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The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 is a print-only, 13-inch-class photo printer built for photographers and artists who want to make large, high-quality prints at home or in a small studio. Its strengths are a ten-position pigment ink system, support for glossy and fine-art media, and borderless printing up to 13 by 19 inches. The trade-offs are the cost of individual cartridges, ink consumed during cleaning, and the absence of automatic duplexing. It makes the most sense when print quality and paper choice matter more than routine document printing or low cost per page.
What the PRO-310 is designed to do
The PRO-310 is a dedicated photo printer rather than an all-purpose office device: it prints but does not scan or copy. Canon positions it for professional and prosumer photographers, students, and home users interested in photo output. In practical terms, it suits people who want to make prints up to 13 by 19 inches and are prepared to manage media selection and ink costs.
Canon specifies borderless printing from 3.5 by 5 inches through 13 by 19 inches. Custom media can be up to 13 by 70 inches, with the appropriate media setting required for long-form output. The maximum resolution listed by Canon Australia is 4,800 × 2,400 dpi. (Canon Australia; Canon U.S.A. support)
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How the ink system affects prints and costs
The printer has ten individual ink positions: nine pigment colors plus Chroma Optimizer. Canon lists Matte Black, Photo Black, Gray, Cyan, Photo Cyan, Magenta, Photo Magenta, Yellow, Red, and Chroma Optimizer in the PFI-5100 family. Canon U.S.A. specifies a nominal 14.4 ml fill volume per tank; that is tank capacity, not a stated number of prints. (Canon U.S.A. support)
#1 Best Overall
- 9 COLOR + CHROMA OPTIMIZER pigment-based ink system produces gallery-quality prints.
- EASE OF USE — ultimate productivity with Anti-Clogging System and Skew Correction.
- MATTE BLACK INK offers enhanced black density and wider dark area reproduction range.
- Easily check ink levels, printer status, and other settings with the 3.0-Inch COLOR LCD MONITOR.
- The LUCIA PRO II INK SYSTEM produces enhanced gloss uniformity, and scratch resistance.
Separate matte and photo black inks are useful when switching between art papers and coated photo papers. Canon says its revised LUCIA PRO II ink is intended to improve image quality and light resistance; it also describes a changed matte-black formulation for art-paper black density, Chroma Optimizer to reduce uneven gloss, and wax intended to improve scratch resistance. Those are Canon’s design claims, not independent guarantees of a particular result or lifespan. (Canon’s January 30, 2025 launch announcement)
Ink economics deserve close attention before buying. TechRadar’s July 17, 2025 review calls the cartridges small and expensive, notes that cleaning cycles use ink, and estimates that yield varies by color, with up to fifty A3+ photos before one or more cartridges may need replacement. That is the review’s broad estimate, not a guaranteed yield; actual consumption depends on images and use. Check current PFI-5100 prices where you live and estimate costs against your own print volume rather than treating tank volume as page yield. (TechRadar review)
Rank #2
- Items Include: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Wireless Inkjet Printer, Deluxe Cleaning Kit, Printer Cable, Ethernet Cable
- Archival-Grade Color: With Canon’s LUCIA PRO II pigment ink system, the PRO-310 delivers stunning vibrancy and deep blacks with incredible permanence. Perfect for gallery installations, fine art collectors, and photographers who need prints to last for decades without fading.
- Full-Bleed Prints with Zero Hassle: Enjoy borderless output up to 13x19 inches, making it easy to create professional presentation pieces without trimming or mounting. It's ideal for creating ready-to-frame artwork, posters, and client deliverables.
- Designed for Precision and Control: Featuring ICC profile support and Canon’s Professional Print & Layout software, the PRO-310 ensures your on-screen edits match final print colors. Take full creative control over layout, paper profiles, and soft proofing in one streamlined workflow.
- Flexible Media Compatibility: Print on a wide range of media types—from glossy photo stock to textured fine art papers—with outstanding clarity. Whether you’re working on portraits, product photography, or gallery prints, this printer handles it all with grace.
Print quality: strong review findings, with limits
TechRadar reports exceptionally realistic output on coated photo paper and says the print quality can compare with a professional print shop. Those are the reviewer’s findings, not a promise that every image, paper, or workflow will produce the same result. Print settings, paper profile, and the chosen medium remain part of the outcome. (TechRadar review)
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Rank #3
- 8 COLOR dye-based ink system produces vibrant, high quality prints.
- BORDERLESS PRINTING from 3.5” x 3.5” up to 13” x 19”.
- HIGH SPEED PRINTING — bordered A3+ print in just 90 seconds or bordered 8" x 10" print in 53 seconds.
- 3.0'' COLOR LCD MONITOR -- Easily check ink levels, printer status, and other settings.
Paper choices and feed options
Canon lists top feed, rear manual feed, and a multipurpose tray. Its U.S. support page names plain paper, glossy and luster photo papers, matte and fine-art papers, greeting cards, card stock, stickers, and printable optical discs. Its manual includes Canon media such as Photo Paper Pro Platinum (PT-101), Pro Luster (LU-101), Plus Semi-gloss (SG-201), Premium Fine Art Smooth (FA-SM1), and Premium Fine Art Rough (FA-RG1). (Canon U.S.A. support; Canon PRO-310 manual)
Media availability and supported sizes vary by region and operating system, as Canon’s manual warns. Before buying specialty paper, confirm it appears on your local Canon model page and select the matching media type in the driver. TechRadar reports that the printer supports sheet media rather than rolls, so it is not the right fit for a roll-based print workflow. (Canon PRO-310 manual; TechRadar review)
Rank #4
- 11 PIGMENT-BASED INK SYSTEM PLUS CHROMA OPTIMIZER: The 11 pigment-based ink system provides a broad color gamut and improved gloss uniformity for superb glossiness and anti-bronzing. The included Chroma Optimizer ink enhances glossiness, flattens the print surface and expands color range.
- WIDE COLOR GAMUT FOR EXCEPTIONAL IMAGE CLARITY: The LUCIA PRO II ink system helps you achieve an improvement in color-reproduction, image clarity, and enhanced darker areas. It faithfully reproduces colors and dark areas crucial for printing works of art.
- PROFESSIONAL PRINT & LAYOUT SOFTWARE: This powerful software provides professional photographers with intuitive printing solutions. A standalone application that also can be used as a plug-in from Digital Photo Professional or Adobe software to support seamless output.
- PRINTER MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS: Every detail in your print must be perfect, why not have the same obsession for your workflow? The PRO-1100 is precisely managed with powerful management tools such as the Media Configuration, Color Calibration, and Accounting Manager tools.
- ANTI-CLOGGING TECHNOLOGY: Via a FINE print head that controls precise ink ejection.
Workflow features and drawbacks
Canon’s Professional Print & Layout software provides editing and layout tools and color-management capabilities for its imagePROGRAF PRO line. Canon U.S.A. describes integration with Photoshop, Lightroom, and Digital Photo Professional, which can help photographers prepare print layouts from familiar applications. (Canon U.S.A. product page)
TechRadar notes that the PRO-310 lacks automatic duplexing. For a photo-focused printer, that may be an acceptable compromise; it is a poor match if automatic two-sided document printing is a regular need. Its print-only design also means scanning and copying require separate equipment. (TechRadar review)
Best Value
- PFI-5100 10 COLOR PACK
Who should buy the PRO-310?
- Consider it if you regularly make photographic or fine-art prints up to 13 by 19 inches, want separate matte and photo black inks, and value access to a range of compatible sheet media.
- Budget carefully if you print often: individual 14.4 ml tanks, replacement frequency, and ink used during cleaning all affect ongoing cost.
- Look elsewhere if your priority is high-volume routine documents, low running cost, automatic duplexing, scanning, copying, or roll printing.
- Compare alternatives by workflow: maximum print size, individual-cartridge versus tank-based ink costs, preferred glossy or fine-art media, and features such as screen controls or roll support matter more than comparing headline resolution alone.
Canon U.S.A. vice president Shuji “Steve” Suda described the printer at launch as designed to help users achieve vivid colors and produce professional-looking prints and layouts. That statement expresses Canon’s intended positioning; it does not replace independent evaluation. (Canon’s January 30, 2025 launch announcement)
Quick Recap
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