Printing onto CD and DVDs with Epson R280 Printer

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Level 3

530 points

Printing onto CD and DVDs with Epson R280 Printer

I bought an Epson R280 printer to print directly on CDs and DVDs. It replaced an older Epson R300 which worked great for years. When I go to print CDs or DVDs from any application, in the "Print" pop up menu I select the R280 printer, then under Print Settings and Media Type the pull down menu has both the "CD/DVD" and CD/DVD Premium Surface" Gray and non selectable.

Has anyone had and solved this problem? Epson what me to use their CD/DVD printing software that is included with the printer, but I have lots of templates in another application, Discus, that I want to use.

Mac Pro 2.66 GHz, MacBook Pro 2.1 GHz, eMac G4, PowerMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Apr 24, 2008 11:54 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 24, 2008 12:13 PM in response to Bobbbo

Contact the Discus developer for help. The Discussions do not provide support for third-party products.

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Answer 2

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 12:22 PM in response to Kappy

It is not an application issue. I cannot print from ANY application including Apple's, such as Safari. Epson is not much help, so I was hoping that someone else has this issue since the Epson R280 is all over these Apple discussions.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 24, 2008 12:31 PM in response to Bobbbo

Then you need to post your question more precisely. Stating you cannot make CD/DVD labels doesn't say you are unable to print from any application. We can't read your mind, you know. Have you installed a compatible printer driver for this printer? Are you using the printer on a PPC or Intel Mac? Have you added the printer using the Printer Setup Utility? Have you tried resetting the printing system? Have you uninstalled the old printer driver(s). Did you communicate to Epson that your printing problem was universal rather than limited to printing CD/DVD labels?

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Answer 4

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 1:01 PM in response to Kappy

I must have hit a nerve with you. I do not expect you to be a mind reader, but all basic information is my my original posting. I am not printing lables, I am printing directly on the CD/DVD with printable CDs and DVDs. My MAC profile is already included. Yes, I have the correct driver as I would not even be able to get the menu of the printer features to even select the CD/DVD. I have reset the printer and computer. The problem exists only when I use Apple's printing menu that most application use. When I use the Epson CD Printing software it works fine as it has it own print menu and never uses Apple's.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 24, 2008 1:16 PM in response to Bobbbo

This is still unclear. And, no, no nerves hit. Your Mac profile does not tell me if you are using the PPC or Intel platform (you have both.) Unless you have a universal binary driver your cannot print from the Intel machine.

Your initial post said you cannot print labels directly onto CD/DVDs. You then stated you cannot print from any application (not that you cannot print labels onto CD/DVDs from any application.) Hence, I still don't know if your problem is limited to printing labels on CD/DVDs or that you cannot print, period. Then you last stated you can print labels onto CD/DVDs only if you use the Epson software. So, what should I conclude? Please make it clear to me.

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Answer 6

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Kappy

Okay, I am using my Intel-Mac Mac Pro. I have reinstalled the driver per Epson's instructions, reset the computer and printer. I removed the R280 Printer in the system preferences and reinstalled the printer which found the driver. I go to print from any application expect Epson's Print CD application bundled with the printer and the CD/DVD option is still gray and non selectable. I can print onto a CD directly with Epson's application as it does not invoke the Apple Print Menu.

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 24, 2008 1:53 PM in response to Bobbbo

I'm not surprised that you must use the Epson utility to print the CD/DVD labels. I would not expect that to work from any other software. Are you using the current version of the Discus software (4.2.1?)

However, what I am still trying to understand is can you do normal document printing or is that also not functional?

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Answer 8

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 2:25 PM in response to Kappy

This is the third Epson CD printer I have owned and all have printed to CD from any application. My Discus software is version 3.16. It supports all Epson Stylist Photo R printers.

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Answer 9

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 24, 2008 8:10 PM in response to Bobbbo

In that case try upgrading to the latest version to see if that fixes things.

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Answer 10

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 8:21 PM in response to Kappy

I would but it cost money and I know it will not fix the problem no application that uses OSX print menu will print to CD/DVD.

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Answer 11

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 24, 2008 8:30 PM in response to Kappy

I will take that back in part. I found that the discus upgrade is availble for a 30 day demo. I downloaded it created a label and it still will not print.

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Answer 12

Kappy

Level 10

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Apr 24, 2008 9:17 PM in response to Bobbbo

Then I would talk with the Discus people. There's nothing more I can do to help you at this point.

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Answer 13

Bobbbo Author

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530 points

Apr 25, 2008 8:47 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks for the help. I have requested support from Discus. I just hope someone that has this printer can chime in on the problem.

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Answer 14

BDAqua

Level 10

238,997 points

Apr 25, 2008 1:46 PM in response to Bobbbo

I just got one on closeout, but the CD/DVD holders are missing, which is why I thought those options were greyed out on mine!

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Answer 15

Bobbbo Author

Level 3

530 points

Apr 25, 2008 2:06 PM in response to BDAqua

I put my CD tray it but the option is still greyed out. If you use the Epson "Print CD" software it will give you an error message to load the trap.

At least it sounds like other people have the issue.

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