Kodak 305 official driver downloads
Use the exact 305 support list to choose the print driver for your OS. Windows, Mac, colour profiles, firmware and Overprint Adjustment are separate downloads. A Windows 11 label on the adjustment tool does not establish Windows 11 print-driver support.
Kodak 305 hardware and USB
The 305 is a 300 × 300 dpi dye-sublimation photo printer with Hi-Speed USB 2.0. The older User Guide lists 4 × 6 and 6 × 8 output; later official driver pages add sizes subject to the correct media and hardware. No built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection was established here.
Separate drivers, profiles and adjustment tools
| Role | Observed scope |
|---|---|
| Windows print driver | Official v7.0 file label, released 12 March 2022. The summary lists Windows 7/8/10, 32/64 bit; installation prose names 7/8.1/10. Firmware must be V3.02 or newer. Windows 11 and ARM64 execution were not verified. |
| Mac print driver | v100 DMG label, released 31 July 2019, for Mac OS 10.14; firmware V3.00 or newer. This does not establish current macOS or Apple Silicon support. |
| Profile / adjustment | The Windows profile page lists V20, released 1 April 2026. Overprint Adjustment separately lists Windows 8.1/10/11, 32/64 bit; close it before printing. Its v1.1 file label and v1.0 installation text differ. |
Compare the actual firmware version with the selected package before installation; do not start an automatic firmware update as a generic print fix. The v7.0 page calls for V20 colour association. The September 2020 driver guide instead illustrates an older 2016 ICM profile. Use current profile instructions rather than forcing that old filename. Listed dates are provider metadata, not binary/signature or runtime verification.
Windows · Mac · V20 profile · Overprint
Installation and USB timing
The September 2020 Windows procedure disconnects the printer before installing, then connects it after Finish and powers it on. Review the licence and protect working queue details before any removal or installation. The older hardware guide has different OS-specific timing; follow the selected package guide. The specified USB cable is 2 m or shorter. No installer or firmware was downloaded or run for this guide.
Five-inch kits and paper path
Five-inch output requires both Photo Print Kit 305/5R (CAT 102-3068) and the 5-inch Conversion Kit/5R hardware (CAT 102-4892), according to both driver pages. A new paper-size menu alone does not convert the printer. Match the real roll, ribbon, fitted kit and driver Paper Size before printing.
Remove the trim tray before opening the door; do not remove it while printing. The exact paper procedure requires power on: seat the roll as illustrated, remove its seal and insert the leading edge straight between roller and guide until the buzzer sounds. Remove slack and close the door. Keep fingers and weight off the open mechanism.
Ribbon cassette and trim tray
Seat the ribbon shafts in the cassette recesses, remove slack by turning the shaft, then align the cassette with the internal guides. Close the printing unit with both hands until it clicks. With new paper and power on, it automatically feeds and cuts paper. That preparation is not a colour test image. Replace paper and ribbon together and empty trim scraps.
Automatic cutting, real image and temperature
Compare ALARM, PAPER RIBBON and POWER with the actual diagram. A green POWER blink with both other indicators off can mean head temperature adjustment; wait for recovery, without opening the working printer or switching it off. Automatic media cutting does not test PC image transfer. Common check: once ready, send one intended small image and compare media size and quality; no undocumented button self-test is given.
Kodak 305 printing errors and causes
Eight selected driver-message groups
| Message group | Meaning and next check |
|---|---|
| No connection | Driver cannot reach the printer: check power and USB. |
| Printing unit open | Close the unit and compare the panel, including opening during a job. |
| Paper / ribbon mismatch | Compare the installed kit with the driver paper-size setting. |
| Ribbon absent / finished / unsupported | Check cassette seating, remaining ribbon and the exact ribbon type. |
| Paper absent / partial / finished | Check roll seating and the actual feed path. |
| Paper jam | Use the panel and exact jam procedure; keep the complete displayed text. |
| Trim tray missing | Install the trim tray; keep this distinct from paper or ribbon exhaustion. |
| Mechanical / other fault | Record the full message for support. XXXXXX is the manual’s placeholder, not a supplied error code. |
Eight cause checks
| Symptom | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Only a PC job fails | Common host check: confirm 305, actual OS/queue and the selected package. | Next check → |
| Five-inch size will not print | Compare both required 5R kits and the installed media. | Next check → |
| Ribbon / paper mismatch | Check real stock, ribbon and the driver size together. | Next check → |
| Trim tray warning | Attach the tray; remove it before door access, never during printing. | Next check → |
| Paper feeds/cuts without an image | Documented loading preparation is separate from a real PC image. | Next check → |
| Green POWER blink | Check the head-temperature row and wait for recovery. | Next check → |
| Repeated jam / ribbon tear | Clear damaged or printed paper and slack via the exact diagram. | Next check → |
| Lines or wrong colour / slow output | Compare physical cleaning, current profile and Fine/Ultra Fine. | Next check → |
Jam removal and power state
The documented jam procedure starts with power on and OPEN, then cassette removal and door access. Follow its arrow to remove the defective paper, cut away damaged and already printed sections, remove slack and reinstall the correct paper/ribbon. Reusing printed paper can make ribbon stick and tear. This power-on loading/jam procedure differs from cleaning, which requires power off.
Cleaning, Ultra Fine and current profile
Before cleaning, switch off and let the head cool. The exact User Guide uses a soft clean cloth with a small amount of alcohol, including ethyl alcohol, on the specified head area and black platen roller; avoid pressure on the peeling roller. Persistent lines need the dealer. The driver guide says Ultra Fine trades speed for quality and depends on suitable firmware. Check the current V20 profile separately; physical cleaning does not fix a wrong software profile.
Official sources and verification scope
Checked 19 October 2026: nine official pages/documents; 12 complete User Guide pages and eight complete September 2020 Driver Guide pages visually reviewed. User Guide P/N 4J7879 is copyright 2011, with a 2013 listing; Driver Guide P/N 4J9787 is dated September 2020 despite its older listing date. Links use PDF positions. The driver table’s 1–20 are row numbers, not numeric machine codes. Current CPU/OS builds, signatures, installation and physical printing remain untested.