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Epson Inkjet Printer Driver (ESC/P-R) for Linux Manual

Last modified : 2023.07.10

A table of contents

1. End User License Agreement (Terms of Use)
2. Overview
3. Support
4. Supported Printers
5. Supported Processors
6. Notes/Limitations
7. Usage Information
     7.1. Installing the software
     7.2. Registration of Printer
     7.3. Deletion of Software
     7.4. Deletion of Printer from CUPS
     7.5. Printing method
     7.6. Printing Setting
     7.7. Items to be set
8. Trademark Notice



1. End User License Agreement (Terms of Use)

This software is covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL). Refer to the file "COPYING" for more information about the GPL.

This software is distributed free of charge and without warranty. Seiko Epson Corporation won't be held liable for any loss or damages that may be incurred as a result of the use of this software.



2. Overview

This software is a filter program used with the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) on the Linux platform. The software offers high quality printing with Epson color ink jet printers.

This product can only be used with printers that support the Epson ESC/P-R language.



3. Support

There is no official support provided for this software.

  • For information regarding printer hardware, repairs and replacement parts, please contact your local Epson dealer.
  • If you have received this software through a Linux distribution, please consult the distributor, they may offer direct support.



4. Supported Printers

Epson Ink Jet printers.



5. Supported Processors

  • Intel and AMD processors (64bit)
  • AArch32 (ARMv7)



6. Notes/Limitations

    If a printer is connected before this software has been installed, printer drivers other than this software might be registered on CUPS in some cases.
    If printer drivers other than this software are used, the registrations of these printers need be deleted once. Then, a printer will be connected again after this software is installed.



7. Usage Information


7.1. Installing the software

    You can install the package of this driver software by using package manager, etc. Or you can also install this software package by opening a terminal and using command lines input.
    Note:The following commands needs to be performed as a root privilege.

  • For Redhat based distributions:

    • # rpm -i epson-inkjet-printer-escpr-<version>-<architecture>.rpm

  • For Debian based distributions:

    • # dpkg -i epson-inkjet-printer-escpr_<version<-<architecture>.deb


7.2. Registration of Printer

  • Using commands
    • Execute the following command with root privileges.

    # lpadmin -p [PRINTER_NAME] -v [DEVICE_URI] -P [PPD_FILE] -E

    Options
    -p :  Specifies the setting name of the printer
    -E :  Enables the printer
    -v :  Specifies the driver and connection
    -P :  Specifies the setting file (PPD file)

    Example: With the EP-901A printer

    # lpadmin -p ep901a -v usb:/EPSON/EP-901A -P /opt/epson-inkjet-printer-escpr/ppds/EPSON/EPSON-EP-901A-epson-escpr-en.ppd.gz -E

    For details of lpadmin, see lpadmin(8).

  • Using a browser
    • CUPS is provided with a CGI for settings so that you can set your printer using a browser. To add a printer, follow the steps below. Note: The following menu items might differ depending on the CUPS version and the environment used.
    1. Turn on the printer, and please be connected to the PC with a USB cable.
    2. Connect to CUPS Server (Port: 631) with the browser
      Example: When CUPS is on localhost, access the following URL.
      http://localhost:631/
    3. Select [Add Printer]
    4. Enter a setting name of a printer on "Name" and select [Continue] (Other items are not mandatory)
    5. In "Device", USB, and select "Continue"
      Example: With the EP-901A printer, "Model" is displayed as follows.
      "EP-901A USB #1(EP-901A)"
    6. In "Model", set "EPSON-ESC/P-R Printer Driver for Linux", and select "Add Printer"
      Example: With the EP-901A printer, "Model" is displayed as follows.
      "EPSON EP-901A, EPSON-ESC/P-R Printer Driver for Linux (en,en,ja,nl,fr,de,it,pt,es,ko,zh_CN,zh_TW)"
    7. Instead of steps (6), specify the PPD file directly from "Browse"
      Example: With the EP-901A printer, you would specify the following file.
      /opt/epson-inkjet-printer-escpr/ppds/EPSON/EPSON-EP-901A-epson-escpr-en.ppd.gz
    This completes adding a printer for this software.


7.3. Deletion of Software

You can uninstall the package of this driver software by using package manager, etc. Or you can also uninstall this software package by opening a terminal and using command lines input.
Note:The following commands needs to be performed as a root privilege.

Uninstallation of RPM package

# rpm -e epson-inkjet-printer-escpr

Uninstallation of DEB package

# dpkg -P epson-inkjet-printer-escpr


7.4. Deletion of Printer from CUPS

    CGI (http://localhost:631/) for configuration is prepared on CUPS, so a printer can be configured on the browser. Enter the above URL on the browser and display the screen of the printer configuration. Select “Delete Printers” on the printer configuration screen of CUPS, so it will be deleted.


7.5. Printing method

The formats that can be printed are as follows.

  • Postscript
  • PDF
  • Text
  • Various image files

    • There are mainly 2 methods for printing.

    • Print by command line input
      This method is to use lpr (or lp) commands of command line input and specify a file directly for printing. Regarding the details of the commands, please refer to lpr (1), lp(1) of the manual page.

      When printing with the defaults

      $ lpr -P PRINTER_NAME <file>
      $ lp -d PRINTER_NAME <file>

      With printer_name = ep901a, ink = MONO, media = LGL

      $ lpr -P ep901a -o ink=MONO -o media=LGL <file>
      $ lp -d ep901a -o ink=MONO -o media=LGL <file>

      The method of printing depends on the implementation of CUPS. For more details, see the CUPS documentation.

    • Print by an application
      • This method is to use printing functions, which are prepared in various applications, for printing. Some applications have own various settings. Please refer to a manual of each application for the details.


7.6. Printing Setting

The attached tools of CUPS are used for setting. There are mainly 4 methods as the setting methods by CUPS. The methods are explained as below.

  • Configure by an attached GUI tool of a Linux distribution
    1. Click [System] on menu, then select “Administration”-“Printing”.
    2. Select a printer
    3. Click “Printer Option” tab
    4. Enter settings of the printer
    5. Click “Apply”
  • Configure by web browser
    1. Start a web browser
    2. Enter "http://localhost:631/" in URL and display the setting screen of CUPS
    3. Click “ Manage Printers“
    4. Click “Set Printer Options” of the applicable printer and display the setting screen of the printer options.
    5. Select settings and click “Set Printer Options”
  • Configure by command line input
    This method uses the printing setting tool of CUPS which is lpoptions. Please refer to the manual page of lpoptions (1) for the details of the tool.
    Option values differ from model to model. Therefore, please refer to a manual (Manual.txt) of the installed package. A manual is installed in the following path.

    /opt/epson-inkjet-printer-<Printer name>-<Version>/doc/Manual.txt

    An example of a setting is the below.
    Example: If you want to change setting to Paper type= plain paper, Paper size = A4

    $ lpoptions -p Printer name -o MediaType=PLAIN -o PageSize=A4

  • Set commands options before printing
    In CUPS, settings can be changed by an option (-o) which functions same as lpoptions with lpr or lp commands. Please refer to the manual page of lpr (1) or lp (1) for the details.


7.7. Items to be set

    The following items can be set with this software.

    Ink  :  Enables the printer
    Paper size  :  Select the paper size for your document.
    Print quality  :  Select the media type and its print quality for your printing.


  • Details of setting items
    • Followings is a list of setting options available for this software.
    • Ink
      • Setting name for optional settings    : Ink
      Setting name in the browser    : Ink
      Text string used when specifying an optionText string displayed in the browser window for CUPS settings
      Color printingCOLORColor
      Monochrome printingMONOMonochrome
    • Paper size
      • Setting name for optional settings    : PageSize
      Setting name in the browser    : MediaSize
      Note: When adding multiple settings in the media option, put paper size at the beginning. For the media options, see the CUPS documentation.

    • Print quality
      • Setting name for optional settings    : MediaType
      Setting name in the browser    : MediaType
  • How to set
    • There are three methods for print settings.
  • Using commands
    Use lpoptions. For details of the command, see lpoptions(1).
    Example: For the registered printer name ep901a To specify ink = COLOR, page size = A4, mediatype = PLAIN_NORMAL

    $ lpoptions -p ep901a -o ink=COLOR -o PageSize=A4 -o MediaType=PLAIN_NORMAL

  • Use a browser
    Select "Configure Printer" from the printer window to display the setting window.

  • Specify options when printing
    As with lpoptions, set options with -o. For details of the commands, see lpr(1) and lp(1).


8. Trademark Notice

    Any company names or products mentioned herein, are the property of their respective holders and are not explicitly marked with (TM), (R), or (C).