topic Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer. in Professional Photo Printers

I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 02:23:54 GMT

Installation went well. I have PC with Win 7, using CS6. I calibrate my monitor with Spyder Monkey 3. I can take my files to a custom printer in the Seattle area and my print matches my file 99% of the time (night sky images need a little further adjusting). I'm using Canon Paper. My prints are coming out a little dark, or not quite as bright as what's on the monitor. I understand that there may not be an exact match, but I was hoping for better. I'm not a real technical type, but with good instructions I can get the job done. Is there something more I need to do, or can do, to get a closer match to my monitor? I really don't want to go through a lot of custom calibrations with custom profiles if I can avoid it.

I'm printing staight from CS6 (I have LR4, but don't use it a lot). Selected the right paper; using CS6 for color management (using monitor profile in CS6).

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:40:28 GMT

Are your prints darker than you want, or just not as bright as the monitor? Most folks seem to have the monitor brighter than optimum.

I edit my prints in a room with no overhead lighting and use a desk lamp so that no light shines on the monitor. If I put my hand on the monitor surface the back of my hand is dark; no light shinng on it.

With that setup I calibrate my monitor to D50 and 80 cd/m^2 and my prints are right on with the monitor.

Go to this website: http://outbackprint.outbackphoto.com/printinginsights/pi049/essay.html

and download the test image and see how that prints.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:06:57 GMT

Thank you. I was already warned by the camera store where I made the purchase that the prints probably wouldn't be as bright as the monitor. But the prints are darker; they look more saturated than the monitor. So it's not just brightness. I use a monitor hood to shield the monitor from an overhead light; my apartment doesn't have a lot of options available for lighting. After posting my question, I ran across a similar post and have played a bit with the settings of the printer profile. Bottom line, I guess I still have a bit of work and experimentation to do.

I will try the test print from the link you sent me. I will also try to alter the calibration of the monitor a bit. Excuse my lack of tech understanding, but your settings; are those for Brightness and Contrast? Thanks again.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:22:15 GMT

Hi. D50 is the color temperature and the other number is monitor brightness. Do you have a camera club in your town? Maybe you could contact them. Meanwhile, try setting your monitor brightness and contrast to 50 percent and see if that gives more pleasing results.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 03:30:11 GMT

Great, I'll give this a try. Thanks again for the help.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:33:04 GMT

Hi,

I just wanted to follow-up my last reply with an update that the link to the test print image was a great help. It helped inform me that the printer was working well and it was my monitor that needed tweaking. Through more testing, I've found a good working solution for most of my prints. I have some of night shots in the mountains that are still a bit dark, but I think that I'll need to work with the image a bit; it may look a little light on the screen, but will print OK. People are quite amazed with the quality of the prints; Thanks again for the help.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 16:44:09 GMT

You're welcome. Glad I could help. It is a terrific printer.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

Glaslar — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:33:43 GMT

I also have the PRO100. It is awsome.

Howver using the Canon ICM files for their glossy and

semigloss papers, I too got images that were a little dark.

I use an XRITE print and monitor calibrator and make my own

ICM files and the result is about perfect.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

ebiggs1 — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:46:17 GMT

There are really only three settings than need to be right on your monitor. Those are brightness, contrast and grey-scale. If these are even just close you willbe fine. BTW, you don't need no monkeys or spiders to do this.

You must remember you are comparing two different mediuns here, light and dyes.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:42:25 GMT

I've talked to others, including a professional printer friend, who develop their own profiles. I've been able, through a lot of testing and reading, to get good prints from Canon papers. I've also be experimenting with Hannamule and Moab papers with some success, but only because I've gone through all the other testing and am finally getting an idea of what the various adjustments do. Patience has been my biggest friend.

I will check out XRITE. Thanks for your post.

Roy

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:49:14 GMT

Thanks, ebiggs1. I will admit the spider can be a pain sometimes, so I'll try your suggestion and see how things look. Appreciate the feedback.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

ebiggs1 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:46:45 GMT

Give Red River Paper a try. They have all the profiles already made for the Pro-100.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

Sisboom40 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:33:42 GMT

can you help so lost..don't know half the words I'm seeing..I'm a fabric designer in need of perfect color.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

ebiggs1 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:59:43 GMT

I will try .......................

First, you must not let the printer set anything. Turn off every bit off control it has. You can do this with the Canon My Printer under the Printer Settings tab. Do you know how? I will guess, yes, for now but if you don't get back to me.

Second, you need to have your photo editor (like Photoshop) handle all the settings and color matching. You know how to do this? I prefer Photoshop.

And lastly, it is essential you get some settings on your monitor that somewhat matches what the printer is printing. Your printer may be doing exactly what you are telling it to do and you have no idea it is, because your monitor is so far off. If you don't do this step, you can forget the other steps. However, there are only a few things that you need to be concerned with. You don't need any fancy extra add-ons to do this. No additional sortware or gadgets, etc.

But you must get the grey-scale very close. You need to get the brightness very close and you need the contrast very close.

After you do these things you can make adjustments to your prints by just looking at your screen. Because you know the monitor and printer are on the same level. One more point, you can NOT get a printer to print every color exactly the way you saw it. It isn't possibile as all colors and adjustments effect all others. My goal is to get the skin tones right. That is what people notice most. Remeber you are dealing with two different disciplines here. One is colored light and the other is colored dyes. They are not the same thing.

For instance, I know my Pro-100 tends to print darker than what I see on the monitor (typical). So, I automatically know to set it's prints 1/2 to one stop brighter in Photoshop, in my case. It also prints with a slightly warn tone. Most of the time, with protraits especially, this if OK but sometimes it is not. In that case I adjust the "temp" setting slightly cooler in PS.

All the Canon photo printers I have ever seen have this warm/magenta cast. Canon engineers must prefer this look. It can not be changed. You need to "fix" it in post.

Make sure you have the correct ICC profiles and you are using Canon brand ink and paper untill you get good with the printer. Very, very important, otherwise you don't know if the printer is doing exactly what you are telling it to or not.

Important is, use the USB connection until everything is right. You are just adding another issue when you try to set up the printing and the wireless all at the same time. Just like using Canon branded products until it is a go. Use a real printer USB cable. Not just any old USB cable.

Keep me informed of your progress.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

Sisboom40 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 16:20:23 GMT

very helpful and I will get back to you so appreciated.

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

NW_Roy — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 04:50:44 GMT

ebiggs1:

Thanks for all the great advice. I will check out Red River Paper and give them a try.

NW_Roy

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

tollesonanne — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 22:46:47 GMT

I just got my new Pixma Pro 100. I have been very disappointed with this printer. I am using Canon papers and Print Studio Pro in Photoshop and my photos do not look nearly as good as they do on my monitor. They are not as sharp and have a dark, washed out, "muddy" look. Since these are professional wedding photos I need to have them match the monitor. I had an iP9900 that was perfect and this printer does not come close in print quality. What should I do?

Re: I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

ebiggs1 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:47:34 GMT

Printers only do what you tell them to unless there is a malfunction with the printer.

Second, you need to have your photo editor (like Photoshop) handle all the settings and color matching. You know how to do this? I prefer Photoshop and I use AdobeRGB color space. You do not need Print Stuido Pro.

And lastly, it is essential you get some settings on your monitor that somewhat matches what the printer is printing. Your printer may be doing exactly what you are telling it to do and you have no idea it is, because your monitor is so far off. If you don't do this step, you can forget the other steps. However, there are only a few things that you need to be concerned with. You don't need any fancy extra add-ins to do this. No additional software or gadgets, etc.

Most people set their monitors too bright.

You must get the gray-scale very close. You need to get the brightness very close and you need the contrast very close.

After you do these things you can make adjustments to your prints by just looking at your screen. Because you know the monitor and printer are on the same level. One more point, you can NOT get a printer to print every color exactly the way you saw it. It isn't possible as all colors and adjustments effect all others. My goal is to get the skin tones right. That is what people notice most. Remember you are dealing with two different disciplines here. One is colored light and the other is colored dyes. They are not the same thing.

For instance, I know my Pro-100 tends to print darker than what I see on the monitor (typical). So, I automatically know to set it's prints 1/2 to one stop brighter in Photoshop, in my case. It also prints with a slightly warn tone. Most of the time, with portraits especially, this if OK but sometimes it is not. In that case I adjust the "temp" setting slightly cooler in PS.

All the Canon photo printers I have ever seen have this warm/magenta cast. Canon engineers must prefer this look. It can not be changed. You need to "fix" it in post.

Make sure you have the correct ICC profiles and you are using Canon brand ink and paper until you get good with the printer. Very, very important, otherwise you don't know if the printer is doing exactly what you are telling it to or not.