Tip: You can store partially used ink cartridges for up to 6 months. If you do so, Epson recommends covering the openings with tape.

Maintaining and Transporting the Printer 133

Each head alignment takes about 7 minutes. The printer’s white beam sensor reads the alignment pattern and adjusts the printer automatically. Make sure you don’t open the front cover or turn off the printer during this process.

10.When the uni-directional alignment is finished, press the d button until BI-D2-COLORis highlighted. Then press the button to start the bi-directional black alignment process.

11.When the bi-directional black alignment is finished, press the d button until BI-D ALL is selected. Then press the button to start the alignment process.

12.When done, press the Pause button to exit head alignment mode.

If you want to fine-tune the automatic alignment process, you can perform a manual head alignment. For instructions, see the electronic Epson SP 11880 User’s Guide on your computer or on the printer software CD-ROM.

Replacing Ink Cartridges

Before you begin a large print job, you should check your ink levels. If one of your cartridges is low, you can replace it before you start. Or you can wait until the ink runs out, replace the cartridge, and then continue the job without any loss of print quality. However, it is best to replace a low ink cartridge before starting a large print job.

The easiest way to check ink levels is from the control panel LCD display. The numbers below the ink icons on the LCD display correspond to the 9 ink cartridge slots on the printer. The icons show the approximate amount of ink remaining as follows:

Full

Ink low (flashing) Letters indicate ink color.

 

 

Half full

Ink expended

 

 

20% or less

Cartridge error or no cartridge

 

 

 

 

When the red B ink check light (and the ink status light) is flashing (and INK LOW appears on the LCD display), the indicated cartridge is almost out of ink. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge. When the lights stay on and NOT ENOUGH INK is displayed, the cartridge is expended. You must replace the cartridge before you can continue printing.