ESCPUTIL(1)                 Gutenprint Manual Pages                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
       (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 5.2.7                     01 May 2011                      ESCPUTIL(1)
