Brand new CANON TM-255 OEM inks - ink scratches really easy from glossy media

[AmaDeuSbg]

Hello,

I hope that I will find some support here because I am getting desperate. I bought brand new TM-255, 2nd day using it. Everything was going great - started creating some ICC profiles with my colormunki for the media I had around and suddenly I decided to test how durable the ink is on the surface.. with really lightnail scratch on it all the inks fall apart and even the white color of the media showed under

I am using katana premium glossy paper 255gsm and katana silk 255 (which are both RC papers and the local distributor claims that are from on of the big manufacturers of papers), so far I used them with dye inks in my L1800 and had no problem. The seller of the paper tells me that there is no problem with pigment inks and I've seen prints in their showroom and they seem fine - but printed on Epson printers - I do not know if there is anything related with the type of pigment ink.

On matte paper the ink is fairly more stable and does not scratch so easy of the surface. Had to scratch it on the same spot with some push in order to scratch it deep to the media. I started thinking if the BK pigment ink is just not ok but other colors scratch too.

Not only black but grey and other colors scratch easy too. Asked the seller of the printer and their technician told me it is mostly likely due to the media and to try select higher gsm media setting... then they gave me a contact to another person with canon pro printer and he told me to start from lower gsm in case the ink was too much on the paper because this can be the reason?

I am lost in the media selection of Canon, in comparison to epson where there is 1 type matte paper and premium / semiglossy here are like a hundred choices. Could the wrong type of media be the reason (for example for the premium glossy I selected Canon Glossy Paper HG 255, for the the silk paper Canon Semi-glossyPhoto PaperHG255).

The prints were left for like 12h and still scratch easily, I do not know if it has something to do with it. Some said that I can try to use a hairdryer to cure the ink faster in case this is the problem?

Something I noticed is that the seller of the printed gave me a sample printed on the canon matte 140 paper which strangely had little to no grain in the purple and dark pink areas (supposedly they printed it in the larger TM-355). I wonder (if the sample was really printed on that printer) if the laid ink was really too much on the paper which leads to the more grain ( am aware that it is basically 4 ink system but if samples were truly made on same printer it will be really bizarre)? Also there is huge bronzing but I was aware this can be an issue but at least thought that the print will be durable.. I have really no idea where to start solving this.

I will really appreciate all the help.

Have a lovely night

Edit: Difference in grain is close neglectable between my printer and the sample, I am just going crazy due to the ink flaking..

 

[thebestcpu]

Hi @AmaDeuSbg
There is no question that pigment ink has a larger propensity to sit on top of glossy papers, which can create issues.

If I were in your shoes, I would get some official Canon glossy type paper, and using the exact recommended printer settings for that printer, run a test image and check its scratch resistance. If the scratch resistance is much better, then you have either a paper issue or an incorrect media setting for that paper.

This would at least narrow down the issue.

I don't run Canon printers yet; for Epson printers, one has to be sure if the settings in the control panel are from the print driver or the printer control panel. Otherwise, you may think you have set the correct media setting when in actuality, it is not set correctly.

Just some quick thoughts.
John Wheeler

 

[AmaDeuSbg]

Hey, thank you so much for joining the discussion.

I would gladly buy and test canon glossy, however .. the seller told me that all except the matte 140gsm is with delivery, which could probably take 2-3 weeks maybe .. Until then I am lookin for a solution (if any), I saw that on canon website if you choose your printer a list with compatible canon papers appear but I hope that those are not the only one supported (because I want also to try canvas on that printer which I see many people do on youtube on similar canon machines .. :/)

 

[thebestcpu]

I cannot speak to what to expect with the katana papers. It seems unusual to be that scratch sensitive and comparing to a Canon paper using the exact media setting specified by Canon would be a good benchmark for the printer and inks. I would hope the canon papers would not have that problem.

I was a bit surprised that you could not get any Canon glossy paper on faster turnaround yet do not know your geography and availability. I assume you are looking at cut sheet options for testing and not just roll paper (your printer can handle relative small cut sheet paper).

Barring testing with Canon paper and you must get going, there are a couple options to consider.
1) One can use a protective spray. I have not done this myself yet I understand it could take a learning curve to get it done right yet it a very common approach. here are some options:

• Hahnemühle Protective Spray
  • Made for both matte and glossy papers.
  • Adds a subtle protective layer against UV, humidity, and scratches.
  • Dries clear and does not noticeably change gloss level if applied lightly.
  • Best for fine-art and high-end photo papers.
• Breathing Color “Timeless” or “Glamour II” Varnish
  • Available in gloss, satin, and matte finishes.
  • Excellent scratch and UV resistance.
  • Can be sprayed or rolled; the aerosol “Timeless” version is more convenient for single prints.
  • Designed specifically for pigment ink prints.
• PremierArt Print Shield
  • Widely used by photographers and print studios.
  • Adds strong protection against ozone, UV, and moisture.
  • Slightly deepens blacks on glossy papers.
  • Comes in aerosol form; dries quickly.
• Moab Desert Varnish
  • Compatible with both dye and pigment prints.
  • Designed to protect glossy and semi-gloss papers.
  • Evens out sheen and reduces gloss differential or bronzing.

2) Another approach is to create your own media settings with Canons media configuration tool. The problem is there might be a lot to trial and error in getting a better media setting. Here is what the Media Configurator can do:

Canon Tool for Controlling Ink Limits and Media Behavior​

→ Canon Media Configuration Tool (MCT)​

This is the official Canon application for creating, editing, and uploading custom media settings to your TM-series printer.

What it does:​

MCT lets you define or adjust parameters such as:

• Ink limit / ink restriction (how much total ink is laid down)
• Vacuum strength (to prevent head strikes on curled media)
• Head height
• Paper feed compensation
• Drying time between passes
• Color calibration target
• Custom ICC profile linking

When you create or modify a media type, you can then select it from the printer driver or control panel just like a built-in preset (e.g., “Glossy Photo Paper HG 255” → your custom “Katana Glossy 255”).

Here is the link to that tool and tool information:
https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/WebPortal/PTA/pta_guide.html?app=mct&lng=en&type=app-gd2

You may not have the best advice from your local distributor, since they clearly have not provided a solid solution for you, and the advice requires experimentation to find a solution on your own. There is no question that all pigment inks are not the same. e.g., Epson inks for the P900 (all pigment) were specially formulated to work with their papers, both matte and glossy i.e. not just float on the surface.

I hope the suggestions are useful for you.
John Wheeler

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Give hairspray a try - as a test - just use the regular one not the strong stuff which is weatherresistant etc. You should test various brands - the nozzles are different and create a different type of fog .
The hairspray works like the Canon chroma optimizer , it increases the gamut and very much reduces gloss differences and bronzing and improves the black level.
You won't need special and more expensive sprays - the hairspary even extends the longevity which I tested longer time ago on dye inks.
Problems are not just related to inks but very much as well to the actual coating on the paper, one may accept pigment inks much better than the coating of another paper even if the supplier promises the opposite. Start off with 'standard' papers of Canon and experiment with other papers as a separate action; you may look for sample packs by the paper distributors .