I just purchased a Canon Pro 100 printer.

[NW_Roy]

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).

[jrhoffman75 · Accepted solution]

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.

[Glaslar]

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.

[ebiggs1]

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.

[NW_Roy]

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.

[ebiggs1]

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

[NW_Roy]

ebiggs1:

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

NW_Roy

[NW_Roy]

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

[tollesonanne]

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? 

[ebiggs1]

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

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 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.

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. Get everything right before you explore.