CanonimagePROGRAF Pro-4100 44-Inch Professional Photographic Large-Format Inkjet Printer

To print life size pictures

If you use SHEET paper with this printer, you will be disappointed. You don't simply slide a piece of paper into the back of the printer. Instead you must lift up the entire printing front, then release the suction lever and then try to line the edge of paper up to a small 1 inch line, there is no back or side guide on which the paper can be placed for loading it straight...just a line. It takes at least two minutes for the printer to accept the paper, after which you must indicate the type. Then after all of this it may reject the paper (another two minutes) because it was loaded askew... . I spent over an hour loading paper waiting for the printer to get ready to make 20 individual prints . I switched from Epson after 24 years because of the expense of changing printheads....I do regret it.

I got the Pro-4100 to print large-scale modern art pictures for a gallery show over the summer, which included prints up to 44" x 60" on fine art paper. The Pro-1000 (same machine but smaller) I already had is remains in use making proof prints on sheets; before getting the -4100 I went to a print shop with Pro-1000 proofs, but with the show that was no longer practical.This is a wonderful, smooth, precision machine, just a joy to use - although there's a lot to learn about printing itself, of course.One of the reviews dings it because it's not designed to use sheets, and that's true - it's a roll printer for large-scale prints. You can print on sheets, but it's not very convenient. I'd recommend a Pro-1000 or now -1100 if you want to print sheets up to its maximum 17" width x [I forget how long, but very long]. (I use cut-offs from Pro-4100 prints that aren't the full 44" width to make sheets for proofs in the Pro-1000.)But I just love the Pro-4100. The Pro-4600 that came out recently is the same machine with black inks that are supposed to be better, but the blacks on the -4100 are fantastic. Everyone who attended my show commented on how vibrant my prints are, and that's a hallmark of my style.Canon's included Pro Print & Layout printing software (which supports both of my printers) does a great job, although I wish it could save files with their settings. The Pro-4100 has an internal hard drive, but you can't name files when they're saved, so I just ignore it.But this printer is amazing, and I recommend it highly. Also, Canon USA's support is excellent if you have any questions, and that also counts for a lot.

Amazing quality printer and looks great.