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 (identify, 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 communication. 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 reissued when
the printer is quiescent.
AUTHORS¶
Robert Krawitz.
COPYRIGHT¶
Copyright © 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.
The homepage of the Gutenprint project from which this utility was contributed
is located at
http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.
SEE ALSO¶
lp(4),
tunelp(8).