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Sunday, November 14, 2021

C6000 Updates

Epson just made available firmware and driver updates for the relatively new C6000 series label printers.

C6000 Printer Updates
C6000 Printer Updates

And if you have one of these printers, you really should update these items.

C6000 Firmware/Driver Updates
C6000 Firmware/Driver Updates

I’ve always been a big fan of updating firmware and drivers when available.  In my first post about using the C6000 series printers, I suggested updating the firmware.

To update the driver (v1.5.0.0) and firmware (TS01LA) for the C6000A, C6000P, C6500A, or the C6500P visit Epson’s support site (or Google it).  For example, here is the URL for the C6500A driver and firmware.

FYI: when you update the firmware and driver, all of your media definitions/page sizes disappear.

C6000 Updates Sizes
C6000 Updates Sizes

Make sure you copy the page size settings prior to updating the firmware and driver.  I understand this loss of settings can be a pain; but the advancements in the driver mean you can’t utilize the existing page sizes.

When you update these items, Epson provides 3 new important aspects making printing easier and better to do.

First, Epson now has a setting for the left and right side.


C6000 Media Setting Left/Right
C6000 Media Setting Left/Right

The default setting for the left/right gap is 08”.  Normal exposed liner on a label is .06”.  In this example, I reduced the gap to .03” in order to print full bleed without getting too much ink on the liner.  And it turns out that .03” is perfect for full-bleed printing.  First I tried it on a 4 x 3” matte poly label; and it printed perfect.

C6000 Full-Bleed Printing
C6000 Full-Bleed Printing

And then again on a 4x6” gloss poly:

C6000 Full-Bleed Label Printing
C6000 Full-Bleed Label Printing

If you print labels full-bleed using the C6000 driver, you need to update your firmware and driver for this extra capability.  It seems to make full-bleed printing much easier to do.

C6000 Tag Printing
C6000 Tag Printing

After testing two labels, I tested tags.  In the prior versions of the driver and firmware, the C6000 would not allow you to print to the edge of the tag.  It was set up to prevent ink from going into the printer on the sides.  With these new changes, you should be able to titrate the print to go very close to the edge of the tag/badge.  If you print tags or badges, this change should help a lot.

Second, Epson claims the new firmware prevents the printer from grinding/jumping at the end of the roll.  This reaction occurred when the tape that attached the label to the core would prevent the material from advancing.  Watch what I mean here:


Although I’ve seen this issue on video, I’ve not experienced it myself.  I’d appreciate if anyone who has experienced this problem would contact me or even send me a video of this problem occurring.  And then testing the new firmware to see if it stops or reduced.

C6000 Error Changes
C6000 Error Changes

Third, Epson has changed the LED messages for errors on the printer.  If you have had media loading issues with the C6000 series printers, you have experienced the problems with the messages.  In fact, I wrote this post specifically to tell you not to load media until the LED says “load media”.

The error messages make loading labels complicated.  I’m hopeful these changes make recovering from errors easier.

If you have a C6000 series printer, you should update the firmware and driver.  If you need assistance with the process, contact us.  And if you need ink and labels for your C6000 printers, be sure to contact us as well.

Guy Mikel
855-962-7670