Tip: To properly align the print head, use letter-size Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster or Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper if you are printing with Photo Black ink. If you are printing with Matte Black ink, use letter-size Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte or Enhanced Matte Paper.

Maintaining and Transporting the Printer 103

Although you can align the print head using the printer utility software, it’s best to align from the control panel. This will do the most thorough job in the shortest time, and it’s all automatic.

If you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to run a nozzle check before aligning the print head (page 100). This ensures that the print head alignment patterns print correctly.

Follow these steps to align the print head using the control panel:

1.Make sure the printer is turned on. Then load letter-size Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster or Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper if you are printing with Photo Black ink. If you are printing with Matte Black ink, load letter-size Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte or Enhanced Matte Paper.

2.Press the Menu button.

3.Press the button so you see HEAD ALIGNMENT, then press

Menu . You see PAPER THKNS.

4.Press the Menu button again so that STD appears on the display. This is the correct thickness setting for most Epson papers, including Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster, Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper, Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte, and Enhanced Matte Paper.

5.Press the Menu button to register the value, then press the button to display PAPER THKNS again.

6.Press the button to display ALIGNMENT.

7.Press the Menu button to display AUTO, then press the Menu button again. You see UNI-D(uni-directional). This is the type of alignment to start with.

8.Press the Menu button again to start the alignment process.

It takes about 12 minutes to run the automatic uni-directional head alignment. The printer’s white beam sensor reads the alignment pattern and adjusts the printer automatically. Make sure you don’t open the top cover or turn off the printer during this process.