Pixma Pro 100 printing dark and muddy

[keetha]

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!

[ebiggs1]

OK make sure your monitor is right.

[ianm2k4]

Hi

From the page ..

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/printers_multifunction/professional_photo_inkjet_pri...

The bare minimum you need to install is;

1. CUPS printer driver (though it looks like you have that installed since you have the printer in the settings page)

2. Canon IJ Network Tool - this is the one that will get you the IJ printer choice. You will have to connect to the printer using a USB cable to set it up, after this you should be able to use wireless (or ethernet if you enable that choice).

The driver should have installed about 12 ICC profiles mainly for Canon papers. (I have the Pro-10 so I cannot compare)

Other sofware on that page is

Print Studio Pro - this is Canon's print manager. It installs plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom also.

Easy PhotoPrint EX - sofware for creating calendars and albums etc

My Image Garden - software to manage photos

Quick Menu - this I think installs a menu bar on the screen to access the other programs quicker

Color Management Pro - software that in conjunction with more hardware (on cost) allows you to setup your own ICC profiles

Pro-100 ICC profiles for Fine Art - more ICC profiles for fine art papers from Canson, Hahnemule, Illford amonst others...

I havent installed any of the ones above as I use Lightroom and Photoshop only to do photo manipulation and management.

[jrhoffman75]

My primary photo computer is a PC with Lightroom, but my wife uses iPhoto on a MacBook, so I have had to learn how to setup the printer on a MB. I agree with comments I have seen on the web about the difficulities with Mac printing.

You can download the IJ Network tool from here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/printers_multifunction/pixma_pro_series/pixma_pro_100...

Since you are using Photoshop i suggest you give Print Studio Pro plugin a try. It doesn't do anything and experienxed user can do directly in PS, but it makes it simpler. You find it under the Automate option in PS.

The other thing I suggest is downloading this test image:

http://outbackprint.outbackphoto.com/printinginsights/pi049/essay.html

I have used this with many folks I has assisted. Open the image in your photo software and print it without making any adjustments to the image - don't worry how it looks on your monitor.

It is properly exposed and color balanced. If you aren't getting a great image when you print then your printer needs some attention.

It has easily recognizeable images - strawberries, skin tones, fall trees, etc. so you can easily see if they are being reproduced correctly.

Once you have been through this repost and we can see where to go from there.

Like ebiggs1 says - its a great printer and many folks get top quality images from it. If you are having issues I am sure we can work through it.

[wrobinson]

I am a dental hygienist who has been tasked by her boss (a dentist) for finding a solution to our new printer printing out our new patient photo pages too dark.  I am confused by where to start.  Reading through this feed, I see that many of you are working through different photo editing programs, this is something that we cannot do.  As a cosmetic dentist he needs to be able to see the image as closely as it appears on camera without changing any shading so we can come up with a customized treatment plan for each patient.  So with our old printer, we just plugged in our memory card, put the pics into a powerpoint template and pressed print.  Everything worked fine; that is, until it broke.  Now we have this printer printing out shots that look horrible.  Skin tones look dull and teeth seem to have a bluish/grey tint to them.  It took me forever just to figure out the basics of the camera, and now I have been tasked with troubleshooting the printer.  I have no idea where to start.  Can anyone help out there? Good day to you!

[HelenaLeeStudio]

Hi, I have a Pixma MG6450 and have recently bought a Pixma Pro-100.  I joined this forum as I was getting dark muddy prints from the Pro-100.  I am printing the same image from both printers and after following all of the great suggestions below, I'm glad to say the colours are now just about equal, but the Pixma Pro-100 lacks the definition that the MG6450 has. 

Admittedly I'm using an unconventional paper, a 225gsm recycled card.  Do you think this is the problem or is it something I am still doing wrong in the printer set-up?  I have a Mac, so some of the settings that you suggest are not coming up (like to turn the Color matching off).

Thank you in advance!

[ebiggs1]

Yes it could be.

You must use the correct ICC profile for each paper.  The Pro-100 requires this for best results.  Also using Canon brand inks is a must.  The better a printer is, the more sensitive it is to its settings.  I also prefer USB over wireless.

[HelenaLeeStudio]

Thanks for your quick reply!  

Do I need to install a specific driver to match my paper?  I use Canon inks all the way.  For the MG6450, it seems happy to accept it as plain paper.

Also, I'd been setting the printer profile in the Print dialog box as 'Adobe RGB'.  Should I be changing the ICC profile here or when I choose my paper type in print settings?

 

[ebiggs1]

The Printer Profile and the ICC Profile are two different settings.  Is there a ICC for the paper you are using?  Some paper companies don't issue them so you would have to make your own.

AdobeRGB is the color space.  It is the setting I use.  It is a wide gamut color space and is wider than the printer can produce but is more vibrant in the color space it can.

[HelenaLeeStudio]

Unfortunately there is no ICC for the paper as it is recycled card stock.  How do I make my own profile?

I seem to be getting there by choosing the printer profile as 'Canon IJ Color Printer Profile 2005' and choosing 'Inkjet Hagaki' paper.  Compared to the MG6450, there still doesn't seem to be as much depth to the photos, but at least the colours are not as dark and muddy.

[ebiggs1]

Making your own profile does require you to have some special equipment.  Finding one that works will be easier.

You might try Red River paper company to see if they have a suitable paper.  They have the correct profiles for all their papers as do other high quality paper companies.

I don't use a Mac so the instructions I gave you may not be exactly as I have shown.