Yes, we all hope that this isn’t it before WPPI.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 22, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and advanced office solutions, today answers the increasing demand for large format prints in the photographic, proofing and graphic arts market with the introduction of three new imagePROGRAF large format models – the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300, 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and the iPF6300. Designed for precise, ultra high-quality print performance and increased productivity, each model features Canon’s new, 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set and advanced printing technologies specifically developed to produce prints with an enhanced color range and improved durability. The new imagePROGRAF models will be unveiled at the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, March 8-11, 2010.

“In just four short years, Canon has introduced more than 20 imagePROGRAF large format printers to the market with each new model raising the bar for outstanding, vibrant image quality and overall versatility,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “Coupled with our new LUCIA EX ink set and advanced media capabilities, the new imagePROGRAF models represent an ideal solution for the graphic, fine art, photography and proofing markets.”

Enhanced Color Spectrum
With increasing consumer demand for professional and high-quality print jobs, high-end graphic and photographic studios continue to seek the capability to accurately produce vivid output of consumers’ most demanding projects. To enhance its available color spectrum, the new imagePROGRAF models feature a revolutionary all-new 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set increasing the achievable color gamut by approximately 20 percent from the previous imagePROGRAF iPFx100 series and enabling over 90 percent coverage of PANTONE ® (*) colors to produce rich expression. Additionally, to better meet the needs of the professional print market, the new models feature a reinforced mechanical structure to enable precise ink placement for improved text and line accuracy, making these new devices a powerful proofing solution.

Exquisite Photographic Output
The introduction of the new LUCIA EX ink provides photographers with the ability to precisely achieve their desired results by producing more expressive and crisp blacks, smooth color gradations, and the capability to reproduce the finest details in the shadow areas of photographs. The new inks are also designed with an innovative polymer structure that results in greater scratch resistance and protection from color fading, while also reducing bronzing and metamerism ensuring durable, stable output.

Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR), the world’s leading independent image permanence testing laboratory, has been evaluating the new Canon LUCIA EX expanded-gamut, 12-color pigment inks. Henry Wilhelm, president of WIR commented, “A review of preliminary data from the still ongoing tests indicates that prints made with LUCIA EX pigment inks and select photo and fine art papers will achieve WIR Display Permanence Ratings in excess of 75 years for color images and well beyond 200 years for black-and-white images. In addition, LUCIA EX pigment inks exhibit excellent short-term color drift (“dry-down”) behavior, which is critically important for color-managed workflows and in proofing applications. The new LUCIA EX inks also achieved WIR’s highest rating for resistance to damage from atmospheric ozone, a particular concern in urban environments in situations where prints might be displayed unframed and exposed to ambient indoor air.”

Simplified Workflows
Recognizing the expanding array of media options for large format printers and to further improve the versatility of these new imagePROGRAF models, Canon has developed a new Media Configuration Tool which allows customers to not only utilize genuine Canon-branded media, but provides the ability to add and make adjustments to paper settings to enhance the precision and quality of output achieved with third-party media. Upon release of the new printer, ICC profiles of popular media types from Intelicoat, Ilford, LexJet and Moab will be available for download on their respective corporate Web sites.

To expand print options and improve proofing capabilities, the iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 come bundled with a new Print Plug-In for Photoshop®, Digital Photo Professional and support for Adobe Color Management Module, enabling features such as Black Point Compensation. Through the Photoshop Plug-In, each new model allows 16-bit RGB images edited in Photoshop to be sent directly to the imagePROGRAF printers, preserving smooth and high gradation.

Brian Hampton, an award-winning nature photographer printing with a Canon imagePROGRAF for the first time stated, “The quality of the print is amazing. I was particularly impressed by the iPF8300’s ability to reproduce shadow details in a way that exceeds anything I’ve seen previously on the market. It’s quite a step above the competition.” Hampton also noted the built-in workflow solutions and commented, “The ability to export out of Photoshop via the plug-in is outstanding. Many of its capabilities perform as well as an RIP program without the additional cost.”

Maximize Productivity
In order to support high-volume printing and streamline workflows the Canon iPF8300 and iPF6350 come equipped with an 80 GB high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) that allows for faster spooling of large files as well as the ability to reprint jobs directly from the printer. To ensure the highest level of productivity and reduce overall print time, all new models are also equipped with a standard gigabit Ethernet network interface and an automatic dual-blade cutter.

In those environments that utilize a complete workflow solution in conjunction with CGS, EFI, Ergosoft, GMG, ONYX and other leading RIP manufacturers, updated drivers will be available for download upon the release of the printers from their respective Web sites.

Precision Technology
To fully capitalize on the dynamic color range of the new LUCIA EX ink set, each new imagePROGRAF model employs two advanced one-inch print heads, each featuring 2,560 nozzles per color and outputting a super fine four picoliter (pl) droplet at a full 2400×1200 dots-per-inch resolution (dpi) to reproduce details with extraordinary accuracy and clarity. Paired with enhanced plug-ins and new, High Precision Printing Modes, these new imagePROGRAF models provide an extremely high level of photographic and proofing quality prints.

The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 are compliant with U.S. ENERGY STAR energy-saving standards and RoHS compliance standards. The new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 large format printers will be on display at WPPI booth 401 in Las Vegas, NV from March 8-10, 2010. The imagePROGRAF iPF8300/6350/6300 will start shipping in March for a manufacturers suggested retail price of $5,995, $3,995 and $3,695, respectively.

Error 500
If you’re like myself and some other readers, you’ve been experiencing a few or a lot of Error 500 messages whenever you navigate Canon Rumors. I guess this is good news, as I have outgrown the hosting capabilities of my current package. Because of this, Canon Rumors is moving to a dedicated server.

The switchover will hopefully go unnoticed by the end users. It should be completed over the next 7 days.

Thanks to everyone that frequents the site and have made it such a huge success. Growth continues!

cr guy

1Ds3 & 1D3 Price Drops (HK)
You can read about the price drops on the two EOS-1’s.

http://www.canon.com.hk/Download.aspx?pressrelease_id=10366&file_type=1

thanks everyone

Zeiss ZE 18 f/3.5
Received a notification that we can expect a release sometime in the last quarter of 2009.

I’m looking forward to it.

thanks Gregor

New Laser Printers
Adding to its robust line-up of award-winning imageRUNNER systems and helping to redefine desktop productivity, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and office solutions, today introduced its latest desktop laser beam printer (LBP) – the Color imageRUNNER LBP5460. This model is the newest addition to the Company’s successful LBP desktop printer line, which also includes the Color imageRUNNER LBP5975 and LBP5970, both introduced last year.

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20090803_lbp5460.html

Hahnemuhle Adds Canon Pixma Pro 9500 Mark II Profiles
I asked Hahnemuhle about 9500 Mark II profiles and they sent me the following email.

“The profiles of the Canon 9500 work on the Mark II, too. It’s the same technology.
Here you can download them http://www.hahnemuehle.com/site/en/222/canon.html#kat8 ”

My Next Camera
The Leica M9 has made its way into the rumor world. It looks like we’ll see an announcement in September.

There’s still speculation it will use the Canon 5D Mark II Sensor. Others feel it’s going to be a full frame Kodak sensor. As long as it works, I don’t care what’s in it.

The projected cost of the camera is $7700 USD.

cr

"Don't let your images live only as jpgs"

If you’ve been waiting to jump into home printing, the 2 new prosumer printers appear to be available everywhere.

Both printers produce great results. If you’re into b&w photography, the 9500 is the way to go.

If you already own a 9000 or 9500, they aren’t worth an upgrade.

I currently use the 9500 and Hahnemuhle papers, I’ve never been happier with a printer.

cr

Canon Pixma Pro 9500

I’ve printed the color charts for a couple of 5 star Epson papers that I plan to profile tomorrow for the Pro9500.

- Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte
- Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster

If anyone wants to try out my ICC profiles for these papers, drop me an email and I’ll send them off when I’m finished on Sunday.

I’m also redoing the profile for the Canon Fine Art Matte paper. Canon’s profile is horrible for me. I’ll do the profile to eliminate the 35mm margin Canon requires for the fine art papers. If anyone wants this profile as well, just let me know.

I’d be curious to know if others had success with my profiles.

cr

http://www.canonrumors.com/category/photography/canon-printers/

Press Release
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 2, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today introduced two new printers for professional and advanced photographers, the ten-color PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II and the eight-color PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printers. The PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II printer takes advantage of Canon’s professional Lucia brand pigment-based inks for long-lasting, professional-quality prints. The PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II printer uses the Company’s dye-based inks to produce brilliant, gallery-quality prints up to 13 x 19 inches on a variety of fine art papers and glossy media. Canon will debut the PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II and PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II photo printers and the LiDE700F Color Image Scanner in its booth (#F131) during the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) exhibit in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall from March 3-5, 2009.

“Canon is known within the professional photographer community for providing the right output tools to manage their photographic creations and the PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II Photo Printer continues to deliver on that tradition with its superior quality and archiveability,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Additionally, with the growing number of enthusiasts capturing professional-quality photographs with digital SLR cameras, it is only natural to want to maintain creative control over their photos by printing the images themselves on products like the new Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printer. These professional and emerging photographers understand and appreciate the creative control that Canon provides over image quality from capture to output.”

PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II Photo Printer
The new PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II Photo Printer features ten pigment-based ink colors – photo black, matte black and gray as well as cyan, magenta, yellow, photo cyan, photo magenta, red and green, allowing users the benefit of a wide color gamut for stunning color prints, as well as three levels of black for true black-and-white photographs. Designed for the pro and “pro-sumer” photographers, the PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II provides outstanding resolution and droplet control utilizing Canon’s double-encoder system to produce high-quality portfolio pieces or gallery-quality prints for the marketplace. The Pro9500 Mark II delivers rich detail, texture and tone plus extraordinary color reproduction in the green, red, yellow and orange color ranges resulting in breathtaking photo-art. Employing the Canon Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) technology along with a sophisticated 7,680 nozzle print-head structure, the Mark II model provides significantly faster production times, delivering approximately one-and-a-half times faster color print speeds on a 13″ x 19″ bordered print1,2 than the previous model.

The printer’s matte black, photo black and gray inks reduce metamerism and provide high-density blacks and truly neutral monochrome prints. Metamerism is an effect in some printed “black-and-white” images where composite gray inks (achieved with combinations of cyan, magenta and yellow ink) make image areas appear a different color hue under different lighting conditions (such as sunlight, fluorescent light and incandescent light). This aberration is due to the differences in spectral reflectance properties of each of the composite colors.

The Canon PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II Photo Printer is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated selling price of $849.993.

PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printer
The eight-color PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printer – cyan, magenta, yellow, photo cyan, photo magenta, photo black, red, and green – delivers an even glossiness and vivid color experience rivaling that of positive film for photographers. The Pro9000 Mark II’s impressive quality and speed are the result of the Canon FINE print head technology coupled with the Company’s high-performance, high-density 6,144-nozzle print head which is capable of producing nearly invisible ink droplets of two-picoliters. Thanks in part to an enhanced double encoder system for media control, the PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II achieves three times faster print speeds over its predecessor, producing a bordered 13″ x 19″ size black and white photographic print in approximately 1 minute, 23 seconds2.

The Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Photo Printer is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated selling price of $499.993.

Canon Launches Brand New PIXMA Photo Printers

Superb Image Quality for Excellent Printing
Canon today announces the launch of PIXMA photo printers and LiDE film scanner. The new PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II, PIMXA Pro9000 Mark II, PIXMA MX868 and PIXMA MX328 photo printers equipped with superb and detailed printing technology which introduce new elements to Canon imaging products.

PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II professional A3+ 10-color photo printer – Feature highlights

• 10-colour A3+ photo printing for professionals
• Specially equips 3 monochrome inks – Professional quality neutral monochrome prints
• Exceptional image permanence with LUCIA all pigment ink system, long-lasting photos up to
• 100-year album life
• Ambient Light Adjustment – optimal photos across varying light
• conditions
• 2-way paper feed (auto sheet feeder & front feeder)
• High quality photo & fine art papers support
• DVD/CD direct print
• Support Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4 plug-in software
• Get complex settings with just a few clicks
• Support Canon Digital Photo Professional software for RAW file
• direct print
• PictBridge direct print

PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II professional A3+ 8-color photo printer – Feature highlights

• 8-color ink system, with additional red and green inks – enhanced color reproduction
• 2pl ink droplet and 4800 x 2400dpi photo print resolution
• ChromaLife 100 ink system – long-lasting photos up to 100-year album life*
• Ambient Light Adjustment – optimal photos across varying light conditions
• 2-way paper feed (auto sheet feeder & front feeder)
• Support high quality photo & fine art papers
• DVD/CD direct print
• Support Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4 plug-in software
• - Get complex settings with just a few clicks
• Support Canon Digital Photo Professional software for RAW file
• direct print
• A3+ Photo lab quality print in

Read about multifunction printer launches as well as a new film scanner.

http://www.canon.com.hk/Download.aspx?pressrelease_id=10309&file_type=1

cr

There may be printer announcements on the 17th or another date in February.

thanks for the tip JO.

cr