| Home > Maintaining Your Printer Checking the Print Head Nozzles Using the Nozzle Check utility for Windows Using the Nozzle Check utility for Mac OS X Using the control panel buttons If you find that the printout is unexpectedly faint or that dots are missing, you may be able to identify the problem by checking the print head nozzles. You can check the print head nozzles from your computer by using the Nozzle Check utility or from the printer by using the buttons.
| Note:
You cannot clean the print head if the message "ink out" is displayed or the ink icon shows ink out or ink low in the LCD panel. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first. Make sure the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer and the CD/DVD guide is up before using the Nozzle check utility.
Using the Nozzle Check utility for Windows Follow the steps below to use the Nozzle Check utility.
| Make sure that A4 size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.
| Access the printer software.
| Accessing the printer driver for Windows
| Click the Maintenance tab, then click the Nozzle Check button.
| Follow the on-screen instructions.
Top Using the Nozzle Check utility for Mac OS X Follow the steps below to use the Nozzle Check utility.
| Make sure that A4 size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.
| Access the EPSON Printer Utility dialog box.
| Accessing the printer driver for Mac OS X
| Click the Nozzle Check button in the Utility dialog box.
| Follow the on-screen instructions.
Top Using the control panel buttons Follow the steps below to check the print head nozzles using the control panel buttons.
| Turn off the printer.
| Make sure that A4 size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.
| Press the Setup button and select Nozzle Check by pressing or button.
| Press the button and press the Start button to start printing the nozzle check pattern.
Below are two sample nozzle check patterns. Compare the quality of the printed check page with the sample shown below. If there are no print quality problems, such as gaps or missing segments in the test lines, the print head is fine. If any segment of the printed lines is missing, as shown below, this could mean a clogged ink nozzle or a misaligned print head. See Cleaning the Print Head See Aligning the Print Head Top |