Canon started off the week by introducing a rare printer aimed squarely at pro photographers. The Pixma Pro-1 takes its looks from the DSLRs it’s intended to work with, like the EOS-1D X, and focuses on producing “gallery-quality” prints both for pros and for serious hobbyists. It carries 12 inks and can put out large A3+ sized images with a wider color range, at 16 bits per color channel, that more accurately reflects the lighting and scene from the DSLR itself.
The Pro-1 has a newer image detection system that more precisely tracks what inks are needed. A trio of color modes also help fine-tune the results, including an ICC Profiles mode to line up with specific paper types as well as modes that either have a deliberately neutral, linear mode or which emphasize blues and green to reportedly match what people saw. It can go so far as to adjust for the expected lighting a print will see, such as an art gallery.
Speed is also a focus: a full-quality, 1,200DPI print can finish in two minutes and 55 seconds, or less than half of the seven minutes and 55 seconds of the second-generation Pro 9500. Its tank is 2.5 times larger than the next closet option to help accommodate the higher output.
Canon has basic Ethernet printer sharing, but it pairs with an Easy-PhotoPrint Pro plugin that gives Photoshop and Canon’s own software the right color matches for ICC papers. The printer takes 20 sheets of photo-grade paper in a rear tray and has a manual tray at the front that can take both 14-inch wide photo paper and thicker stock.
Pricing is still an unknown for the US, although the Pro-1 should ship sometime in early November.
