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Hi all, I bought a Canon iX4000 last year but have struggled to work how to get it to print consistently to the best of its ability. Often colours are a bit weak, and final image not super sharp. I work on mac, and was getting best results when opening in preview and printing from there, but this doesn't seem to always work, particuarly for borderless prints. I have tried experimenting with cmyk/rgb settings in photoshop but again can't get a consistently high quality print. The black in particular is problematic. I realise it doesn't have a designated photo black, but it has printed much deeper and sharper black on occasion, so i know it is capable of better. Can anyone help? It been driving me crazy for a while, and i can't help thinking its a really fundemental issue about the settings im using, or how its going to printer????? I would be so grateful for any advice...
Printing and colour management is a big subject which is somewhat complex, with lots of books/online content written on this subject. Mostly around the difference between what you see on your screen and how the image prints out.
I have this same printer but I don't have the issues which you are describing. However whilst I don't print a lot of my images at home, when I do print out of lightroom I have the colour management set so that the profile is managed by the printer. I also sharpen the image (once I have set the print size I require) prior to printing and use Canon original inks and paper. Some may say this is the easy way and could be improved by using other papers and ICC profiles but...it works for me.
When I have a special image which I wish to be used for display I use a Pro print company. IHTH
the ix 4000 is a first class printer capable of exhibition prints if handled properly.
i had the same problems initially but called in SCS of sheffield Simon clifford smith who is a whizz with custom profiles.
he got me away from the printer driver, and calibated my screen and did me specific profiles to suit the paper and inks that i use. the profiles are installed to manage colour from photoshop and the printer driver disenabled
that was 3-1/2 years ago and the £60 i spent for him to set me up has saved huge amounts of wasted ink and paper. no more magenta caste mono prints of the printer driver and i can get really great solid blacks.
the results were so good that 5 members of our camera club sold their Epsons and bought the same as me and had the same profiling done. so now i dont win as many print competitions as i did. 
if you google him, there is a good deal of free info on his site that explains all the correct settings when using profiles.
SHS CALIBRATION CLICK HERE
Phil
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