escputil(1)

NAME

       escputil - maintain Epson Stylus inkjet printers

SYNOPSIS

       escputil  [ -P printer | -r device ] [ -m model ] [ -u ] [ -c | -n | -a
       | -i | -d | -o | -s | -l | -M | -h ] [ -q ]

DESCRIPTION

       escputil is a command line utility to perform various maintenance tasks
       on  Epson  Stylus inkjet printers.  These tasks include head alignment,
       head cleaning, nozzle check, printer identification, and  retrieval  of
       ink level from the printer.

OPTIONS

       escputil accepts the following options:

       -P, --printer-name=printer
              Specify  the  name of the printer to operate on.  The default is
              the default system printer.

       -r, --raw-device=device
              Specify the name of the device to write to directly rather  than
              going  through  a  printer queue. You must use this (rather than
              specifying a printer) when retrieving ink levels or  identifying
              the  printer,  or  if you wish to perform head alignment without
              specifying the printer model.

       -m, --model=model
              Specify the precise printer model for head alignment.

       -u, --new
              The printer is a new printer (Stylus Color 740 or newer).

       -c, --clean-head
              Clean the print head.  This  can  also  be  performed  from  the
              printer front panel.

       -n, --nozzle-check
              Print a nozzle test pattern.  Dirty or clogged nozzles will show
              as gaps in the pattern.  If you see any gaps, you should  run  a
              head cleaning pass or two.

       -a, --align-head
              Align the print head.  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result
              in poor print quality and/or damage to the  printer.   You  must
              either  specify the printer model with the -m option, or use the
              raw printer device to  allow  escputil  to  detect  the  printer
              model.

       -i, --ink-level
              Obtain the ink level from the printer.  This requires read/write
              access to the raw printer device.

       -d, --identify
              Query the printer for make and model information.  This requires
              read/write access to the raw printer device.

       -o, --align-color
              Align  the  color  print  head (used by Stylus Color 480 and 580
              only).  CAUTION: Misuse of this option may result in poor  print
              quality and/or damage to the printer.

       -s, --status
              Retrieve printer status.

       -l, --license
              Display the license/warranty terms of this program.

       -M, --list-models
              List the supported printer models.

       -h, --help
              Display a list of all command line options.

       -q, --quiet
              Suppress the banner.

BUGS

       USB-connected printers sometimes fail to identify or return ink levels.
       You may have to repeat the command.  This is probably a timing issue in
       escputil, not a flaw in the printer.

       Anything  requiring bidirectional communication with the printer (iden-
       tify, ink levels, or head  alignment  without  specifying  the  printer
       model)  requires  read/write  access  to  the printer port (for example
       /dev/lp0).  This may require these operations to be performed as  root.
       In  addition,  kernel  support is required for bidirectional communica-
       tion.   For  Linux  version  2.2,  CONFIG_PRINTER_READBACK  should   be
       enabled; this is called CONFIG_PARPORT_1284 on 2.4 and later kernels.

       If  the  printer  is performing self-test or head cleaning on power up,
       the identify and ink level commands will time out, although the printer
       successfully  receives  the command.  The command will need to be reis-
       sued when the printer is quiescent.

AUTHORS

       Robert Krawitz.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C)  2000 Robert Krawitz (rlk@alum.mit.edu)

       This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
       under  the  terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
       Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at  your
       option) any later version.

OTHER INFORMATION

       The homepage of the Gimp-Print project from which this utility was con-
       tributed is located at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.

SEE ALSO

       lp(4), tunelp(8).

Version 4.2.7                     15 Jul 2004                      ESCPUTIL(1)