Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4000 Printer Review: A Deep Dive into Innovation

After years of reliable service, my trusted large format printer finally reached the end of its lifespan. Faced with the prospect of replacing it, I initially hesitated to stay with Canon, considering other brands for my large format printing needs. However, upon discovering Canon’s newly announced imagePROGRAF PRO series, my interest was piqued. This Printer Rev line promised significant advancements, leading me to explore the offerings in detail. What I found was compelling enough to not only remain with Canon but to upgrade to the impressive imagePROGRAF PRO-4000.

My initial plan was to replace my previous 24-inch model with the PRO-2000, the natural successor in that size range. However, the PRO series boasts a significantly taller design despite being narrower. This presented an unexpected challenge: the PRO-2000 simply couldn’t navigate the staircase to my third-floor studio. The only alternative was a costly crane lift, estimated at $1,500 for installation and another $1,500 for removal – a $3,000 premium that seemed excessive, especially considering future potential replacements or relocations.

Faced with this additional expense, I reconsidered my options. Investing that $3,000 instead towards a larger and more capable printer seemed like a wiser choice. This led me to the imagePROGRAF PRO-4000, the 44-inch wide powerhouse and bigger sibling to the PRO-2000. Relocating my large format printing setup to the second floor to accommodate its size became a worthwhile compromise. And when I say “big brother,” I truly mean it – the PRO-4000 is a substantial machine, as you can see in this photo of me beside it post-installation:

Martin Bailey with the Canon PRO-4000 44″ Printer

Before committing fully, I conducted thorough testing at the Canon S Tower in Tokyo. There, I produced a series of large prints on various Breathing Color media types using the PRO-2000. While my tests were on the 24-inch model due to logistical reasons at the time, the core printing technology of the PRO-2000 and PRO-4000 is virtually identical, differing primarily in media width capacity. Therefore, this review of the PRO-4000 is equally relevant for those considering the PRO-2000. The print results were impressive and solidified my decision.

My PRO-4000 arrived on August 9th and required a team of four to maneuver it up to the second floor and onto its stand. The subsequent five days were dedicated to setup, ICC profile creation, and familiarizing myself with this new flagship large format printer from Canon. This review will delve into the key enhancements and my experiences with the PRO-4000, highlighting why it represents a significant printer rev in the professional printing landscape.

Unpacking the Innovations: What’s New in the PRO-4000?

Canon has introduced a suite of upgrades with the PRO-4000, marking a true printer rev from its predecessors. Let’s explore the key innovations that set this printer apart.

LUCIA PRO Ink: Refined Color and Performance

A cornerstone of this printer rev is the new LUCIA PRO ink system. Canon has refined its pigment ink technology, moving from 12 inks down to 11, but incorporating a dedicated Chroma Optimizer.

Canon PRO-4000 6 of the 12 Inks

According to Canon’s official documentation, “LUCIA PRO ink formulation includes micro encapsulated colorants that enable smooth gradients, an expanded color gamut, and deeper color expression.” While I concur with the improvements in gradient smoothness and color depth, I’m less convinced about a universally expanded color gamut. In specific scenarios, particularly with matte media, I’ve observed a slight contraction in gamut, a point I’ll elaborate on later.

The Chroma Optimizer is a crucial addition for glossy and semi-gloss media. This clear coat is applied during printing, enhancing color vibrancy and enriching shadow details in gloss prints. Furthermore, the new ink set and Chroma Optimizer are engineered to improve scratch resistance and minimize graininess, contributing to the longevity and visual appeal of prints.

Another welcome improvement is the elimination of the black line artifact that plagued the right underside of prints from my older iPF6350. This persistent issue, unresolved in the iPF6450, has finally been addressed in this printer rev, a significant relief for detail-oriented users.

Single Print Head Efficiency and Speed

Unlike its predecessors with dual print heads, the PRO series adopts a single, high-precision 1.28” wide print head. This print head, boasting 18,432 nozzles and advanced anti-clogging technology, is a key element of this printer rev. While the replacement cost is around $500, slightly higher than the $300 per head for the older dual-head system, the single-head design offers a potential $100 saving assuming both old heads were replaced simultaneously. The streamlined single-head design also contributes to the printer’s narrower footprint, a valuable space-saving feature.

Canon PF-10 Print Head for the PRO-4000

Beyond cost efficiency, the single print head architecture significantly boosts printing speed. An 18 x 24 inch print, which took approximately 9 minutes on my previous printer, now completes in a mere 3 minutes and 40 seconds on the PRO-4000 – a remarkable speed improvement enabled by this printer rev.

Front-Loading Media Mechanism: User-Centric Design

The media loading process has been completely redesigned in this printer rev, prioritizing user convenience. Roll media is now loaded from the front of the printer, accessed by opening the Top Cover and Output Guide.

PRO-4000 with Top Cover and Output Guide Open

After placing the media roll onto its holder, rotating the holder guides the media into the printer until an audible beep confirms successful loading. Closing the covers and pressing a button on the LCD display initiates paper feeding. This front-loading system minimizes paper handling and introduces a beneficial feature: the paper is predominantly upside down before printing.

This inverted paper path reduces the likelihood of dust settling on the printable surface. Existing dust particles are also more prone to falling off before printing commences. Dust contamination during printing can lead to white specks as dust dislodges during drying, necessitating reprints for quality-conscious users. This thoughtful media handling is a key aspect of this printer rev.

Streamlined Media Information Updates

A particularly user-friendly feature, and a significant printer rev in workflow efficiency, is the ability to update Media Information across multiple computers. Previously, adding custom media types, like specific Breathing Color papers, required manual reconfiguration on each connected computer using the Media Configuration Tool.

Now, media information updates are streamlined. Accessing Printer Utilities within the printer drivers and selecting “Media Information” allows for a simple update process. The system communicates with the printer, compares media information, and automatically updates the drivers with any discrepancies. This seamless synchronization is a highly appreciated time-saver.

Enhanced Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet

The PRO series expands connectivity options with integrated Wi-Fi support, alongside Gigabit Ethernet for wired networking. USB connectivity remains an option as well. Direct PDF and JPEG printing from USB memory sticks is also a new capability.

While Wi-Fi is convenient, I found it somewhat slow for large print jobs. Switching to a 10-meter USB cable significantly improved printing speeds for everyday use from my dining table. For studio-based workflows, a 20-meter Ethernet cable directly connecting to my router on the third floor provides a robust and fast network connection. Although USB 2.0 High Speed proves surprisingly efficient, having versatile connectivity options is a valuable aspect of this printer rev.

Versatile Ink Tank System: Mix and Match for Efficiency

The introduction of three ink tank sizes – 160ml, 330ml, and 700ml – represents another intelligent printer rev focused on cost-effectiveness and customization. My previous printer used 130ml tanks, making even the smallest new option an upgrade. The ability to mix and match tank sizes allows users to tailor ink capacity to their specific printing needs and ink consumption patterns.

The PRO-4000 ships with 190ml starter ink cartridges. For comparison, I photographed a 190ml starter cartridge alongside a 700ml cartridge:

Canon PRO-4000 190ml starter ink and 700ml ink cartridge

I opted for 700ml tanks for Matte Black, Photo Black, and Photo Gray inks, as these are consumed more rapidly in my predominantly black and white printing workflow. The 330ml cartridges are physically identical in size to the 190ml starter cartridges, differentiated only by their internal ink capacity and a less indented design.

The flexibility to select and combine ink tank sizes is a significant advantage, allowing for optimized ink management and reduced waste, a practical printer rev for professional users.

On-the-Fly Ink Replacement and Sub-Ink Tanks

Another user-centric printer rev is the Sub-Ink Tank System. This innovative design ensures that all available ink in a cartridge is utilized before replacement is necessary, minimizing ink waste. Furthermore, empty ink tanks can now be replaced “on the fly” during printing without interrupting the print job. While I haven’t personally tested this hot-swap capability yet, the documentation confirms this feature, promising increased printing uptime and efficiency.

Multipositional Basket: Tailored Print Handling

The PRO-4000 features a redesigned multipositional basket, offering greater versatility in print handling compared to the basic catch basket of my previous printer.

PRO-4000 Slope Configured Basket

While the PRO-4000 can still be configured with a standard catch basket, it also offers a flatbed stacking option and, my preferred configuration, a slope configuration. The slope design gently guides prints away from the printer, facilitating easy retrieval. Although I still prefer to manually catch prints as they are auto-cut to prevent any potential scuffing, the improved basket design offers enhanced print handling options, a subtle yet valuable printer rev.

The Red “L” Line: A Mark of Professional Excellence

A purely aesthetic but symbolically significant addition is the red line, reminiscent of Canon’s professional “L” series lenses. This red accent visually signifies Canon’s commitment to the highest standards of engineering and performance in this printer rev line, aligning it with their top-tier professional photography equipment.

Cross-Platform Accounting Manager Software

A long-standing frustration with my previous printer was the Windows-only availability of the Accounting Manager software. This limitation has been lifted in this printer rev; the Accounting Manager is now also available for macOS. This software is invaluable for tracking ink and paper consumption for each print. By inputting media and ink costs, the software calculates the precise cost of each print, essential for accurate pricing and cost management. Having native macOS support streamlines my workflow, eliminating the need for cumbersome Windows emulation, a welcome printer rev in usability.

Refined Print Studio Pro Software (with Border Settings!)

Canon’s Print Studio Pro software has also seen updates. Initially, I mistakenly believed it lacked precise border setting options, a feature crucial for my preferred printing workflow involving specific image offsets. However, after revisiting the software based on user feedback, I discovered that accurate border settings are indeed available. My initial oversight aside, the inclusion of precise border control in Print Studio Pro ensures compatibility with demanding printing requirements.

For comprehensive details on all new features, Canon’s official website provides extensive information: Canon Web site. The features discussed above are applicable to both the PRO-4000 and PRO-2000 models. The PRO-4000S and PRO-6000S, 8-color variants, are designed for signage and production rather than fine art photography printing.

Print Quality Assessment: Does the PRO-4000 Deliver?

The ultimate measure of any printer rev is print quality. Having conducted extensive test prints, let’s examine the PRO-4000’s output. While I’ve acquired 44-inch rolls from Breathing Color, my initial tests were performed using 24-inch media.

Fox on Breathing Color Pura Bagasse Textured Matte Media

Matte media often presents greater printing challenges than gloss surfaces. Therefore, I began my evaluation with my preferred matte stock, Breathing Color’s Pura Bagasse, in both Smooth and Textured finishes. Printing a photograph of a Northern Red Fox on Pura Bagasse Textured yielded impressive results. The color depth and image clarity were exceptional, particularly in the fox’s eyes, demonstrating enhanced detail rendition.

Fox Eye Closeup – Pura Bagasse Textured

This initial print, and subsequent matte prints, were highly satisfying. However, one particular print scenario revealed a nuanced issue. When printing a photograph of poppies, intentionally chosen for its out-of-gamut colors to test media gamut width (as demonstrated in my episode 484 review of Breathing Color’s Pura Bagasse), the PRO-4000 exhibited a slight weakness compared to my older iPF6350.

iPF6350 (left) and PRO-4000 (right) Comparison

While both printers struggled with the out-of-gamut yellows, the PRO-4000 print exhibited slightly harsher transitions and a less pleasing rendering of the out-of-gamut areas. This suggests a subtle difference in out-of-gamut color handling compared to the iPF6350 in this specific, extreme scenario.

[UPDATE: This issue appears to be a software-related anomaly with a workaround detailed in Episode 554.

UPDATE#2: Embedding custom ICC profiles within custom media types provides a stable solution, as explained in Episode 573. ]

Despite this specific out-of-gamut behavior, the PRO-4000 excels in most other aspects of print quality. Prints on Pura Bagasse Smooth matte media, such as this sunrise eagle image, demonstrated exceptional tonal transitions and deep blacks, often challenging for matte papers.

Eagle at Sunrise on Pura Bagasse Smooth

The deep blacks are also evident in this print of a Himba girl on Pura Bagasse Smooth (left) and Vibrance Metallic (right).

Himba Girl on Pura Bagasse Smooth (left) and Vibrance Metallic (right)

Prints on Breathing Color Vibrance Metallic media, utilizing the Chroma Optimizer, are truly exceptional. The gloss prints from the PRO-4000 emulate the smoothness and depth of traditional darkroom prints, defying the typical inkjet aesthetic.

Himba Girl Print Close-up

The depth of black on gloss media is particularly striking, as seen in this print of roses against a black background.

Printing Roses on Vibrance Metallic

Final Verdict: A Worthy Professional Printer Rev

In conclusion, the imagePROGRAF PRO-4000 represents a compelling printer rev from Canon. While minor adjustments to soft proofing for out-of-gamut images may be necessary, the printer delivers exceptional print quality across a range of media types. The 44-inch width capability expands my capacity for producing large format prints in-house, opening new creative and business opportunities. The PRO-4000 empowers me to fulfill larger print orders directly, eliminating reliance on third-party printing services for sizes exceeding 24 x 36 inches. The ability to print up to 44 x 66 inches and even wider for panoramas is a significant advantage for my photography and clientele.

Disclaimer: This review is independent and unbiased. I purchased the printer at full price and received no financial or technical assistance from Canon beyond publicly available product documentation and my firsthand user experience.

Support the Podcast: If you find this review helpful and are considering purchasing a PRO-4000 or PRO-2000 from B&H Photo, please use our affiliate link mbp.ac/pro4000 to support the podcast and blog.