Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-1000 Printer Review
Initial setup for the Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-1000 printer is exceedingly user-friendly and simple. The entire process is laid out for the user piece-by-piece, cartridge-by-cartridge. There's a connectivity element as well, one in which you can connect to your PC or smartphone (if you happen to be in need of massive smartphone prints). We were provided several sets of Canon paper with which to test, while this device also works with 3rd-party papers from brands like Canson and Inkpress (with Canon-defined software profiles, that is to say).
One thing users might be thrown off about when setting this printer up – if they've never owned a printer of this size before – is the levels of ink upon first inspection. Loading link into the printer displaces about 50% of the ink from the cartridges in which they're being measured, so it'll seem like setup has drank half their milkshake.
In reality, the ink is still there, it's just already loaded into the machine. Every replacement of ink in the future will show "full" ink levels as the system will already be full-up from the last batch.
NOTE: Ink levels shown above are captured after a number of prints have already been made – initial ink levels are higher.
Users with a basic knowledge of color management and high-end printing software, even a process so universal as Adobe Photoshop, will have the ability to create masterpiece prints with great ease.
This is a printer for photographers wishing to print up to A2 size (and beyond, with the update mentioned later in this review) without the hassle of older, more complicated setups. This printer prints with the quality of any high-end large format printer released in the past half-decade.
In addition to high-end print quality, this printer includes accounting software for recording ink and paper usage.
For users that plan on using this printer for their professional photography needs, this could be a truly indispensable addition to their business model.
One oddity with this printer is its inability to make prints larger than 17 x 22 – so users aren't going to be able to print a standard 16 x 24-inch print right out the box. Users needing larger prints should head back to larger printers.
UPDATE: Before this review was published, an update was sent out in July of 2016, including the following: "Feature: (1.1): ROM: The maximum printable height of custom paper size will be lengthened to 25.5-inch (647.70mm) with specifying in the printer driver."
The Canon Pro-1000 is a lovely looking pieces of machinery. This printer is big – massive – larger enough that users should be considering how it looks if they plan on using it for personal printing in their home. Rounded edges, a couple of massive buttons, and easy-to-use controls are nearly all that interrupt the blackness of the machine. There's also a single red highlight below the print tray – all relatively subtle.
Print head technology in this machine allows printing to be automatically mapped to different nozzles if and when each becomes clogged – if you don't use your printer every single day, that is to say.
With Canon's approach here, the entire array of nozzles will be used before a replacement needs to be purchased. Any sort of technology that allows us to use the maximum amount of product before a replacement needs to be purchased is a product we're going to appreciate.
Our test of this printer lasted several weeks. In that time, no perceivable print quality loss has been seen. This printer is a fantastic example of what a $1,300 USD printer should be – within range of the average professional photographer and able to produce award-winning-quality prints.
The Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-1000 will cost users around $1,300 USD, and ink cartridges run in at around $60 apiece. This printer is available through Canon and wherever fine (higher-end) Canon printers are sold.