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JDLee Author

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

Top-ranking reply

PAHU

Level 6

16,711 points

Posted on Aug 17, 2013 11:34 PM

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.

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28 replies

May 1, 2014 9:05 PM in response to PAHU

Thank You Very Much!!

Jul 2, 2014 10:29 AM in response to PAHU

Hi,

This seems to be the same problem I have but in the Use/Select Printer menu, I do not get the Workforce printer as an option. I'm on OS 10.9.4

Can you help me get the proper driver to appear?

Thanks,

Preston

Jul 2, 2014 10:44 AM in response to ayzee88

Hi,

Did you ever get this "draft" mode feature to work with Mavericks?

I'm facing the same issue and can't get it resolved. Apple Support could not help nor have the forums - this is the closest article I've seen.

Thanks,

Preston

mrhooper

Level 1

65 points

Aug 7, 2014 9:29 PM in response to PAHU

Pahu, you are a legend.

After two days of messing about with the software, downloading even more 'drivers', and reaching the stage of tossing the printer out, I came here to find you had the answer.

There seems nothing like this in any of the Epsom information for the printer.

Thanks a lot, saved me a trip to the store to buy a HP.

Sep 14, 2014 3:16 PM in response to RideTheWood

Pahu's method still works in Mavericks. The key is wait for the add printer drop down to populate fully. Do not use "bonjour" use the option "Epson IP" and it'll work as before.

Meaning eventually there will two Epsons in the printer list, choose to install the one that says "IP" not bonjour. this let me use espson drivers and get into detail on print quality.

Nov 30, 2014 10:28 AM in response to Theodore Kau

I had the same problem and tried this but got the message that the driver is not available at the server (apple?) or something like that.....I downloaded de whole software drive (126 megs)...but cannot get the installation to use this Epson driver...how did you did it...can you include the detailed procedure? Do I have to download just the printer dirver instead of the large file...? Pl.s help....

Nov 30, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Guerillaw

GuerillaW, I am using Mavericks...don't see any Epson IP option, just the Bonjour....nothing seems to work?

Dec 1, 2014 5:32 PM in response to mariokrt64

Bingo...!!! Finallly the Epson IP showed today and finally was able to configure and print in Draft....tnanks for the post...Got it to work....

Mar 9, 2016 9:01 PM in response to PAHU

Hello

I'M using El Capitain, and followed what you said but, the add option is greyed out.

Any reason why I can't add a Printer manually?

Thank you for the help.

PAHU

Level 6

16,711 points

Mar 9, 2016 9:43 PM in response to Kaizoku001

Kaizoku001 wrote:

Hello

I'M using El Capitain, and followed what you said but, the add option is greyed out.

Any reason why I can't add a Printer manually?

Thank you for the help.

Please post your question in the El Capitan forum.

Sep 14, 2016 9:36 AM in response to PAHU

Pahu!

Look at how many people you helped and made happy! We're saving so much ink and money now!

You're a gem. Thanks so much. 😍 -- tracy, milwaukee

Oct 16, 2016 7:44 PM in response to PAHU

Pahu, thank you SO MUCH!!! I would have never found that out by myself (or maybe in a couple of years of trying!)

Thank you and all the best.

Ani

HSWT

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2017 12:42 AM in response to PAHU

Thank you: you're a genius! I had had this problem for over two years! Now solved.

How do I print in draft mode on Epson Workforce 3540