Support for Fine Art Smooth vs Fine Art Rough, re: PIXMA PRO-200

[HankJ]

I am trying to understand why Canon natively supports their Fine Art Rough paper, on the Pro-200 printer (am1x media file and icc profile), but not the Fine Art Smooth paper (no am1x or icc). Not sure what difference, between these papers, Canon apparently considers significant enough to support one but not the other. They are virtually identical in all regards except weight/thickness and surface finish.

Supposedly, Hahnemuhle produces a paper, so similar to FA-SM2, that many users find the OEM files for this paper to work exceptionally well for the Canon paper. I can’t help but wonder why Canon does not natively support this paper on the Pro-200. Especially considering that it is supported on the Pro-310. (I understand the difference between dye ink and pigment. However, I don’t believe that explains why the rough paper is supported, but not the smooth.)

Anyway, if anyone has thought about this, please let me know. My curiosity is killing me. Thanks.

[SignifDigits]

Since it's been two days since you posted and nobody has replied I'd say it's a safe bet we really have no collective clue as to why Canon would not include all of their own papers.  My guess is that one of the other icc profiles might have been considered "close enough" (say their lustre) that it was omitted, but that's just speculation.

That said if you successfully print using another paper setting PLEASE let us know and post here and mark your post as a "Solution" so that others here and on the internet can benefit.

[HankJ]

Thanks for your reply. I have not yet purchased any Fine Art Smooth paper, since I wasn’t sure which am1x file and icc profile might potentially work. I have now discovered that the Hahnemuhle paper, in question, is their Photo Rag Ultra Smooth. Once I finally get some of the FA-SM2 paper, and download the Hahnemuhle files, I will run some test prints. Hopefully, I will have good news to share. Until then, thanks again,

[HankJ · Accepted solution]

“That said if you successfully print using another paper setting PLEASE let us know and post here and mark your post as a "Solution" so that others here and on the internet can benefit.”

The Hahnemuhle files do seem to work quite well for the Canon paper. I printed both color and black & white photos. I think that someone who likes this paper, will be very happy with the results using Hahnemuhle’s am1x media file and icc profile. The files you want are for Photo Rag Ultra Smooth.

Now for the bad news. I don’t actually like this paper. Specifically, the very off-white tone. The paper is so off-white that it imparts too much of its own flavor to the print. Especially black and white, particularly in areas of varying levels of gray. Guess I should have known… the CIE whiteness rating is 85. The papers that I tend to favor are all in the 94-100 range.

Of course, this is all personal taste. As I said, someone who likes this paper should be quite satisfied with the results. So there you have it. A “solution” for some. A realization for me. C’est la vie. 😊