Canon MG6200 printer driver has incorrect default color model

[Gumwise Samgee]

Installed my Canon MG6220 printer today using the Printers applet in System Settings. It found it right away and I chose the recommended Gutenprint driver: Canon PIXMA MG6200.

Without changing a single setting I clicked on Print Test Page. You can see the result in the attachment, RGB-default.jpg. Colors are drab and lifeless, nothing like when I print a test page in Windows 7 on this same PC/Printer combination.

I did a web search, immediately found others had fixed this issue on their Canon printers by changing the "Color Model" setting on the Gutenprint driver from the default of RGB to use CMYK instead. Changed that easily under Printer Settings | Printer Options | Color Model. Immediately printed another test page, results are attached as CMYK.jpg. See for yourself, I can't put it any other way than, "colors are fixed."

I have no idea how Gutenprint finds or defines a color model for a printer, but it is definitely incorrect for the Canon MG6200 series.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: cups 1.6.2-1ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-21.32-generic 3.8.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-21-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun May 19 20:05:43 2013
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-05-14 (5 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release i386 (20130424)
Lpstat: device for Canon-MG6220: usb://Canon/MG6200%20series?serial=6326B8&interface=1
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 8500
MarkForUpload: True
Papersize: letter
PpdFiles: Canon-MG6220: Canon PIXMA MG6200 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.9
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.8.0-21-generic root=UUID=57957c00-d8e8-45e9-b06d-d065d3a70465 ro reboot=acpi
SourcePackage: cups
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/05/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A09
dmi.board.name: 0NW73C
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA09:bd09/05/2012:svnDellInc.:pnXPS8500:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0NW73C:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS 8500
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[r_avital (raphaelavital)]

Having the same problem but with Canon PIXMA i4700 printer (and appropriate driver).

My test-pages for RGN and CMYK look exactly like those attached in OP by Gumwise Samgee, so there's no point in attaching mine.

The RGB behavior and color-rendition in Lucid (64-bit on my end) was and still is correct.

Confirmed the bug in 12.04 and 13.04 both 64 Bit.

[r_avital (raphaelavital)]

Apologies, make that PIXMA IP4700 printer and driver.

[Julie Brandon (jewelie)]

This also happens with a PIXMA MG5350, I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same problem for all PIXMA printers.

[Julie Brandon (jewelie)]

Here's another example - photo taken as carefully as I could (with proper white balance) - on the right is the original image, top left a CMYK version printed and below an RGB version printed.

What is most revealing, I think, is the white to black gradient on the bottom left of each image. Although the CMYK model doesn't have as high contrast, it is at least a pretty accurate ramp, whereas with the RGB model something clearly goes very wrong a quarter of the way into the black end.

This really needs to be addressed - it looks like it probably effects an awful lot of people!

[cyrgui78 (cousin-patrick)]

This also happens with a PIXMA MG6450.

[Nicolas Garnier (v-nicolas)]

Yes, this is probably a widespread problem for PIXMA printers: I encountered the same issue with my MG3100.

I'm running LinuxMint 17.3

[Jaak Ristioja (jotik)]

Same issue on Gentoo Linux and Kubuntu 14.04 with a Canon PIXMA MG7150 printer.