Pixma Pro 100 printing dark and muddy

keetha
Contributor

Hi, 

 

I have seen several threads about this and tried to read those over and learn from them first but I'll admit to being so lost.

 

I've had the printer since August and previously had a PC with Windows 8. Since December, I've been using a Mac. With both computers, though, I always got dark and muddy prints, especially with blues and greens.  I have installed drivers and looked for any software updates and the Canon website says I'm up to date. But when I go to print something, in the drop down box there are two options for paper - plain and photo. With my PC, there were a dozen or more options (matte paper, glossy paper, art paper, etc.).

 

I have installed ICC profiles from Red River Paper, as I did with the PC.

 

On a previous thread, I saw to go to Canon My Printer and then to settings. I'm guessing that's software? I don't seem to have that on my computer. I looked online and it came up on various software download sites but not the Canon web site. I am leery about installing from one of those web sites so I didn't.

 

After reading another thread, I went in to PhotoShop and selected a different color space (Adobe 1998).

 

I apologize for being so lost but apparently I am in need of super-simplified instructions. I cannot seem to figure this out. It's so frustrating and discouraging. I appreciate any help! 

 

Thank you!

28 REPLIES 28

jrhoffman75
Legend
Legend
On a Mac there are two printer choices - Bonjour and IJ. The IJ option takes longer to show up. Go to Add Printer, click the "+" option and wait for UJ to show. Select that one.
John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, M200, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, Lr Classic

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

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-ins to do this.  No additional software or gadgets, no spiders or monkeys, etc.

 

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

Most folks set there brightness way too high by default. This presents a big problem when judging prints. You need to judge your prints in good light, preferably daylight. Again they may be correct and you don't know it.

 

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 for most users).  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. You will also likely see a color tint even in your B&W prints. This is normal.

 

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. This is a must!

 

Important to, 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.

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

What I explained in the above post needs to be done without exception.  Don't skip any step.  However, are you using a Mac now or a PC?  IMHO, PC's are easier to set up than Mac's.

 

All the software you need came with the printer.  Did you install it?

 

No printer that you can put in your house or office can use AdobeRGB.  This needs to be changed to sRGB before you print anything.  I do recommend you shoot jpg's in AdobeRGB for the larger color space but this can cause some issues when you print.  But for the best results you really need to be shooting in RAW.  In RAW there is no such thing as color space, no RGB of any kind.

 

I understand you have and use Photoshop?  It and Canon My Printer is all you need <----came with the printer.  It is mandatory you are using Canon ink and Canon paper with the correct ICC profile.  Right now, you can use Red River later when all is right.

 

Let me know how it goes.

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.

I am using a Mac now. I'm using Canon ink and Canon paper as well. 

 

The Mac does not have a CD drive so I can't install Canon My Printer that way. Do you know if it's anywhere on the Canon web site?

 

I followed the instructions for installing ICC profiles.

 

All I can find about the printer on this computer (Mac) are the most basic of settings. That's why I keep thinking some drivers aren't installed but I installed what the Canon site recommended. 

 undefined

 

This is software on the Canon web site -- is this Canon My Printer?

 

Print Studio Pro Ver. 1.4.0 (OS X 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8/10.9/10.10) 01/09/15
File Name: mpsp-mac-1_4_0-ea9_2.dmg 

(Optional)This plug-in software facilitates professional photo printing. Plug-in offers all print related setting from a single user interface. With Print Studio Pro, you can print photos in various styles, including bordered, borderless, index, mono...

 

Again, I apologize for being so simple-simon. I appreciate your help.

 

Best,

Keetha

The IJ printer choice never showed up. What do I do about this?

I am not a Mac user but the lack of a CD drive is one reason I say Mas is harder.  If you have Photoshop that is all the printing software you need.  Of course you need the Pro-100 print driver but no additional software is required from if you have PS.

 

ps.jpg

 

In the print driver you should turn off any control the printer has.

 

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.

You musy do the monitor set up first of all.  If you are geting even "muddy" pritns that the printer is working.

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.

I have that set in Photoshop, that Photoshop manages the color.

 

 

"The IJ printer choice never showed up. What do I do about this?"

 

Hopefully John Hoffman will see this.  He uses a Mac and can tell you more.

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
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