Canon U.S.A.’s Award-winning imagePrograf Line Evolves With The Introduction Of The iPF6100 And iPF5100 12-Color Large Format Printers

Evolving its line of award-winning large format printers for the graphic arts, professional photography and fine art markets, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of office imaging systems, ink-jet technology and digital photography equipment, today unveiled two new imagePROGRAF 12-color pigment ink large format printers, the imagePROGRAF iPF6100 and imagePROGRAF iPF5100.


Capable of 24-inch wide and 17-inch wide prints respectively, the imagePROGRAF iPF6100 and iPF5100 printers represent the next generation of Canon large format technology. Each equipped with a 12-color pigment inkset, using new formulations and better ink drop control for improved dot patterns and reduced dot graininess. The new formulations also reduce bronzing and provide better ink adhesion for improved scratch resistance.

Both new imagePROGRAF models support next generation “Kyuanos” color management technology for Windows, to deliver output color suitable for different viewing conditions such as fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, or sunlight. Each model also includes easy-to-use color calibration to help ensure output color consistency and accuracy. The combination of Kyuanos and Canon’s color calibration provides users with an easy solution not only to achieve consistent and accurate color output from print to print, and machine to machine, but also to provide suitable output color for different lighting conditions.

“These latest imagePROGRAF models continue Canon’s tradition of stunning colors, detailed prints, and archival image quality at astounding print speeds to provide our loyal Canon users with the best tools for their artistic craft whether it be photography, digital fine art, or graphic design,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A.

Based on customer feedback Canon has improved printer documentation with extensive search capabilities and ample online web links throughout the user manual, printer driver and software for enhanced user support. The searchable PDF manual will also be available online as well. The iPF6100 also includes a large LCD panel to clearly display instructions and illustrations, and both models come equipped with a standard roll feed unit.

These new additions to Canon’s large format portfolio provide one of the industry’s largest color gamuts with Canon’s new 12-color inkset featuring LUCIA pigmented inks with Red, Blue, Green, Cyan, Photo Cyan, Magenta, Photo Magenta, Yellow, and reformulated Black, Matte Black, Gray and Photo Gray. The new ink formulation for Black, Matte Black, Gray and Photo Gray reduces bronzing, while providing stronger ink adhesion to the print media, resulting in better scratch resistance without any additional protection. The brand’s proprietary L-COA controller processes high resolution files with unprecedented speed and ultimate quality, L-COA’s new intelligent screen dot pattern and precise ink drop control eliminate visible dot graininess to an even higher level than their predecessor’s.

Both imagePROGRAF models use Canon’s dual print head design incorporating a total of 30,720 ink nozzles, (2,560 nozzles per color) to quickly and accurately lay ink down with a maximum resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi, and a uniform four picoliter droplet size for smoother appearance. Each printer features automatic clogged nozzle detection to help reduce wear-and-tear on the print heads, and ensure excellent print quality throughout their long life.

Both the iPF6100 and iPF5100 models feature the new imagePROGRAF Printer Driver 2007 which includes a number of user-friendly features and is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The Digital Photo Front-Access software lets users view and arrange multiple images from a digital camera and import them into multiple image editing software applications such as PosterArtist or Adobe Photoshop. The imagePROGRAF Printer Driver 2007 even includes a new Portrait Mode setting to provide the user with an easy and automatic adjustment with the contrast setting to provide a professional studio effect.

Along with the two new imagePROGRAF printers, Canon is also introducing new enhanced poster creation software, PosterArtist 2007. The new optional PosterArtist 2007 will be available for purchase and includes an Auto Design feature, where users simply designate images to be incorporated into a poster, and the PosterArtist automatically incorporates the images to create professional-looking posters for immediate use. The Auto Design feature significantly cuts down on the time it takes to go from design to output. Also PosterArtist 2007 allows users to take advantage of Kyuanos technology for advanced color management of their poster output from Canon 12-color models, to be viewed favorably under various light sources. A template filtering feature allows users to source and apply a pre-loaded template quickly and easily from a library of hundreds of templates.

With Canon’s portfolio of fine art and photographic media, the iPF6100 and iPF5100 printers will be key players in the realm of large format photographic printing for professional photographers and digital artists providing a total Canon-to-Canon capture to output solution.

The imagePROGRAF iPF6100 printer will be available through authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers in June 2007 with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3,495. The imagePROGRAF iPF5100 will be available in the third quarter of 2007 through authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers. PosterArtist 2007 will be available through authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers in July 2007 with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $799.