Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 Printer

Plotter Price PRO-6100 Review:

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 printer is an evolution from the PRO-6000 printer which is proving to be highly popular with photographers and the fine art market. New features include automatic paper load and paper type recognition. It features the same number of 12 inks as it's former predecessor the iPF9400 minus the green ink which has been replaced with a chroma optimizer. This helps with gloss uniformity and reduce bronzing and we can honestly say produces the best photo prints on glossy, and satin papers we've ever seen. The new Photoshop export plug-in in is slighty different to the iPF9400 but after a short while you will come to appreciate the additional features of the new software.

The 44-inch Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 printer is designed to exceed expectations for image quality and colour consistency in a large format printer. The use of a 1.28-inch wide 12-channel integrated compact print head, LUCIA PRO ink set plus Chroma Optimizer, a high-precision mechanical platform and the L-COA PRO high-speed image processing engine achieves a balance between exceptional print quality and speed. The imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 has been designed to include intelligent technology for advanced media handling, increased security features, borderless printing and improved operational design. Bring your prints to life with the imagePROGRAF PRO-6100.

PRO-6100 Key Features:

•     Intelligent Media Loading
•     Remaining Media Estimation
•     New Operation Panel
•     Enhanced Security
•     LUCIA Pro Ink Set
   

Intelligent Media Loading
For the first time ever seen on a printer, the imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 printer can load and recognise paper automatically.  Simply set the roll holder in the printer and let the media automatically feed into the print.  The built-in multi-sensor measures the surface reflection and the media thickness to determine media type, without the need to manually enter it.

Remaining Media Estimation
Accurately measure the remaining media on a roll, without the need to print a bar code - saving both ink and media.

New Operation Panel
The large 4.3" LCD operation panel utilizes smart phone touch screen technology for easy operation.  The top three most-used commands: Load, Feed and Cut, now have their own buttons below the operation panel for ease of use.

Enhanced Security
Developed with advanced security features, including support of secure PIN printing to protect data and the ability to disable printing, increasing administrative control of end-user printing.

LUCIA PRO Ink Set
The LUCIA PRO ink set adopts Canon's new 12-colour pigment ink systems.  Designed specifically to meet the demands of even the most critical photographer, the LUCIA PRO ink formulation includes microencapsulated colourants that enable smooth gradients, an expanded colour gamut, and deeper colour expression.  This system helps you achieve stunning colour reproduction, image clarity, and enhanced darker areas.  A first for the Canon large format printers is the addition of a Chroma Optimizer.  Used when printing on glossy and semi-glossy paper, this acts as a clear coat, improving colour performance and gloss characteristics enriching the dark areas of a print.

This new ink set helps:
Enhance gloss uniformity
Improve scratch resistance
Enhance dark area reproduction
Reduce graininess

No Switching of Black Inks
The PRO-6100 is designed to work seamlessly when changing media types.  Matte black and Photo black inks have their own dedicated nozzles, so no manual switching between ink tanks is necessary.  You can print on fine art paper then glossy paper with no worries, no changes, and no waste.

PF-10 Print Head
The PF-10, a 1.28-wide print head with 18,432 nozzles equipped with anti-clogging FINE technology, generates fast print speeds while reducing the possibility of clogging.  Ink ejection conditions are precisely checked by 27 sensors, and if a clog is detected, another nozzle will provide back-up. This print head is wider than previous imagePROGRAF print heads requiring models to only have one instead of two.  Having only one print head means a more compact printer that achieves faster print speeds while maintaining high print quality.

L-COA PRO High-Speed Image Processing Engine
The imagePROGRAF printers are powered by the L-COA PRO high-speed image processing engine.  With three processing chips, this high-precision control engine performs the processing of massive image data, and controls the optimal ink layout that produces high-resolution prints.

Colour Calibration
The colour calibration function is designed to produce consistent colour reproduction.  This printer includes an upgraded, built-in colour densitometer that offers precise calibration and colour matching. Using a three-colour LED and condenser lens the sensor enables accurate recalibration of the device, allowing you to maintain a low average printer-to-printer colour difference.  The colour calibration is finished quickly after a few simple steps on the printers operation panel. A single colour calibration performed with one type of media is used to make adjustments on the other Canon supported media.

Device Management Console
The Device Management Console software, ideal for fleet management, lets you perform colour calibrations remotely.  This software lets you monitor the printer status of up to 50 units from any location in the world, be notified via email when an error has occurred, or check the amount of ink left in the printers without ever having to leave the comfort of your desk.

High Precision Mechanical Platform
The PRO-6100's unibody structure provides a strong platform for stable print head scanning, resulting in precise ink droplet placement.  The perfect combination of speed and high-quality printing is achieved with this new design.

Multifunction Roll System - Comes standard with the PRO-6100
The Multifunction Roll System, which also utilizes Canon's new intelligent media handling, is a versatile media handling solution system that enables either a second roll of media to be loaded on the printer, or the unit can be configured as a bi-directional media Take-up unit.

Dual Roll Feeding:  The dual-roll feeding mechanism enables users to load a second roll of a different media type and size so that users can simultaneously switch from printing on matte to gloss paper without pausing their work to reload.  Additionally, the second roll can be used to support high-volume printing be enabling two rolls of the same media to be fed to the printer.

Bi-Directional Rewinding:  The Multifunction Roll System may also be configured by the operator as a take-up unit to rewind longer printouts.  The user can choose to rewind media with the printed surface on the outside or the inside of the roll, thereby supporting bi-directional rewinding.

Wi-Fi Connection
Stay Connected.  Wi-Fi connectivity is standard with the PRO Series printers.

Print From USB Thumb Drive
PDF and JPEG files can be directly printed on the imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 from a USB thumb drive.  Simply input the thumb drive into the USB port on the printer, preview the image on the operation panel, and print.  Fast and easy printing without the use of a computer, does not support TIFF files.

High Capacity Ink Tanks
Available in 160ml, 330ml and 700ml ink tanks, you have the flexibility to purchase ink based on your printing needs.

PFI-1100 160ml inks - average price £65.29 - cost per mil 41pence
PFI-1300 330ml inks - average price £119.08 - cost per mil 36pence  **ships with a complete set of 330ml inks**
PFI-1700 700ml Inks - average price £219.99 - cost per mil 31pence

Sub-Ink Tank System
The Sub-Ink Tank System allows all of the available ink in a tank to be used before having to replace it, helping eliminate any wasted ink. The empty tanks can also be replaced on-the-fly without stopping the printer. This is extremely useful during your long print jobs.

Multipositional Basket
The imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 features a multipositional basket that can be freely adjusted to enable various output positions and options:
Catch Basket
Flatbed Stacking
Slope (can be used to display a print)

500GB Hard Drive
A built-in 500 GB hard drive within the printer increases productivity by relieving workload from the host Mac or PC, while providing a large capacity for print job data storage and retrieval. This 500 GB hard drive enables job data to be stored in protected mailboxes for easy access via web browser or at the printer for job re-printing. The embedded hard disk is ideal for medium to large workgroups to share a printer efficiently with multiple users, offering sample job storage space.

Professional Print & Layout
Creating large format prints is now easier with the introduction of Professional Print & Layout for the imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 large format printer.  This software offers features that streamline your printing workflow.  Compatible with Canon Digital Photo Professional software, Adobe Photoshop software, and Adobe Lightroom software, Professional Print & Layout offers versatility never before seen with Canon Large Format printing.

Features include:
Create and save custom layouts
Nesting of images
Import multiple images and make batch edits that apply to all
Create Favorites settings
Crop images          

Free Layout Plus with Microsoft Plug-In
Nest, tile and create custom layouts before printing your files with this print utility.  Use the plug-in feature to print directly from Microsoft Office programs.

Print Plug-In for Microsoft Office
This utility makes it easy to print large-format documents created in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. The Plug-in appears in a tool bar inside the Microsoft application and has an easy-to-follow "Wizard". The Plug-in will bypass the printer driver to simplify the printing process. A few simple steps convert your 8.5" x 11" office document to poster size.

Media Configuration Tool
Recognizing the expanding array of media options for large format printers and to further improve the versatility of these new imagePROGRAF PRO-6100, Canon has developed a Media Configuration Tool, which allows customers to not only utilize Canon-branded media, but provides the ability to make adjustments to printer settings to enhance the precision and quality of output achieved with third party media.

Settings that can be configured using media parameter adjustment features include:
Media weight and thickness
Ink drying
Automatic cutting settings
Borderless printing
Paper feed amount
Print-head height
Vacuum strength
Maximum ink usage

Accounting Manager
In today's printing environment, it is more important than ever to understand how much ink and media each print job is costing your business.  Both Mac and Microsoft compatible, Accounting Manager serves as a powerful feature, used for accurately managing your print costs.  With the Accounting Manager feature you can track how much ink and paper is being consumed when printing in large format of up to 50 printers. Each individual ink tank can have its own cost associated to it, as well as a variety of different paper types.  Costs can be assigned to ink and paper to determine expenses based on your own Cost of Goods.   The user can also input a variable cost that will be added to the total of the print cost.  The data is exportable to a .csv format for Microsoft Excel so the data can be used for billing purposes.  This feature will allow you to determine the cost of each print based on your actual cost.                                                                                                                                                                  
Features include:
Job Cost (ink, Media and variable cost inputted by user)
Ink Consumed per Job*
Media Consumed per Job
Job Completion time
And more

imagePROGRAF Printer Driver
This Windows and Macintosh drivers incorporate simplified page setup options, one-touch borderless printing, expanded colour settings, and much more into a printer driver that is intuitive and easy-to-operate while still giving even the most advanced users the tools needed to stay productive. The Real Preview feature lets users ensure that the print setting and the layout on the roll paper is correct by providing real time preview, allowing users to change the print setting even after clicking on "print." The Free Layout feature enables nesting and custom layouts of images or files of nearly any type (available for both Windows and Mac driver).

Quick Utility Toolbox
Quick Utility Toolbox is a portal to where all of the Canon printer software and tools can be accessed.

Additional Features:

    No Switching of Black Inks
    PF-10 Print Head
    L-COA PRO High-Speed Image Processing Engine
    Colour Calibration
    High Precision Mechanical Platform
    Multifunction Roll System
    Wi-Fi Connection
    Print From USB Thumb Drive
    High Capacity Ink Tanks
    Sub-Ink Tank System
    Multipositional Basket
    500GB Hard Drive
    Professional Print & Layout
    Free Layout Plus with Microsoft Plug-In
    Media Configuration Tool
    Accounting Manager
    imagePROGRAF Printer Driver
    Quick Utility Toolbox