Canon imagePROGRAF 6300, 6350, 8300 large format printers

Our iPF8300 page
Canon US PR
Specifications
Our full Canon iPF6300 review
6300 Review at Onsight
Free (UK) test print from Sample Print
V1.0.8 Firmware update (US)

Latest Information

2011 February

• 17th Canon US announce higher speed versions of the 8300 and 6300
• The iPF6300S and iPF8300S
• Link to full press release

2010 November

• 7th We now have an iPF8300 at Northlight - Keith will be keeping an iPF8300 Diary, with links to related articles

August

• 9th The Canon USA site has updated firmware to V1.0.8
• The Canon Europe site is still showing firmware V1.0.5

July

• 26th Our Canon iPF6300 review
• 17th After a month of testing the 6300, I hope to have our full review published on the site in a week or so.
• The picture of me holding one of my prints (right) was taken for an upcoming magazine article, where I was interviewed about my thoughts on the printer.
• The review will be a long one, but the gist of it is that this is one of the best quality printers I've looked at yet. I've a few minor quibbles, but it's a well designed printer.
• One of the prints I worked on and created for a client, is now in the UK Royal Picture collection. It's a 23"x65" panoramic shot taken with a Seitz scanning 6x17 camera - I started with the 360MB RAW file...

June

• 17th We've now got an iPF6300 for testing
• 11th We've been contacted by Sample Print in the UK who are providing a free sample print from any one of a number of Canon large format printers from a wide range of test images and media choices.
• We hope to have an iPF6300 here to test before too long...

May

• 20th At a visit to the IPEX show I manage to get a brief look at an iPF8300
• 
• The large ink cartridges are positioned at the rear
• 
• 7th The 6300 appears in the UK (according to some adverts)

April

• 27th An Onsight there is a good review of using the new 6300. Well worth a read. Since Scott regularly supports a range of printers from different manufacturers, he is one of the few reviewers who's comparative comments I value. His summary:
• • "Canon’s new x300 printers aren’t just the same old printer with a new inkset. Everywhere you look, from the buttons on the front of the printer, the display, menus, print heads, chassis, driver options, plug-in options, and improved final print quality, you’ll find lots of refinements. Casual users may not see big differences in their prints but demanding printmakers with loupes, experienced eyes and difficult images to reproduce will appreciate a range of improvements. With these affordable and solid printers, Canon is going head-to-head with Epson for the best fine art printing technology on the market"
• 23rd There is a short, but detailed review of the 6300 [WP]
• The printer seems improved in a number of respects, with some of the more confusing elements of the iPF6100 menu system reorganised, and with welcome changes, such as being able to name custom paper types. Ink drydown time is reduced and the reviewers machine passed FOGRA 39 contract proof on its first attempt (I don't do proof work, but this is a good sign for print quality)
• The print plugin had a few colour management issues on the 6100, but it appears that it has been redesigned to be much more useful for high end printing.
• 8th - No UK announcement news yet.

March

• 9th At WPPI, Canon US show the iPF6300 et al.
• Meanwhile, in the UK, Canon still have the iPF6100 and 8100 on display at the Focus trade show - no news of an official UK announcement yet, but that does mean there are some very good deals available on the 6100/8100 at the moment in the UK.

February

• 23rd Canon US announces printers

January

• 10th It seems that the announcement and availability dates were -only- for Japan. How long it'll be until we hear from other parts of Canon is an open question at the moment.

iPF8300S and iPF6300S US Press release

CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES TWO NEW imagePROGRAF LARGE FORMAT PRINTERS

High-Image Quality and Fast Speeds are Ideal for Graphic Arts Professionals

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced two new large format printers - the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300S and 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6300S. These two 8- colour large format printers feature similar technology found in the award-winning 12- colour iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 printers, including Canon’s LUCIA EX ink set. These new additions to the imagePROGRAF lineup broaden Canon’s offering to the graphics arts, photo and production markets by setting a new standard for the category by providing an optimal balance of high productivity and exceptional print quality. The new imagePROGRAF models will be showcased at the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, February 21-23, 2011 in the Canon booth, number 401.

Outstanding Print Quality

With Canon LUCIA EX pigment ink, professionals can achieve high quality and performance in such printing applications as colour or monochrome photography, industrial design and high-quality poster production. The new 8- colour system, utilized by both models, covers a reproducible colour gamut which has been expanded approximately 20-percent beyond previous S-series models. With its new pigment materials and structure, Canon’s LUCIA EX ink set achieves greater shadow details, deeper black density and overall scratch resistance. This ink system works in conjunction with the high-density PF-05 print headfeaturing Canon’s FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology with 2,560 nozzles for each color: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, matte black, photo cyan, photo magenta and gray. An additional feature found in the new imagePROGRAF models is a built-in colour calibration function which compensates for colour variations caused by factors such as age and environmental affects, enabling consistent colour representation across multiple large-format printers or when printing multiple copies.

“At Canon, we not only see the importance of providing the tools necessary for capturing an outstanding image but also having a high-quality machine to print the output,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “The addition of these new imagePROGRAF models further solidifies our position to providing high-quality machines that are easy to use and available at an affordable price.”

Enhanced Productivity & Performance

Two important attributes users look for when making the decision to purchase a large format printer are high-quality output and overall speed. With new Fast and Economy print modes, speeds can be achieved up to twice as fast as current 8- colour models, helping to enhance overall productivity while also reducing ink consumption by approximately 50 percent.

The iPF8300S can produce a B0-sized (39.37” x 55.67”) output in approximately 80 seconds while the iPF6300S can deliver an A1-sized (23.39” x 33.11”) document in roughly 35 seconds.

The new S-series printers have doubled their hard drive capacity compared to earlier models now with 160 GB, making it possible to reprint the required number of copies at any time with or without a computer.

These easy-to-use imagePROGRAF large format printers have been designed with the workflow of professionals in mind. Raster image processors (RIPs) from a variety of developers are supported for print proofing, design, commercial photographic printing and other applications. In addition, new printers can be introduced without altering the existing workflows with familiar RIPS. Verified RIP developers include CGS, EFI, GMG, ONYX, SAi and Wasatch.

When working on a project in the photo lab, studio or agency it is important to have images printed as good if not better than when first captured. Helping to make this process a little easier is the inclusion of a print Plug-In for Adobe Photoshop providing further support for the proofing, photo and 64-bit printing environment. When edited in Photoshop, 16-bit Adobe RGB images can be processed directly to the machines preserving the images wide gamut and smooth gradation. There is also a print plug-in provided for Digital Photo Professional allowing for direct printing of high-quality RAW images helping to preserve overall image quality. Additional software included in the box is Canon’s Accounting Manager and PosterArtist Lite software.

The 44-inch Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300S will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $4,995 while the 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6300S will have an MSRP of $2,995.* Both models are expected to begin shipping in April 2011.

Specifications Canon iPF6300

Printer - Canon iPF6300

Printer Type	12 Colour, 24 inch width Printer
Number of Nozzles	Total: 30,720 All colours: 2,560 nozzles each ink
Nozzle Pitch	1,200 dpi - Non-firing nozzle detection and compensation
Print Resolution (Up to)	2,400 x 1,200 dpi (Max)
OS Compatibility	Macintosh OS X 10.3.9-10.6 (32 bit), OS X 10.5-10.6 (64bit) Windows 2000 (32 bit), XP (32/64 bit), Server 2003 (32/64 bit), Server 2008 (32/64 bit), Windows Vista (32/64 bit), Windows 7 (32/64 bit)
Standard Interface	USB 2.0 High-SpeeD 10/100/1000 Base-T/TX
Ink Compatibility	4 picoliter
Ink Capacity	130ml per colour -LUCIA EX ink (Pigment-based)
Colour Set	Cyan, Photo Cyan, Magenta, Photo Magenta, Yellow, Black, Matte Black, Red, Green. Blue, Grey, Photo Grey
Buffer/Ram	384 MB
Media Width	Cut Sheet and Roll: 8" to 24"
Media Thickness	Top Loading Manual Feed: 0.07 - 0.8mm (3.2 - 31.4mil) Front Loading Manual Feed: 0.5 - 1.5mm (19.6 - 59.0mil) Roll: 0.07 - 0.8mm (3.2 - 31.4mil)
Maximum Roll Print Length	59 Feet (18 meters)
Maximum Media Roll Diameter	5.9" (150mm)
Borderless Printing Width (Roll Media Only)	10" (254 mm), B4 (257 mm), A3+ (329 mm), 14" (356 mm), 16" (407 mm), A2 (420 mm), A2+/17" (432 mm), B2 (515 mm), A1 (594 mm), 24" (610 mm)
Paper-Feed Method	Roll Feed: One Roll, front output Top Loading Manual Feed: One sheet, front output Front Loading Manual Feed: One sheet, front output
Languages	GARO (Canon Proprietary)
Noise Level (Approx.)	Operation: 47dB (A) or less Acoustic Power: 6.4 Bels
Physical Dimensions	(with stand): 39.1" (H) x 46.4" (W) x 34.3" (D)
Weight	Approximately 146lbs. with stand
User-replaceable items	Print Head (PF-05) Maintenance Cartridge (MC-16) Ink Tanks (PFI-105)
Software Included	Canon Printer Driver, Print Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. Print Plug-in for Digital Photo Professional, PosterArtist Lite (PC Only), Digital Photo Front-Access, Printer Driver Extra Kit (Free Layout, colour imageRUNNER Enlargement Copy, Advanced Preview), Print Plug-in for Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint (PC only), Accounting Manager

Printer is supplied with:

imagePROGRAF iPF6300 printer with Stand & Basket
2" Roll Holder with 3" core adapters
2 Print Heads
1 Maintenance Cartridge (Installed)
12, 90ml Starter Ink Tanks (BK, MBK, C, M, Y, PC, PM, GY, PGY, R, G, B)
Sample Roll Heavyweight Coated Paper
Ethernet Card (built in)
USB 2.0 High-Speed Interface
User Manual CD
Quick Setup Guide (Poster)
Printer Reference Guide (Booklet)
Power Cable
One Year Warranty Card
Registration Card
PosterArtist Lite Application CD
User Software CD with:
imagePROGRAF Printer Driver
Print Plug-in for Photoshop
Print Plug-in for Digital Photo Professional
Media Configuration Tool
Accounting Manager
Print Plug-in for Microsoft Office
Printer Driver Extra Kit
Digital Photo Front-Access
imagePROGRAF Status Monitor

Press information

Info from US

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 22, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and advanced office solutions, today answers the increasing demand for large format prints in the photographic, proofing and graphic arts market with the introduction of three new imagePROGRAF large format models – the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300, 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and the iPF6300. Designed for precise, ultra high-quality print performance and increased productivity, each model features Canon’s new, 12-Colour LUCIA EX pigment ink set and advanced printing technologies specifically developed to produce prints with an enhanced colour range and improved durability. The new imagePROGRAF models will be unveiled at the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, March 8-11, 2010.
“In just four short years, Canon has introduced more than 20 imagePROGRAF large format printers to the market with each new model raising the bar for outstanding, vibrant image quality and overall versatility,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “Coupled with our new LUCIA EX ink set and advanced media capabilities, the new imagePROGRAF models represent an ideal solution for the graphic, fine art, photography and proofing markets.”

Enhanced Colour Spectrum

With increasing consumer demand for professional and high-quality print jobs, high-end graphic and photographic studios continue to seek the capability to accurately produce vivid output of consumers’ most demanding projects. To enhance its available colour spectrum, the new imagePROGRAF models feature a revolutionary all-new 12-Colour LUCIA EX pigment ink set increasing the achievable colour gamut by approximately 20 percent from the previous imagePROGRAF iPFx100 series and enabling over 90 percent coverage of PANTONE (*) colours to produce rich expression. Additionally, to better meet the needs of the professional print market, the new models feature a reinforced mechanical structure to enable precise ink placement for improved text and line accuracy, making these new devices a powerful proofing solution.

Exquisite Photographic Output

The introduction of the new LUCIA EX ink provides photographers with the ability to precisely achieve their desired results by producing more expressive and crisp blacks, smooth colour gradations, and the capability to reproduce the finest details in the shadow areas of photographs. The new inks are also designed with an innovative polymer structure that results in greater scratch resistance and protection from colour fading, while also reducing bronzing and metamerism ensuring durable, stable output.
Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR), the world’s leading independent image permanence testing laboratory, has been evaluating the new Canon LUCIA EX expanded-gamut, 12-colour pigment inks. Henry Wilhelm, president of WIR commented, “A review of preliminary data from the still ongoing tests indicates that prints made with LUCIA EX pigment inks and select photo and fine art papers will achieve WIR Display Permanence Ratings in excess of 75 years for colour images and well beyond 200 years for black-and-white images. In addition, LUCIA EX pigment inks exhibit excellent short-term colour drift (“dry-down”) behavior, which is critically important for colour-managed workflows and in proofing applications. The new LUCIA EX inks also achieved WIR’s highest rating for resistance to damage from atmospheric ozone, a particular concern in urban environments in situations where prints might be displayed unframed and exposed to ambient indoor air.”

Simplified Workflows

Recognizing the expanding array of media options for large format printers and to further improve the versatility of these new imagePROGRAF models, Canon has developed a new Media Configuration Tool which allows customers to not only utilize genuine Canon-branded media, but provides the ability to add and make adjustments to paper settings to enhance the precision and quality of output achieved with third-party media. Upon release of the new printer, ICC profiles of popular media types from Intelicoat, Ilford, LexJet and Moab will be available for download on their respective corporate Web sites.
To expand print options and improve proofing capabilities, the iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 come bundled with a new Print Plug-In for Photoshop, Digital Photo Professional and support for Adobe Colour Management Module, enabling features such as Black Point Compensation. Through the Photoshop Plug-In, each new model allows 16-bit RGB images edited in Photoshop to be sent directly to the imagePROGRAF printers, preserving smooth and high gradation.

Brian Hampton, an award-winning nature photographer printing with a Canon imagePROGRAF for the first time stated, “The quality of the print is amazing. I was particularly impressed by the iPF8300’s ability to reproduce shadow details in a way that exceeds anything I’ve seen previously on the market. It’s quite a step above the competition.” Hampton also noted the built-in workflow solutions and commented, “The ability to export out of Photoshop via the plug-in is outstanding. Many of its capabilities perform as well as an RIP program without the additional cost.”
Maximize Productivity
I

n order to support high-volume printing and streamline workflows the Canon iPF8300 and iPF6350 come equipped with an 80 GB high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) that allows for faster spooling of large files as well as the ability to reprint jobs directly from the printer. To ensure the highest level of productivity and reduce overall print time, all new models are also equipped with a standard gigabit Ethernet network interface and an automatic dual-blade cutter.
In those environments that utilize a complete workflow solution in conjunction with CGS, EFI, Ergosoft, GMG, ONYX and other leading RIP manufacturers, updated drivers will be available for download upon the release of the printers from their respective Web sites.

Precision Technology

To fully capitalize on the dynamic colour range of the new LUCIA EX ink set, each new imagePROGRAF model employs two advanced one-inch print heads, each featuring 2,560 nozzles per colour and outputting a super fine four picoliter (pl) droplet at a full 2400×1200 dots-per-inch resolution (dpi) to reproduce details with extraordinary accuracy and clarity. Paired with enhanced plug-ins and new, High Precision Printing Modes, these new imagePROGRAF models provide an extremely high level of photographic and proofing quality prints.

The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 are compliant with U.S. ENERGY STAR energy-saving standards and RoHS compliance standards. The new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 large format printers will be on display at WPPI booth 401 in Las Vegas, NV from March 8-10, 2010. The imagePROGRAF iPF8300/6350/6300 will start shipping in March for a manufacturers suggested retail price of $5,995, $3,995 and $3,695, respectively.

Info from Japan

TOKYO, February 1, 2010 - Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today the introduction to the Japanese market of three new imagePROGRAF-series large-format inkjet printers: the imagePROGRAF iPF8300, capable of producing B0+ (44 inch wide) output, and the iPF6350 and iPF6300, both capable of producing A1+ (24 inch wide) output.

Ideal for graphic applications and colour proofing, the new lineup achieves a level of performance essential for professional users.

Featuring an enhanced printer carriage with increased precision and rigidity, the new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 deliver improved ink ejection accuracy.

The enhanced frame structure realizes crisp black text as well as sharp white knockout text, higher line and text precision, enhanced colour representation and uniformity, and superior gloss homogeneity for improved resolution and graphical consistency in proof printing.

In addition, the trio offers a wider colour gamut with over 90% coverage of Pantone(*) colours to realize rich colours expression.

The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 allow users to establish a tailored proofing system from a range of usage applications.

In addition, all of the new models support RIP's released by such major venders as GMG, CGS, EFI, and ONYX to further support a range of print applications such as proofs, designs, and commercial photos, allowing designers, photographers, and other professional users to print without changing preferred workflows.

The new Canon imagePROGRAF lineup features a colour calibration function that utilizes an internal high-performance multi-sensor to precisely detect, adjust and compensate for variations in density among print heads, realizing stable colour reproduction and accurate colour matching.

The colour calibration function is easily accessible through the printer operation panel and the entire calibration process can be completed in a short ten minutes.

The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 utilize Canon's proprietary twelve-colour ink system, LUCIA EX, and feature an enhanced pigment colouring formulation in combination with newly developed image processing technology.

The enhanced system covers an area on the colour gamut up to approximately 20% larger than previous models to realize improved colour reproduction.

Furthermore, the new imagePROGRAF models achieve not only richer and sharper black expression and accurate reproduction of the details and subtle shading of dark areas, but also further reduce the occurrence of "bronzing," a phenomenon in which printed colours take on a metallic hue depending on the angle at which they are viewed.

The new Canon large-format inkjet printers utilize a newly developed image processing technology that accurately converts RGB data into ink colour during printing, as well as the capability of fine-tuning colours and retouching images on Adobe Photoshop before printing to produce a level of accuracy and quality essential for professional photographers and creators.

The Media Configuration Tool included in all three new imagePROGRAF models allows the adjustment, registration, and distribution of various parameters of third-party media.

This tool also makes possible safe and effortless printing and proofing when using non-Canon brand media to allow users to maintain their preferred workflows and settings.

Canon's new imagePROGRAF lineup features inks with enhanced scratch resistance that deliver increased protection from external scratches through the addition of a slipping material that lowers the coefficient of friction in conjunction with a polymer added to strengthen the bond in the ink layer.

In addition, the imagePROGRAF iPF8300 and iPF6350 incorporate a large-capacity 80GB hard disk drive that allows users to save job data even during print jobs to quickly free up the PC providing the source data, and also supports smoother job recoveries in the event of an error by doing away with the need to resend print data from the source PC.

(*) Calibration accuracy: The average colour difference dE (dE2000). For details on measurement conditions and method please refer to product catalogue or homepage

This is a summary of a release issued in Japanese by Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. in Tokyo on February 1, 2010.

from Asahi

More product info

Canon Japan (Google translation)

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