Printer problems

ripplyuk

Neil_Jones said:

ripplyuk said:

That must be the problem. I rarely use this printer. It has sat idle for at least a couple of months, maybe more. Normally as long as I do the head cleaning/alignment it will fix itself but not this time. I’ve tried all those things at least 3 times today. It has plenty of ink. That cartridge was replaced the last time I used the printer but I’ll try another new cartridge anyway. 

How do I print in high quality? The only options I can find are colour or black&white. 

Print your document in the normal way and there should be a button somewhere Printer Properties.  That will open up the Epson control software and you can change the print quality there.  Note that this only affects the quality for as long as you stay in the program you're printing from, because otherwise it goes back to the default.

Depending on the software you get a choice of five printing options, draft through  to "Best quality"/Photo.  These all work on normal A4 paper and the idea is it'll go over the unprinted area multiple times (as if it were doing a photo) and it should get you out the hole you need to get your label done. 

I can’t find anything saying Printer Properties. I don’t have any software. I only have an iPad and there’s an Epson app but it’s as basic as just using the menu on the printer itself. 

If I just keep printing things, would that clear the blockage eventually? Or would it be better to keep cleaning the heads? 

ripplyuk

getmore4less said:

There was a post recently where someone had used a £10 cleaning kit and got a head cleared(found it).
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6164154/printer-shortages/p3

not going to help in the short term.
that printhead test it looks like the blue might be working best could try the image you want to print in blue and see if that is any better

There’s no option to print in one colour. It’s either ‘colour’ or black&white. 

Neil_Jones

Assuming Epson iPrint, there should be a Cog/Gear option somewhere, you should be able to change it from there.

(might have been worth mentioning you were on iPad in the first place, would have saved all the Windows specifics!)

cymruchris

ripplyuk said:

If I just keep printing things, would that clear the blockage eventually? Or would it be better to keep cleaning the heads? 

A combination of the two might get it running again. Does anyone in the house have a laptop or desktop that you could install the printer drivers on - and then get into the settings to print something in highest quality? Letting it sit around for a few months is usually a recipe for the symptoms you've got though - if you do get it working again - print a sheet off every week just to keep it active, and any sign of text missing - give it another nozzle check. I remember when I had an Epson (different model - but similar) in the PC software there were more options for cleaning other than just nozzle check - there was a deep clean option and head alignment, but you'd need a windows or mac based laptop/desktop to access those I imagine as you only have an iPad. 

ripplyuk

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

cymruchris

ripplyuk said:

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

Do you only use it for printing postage labels and nothing else?

getmore4less

ripplyuk said:

getmore4less said:

There was a post recently where someone had used a £10 cleaning kit and got a head cleared(found it).
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6164154/printer-shortages/p3

not going to help in the short term.
that printhead test it looks like the blue might be working best could try the image you want to print in blue and see if that is any better

There’s no option to print in one colour. It’s either ‘colour’ or black&white. 

You change the document to blue.

ripplyuk

cymruchris said:

ripplyuk said:

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

Do you only use it for printing postage labels and nothing else?

Mostly, yes. Occasionally I’ll need to print a letter but it’s mainly postage labels. 

victor2

Switch the printer off, remove the paper, switch it on then insert the paper and it will ask you the size and type of paper. Select the Change option and select Prem. Glossy paper, then save it. That should make it print in higher quality and might push more ink through to help clear the head.

There is a chance the printer driver will override the printer settings, and put it back to plain paper, but in my experience (not with a iPad) it hasn't. Worth a try anyway.

Neil_Jones

ripplyuk said:

cymruchris said:

ripplyuk said:

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

Do you only use it for printing postage labels and nothing else?

Mostly, yes. Occasionally I’ll need to print a letter but it’s mainly postage labels. 

I think a nice little black and white mono laser printer will do you good if you hardly print.

Maybe something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-LaserJet-M15w-Printer-White/dp/B079Z44VZ7

Laser printers don't dry up, they actually print via powder (its slightly more complicated but that's the basic principle).  The toners for that one at Amazon are relatively cheap and will do 1000 pages at 5% coverage.  Your mileage may vary though.