How to intensify colors on new Imagegraf Pro 1000

[pcunningham2008]

I received my new Canon imagegraf Pro 1000  about a week ago and it prints great.  EXCEPT that the colors all look greyed out!  How can I intensify the colors to better reflect the colors in my Corel Print Shop Pro and Publisher files?  I've read all the color management and color calibration info in the user manual and it doesn't speak to any settings to help get the color right.  Can anyone help?  TIA!

Frustrated user! Patty

[jrhoffman75]

I wouldn't classify greyed out colors as printing great. 

What operating system? If macOS do you have the IJ Series driver installed and not the AirPrint or Bonjour version?

Have you run a nozzle check?

Lets make sure your basic settings are correct.

I don't use either of those products, but the file linked below (a TIFF file) should be able to be opened in those products,

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ApNpngg2Z6dbhIYEVaNQBuYp2nUaWg?e=YkiS8A

Open the file and print it as you would any file. Do not make any edits, regardless of how the image may look on screen.

How does the print look? Can you post a cellphone shot?

[pcunningham2008]

Thanks, John, for your response.  I'm running off a PC laptop, running Windows 10.  I ran the TIFF and the print came out better than my previous efforts, but still not as bright as the screen shows.  How do I attach the images? Patty

[jrhoffman75]

Hi Patty. The image I linked is a calibrated image. That’s why the process is to print without adjustment. How does the print look? Do the strawberries ok good? what about the skin tones of the people? Don’t compare it to your monitor. If the print doesn’t look good then we need to focus on the printer. If the print is looking good then we need to focus on the monitor. 

[ebiggs1]

"... still not as bright as the screen shows."

This is very common I see it all the time when folks get a photo printer. But first off go d/l all the Canon provided for free software for the Pro-1000. Use it instead of whatever you are using now. Especially get DPP4. You will need your camera serial number for it.

Now do this, 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, chances of getting great looking prints goes down.   However, there are only a few things that you need to be concerned with. Most people set their monitors too bright or they come set too bright.  You must get the gray-scale very close.  Then get the brightness very close and you need the contrast very close, too. These settings are easily adjusted in Windows in the Display settings tool.

I use Photoshop where you can adjust the saturation levels with a slider. Having your monitor set more closely to what the printer is printing makes a huge difference. You must not let the printer control anything.  You can do this with the Canon My Printer under the Printer Settings tab. Under "Manual" you can make tweaks to the print if needed.  Let your software, I use Photoshop, handle color management. 

[pcunningham2008]

Thanks, EB.  This is what seems to be the going practice.  However, I am at a loss as to how to proceed with my software.  I use Corel PaintShop Pro on a PC laptop with Windows 10.  Things print fine on my HP printer, but the quality isn't as high as I'd like to print notecards and artistic prints.  So getting the color right is vital.

I have downloaded all the files I could find relative to supplemental apps for the Pro 1000.  I don't have, don't see and Canon doesn't seem to know what I want called DPP4.  Any other info on how to find that file or coordinate my screen/printer would be helpful.  

Thanks much! Patty

[pcunningham2008]

John, the strawberries look "ok" as do the skin tones and other images.  However, they don't sparkle.  Now I didn't print on photo paper, just on flat card stock - which is what most of my prints and notecards are printed on.  It's the difference between "meh" and "brilliant!"  For the price, I want Brilliant!

Thanks!

Patty

[ebiggs1]

"You will need your camera and serial number for it."

I put my camera in the support tab, 1DX and it brings up this d/l page....

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/eos-1d-x

You need to do the same with whatever Canon camera you have and you need the serial number.

Always use Canon brand inks and paper when you are first setting up your new printer.

[jrhoffman75]

Cardstock is generally a matte finish and some products are uncoated; both of these conditions impact negatively the image "intensity".

It sounds like your basic printing output is good. I would suggest you get some real photo paper like Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster or Photo paper Pro Semi-Gloss. That would be a true test of the printer.

Assuming that produces a good print then you would want to adjust monitor brightness to be close to how the print looks. Most monitors are too bright, and folks adjust the exposure to reduce the brightness which winds up producing prints that are too dark.

Canon DPP4 is a photo editing software designed primary for Canon digital camera files.

[pcunningham2008]

Thanks again.  The answer may be that I need to change the substrate for my notecards.  The Photo paper Canon sent came out beautifully.  I have suspected the matte finish on the card stock might be the basic culprit.  I'll keep playing with it.  Again, John, thanks for your input.

Patty