Are you using Canon brand paper? Unless you have the proper profile for other papers you'll get less than ideal prints. The printer (when working correctly) will spray the correct amount of ink onto the paper, but it's matched to Canon paper. IF you use any other brand it may absorb more ink or less than the printer is set to spray. That has a major effect on the look of the photo.
Also note that most people edit using their monitor set at full brightness, but when they print it's not the same. It's very important to set your monitor's brightness to match what your printer produces.
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