• Categories
• Tips & Inspiration
• Reviews
• News
• Events
• Features
• Buying Guides
• Competitions

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 Launches

Canon has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive photo solutions from capture to print for years, with a range of photo printers catering to everyone from beginners to professionals. The imagePROGRAF PRO series is particularly revered by professional photographers for offering exceptional print quality across various media for fine-art prints for exhibition or sale, and for economical high-capacity inks.

The next-generation Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 Printer introduces a host of upgrades, including a newly developed pigment ink set, expanded paper size support, and enhanced efficiency for busy creators. Explore what this professional A2 printer offers and how it improves on its predecessor, especially in terms of print quality thanks to new inks.

How much is the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100?

One of the first questions that often comes up is the price of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100, which is £1,099.99. Potential users will be pleased to note this matches the previous model, making it an economical choice whether you're investing in high-end printing for the first time or upgrading.

When did it Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 launch?

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 A2 printer launched on 29 August 2024, which is getting on for a decade after the original model's 2015 release. Although print technology moves more slowly than camera tech there are plenty of upgrades, which enhance image quality and improve on efficiency.

Key PRO-1100 printer features

The imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 is subject to some significant upgrades, which help to set it apart from its predecessor, as well as other professional large format printers on the market. Key features include:

• A2 photo printer, which can achieve archive quality results
• 12 high-capacity 80ml ink tanks including two blacks and Chroma Optimiser (CO)
• Newly developed LUCIA PRO II Pigment Inks enhance print quality
• Longer lightfastness of up to 200 years
• Wider colour gamut and deeper blacks across matte and glossy media
• User definable Chroma Optimiser (CO) ink settings
• Support for more native paper sizes with borderless printing including 11 new sizes
• WiFi 5GHz support plus the latest security protocols

Who is the Canon PRO-1100 printer for?

The Canon PRO-1100 printer is aimed at professional users due to its combination of vivid, detailed and accurate image reproduction, up to A2 print size and economical 80ml inks. It boasts features that enhance capture to print workflows, as well as offering print studios and educational facilities real world benefits.

For these reasons the PRO-1100 is well suited to a variety of users including:

• Photographers for photo display and sale
• Photography schools for student output
• Studios, labs and retail environments where commercial prints are beneficial
• Printing, design and advertising agencies, which require accurate proofing and advertising collateral

That’s not to say amateurs and enthusiasts can’t enjoy the PRO-1100, however these users might find that smaller models, such as the ImagePROGRAF PRO-300 A3+ or Pixma Pro-200 are more suitable.

What benefits does new Lucia PRO II pigment ink provide?

Canon has developed the Lucia PRO pigment ink to offer even higher print quality, with significantly extended lightfastness compared to the previous generation. Improvements in image quality include a wider colour gamut, resulting in smoother graduations, as well as enhanced black density and dark blue colour reproduction, depending on the media.

For photographers, this translates into exquisite depth and detail, with subtle nuances in photographic prints, along with much better resistance to scratching when printing on glossy media thanks to the addition of wax to the ink. This is particularly beneficial for mounting prints on matte boards, framing, and when transporting prints for exhibition or when delivering to clients.

The longevity of prints is another area where the Lucia PRO II inks excel. Prints can last up to 200 years under normal display conditions, which is a significant improvement over previous generations. Even on Fine Art paper, you can expect your prints to hold up for up to 180 years, ensuring they stay vibrant over time.

For those printing on matte art papers, the PRO-1100 printer includes a matte black ink that dramatically enhances black density, achieving rich, deep blacks, which is especially prominent in black and white photography.

Anyone who prints landscapes, seascapes, and similarly challenging shadow areas will notice that Lucia PRO II inks render greater depth and detail than the previous generation inks. This improvement will help both enthusiasts and professional users achieve prints that are more faithful to the original image.

Does the printer offer accurate colour reproduction?

When working with the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 A2 printer, one of the first things you notice is the quality of colour reproduction. This printer shares the same ink and print head technology as Canon’s higher-end large format models, like the PRO-6600, 4600, and 2600. This means it’s designed with professionals in mind, delivering accurate colours, especially in tricky dark areas.

New customisable CO settings

Another useful feature of the PRO-1100 is the ability to adjust Transparent Ink Chroma Optimiser (CO) settings. You can choose when and where to apply the CO ink, such as excluding it from white areas or borders, which helps prevent bronzing and makes the process more efficient.

This contributes to enhanced efficiency, which we explore next.

Is the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 more efficient?

The PRO-1100 is designed with productivity in mind, catering to working professionals. It offers three ways to connect via wireless, wired, and USB so you can easily set it up in any working environment. The flat top of the printer also doubles as a practical space to proof and check prints, which is a nice touch.

With two input trays, you can switch between different types of paper, from photo paper to thicker options, without too much hassle and the large 80ml ink tanks mean you won’t be stopping to change cartridges very often.

Another practical design feature is the dedicated nozzles for Photo Black (PBk) and Matte Black (MBk) inks. The printer automatically selects the appropriate black ink depending on whether you’re using glossy or matte paper, which not only improves print quality but reduces unnecessary ink switching.

This, combined with the easy-to-read colour control panel for checking ink status and performing maintenance, keeps your workflow smooth and simple. The maintenance cartridge is also user-replaceable, so you can avoid downtime when it needs to be swapped out. All in all this is an easy printer to work with and with the right maintenance should keep running efficiently for many years to come.

Lastly, the PRO-1100 supports 5GHz WiFi, which provides more stable and faster connections. It also includes the latest security features, such as WPA3 and TLS 1.3 standards, ensuring that your data is better protected.

Expanded paper support

Canon has expanded supported paper sizes with the PRO-1100, adding options like 7 x 10, 9 x 13, B4, and Legal for borderless printing. This makes it easier to handle different formats more readily, especially if you work with a variety of sizes.

An updated printer driver is more user-friendly, with settings for wider panoramic prints up to 3276.7mm and quicker custom media registration, cutting down the steps to just four.

Photographers working across genres such as products, weddings, landscape and many more will find the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 to be an essential investment. Its ability to deliver true-to-life vivid colours and rich black tones ensures that every detail of a bride's dress or a sunset’s glow is captured with Canon’s most accurate ink to date. Improved matte black enhances the depth in B&W images, which is perfect for portraits, fine art prints and any monochromatic images.

With its expanded paper size options and superior scratch resistance on glossy prints, the PRO-1100 offers the reliability and versatility needed for creating beautiful, durable prints that will leave a lasting impression on your clients for generations to come.

Reserve your Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 A2 Photo Printer and take your printing and proofing to the next level today. Browse for consumables including replacement ink cartridges and fine art photo paper to get the most out of this impressive Canon printer.

Share this post:

By Nick Dautlich on 29/08/2024