This tip is the second in a 6-part series on Canon's Large Format Printers:

1. Standard Set-Up for imagePROGRAF Printers (click to read)
2. Canon Original Media Choices & Loading Paper for the imagePROGRAF 5100, 6100, 6200, 8100 and 9100 Printers
3. Custom Profiles for Canon Printers (click to read)
   
4. Basic Color Management (click to read)
   

I want to first get into printing on all sorts of media and how the Canon printing software works. There are two things that you must pair together when printing on different types of media. That is a Custom Profile and a Media Type. These go hand in hand for a correctly color managed print. In the Canon printing plug-in, you want to make sure you have these matched up correctly. You can tell which Media Type to select because it will usually be abbreviated in the actual profile name.

The Canon profiles on our Digital Learning Center (CDLC), as well as many 3rd party profiles follow this pattern. The first part is the printer model number and I am using iPF5100 for this example. Next is the abbreviated paper name. We are using Canon Polished Rag. Next is the Media type. The Media Type for Polished Rag is Heavyweight Semi-Gloss Photo version 2. We finish the profile off with the viewing light source D50 (which is the standard because it is Daylight balanced). The extension is .icc for Macintosh and .icm for Windows. The more you use profiles, the easier it gets to be familiar with the abbreviations. Here’s a couple of general helpful paper abbreviations: HW is always Heavyweight. FA is always Fine Art and S1-10 will be the Special 1-10 (which is only used in experimentation.)

Of course, you can always create your own custom profiles. But, there are certain places to where you can find them already created. Most 3rd party companies will or should provide a custom profile with the paper and if they don’t there are companies that will generate profiles for any media, but that could get pricy. Luckily, if you print on Canon media, we provide a number of custom profiles on the CDLC. You can also find some great printer tutorials and information there.

Canon alone offers more than 40 types of media ranging from photographic: with glossy, semi gloss, and matte surfaces. Also, fine art: with rags, textured, watercolor, and canvas. We also offer a range of proofing papers as well as sign and banner material. Certainly, you want to judge what kind of images you will be printing to base your media decision. Because you wouldn’t necessarily print a commercial fashion shot on watercolor and a fine art floral image on a high gloss. Take into consideration the weight and feel of the paper, the whiteness or warmth, and the texture to make an educated artistic decision. Speaking of artistic, there are also options out there to experiment with like metal, hand-made papers, silk, and wood. You can print these on your Canon printers but you want to make sure you do a fair amount of research of this process before attempting to print on an unfamiliar material.

Loading Sheets in the Cassette (iPF5100 only):

1. Push in the Output Tray Extension.

Remove the cassette.


2. Grasp the handle on the front of the cassette and pull it forward a little. Holding the cassette on both sides with both hands, remove the cassette.


3. Load the stack printing-side-down and aligned lengthwise against the far right corner of the cassette.


• Plain Paper


• A4, Letter / 250 sheets


• 13x22 in A3 / 100 sheets


• 17x22 in A2 / 50 sheets



Load paper print-side-down (for example, glossy paper should be glossy-side-down) against the far right corner of the cassette. Then squeeze the blue Width and Length Guides, gently sliding them into position against the edge of the paper stack.
• Coated Paper


• A4, Letter / 200 sheets


• 13x22 in A3 / 100 sheets


• 17x22 in A2 / 50 sheets


• Photo Paper Plus


• A4, Letter / 20 sheets


• 13x22 in A3 / 20 sheets


• Premium Matte Paper


• A4, Letter / 30 sheets


• 13x22 in A3 / 20 sheets



Replace the loaded cassette firmly into the printer.


• Glossy Paper


• A4, Letter / 100 sheets


• 13x22 in A3 / 50 sheets


4. Squeeze the Guide Lever of the Width Guide and slide it to the right until it touches the edge of the paper lightly. Do not set the Width Gide and Length Guide away from the paper or too tight against it. This may cause feeding problems.


5. Similarly, squeeze the Guide Lever of the Length Guide and slide it back until it touches the edge of the paper lightly.


6. Holding the cassette in the middle on both sides with both hands, insert it firmly into the printer.


7. Pull out the Output Tray Extension.

Loading Roll Paper on the iPF5100, 6100 and 6200

1. Open the roll paper media cover


2. If your roll paper has a 3-inch core, insert the blue 3-inch core attachment on the roll holder.

You may need to use the blue 3-inch core attacement (seen above) when using roll paper with a three-inch core.


3. Insert the roll onto the roll holder with the paper facing out.


4. Inside the printer, where the roll paper is placed, there is a black side and a grey side. Make sure the black side of the roll holder matches the black side of the printer. Same goes with the gray side of the roll holder to the gray side of the printer.


5. Insert the edge of the roll paper holder into the paper feed slots.


6. Feed the paper manually until you hear and feel the printer advancing the paper.


7. The printer will now ask you the Roll Media Type of the paper you loaded. Select the correct Media Type.


8. Close the roll paper unit cover.

Loading Roll Paper on the iPF8100 and 9100

1. Open the Top Cover and lift the Ejection Guide

You will need to lift the Ejection Guide before loading roll paper into the iPF8100 and 9100


2. With the edge of the roll paper facing forward, insert the Roll Holder shaft into the guide grooves of the Roll Holder Slot on both sides.


• Be careful not to drop a roll, and hurt yourself when loading.


• Be careful not to put your fingers between the guide grooves and the Roll Holder shaft when loading.


3. Pull out the roll paper evenly on both ends, insert the roll paper in the Paper Feed Slot, and advance the roll paper until the roll paper touches the Paper Retainer.


4. After the paper reaches the Paper Retainer, it is automatically advanced over the Platen.


• Be careful not to soil the printing surface of roll paper as you insert it in the slot. This may affect the printing quality.



Gently advance the roll paper upward, and into the Paper Retainer (illustrated guide seen here is found beneath the platen).
• If the paper is wrinkled or warped, straighten it out before loading it.


• When loading paper that curls easily, lift the Release Lever to manually pull out the roll paper over the Platen.


• Load the roll so that there is no gap between the right edge of the paper and the Roll Holder.


5. Lower the Ejection Guide.


6. While holding the edge of the roll paper, lift the Release Lever.



Make sure to align the right corner of the roll paper using the orange Paper Alignment Line.
7. Hold the roll edge as you gently pull it evenly to the position of the Ejection Guide using both hands. Align the right side of the roll paper with the Paper Alignment Line so that the paper side is parallel to the line and lower the Release Lever.


8. Close the Top Cover


9. After you load a roll, the printer automatically shows a menu for selection of the paper type on the Display Screen.

Loading Sheet Paper in the Top Paper Feed Slot on the iPF5100, 6100 and 6200

Open the Paper Tray Cover, then open the Tray Extension
1. You can load only one sheet in the Top Paper Feed Slot. Do not load more than one sheet at a time. This may cause paper jams.


2. Open the Paper Tray Cover, and then open the Tray Extension.


3. Slide the Width Guide to align it with the mark for the size of paper you will load.


4. Load the paper in the Top Paper Feed Slot with the printing side face-up. Insert the paper until its edge touches the far end of the tray lightly.

Squeeze and slide the Width Guide until it lines up with the appropriate mark for your sheet paper size (such as A3+ 13 x 19, as seen above)


5. Move the Width Guide to match the size of paper loaded. Set the Width Guide against the edge of the paper to prevent the paper from becoming crooked or wrinkled.


6. Press the OK button to start feeding the paper. After the paper is advanced and the printer goes online, printing starts automatically. If no print job was received beforehand, the printer enters Standby mode.