Just purchased a Canon IPF 5100 , I already own a Pictography 4500 and a HP Z3100 wide format. The Fuji is excellent and to be honest so is the HP but I feel let down by the Canon. it just doesn’t have the right stuff or I am not setting it up right . I am printing out of Adobe CS4 ,and LightRoom . I have used the Spider to calibrate all and create a profile for printing ad the colors are always off just a little , I was told that the Canon was just what I wanted but now I am starting to think I went the wrong way can any one give me some idea of what I might be doing wrong , I have even contacted Canon and they want me to send them prints and files so they can compare .
As has been said, use of the PS plug in can help speed up successful use of these printers. This is my first large format printer, a 6100, and I took the precaution of ordering from a local supplier who promised, and delivered on the promise,
support.
This support extends to profiles created on any media purchased through them and emailed to me if not already available. Business hours phone support. Install and set up. All included in the inital cost which was very competative compared to others in the UK. Canon reps also phoned me on four occasions to give advise and monitor my progress!
I think your first problem was a lack of knowledge about the software solutions available with these Canon printers. This is understandable and you are not the first to post here unaware of the plug in. This is where the user manuals and printed materials that come with the printer are lacking. It just wobbles on about the standard route to printing, probably because not everyone has PS. Why Canon does not have a seperate booklet on the plug in and the use of the other software solutions that DO come on the discs with these machines escapes me.
I was aware of the plug in from a review years ago on the PRO 9500 series. It is one of the reasons for buying the printer. I did question at the time WHY manufacturers can't include a tutorial DVD with their products for slow people like me, ha ha.
I believe the tutorials that some software like PS plug in manufacturers have on their websites are excellent and the way to go for the rest of the photo industry. Where this would leave forums like this I don't know, maybe on a higher plain.
I use mainly non Canon papers as they are more readily available. The onsite profiles work well if you have no access to dedicated profiles at present, do adjust for media types. The Hahnemuhle site has the necessary info on it's papers as an example.
I run Leopard, PS3, Mac Pro Intel duel core and Eizo calibrated monitor using Eizo software and x-rite.
You should always check that supplied drivers are
up to date after opening the box BEFORE install. This can solve a lot of disappointments.
I had the printer up, calibrated, drivers updated and installed ready for the supplier to run a few test prints when he arrived allowing time for me to be shown a few hints on using the machine.
Everything works.
You have a good product.