Mastering Print Settings & Plug-Ins

How to Get the Most from Canon’s Software Tools for its Professional Inkjet Photo Printers

Getting a print to match what you see on screen isn’t magic - it’s a process. And a big part of that process happens in the software.

Whether you’re using the PIXMA PRO-200S, imagePROGRAF PRO-310, or imagePROGRAF PRO-1100, Canon’s software ecosystem - including printer drivers and free plug-ins - is designed to give you precision control. From media settings and color profiles to border layout and soft proofing, these tools help translate your vision to the final print.

The trick is knowing what each setting does - and when to use it.

Key Settings to Know:

• Media Type: This tells the printer how much ink to lay down, how fast to print, and what color profile to use. Always match this to the paper you're using - even when using third-party papers.
• Print Quality: Fine detail settings apply more passes for finer tonal gradation and smoother transitions. Standard quality offers faster output with excellent results for most everyday prints.
• Color Matching: Choose “None” or “No Color Correction” when you're using ICC profiles and letting your editing software manage color.
• Black & White Photo Print: Optimized for monochrome output, this mode produces deep blacks and neutral grays, free from any color tint.
• Paper Size and Border Settings: Make sure you're selecting the right layout and margins, especially when printing borderless or preparing for framing.

Pro Tip: Save your most-used combinations as custom presets to speed up your workflow.

Why use PPL?

• Real-Time Soft Proofing: See how your print will look on a specific paper with a specific ICC profile - before you waste ink or media.
• Color Management: PPL makes it easy to assign and apply ICC profiles, whether you’re using Canon paper or third-party media.
• Layout Flexibility: Control margins, grid layouts, multi-image printouts, and gallery-style borders with precision.
• Pattern Printing: Test out variations in brightness, contrast, or color balance by printing a range of small swatches on a single sheet. This can be helpful for dialing in tricky images.
• HDR Print: For images with extreme contrast, this feature uses multiple tone maps to help preserve both shadows and highlights.
• Black Point Compensation: Helps preserve detail in dark areas when converting between color profiles with different black levels - so shadows don’t get crushed or lost.

To Print with Third-Party Media:

1. Download the ICC Profile from the paper manufacturer’s site.
2. Install the profile on your system.
3. In PPL or your printer driver, choose the correct media type (as recommended by the paper brand).
4. Apply the downloaded ICC profile in your software’s color management settings.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re using a third-party paper, it’s essential to choose the right Media Type setting in the Canon printer driver. This setting tells the printer how much ink to use, how fast to print, and what color settings to apply - based on the paper’s surface (like glossy, matte, or textured) and how it absorbs ink. Choosing the closest matching media type ensures better color accuracy, avoids over-inking or dull results, and helps you get the best print quality from any paper you use.