Canon printer question - DPChallenge Forums

06/19/2003 03:37:13 PM · #1

I have a canon i550, it has worked perfectly ever since I got it in december, until a few weeks ago when I started noticing streaks in the photos...lines that show the path of the print...I have tried deep clean, and I sent the printer back to be fixed...they didnÂ´t find anything wrong, but lent me another one...not new...and this one does the same thing...I have tried different computers, different photos, different everything...any ideas....can it be fixed?? Not everyone sees these lines, they appear mostly in dark areas of the photo, I am using photo paper pro from canon, like always...has this happened to anyone out there...pls. help I need these photos by the end of the month, they have already been payed for and everything...

06/19/2003 03:46:49 PM · #2

What software are you using to print and what print settings are you using?

I have the Canon i950 and with Canon EasyPrint the photos don't come out as nice (dark areas show the path of the print head) as when I use Digital Image Pro and allow the print driver to select the settings based on the paper chosen.

In your case it sounds like it just started happening. Have you installed any new software or changed any settings on your computer that may have altered anything to do with the printer like a shared DLL file?

06/19/2003 03:50:23 PM · #3

I have been using easyprint...where can I get this Digital Image Pro, itÂ´s worth a shot....

06/19/2003 03:59:24 PM · #4

Digital Image Pro is one of the Microsoft Picture It products. When I was looking for something simpler to use (and less expensive) then photoshop I found this one.

You should be able to find it at your local Office supply store (if they sell computer software) or computer store.

There are three levels to the Picture It software, this is the top one and runs about $150 CDN. You can check it out on Microsoft's website.
//www.microsoft.com/catalog/display.asp?subid=22&site=11380&x=15&y=7

One other thing you might try is getting an updated driver for your printer if there is one.

06/19/2003 04:02:33 PM · #5

I did get an updated driver for my printer...it didnÂ´t work...I might just try digital image pro....thanx...itÂ´s just so weird that this just started to happen ... anyway thanx a lot...my husband to be thinks I am nuts...he canÂ´t see the lines at all...just nice to know someone knows this problem:)

dwoolridge

06/19/2003 05:09:33 PM · #6

Try QImage if you're looking to get new printing software. It's excellent and appropriately priced. I doubt it's your software, but QImage is worth it regardless.

Personally, I think all Canon paper sucks, with the exception of their High Gloss Photo Film (HG-201), but that stuff is CAD 3.50/sheet. In my opinion, Epson paper will give you better results and the Ilford Galerie line is even better.

06/19/2003 05:15:24 PM · #7

I don't find a problem with the Canon paper but since I just recently switched from HP to Canon I still had some HP paper and it works just as well as the Canon paper.

dwoolridge is probably right that it's not the software just the printer settings. As you say, you've tried all kinds of adjustments already. I can understand the frustration.

BTW. I would only buy Digital Image if you need an image editor as well. If not, Qimage is very good for printing. I tried it for the trial period, it's free for 30 days. You can download it from //www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/. To buy I think it's around $40 US.

Message edited by author 2003-06-19 17:16:34.

Seeker

Canon EOS-30D

06/19/2003 05:19:18 PM · #8

Perhaps I missed it but I didn't see where you tried a new printer cartidge. I had a similar problem where all the calibration, printer tests and diagnostics I had indicated the printer and cartridge were OK, but when I printed photos I had these lines through the prints. I had two photo cartridges and swapped back and forth between them to make sure it wasn't the cartridge but finally went and bought a replacement and the problem disappeared. I guess both cartridges were old or something. Yours may not be the same problem but it wouldn't hurt to check.

06/19/2003 05:31:11 PM · #9

bought new cartridges... :) first thing I did... thanxs anyway

dwoolridge

06/19/2003 05:32:36 PM · #10

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

I don't find a problem with the Canon paper but since I just recently switched from HP to Canon I still had some HP paper and it works just as well as the Canon paper.

I'm a bit surprised you found the Canon paper comparable to HP paper. The HP papers I tried were absolutely abysmal, but maybe HP is getting their act together in this department (the consumer/prosumer printing one).

06/19/2003 05:52:14 PM · #11

Thank you all .. Qimage solved the problem, wow...my prints are perfect...thank you thank you thank you :) you have made my day, week, month...now every print is sooo crisp and bright and wonderful

06/19/2003 06:35:00 PM · #12

Originally posted by dwoolridge:

Maybe I'm not seeing something you are. What is it that you find different between the two papers (with the same settings). I'm using the Canon settings with the HP paper as dictated by the i950 printer driver. What specifically do you look for when comparing papers?

dwoolridge

06/19/2003 08:09:43 PM · #13

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Just to be clear, I'm comparing results from Canon's Glossy Photo Paper with HP's Photo Paper Glossy. These both appeared to be "best of breed" in roughly the same price range and/or paper quality. 8x10's were printed on the Canon S820 using QImage software.

At viewing distance (1.5m or more), the output between the two is nearly identical. Subjectively, the Canon paper produced slightly oversaturated yellows; this may be a gamut issue or a profiling problem.

At "inspection" distance (roughly 30cm or less), both had (serious) banding issues, particularly noticeable in the midtone range. Subjectively, the HP's banding was more widespread and overall worse than Canon's.

Under an 8x loupe, the banding was less detectable, but other "grid-like" pixelation issues were clearly present on both papers. Apart from colour/profile/gamut differences at this magnification, they were otherwise very much similar.

Since I do most of my (subjective) comparisons at inspection distance, I still think the HP produces significantly inferior results. Overall, though, these papers probably do, as you originally claimed, produce sufficiently similar results, both of which are worse than other similar papers.

For your money, I think it's best to avoid Canon and HP papers; use Epson (Semigloss ColorLife Photo Paper is a good example) or Ilford (Galeries series) instead. I've had success with Legion papers too, but the results were still not as good as Ilford in my opinion (I'd have to dig up the relevant output and compare again).