. Wait for the ink cartridge holder to move to the

replacement position, then open its cover by pulling the

back of the cover up and toward you.

The LCD screen displays the percentage of ink available in

each cartridge: C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow), K

(Black), LC (Light Cyan), and LM (Light Magenta).

Caution:

Never attempt to open the cartridge holder’s cover while the

print head is moving. Wait until the cartridges have moved to the

replacement position.

Ink levels

C:50% M:50% Y:50%

Note:

To view ink levels for all of the cartridges, wait for them to scroll

across the LCD screen.

3. When done, press the OK button.

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges

Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once

you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must

complete all the steps in one session.

5. Identify the cartridge you need to replace. Press in the tab at

the back of the cartridge to release it, then lift the cartridge

straight out. Dispose of it carefully.

1. Make sure the Stylus Photo RX500 is turned on and not

printing.

2. If an ink cartridge is empty:

Check the LCD screen to see which cartridge is empty, then

press the x Color button.

If an ink cartridge is low:

Press the Setup button to enter setup mode, then press the

top left button next to the LCD screen until Replace ink

is displayed. Finally, press the x Color button.

Note:

The illustration above shows the black cartridge being removed.

Only remove the cartridge(s) you need to replace.

6. Unwrap the new cartridge.

Caution:

Don’t touch the green circuit board on the front of the cartridge;

you may inhibit normal operation and printing.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

7. Lower the new cartridge into its holder, then press down on

the top of the cartridge until it clicks in place.

3. Do one of the following:

Windows: Right-click the

icon on the Windows

taskbar and click Print Head Alignment.

Mac OS X: Double-click EPSON Printer Utility in your

Applications folder. Select SP RX500 Series in the

Printer List and click OK. Then click the

Alignment button on the Utility screen.

Print Head

Mac OS 8.6 to 9.x: From your application’s File menu,

choose Page Setup or Print. Click the

button in the

printer settings or page setup dialog box. Then click the

Print Head Alignment button on the Utility screen.

If you need to replace other ink cartridges, repeat steps 5

through 7 before continuing with step 8.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to print the black vertical

alignment pattern. Your printout should look like this:

8. Close the cartridge cover.

Caution:

If you find it difficult to close the cover, make sure all the

cartridges are firmly seated. Press down on each newly installed

cartridge until you hear it click into place. Do not attempt to force

the cover closed.

9. Carefully lower the scanner unit and press it down until it

clicks into place.

The Stylus Photo RX500 begins charging the ink delivery

system, and Charging appears on the LCD screen. Wait for

the message to disappear before using the Stylus Photo

RX500.

Caution: Never turn off the Stylus Photo RX500 while Charging

appears on the LCD screen, unless it hasn’t moved or made noise

for more than 5 minutes. This may cause incomplete charging of

the ink.

Aligning the Print Head

If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may

need to align the print head.

Note:

You can also use the buttons on the Stylus Photo RX500 to align the

print head (see the online Reference Guide for instructions). For best

results, we recommend you use the print head alignment utility, as

described in this section.

5. Examine the printout and choose the best square in each of

the four sets. (The best square should have no visible bands,

or the least visible bands.)

1. Make sure the Stylus Photo RX500 is turned on and not

printing, and the red ! error light is off.

2. Load a stack of plain, letter-size paper in the sheet feeder.

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EPSON Stylus Photo RX500

6. In the on-screen dialog box, select the number for each of

the squares in the corresponding pull-down menu.