How do I print in draft mode on Epson Workforce 3540

Question

Level 1

40 points

How do I print in draft mode on Epson Workforce 3540

I just bought and set up an Epson Workforce all in one printer. Everything is working fine, except that I can't get it to print in draft mode.

I've tried a few different applications and all are the same. When I go to print, I get a window that includes a print quality slider at the bottom that includes three settings: draft, normal, and best. The word "draft" is grayed-out. If I try to drag the slider to it, it snaps back to normal in the middle.

I looked in the printer's manual, and it says draft mode can only be selected with "plain paper" selected. But, even when I have plain paper selected, I cannot choose draft quality. In fact, it seems no matter what I try I cannot choose draft quality.

The printer's owner's manual, it also shows some printer dialog windows that I don't get (I think I did get them with the Epson I just replaced, though).

Can anyone tell me how I can select draft print quality, and why I'm having so many problems doing so? Maybe it's to be expected that the Epson isn't letting me select the print mode quality that would save me the most ink.

I'm attaching a screen capture of what I see when I try to print. It is the first image.

I'm also attaching a couple of screen captures from the printer's owner's manual section on Mac printing. These are the printer dialog windows I don't see when I try to print.

What I see when I try to print (note that "Draft" is grayed-out on the quality slider):

These are what the printer's manual seems to suggest I should see (and what I think I did see with my last Epson printer that I just replaced):

And:

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), Two internal drives (one SSB)

Posted on Aug 17, 2013 10:45 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PAHU

Level 6

16,711 points

Aug 17, 2013 11:34 PM in response to JDLee

Based on your screen captures I believe you may have selected Apple's AirPrint driver rather than the Epson driver. This can happen if you add the printer by selecting it from the small pop-up window that appears with a heading of Nearby Printers after you click the plus button in the Print & Scan preference pane.

To confirm which printer driver you are using, open the Print & Scan preference pane and select the Epson in the Printers colum. The right pane will give some details about the printer. If there is mention of AirPrint in the printer Name or Kind, then this will be the issue. The fix would be to remove this printer from Print & Scan and add again. But this time, don't select the Epson from the Nearby Printers pop-up. Instead, click on Add Printer Or Scanner from this pop-up window and from the next Default Add printer window, select the Epson in the list and ensure you select the Epson driver in the Use menu rather than the AirPrint driver.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 26, 2017 9:25 PM in response to JDLee

This worked on my Epson 434. Thank you. I wish I'd looked before printing the 60 pages in color.... but it was the frustration of months of saying, "why can't I print in draft" that culminated in my having to replace the ink cartridge mid print that led me to your answer.

My pocket thanks you.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 19, 2017 5:08 AM in response to PAHU

This solved my problem (no draft mode available), too. I'm using an Epson XP640 Series printer.

A couple notes:

1) When selecting the Epson print driver, in addition to what Pahu said, note that you have have to (a) delete/re-select printer, but note that (b) before you click "ok", there's a dropdown menu on bottom of the pop-up window where you select "airport" or "Epson" etc. print driver to use with the selected printer.

2) this change will also relocate some printing options (double-sided, print quality, etc.) from otherwise familiar locations.

Thanks!

TIMM

Reply

Answer 4

JDLee Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 18, 2013 12:06 AM in response to PAHU

Hello Pahu,

Thank you very much! That is exactly what I had done, and I'd have never remembered that I did that.

I began setting this printer up last night at about 10:00 p.m. Five hours later, I was still trying to get it to work properly (there was an issue with the scanner). I kept uninstalling and reinstalling different things and trying different options. I guess AirPrint was the last one I had selected.

So now I've been fiddling around with this print quality issue for a couple of hours, and I'd just about had it with all of this. I'm glad you were able to solve it for me, because it would have bothered me all day tomorrow and into Monday (when Epson's tech support would next be available).

I appreciate the help.

Reply

Answer 5

lmjm2000

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2013 7:46 AM in response to PAHU

Thanks this solved the lack of draft mode for me too.

Lee

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 21, 2013 10:44 PM in response to PAHU

thank you, pahu!

this solved my problem.

additionally, i had to download the driver from epson directly, i kept getting an error when trying to download it from software update.

grateful,

ted

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 23, 2013 7:34 AM in response to PAHU

Pahu,

Your answer solved my problem too.

Thank you rock star!

jo

Reply

Answer 8

Oct 2, 2013 2:57 PM in response to JDLee

Almost a year having this problem and you're actually the first person I find who tells how to solve it!!! Thank you very much, mister.

Reply

Answer 9

MeLaco

Level 1

0 points

Oct 4, 2013 1:53 PM in response to PAHU

Wow this has been driving me nuts, thank you!

Reply

Answer 10

Oct 17, 2013 8:50 AM in response to JDLee

Thanks! You've solved my draft problem too.

Your solution also solved a couple other issues, including not being able to 2-side print pdf files!

Reply

Answer 11

ayzee88

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2013 1:59 PM in response to PAHU

Thank you PAHU you deserve a medal!!! Would never had figured this out. You should be paid by epson because I was just about to return my xp-610 because of this. It wouldn't put it pas a printer company to disable draft printing in order to maximise ink profits! But that was not the case so thanks

Reply

Answer 12

ayzee88

Level 1

4 points

Oct 29, 2013 2:53 PM in response to PAHU

Since upgrading to Mavericks this issue has sadly returned 😟

A warning to anybody upgrading, this issue may retur for you aswell.

I think in the software update there is a driver update for the Epson printer, so be wary!

My current Driver version is 9.14 for EPSON_XP_610_Series

PAHU, any ideas!

Thanks

Reply

Answer 13

Dec 5, 2013 1:45 PM in response to PAHU

Hi, this is the same problem I am having with my Epson BX535WD.

But, I can't see how to remove this printer from Print & Scan.

In fact, in System Preferences, I can't see how to uninstall any unwanted software (Apps).

I'm a recent Mac user (Macbook Air) and it's a great machine, but taking some getting used to.

Lots of the functionality and ease of use of Windows seems to be missing.

Could someone please advise me how to remove this Airprint version, so I can follow PAHU's advice to reinstall the full version of printer driver?

Many thanks............

Reply

Answer 14

LNOM

Level 1

18 points

Dec 21, 2013 12:48 PM in response to PAHU

Thanks a BRAZILLIAN, PAHU ! I've been fighting with my printer on this same issue for quite some time now! Best wishes (and dare I say...) Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Great health, Happiness and Success in all areas of your life!

Reply

Answer 15

rebkev

Level 1

0 points

Mar 12, 2014 11:59 AM in response to PAHU

Thank you, Pahu! Solved the problem.

Reply