Printer functions
Icon
Function
MFPxEpson |
| Usage | Printer functions | Scanning | Machine ids | Linkers | Presets | Configuration | Contacts |
Usage |
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MFPxEpson runs on the ROOL or Castle USB stack and provides RISC OS control of Epson multifunction printers. Version 1.10 and later will also support Epson flatbed scanners. There is deliberate similarity with David Pilling's TWAIN interface although this program isn't itself TWAIN compliant. It can simultaneously scan to Sprite and TIFF formats in B&W, grey scale, 8bpp colour or 24bpp colour and send the result to the graphic editor of your choice. The TIFF output format is preferable because it maintains resolution correctly, sprites are for greater compatibility with other RISC OS applications. It can also monitor ink levels, print the nozzle test pattern and clean the print heads (currently RISC OS 5 only). Device detection is triggered when the main window is opened (mouse click on iconbar icon) or when the 'Device' pop-up menu is selected. If the device isn't recognised then use the 'Teach machine ids' option. The model name is read directly from the scanner which may reflect the Japanese identity. The displayed name can be changed with the 'Teach machine ids' function. The default scanning settings can be saved from a menu over the main window (not the preview area). The scan area can be defined by dragging the box that surrounds the preview area. Clicking in the middle will move the whole box, clicking on a handle will move the related sides. Once a handle has been selected the area can be nudged into position with the cursor keys on the keyboard. Window positions can be stored by holding the Alt key and clicking with 'Select' on the iconbar icon. Stored positions can be cleared by using Alt and 'Adjust'. The hardware used in multifunction printers seems particularly prone to producing moire patterning when scanning halftone printed material (magazines, newspapers etc.). There is a descreening function which can improve the images (200-400dpi resolutions work best). Trouble shooting : Errors are shown briefly in the information area at the bottom right of the main window. Please report the error message by email along with the full details shown in the device identification (e.g. CX6600 (D7)). If the scanner isn't functioning correctly the progress bar will turn red, a USB reset on the device should resolve it. An orange bar indicates the scanner is warming up which should resolve itself. If there is a status error from a printer function a warning triangle may appear under the print function icons (the printer should be displaying the actual fault, e.g. this may require paper in the printer). |
Printer functions |
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Icon |
Function |
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Request ink levels from printer. |
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Print nozzle test pattern - clean heads if any broken lines are shown. |
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Clean print heads - this uses a lot of ink so should only be done if the nozzle test pattern fails. Repeated cleaning may make the printer enter a service state and should be avoided. |
Scanning |
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Icon/ function |
Description |
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Maximise preview scan box area. |
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Shrink preview scan box area to image. Full scan will only contain the selected area within the preview box. |
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Initiate Sprite save. |
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Initiate TIFF save. |
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Open directory of previous scans. |
| Colours | Scans can be B&W, greyscale, 8 bits per pixel colour with palette or 24 bits per pixel colour. If the preview image was scanned in colour and greyscale is chosen it will be displayed in greyscale. A greyscale preview cannot be displayed in colour and so remains greyscale. |
| Resolution | Resolution limits will depend on the multifunction printer used. Use of the descreen function will double the scanned resolution although the final image is scaled back to the chosen resolution. |
| Descreen | Scanning halftone printed material may produce moire patterning on the image. This option can improve the final appearance but does involve some blurring of the image so shouldn't be used for photos. Scans take longer with this selected. |
| Brightness | Brightness levels can be adjusted by single clicking within the icon proportional to the icon size (the scale is -100 <-----> 0 <-----> 100), drag sliding until the preview image shows the correct brightness or using the bumper icons to increase or decrease the brightness level. Clicking with adjust will revert to either the default value (0) or the saved value depending on the configured option. |
| Contrast | Contrast levels can be adjusted in a similar way to the brightness level. |
| Gamma | Gamma controls work in a similar way to the brightness level but the scale differs (e.g. 0.04 <----> 1.00 <-----> 5.75). Less than 1 is brighter, greater than 1 is darker. If gamma is configured to be shown as 1/n (scale is 0.17 <-----> 1.00 <-----> 25.00) then less than 1 is darker, greater than 1 is lighter. The default value is 0.55 (1.8 in 1/n format). |
| Preview | Scan a preview image, the colour option should reflect the full scan requirement for best results. The whole image is scanned regardless of the preview box setting. Holding down Ctrl when selecting this icon will send the result (without gamma correction) to the linker application providing auto-linking is set and the linker is running. |
| Cancel scan | This cancels the current scan. If the scan type was a preview then the previous preview image will be restored. |
| Scan | The area shown by the preview box is scanned with the current settings. When complete the image will either be linked (see linkers) or a 'save' window will appear. |
Teach machine ids |
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Some Epson multifunctions will not be detected automatically. These devices can be manually added to the detection list. Whether detected automatically or not, the device name may differ from the expected one. An alternative name can be entered on the detection list which will be subsequently used on menus. To add a machine select it from those listed on the pop-up Product ID menu. To remove a machine deselect the tick in the 'Add' column. |
Linkers |
| Linkers are applications used to edit the scanned image. The linked application will default to the highest one on the list that is currently running. An alternative linker can be selected from the associated pop-up menu. If 'Auto' is selected then scanned images with be sent to the linker automatically when a scan completes. The default graphic format sent to each application can be set in the 'Linkers' window. This can be changed temporarily in the linkers section of the main scanning window. |
Presets |
Presets are predefined values for scanning options and/or scan area settings. Menu over the main window has the following options.
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Configuration |
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Option |
Default |
Description |
| Display Gamma as 1/n | Off | Gamma can optionally be displayed as 1/n (e.g. 1.8 rather than 0.55). |
| Adjust click on slider option | Off | If unset, adjust clicking resets brightness and contrast to 0 and gamma to 0.55. When set the options revert back to user saved settings. |
| Image size | Automatic | Controls whether Sprite or TIFF size is displayed. |
| Collect ink levels on device detection | On | If set, ink levels will be collected automatically when a multifunction is detected. |
| Ignore flatbed scanners | Off | If set, only multifunction devices will be listed on devices menu. |
| Initial save type is TIFF | Off | At the end of a scan a save window will pop-up if no automatic linking is set. This option sets the initial savetype offered, subsequent saves will match the last chosen filetype. |
| Scan clearance | Leave alone | Old scans can optionally be removed when MFPxEpson quits. |
| Save location | !MFPxEpson.Scans | Set 'Save' directory location. |
Acknowledgements
Programming Advice : Daniel Ellis
Testing : David Briggs, David Mc Dowell, Peter Dowson
Anthony Triggs, Bryan Page, Doug Webb, Colin Foster
Thanks to anyone who has provided feedback.