RELATES TO:

• Mac OS X 10.5
• Printer driver install

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Explanation

EXPLANATION:

This article explains how to install a printer onto a computer running Mac OS X version 10.5, either from a downloaded driver or using the supplied Epson Software CD-ROM.

Epson printers are supported when connected via USB, FireWire, or a network interface (external Epson print server or integrated Ethernet/Wi-Fi). To use your printer via an Epson network interface, use this article as a guide to install the driver, then refer to your user guide for help on configuring the network interface.

Important Information: Mac OS X Leopard Driver Support

Mac OS X Leopard (version 10.5) was released in October 2007. For all Epson products released prior to this date, the original software CD-ROM does not contain a suitable driver. Many products are supported by a driver available on the Epson website and other products may have inbox driver support. See the following Related Article for more information: Epson and Mac OS X Leopard. Drivers dated October 2007 and later are compatible with OS X Leopard.

Note:

Where a product has both Epson inbox driver and website driver support, then for optimum operation we recommend using the latest driver available from the Epson website. Where a product has only Epson inbox driver support, make sure you have installed EpsonPrinterDrivers.pkg from the OS X Leopard installation DVD (Optional Installs). See the following Related Article for a guide: How to install the Epson inbox drivers (EpsonPrinterDrivers.pkg) from the Mac OS X CD/DVD

1. Install the driver using either the original CD-ROM or the latest driver from the Epson Support website. Follow the appropriate section for how you are installing the printer driver:

   Install from the Epson Software CD-ROM

   
   
   

   1. Quit all running applications. Insert the Epson software CD-ROM into your Macintosh.

      

      
      

   2. The CD should run automatically and display the contents in a new window. If not, double-click on the EPSON CD icon on the Desktop.

   3. The contents of the CD-ROM are displayed. This screen depends on the language used on your Macintosh and the printer model. To install only the printer driver, double-click on the Printer Driver folder. In the Printer Driver folder, double-click on the installer (either Installer.pkg or the VISE installer).

      

      
      

      • To install all software, double-click on the Mac OS X icon.
      
      

   4. You will need Administrator rights to install the driver. If the Authenticate dialogue appears, enter your Mac account Name and Password, then click OK.

      The illustration below gives 'EPSON' as an example, but you will need to enter your own username and password.

      

      
      

   5. Read through the Software License Agreement carefully. Click on Accept to continue.

      

      
      

   6. The CD Installer screen is displayed. Select Easy Install, and click on the Install button. The installation starts.

      

      
      

      • If you clicked on the Mac OS X icon, then selecting Easy Install will install the driver and all software. To select only the components you want, click on Custom Install. Check the list of software and click Install.
      
      

   7. If you are using your printer via USB or FireWire, plug the data cable into a free port on the computer and connect it to the port on the printer.

      The example below shows a printer connected via a USB cable

      

      
      

      If you will use the printer wirelessly, e.g. with an Epson print server, you do not need to connect the printer to the computer.

   8. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver software. Once the installation is complete, Quit the installer and restart the Macintosh.

   9. Once restarted, eject the CD-ROM. The driver installation is complete, you will now have to add the printer to the Mac printer list.

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   Install from a downloaded driver

   
   
   

   Note:
   If a driver is not listed on the website for your printer check the Apple website for a list of included printer drivers. If your printer is listed as having an Epson inbox driver (not a 'Gutenprint' driver), see the following Related Article: How to install the Epson inbox drivers (EpsonPrinterDrivers.pkg) from the Mac OS X CD/DVD.

   
   

   If you have not downloaded the Epson driverA> and do not have the CD-ROM, download and install it from the Epson Support website. Follow the guidance below:

   

   
   

   • On the Epson Support site, select Mac OS X - Power PC or Mac OS X - Intel as appropriate, then open the Drivers & Software section for your product.
   • Any driver in the support section dated after October 2007 is suitable for 10.5. Select the appropriate file to download.

     You will need StuffIt Expander to open a file with a .sit extension. This can be downloaded from the vendor's website.

   • Double-click on the file you downloaded. If it is a compressed (.sit) file, StuffIt will expand the file. Double-click on the Epson file and the file will mount a disk image on the Desktop. Double-click on the mounted file and a window will open.
   • Now follow the steps below to complete the installation.

   
   
   

   1. Locate the file you downloaded. Double-click on the icon for the file. If the file is a .sit file it will extract the file.

      

      
      

   2. Some drivers will have a .pkg installer, others will have a VISE installer. Double-click on the file. If the Authenticate dialogue appears, enter your Mac account Name and Password, then click OK.

      The illustration below gives 'EPSON' as an example, but you will need to enter your own username and password.

      

      
      

   3. Read through the license agreement carefully. Click Accept to continue.

      

      
      

   4. The Installer appears. Select Easy Install, and then click Install. The installation starts, follow the on-screen instructions.

      

      
      

   5. Power on the printer. If you are using your printer via USB or FireWire, plug the data cable into a free port on the computer and connect it to the port on the printer.

      The example below shows a printer connected via a USB cable

      

      
      

      If you will use the printer wirelessly, e.g. with an Epson print server, you do not need to connect the printer to the computer.

      
      

   6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. When complete, Quit the installer and restart the Mac.

      

      
      

      • If you encounter any problems installing the printer driver, search the Epson Knowledge Base for a solution. You can also find further information in your reference guide available from the Drivers & Software section of the Epson Support website.
      
      
   
   

2. Once you have installed the printer driver and restarted the Mac, you will need to be add the printer to Print & Fax. As Mac OS X often automatically adds USB printers, you will need to check the printer list. Sometimes a third party driver is added, which may result in printing issues or printer functions not being available.
   
   
   

   1. Open Apple menu > System Preferences > Print & Fax. Click on Printing.

   2. The added drivers are listed on the left. Check the list for your Epson printer. If it is not listed, move to Step 3 for instructions on adding the printer. If it is listed, proceed with the steps below.

   3. Click on the printer to highlight it and the driver information will appear in the pane on the right.

   4. Check the driver information. Under 'Kind' the printer name should be listed, e.g. 'Epson Stylus xxxx' (where 'xxxx' is your printer model name) with a version in brackets. The correct Epson driver should not have the name of another printer nor feature 'Gutenprint' or 'CUPS' in the version or under Kind.

      • If you see only your printer's name, you're using the correct driver, move to Step 4. The Epson driver icon should be at an angle, like this:

        The Epson Stylus Photo RX620 appears in the example below, but you will see your printer or All-In-One name instead.

        

        
        

      • If you see Gutenprint next to your printer name, the correct driver is not being used. Click on the printer entry to highlight it then click on Delete. Move to Step 3.

        

        The icon for a non-Epson driver is flat like the OS X default: . Other examples: .

   
   

3. Add the correct printer driver to the Printer List.
   
   
   

   1. Click on to add the printer. The Printer Browser window appears.

   2. Follow the instruction that matches how your Mac connects to the printer:
      

      USB printer:

      1. Click on the printer name in the main browser window. It appears in the Name field.

      2. Below this, the Print Using field should display a driver matching the printer name. It should not have the name of a different printer, nor contain 'Gutenprint' in the name.

      3. If this is OK, select Add.

         Note:

         If 'Add' is not available at first, allow the printer browser to search for new drivers. You may need to close and re-open it. If it is still not available, do not select a printer from the list of Epson printers in the browser. This list contains third party Gutenprint drivers and may list Epson inbox drivers for different Epson printers. Instead, keep the Printer Browser active with the printer highlighted. Leave the Mac for 10 minutes and do not run any other programs. When you return, 'Add' should be available. Failing this, restart the Mac and if the printer has not been added to Print & Fax automatically, attempt to add it again.

         
         

         

         
         
      
      

      FireWire or network printers:

      1. Click on More Printers then, in the window that opens, click on the pull-down menu at the top and select the option that represents the way that your Mac connects to the printer.

         

         
         

         • EPSON FireWire for FireWire printers
         • EPSON AppleTalk or EPSON TCP/IP for network printers.
         
         

         

         
         

      2. The Epson printer should appear under this menu. If it does not appear at first, allow the printer browser to search for new drivers.

      3. Click on the Epson printer to highlight it and then click Add.
      
      

   3. The printer will now be added to Print & Fax.

      Note:

      If you are adding a printer and see "Driver not installed", you may need to reinstall the driver or specify the type of printer you are using. Try to add the printer again but do not add a 'Gutenprint' or 'CUPS' printer. When you see the Add Printer dialogue, click on "Select the driver to use" from the Print Using pop-up menu, and then select the Epson driver for your printer. Do not select or add a driver which has the name of a different printer or contains 'Gutenprint' in the name. If this is OK, click Add. The printer should now be added.

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4. The printer is now added and you are ready to print. We recommend you set the paper size you use most regularly as the Default Paper Size. We recommend setting 'A4' instead of 'US Letter'.

   • See the following Related Article for help: How to change the default paper size in Mac OS X

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