Pro vs GP vs TM: Which Canon Large-Format Printer Fits You?

Bottom Line Up Front:

• Pro Series = gallery-grade photos and fine art with the deepest blacks and Chroma Optimizer.
• GP Series = widest color for branding, neon/pastels, and fast poster work. (Fluorescent Pink ink no one else has this color combination)
• TM Series = crisp plans and posters on plain paper, small footprint, quiet, and quick.

Who is this for?

Churches, photographers, fine-art studios, print-for-pay, schools, retail, and AEC teams choosing between Canon imagePROGRAF Pro, GP, and TM models.

Quick answer: what to buy by job type

• Black-and-white fine art, gallery photo, luster/satin papers: Pro Series
• Brand colors, neons/pastels, eye-catching retail posters: GP Series
• Plans, maps, classroom posters on bond, shared spaces: TM Series

Pro Series: Why pick it?

What it’s best at: Museum-grade photo and fine art, especially on glossy/luster papers and high-end matte stocks.

Standout traits

• Lucia Pro II inks: more pigment density in blacks + a tiny crystalline wax component for better scratch resistance and deeper D-Max.
• Chroma Optimizer: clear coat that evens gloss and cuts bronzing on luster/satin papers.
• Grayscale finesse: photo black, matte black, gray, and photo gray for smooth B&W gradients.
• Head management sensor on the carriage watches droplet placement and corrects issues on the fly.
• Operator niceties: internal LED inspection light to catch mistakes early, translucent ink covers for quick level checks.
• Faster setup: smarter media detection and fewer manual feed tweaks on third-party papers.

Choose Pro if you care most about

• Maximum D-Max and shadow detail
• Perfect surface uniformity on photo papers
• Highest resolution and quality in the industry
• Premium B&W output with silky tonal ramps

Good fits: photographers, fine-art studios, labs, premium canvas

GP Series: Why pick it?

What it’s best at: Brand-critical color, posters with pop, creative graphics, proofing needs.

Two GP families

1. GP-2000/4000 (gamut kings)
   • Extra inks like orange, violet, green plus fluorescent pink for neons/pastels.
   • Hits the widest Pantone range in the lineup and can toggle fluorescence on/off.
2. GP-4600S/6600S (the speed posters)
   • 7-color set with orange and gray, plus doubled key channels for speed.
   • Mirrored laydown across a 12-channel head keeps color consistent even in fast modes.
   • Draft-mode posters that still look sellable.

Choose GP if you care most about

• Hitting tough brand colors (hello, “Home Depot” orange)
• Neon/pastel campaigns and attention-grabbing retail
• High-speed poster production without a “drafty” look
• Marketing materials

Good fits: Churches, retail, schools, in-plant print rooms, agencies, proofing

TM Series: Why pick it?

What it’s best at: Bond/plain-paper plans and posters, quiet offices, small spaces.

Standout traits

• Two-pass plain-paper logic: less ink per pass, twice, for tighter lines and darker blacks on absorbent bond.
• Up to ~37% faster than the prior TM generation on common jobs.
• Noise-cancellation: easy to place in libraries, classrooms, and hallways.
• Drop-in loading and “auto use printer settings” keep jobs simple.
• Color calibration support for consistent fleets.
• TM-355 adds an HDD for mailboxes, USB thumb-drive printing, and extra performance headroom.

Choose TM if you care most about

• Crisp linework and readable small text on bond
• Low noise and a compact footprint
• Walk-up reprints and PC-free workflows (TM-355)

Good fits: AEC, schools, government, facilities, photo labs doing quick posters on plain paper

Feature head-to-head (the big differences)

• Deep blacks / shadow detail: Pro ▲▲ | GP ▲ | TM ▲
• Gloss uniformity (luster/satin): Pro (Chroma Optimizer) ▲▲ | GP ▲ | TM —
• Brand-critical color / neons: GP ▲▲ | Pro ▲ | TM —
• Plain-paper line clarity: TM ▲▲ | GP ▲ | Pro ▲
• Fast posters at low cost: GP-S ▲▲ | TM ▲ | Pro —
• Quiet / small footprint: TM ▲▲ | GP ▲ | Pro ▲
• B&W grayscale smoothness: Pro ▲▲ | GP ▲ | TM ▲

(▲▲ = primary strength)

Sizing and model tips

Pro Series: 24″, 44″, 60″ models. Great bundles often include generous starter ink, a fresh head, and maintenance cart. (60” model automatically comes with a 2nd roll unit)

GP Series:

• GP-2000 (24″) / GP-4000 (44″) for maximum gamut and fluorescence.
• GP-4600S (44″) / GP-6600S (60″) for fast posters with orange + gray. A 26″ “S” is special-order only in the U.S. (60” model automatically comes with a 2nd roll unit)

TM Series:

• TM-240/340: light volume, 55 ml carts, lowest entry cost.
• TM-250/350: higher volume, up to 300 ml carts, faster engine.
• TM-355: adds HDD for mailboxes and USB walk-up printing.

FAQs

Will the new Pro inks work in older Pro printers?

No. Lucia Pro II is a different chemistry and is not cross-compatible with previous Pro models.

Do I still need Canon media for calibration?

You can run common calibration workflows and keep consistency with qualified third-party medias. The new sensor logic and profiles reduce manual feed tweaks.

Is the LED inspection light just a gimmick?

It helps you catch wrong settings or color issues early, saving premium paper and ink. It stays off during calibration to avoid skewing readings.

How green is the lineup?

Newer packaging reduces foam in favor of recyclable cardboard, and power draw is modest for full-width printing, helping TCO and ESG reporting.

What about warranties?

Canon’s eCarePack extends coverage beyond the base year and follows the printer if resold. Buy it through an authorized dealer.

Decision guide: three fast scenarios

• You print gallery photos and want perfect luster output: Get Pro.
• You print retail posters and need brand-exact oranges and neon callouts: Get GP-2000/4000.
• You run plan sets on bond in a quiet office and want walk-up reprints: Get TM-355.

Bottom line

Pick Pro for gallery photo and fine art detail, GP for color range and poster speed, and TM for sharp bond output in quiet shared spaces. If you’re between two, start with your media and use case, then confirm with a sample set.