INK TANK – These don’t have a print head attached so DO NOT perform the paper towel method.

This is a multi-color cartridge and is dye based ink.  This cartridge contains 5 colors; Cyan, Light Cyan, Magenta, Light Magenta, and Yellow.

This is a compatible cartridge so there will be some appearance differences, these differences will not affect the function of the cartridge.

Not Recognizing

 

Verify you have the correct cartridge for your specific model printer.

 

Make sure the cartridge is installed correctly and fully inserted.  Make sure that you are installing the cartridge into the right hand slot of the cartridge carriage.

 

There is no smart chip on the cartridge, be sure the cartridge is fully inserted into the printer.

 

You can try resetting the machine.  To do this; remove the cartridges from the printer, power the printer off, unplug the power cord for 10-15 seconds, re-insert the power cord, turn the printer on, and re-insert the cartridges.

 

To install the cartridges in the Stylus Photo printer, do the following;

–          IMPORTANT:  There’s a small tool on the top of the cartridge that is plugged into one of the vent holes.  Remove this tool from the cartridge and use it to puncture each vent hole on the top of the cartridge.  Be sure to fully puncture the vent holes.  Do NOT turn the cartridge upside down after puncturing the vent holes.  Do NOT puncture the clear plastic seals covering the ink nozzles on the bottom of the cartridge.  After the vent holes have been punctured the cartridge should be immediately installed into the printer.  Do NOT re-attach the tool.

–          Open the top cover of the printer.  Press and hold the cleaning button on the printer for three seconds; it has a picture of ink drops with two small arrows above them.  The cartridge carriage will move into the cartridge replacement position.  Pull up the color cartridge clamp on the right side.

–          Pulling the clamp up will lift the old cartridge up in the holder.  Lift and remove the old cartridge from the carriage.  Insert the replacement color cartridge in its place.

 

–          Press down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place.

–          Press the cleaning button on the printer and close the printer cover.  The printer will then charge the cartridge.

 

Print Quality Issues

 

There’s clear pieces of plastic covering the nozzles at the bottom of the cartridges.  Do NOT remove these clear pieces of plastic, the printer will puncture these during the charging cycle.  The 5 vent holes on the top of the cartridge MUST be punctured before installing the cartridge.  Please see the instructions above on how to puncture the vent holes.

 

A print head cleaning should be performed when experiencing any type of print quality issue.  On some Epson printers you will have the ability to select whether the cleaning will be done on the black or the colors depending on which cartridge is giving the issue to help conserve ink.  Print head cleaning does use a lot of ink so it should be done sparingly.  Epson recommends that if the first cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue to perform a second clean but allow the printer to sit for 10-15 minutes BEFORE attempting to do any printing.  This allows the ink to soak on the print head and help soften or loosen any dried ink which may be clogging the nozzles.  To perform the cleaning;

–          With the printer turned on, press the cleaning button on the printer and hold it down for 3 seconds.  The print head cleaning cycle will begin and take about 2 minutes to complete.

 

Also, remove the cartridge and check the bottom to make sure the nozzles have been punctured.  While the cartridge is out check the slot in the printer to make sure there is no debris that may be blocking the ink from coming out correctly.

 

Not Fitting

 

Verify you are installing the correct cartridge into the correct slot.  Double check the cartridge number on the cartridge to verify it is indeed the correct cartridge.  Make sure you are installing the cartridge in the correct orientation, try flipping the cartridge around and trying again.