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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 align-
       ment, 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 speci-
	      fying  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 (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 Gutenprint project from which this utility was contributed is located at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/.

SEE ALSO

       lp(4), tunelp(8).

Version 5.2.3							    21 Dec 2008 						       ESCPUTIL(1)