How to use resources efficiently and save money with your Canon pro photo printer

One of the most significant challenges photographers face with printing is avoiding ink wastage while maintaining high-quality output. Ink can be expensive, and ensuring you get the most out of your supplies is crucial for both efficiency and budget.

Here are some expert tips on how to avoid common pitfalls and save ink with your Canon professional photo printer, as explained by Zubair Rahim, Product Specialist at Canon EMEA.

One of the most common mistakes people make is failing to properly calibrate their monitor and printer.

“A calibrated monitor is very important – so that you know if you're printing a picture and it comes out entirely different from what you see on screen, there's a reason for that,” says Zubair.

Without proper calibration, the colours on your screen may not match what gets printed, leading to unnecessary reprints and ink usage.

Another surprising tip involves how often the printer is powered on and off. Contrary to what many believe, turning the printer on and off frequently does not save ink.

“When you turn the printer off and on again, it will go through a printing cycle to ensure that it’s ready to print again,” says Zubair. This process, he points out, consumes some ink each time. Instead, he suggests leaving the printer in standby mode to avoid unnecessary cleaning cycles. This not only reduces ink wastage, it is also energy efficient because the printer uses minimal power in standby mode.

In addition, the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 features power scheduling options to minimise energy wastage.

Like other liquid-based consumables, ink can dry up or clog if not used frequently.

“Printing fairly frequently or at regular intervals keeps the printer active,” says Zubair. He adds that regular printing reduces the likelihood of clogging​, and advanced technology in the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 takes this one step further.

"The print head in the imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 includes sensors that continuously monitor the status of the nozzles, and if they should detect any clogging, another nozzle automatically provides backup to compensate. This clever system not only ensures uncompromised print quality and prevents wasted prints due to clogging, it also means nozzle cleaning is not required as frequently," he adds.

Speaking generally, keeping your printer in regular use ensures that it operates smoothly and prevents waste caused by infrequent use.

It's a good idea to check your settings and visualise your print output before committing to a large print job. For this, Zubair recommends using Canon’s Professional Print & Layout (PPL) software. As well as being able to soft proof your prints on your monitor, one standout feature is Pattern Print, which creates a single sheet with multiple versions of the same photo with different colour, brightness and contrast adjustments.

This feature helps you see how different settings will affect the final print. You then simply select the one you like best, input the code alongside it, and your full-size print is output using those settings, minimising the need for multiple test prints, thus saving ink and media.

While using non-genuine inks may seem like a way to cut costs, Zubair advises against it.

“Canon inks are engineered to work together with your Canon printer and media," Zubair says. "Using genuine inks ensures you get the best quality, and keeps the printer within warranty."

Non-genuine inks often produce fewer prints per cartridge, leading to increased overall costs and potential damage to the printer.

For professionals, tracking printing costs is vital. Canon’s Accounting Manager software¹ enables you to input the cost of ink and paper, and the printer will then track how much is consumed for each job.

“You can keep track of your ink usage, see exactly what your print cost you, and help manage costs for printing for profit,” Zubair says.

This feature also helps users monitor their ink expenditure and forecast when new cartridges are needed, reducing the risk of running out mid-project.

By following these simple tips – calibrating your equipment, maintaining regular print usage, and using the right software – photographers can significantly reduce ink wastage.

Not only does this save money, but it also ensures higher-quality prints with fewer headaches along the way. The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 printer, combined with Canon’s suite of tools, offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for any professional photographer.

We've seen how printing doesn't inherently have to be wasteful of ink and other resources. That's just one myth about printing, says pro destination wedding photographer and Canon Ambassador Igor Demba, who produces his own prints as a lucrative part of his business. Hear his perspective on this and other printing myths, including "printing is expensive" and "printing is complicated".