Canon Pro-100 Printing Too Dark

[NattyM]

Hello! So, I'm super new to printing on InkJet (especially with Dye Ink). I'm new to dye ink printers and have had quite a hard time adjusting. I purchased my Canon about a year ago and the first prints were TERRIBLE. After literally months of troubleshooting to no end, I realized my biggest problem was the paper I was using was not suitable for this kind of printer (I was using Cougar Super Smooth Cardstock). My issue was the paper I use has to be both matte and thick (and preferably not SO expensive) so after googling a LOT, watching a lot of JToolman's videos, and reading from these forums, I ended up at Red River and purchased a couple of their sample packs. First print was an ENORMOUS, DRASTIC improvement and I felt like I was almost there BUT the browns and reds are still off.

Like I said, I have a Canon Pro-100 and I am using OEM carts. The nozzle check came out perfect. I downloaded a standard reference image and it was nearly perfect but, again, reds and browns are still dark. I am printing on Red River Polar Matte Magna 88lb and Aurora White Art Rag (and I have also tried on the Polar Matte 60lb double sided paper to see if lighter paper made a difference. It did not). I'm using the corresponding Printing Profiles, color matching is off, and I put in the settings exactly like Red River recommended. I took a few pictures of everything because showing is always better than telling. Any ideas? I would hate to adjust the images every single time but if that's what I have to do, I will.

 

[BruceW77]

Hi Natty,
I am no expert, but it looks like you are doing all the right things. I don't have the exact same reference file as yours, mine is actually the top left segment of yours, with the 4 different skin tones.
They do look a bit off, but I wonder if that is just all the variable that could affect your photo, such as colour balance.
I think it best to wait until one of the experts looks at your post, but in the meantime you may want to clarify some points in advance:
i. Have you profiled your monitor?
ii. What is the difference between the 2 files; IMG_4793 and Comp?
Bruce

 

[NattyM]

The photos could totally be off (I took them at night under a desk lamp, not in natural light). I think this reference file compiles a bunch of them into one.

I use a Microsoft Surface Book and was told by the customer service rep that they come pretty well calibrated so I never really messed around with the display settings. I am hoping to upgrade to a Surface Studio soon but I'm still saving up for it. I use the Surface Book on the "suggested" setting (there's 5 brightness settings and it's the middle option so not too bright and not too dark). When deciding on it, I remember reading that the color temp runs somewhere around 6500-7000K.

IMG_4793 is a picture of the printout and Comp is a screenshot of what the image I am trying to print is supposed to look like (I know I will never get an exact reproduction but I am hoping to get close enough).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Natty

 

[BruceW77]

The first step is really to profile the monitor.
The next step would be to compare the reference file print to the monitor. But you don't know if the monitor is correct. I would be inclined to say it is not.
If you have any Glossy (or even semi-gloss) Canon paper, it may be worth doing a test print of your reference file to see if that looks better.
Otherwise, best wait until some experts have commented.
Bruce

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Your headline says - Prints too dark - you may just google for that and would find several references like these all referring to monitor settings

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/why-are-my-prints-too-dark/
https://imagescience.com.au/knowledge/why-your-prints-are-too-dark
https://www.shutterbug.com/content/are-your-prints-too-dark-cause-and-cure

and more with the same advice changing/reducing you brightness settings

You rather may follow a reverse approach adjusting your monitor such that it matches reference prints as far as possible, or you go for calibrating your monitor with one of the tools available on the market - ColorMunki etc (reference print with the profile option on on Canon paper , or another (glossy) paper you have an icm-profile for )

 

[The Hat]

@NattyM, it sounds to me like you have fallen in the deep end and can’t cope with the results your getting even dough you can swim.

There is an old saying about going someplace, but that all depends on where your starting from, so I reckon you should dump all your setting and start out again.

COMMONLY USED SETTINGS
Set that to Standard...

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Set that to None, Un check all boxes...

MEDIA TYPE
Set that to Plain paper...

PRINT QUALITY
set to High...

PRINTER SETUP
Use the standard Canon Driver, not the XPS Driver..

COLOUR MANAGEMENT
Set to Printer Manages Colours...
The Printer Profile should go unavailable here, so ignore...

NORMAL PRINTING
set to Perceptual

COLOUR ADJUSTMENT / MATCHING
Set that to Driver Matching...

Now these setting will start you off and should give you a reasonable quality print, and so from there you can begin to alter some of the setting and discover what each of them will and can do for you.

Feck all the experts’ advice for now, because your no expert, so following their sound advice will get you nowhere until you can understand the concept of colour management yourself, they have been years learning, so don’t you expect to pick it up instantly, it can’t be done, good luck with your journey...

 

[stratman]

MEDIA TYPE
Set that to Plain paper...

Why Plain Paper if using photo papers?

COLOUR ADJUSTMENT / MATCHING
Set that to Driver Marching... Edit, Ops..

Driver Matching

Feck all the experts’ advice for now

Hmm, aren't you one of the "experts"? I feel like Norman.

(Just kidding, Natty)

 

[The Hat]

Hmm, aren't you one of the "experts"? I feel like Norman.

Nope, I don’t do all the fancy things that the experts do and simply let the printer handle everything, then I can’t argue with myself, just blame the stupid thing on the desk...

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

you may use this test image, Marrutt offers you a free hardcopy to compare with your own prints, so you don't need to compare it with the image on the monitor

https://www.marrutt.com/calibration-image-jpg

 

[NattyM]

I'm so sorry! I never got an email letting me know that you guys commented back. I actually cam here to bump up my question haha Thank you all for your comments!

@NattyM, it sounds to me like you have fallen in the deep end and can’t cope with the results your getting even dough you can swim.

There is an old saying about going someplace, but that all depends on where your starting from, so I reckon you should dump all your setting and start out again.

I think I get what you are saying. Set kind of a baseline and figure out what works for me instead of what has worked for the pros? I kinda don't like that you're making me actually have to *learn* something instead of just giving me all the answers! No, just kidding, thank you for that. Totally makes sense! It's inconvenient and slow, but it totally makes sense!