Many users rely on long established Canon ImagePROGRAF printers for dependable wide format output, and it is understandable that questions arise when further changes to ink availability are announced. Following recent updates around discontinued Canon inks, we are now seeing limited stock availability for additional ink sets, and this may be a useful moment to review how well your current printer continues to support your everyday requirements.

Canon has confirmed that the PFI 106, PFI 306, and PFI 706 ink ranges are reaching the later stages of their product lifecycle. While these inks remain available at present, supplies are limited, and availability will reduce as remaining stock is exhausted. In many situations, this provides a natural opportunity to assess whether an existing printer continues to be the most practical choice for your workflow.

Which Canon printers are affected

The ink ranges above are used across several earlier Canon ImagePROGRAF models that have delivered reliable service over many years. Large format printers affected include the iPF6300, iPF6300S, iPF6350, iPF6400, and iPF6450, alongside the larger format iPF8300, iPF8300S, iPF8400, iPF8400S, iPF9400, and iPF9400S models.

If you are using one of these devices, you may find that day to day printing remains perfectly stable, and there is no immediate need to make changes. However, as ink availability narrows, it becomes increasingly important to consider how easily supplies can be maintained over the coming months, particularly in busy professional print environments where downtime or substitution is not ideal.

Understanding what limited ink availability means in practice

Limited stock does not imply an immediate end to printing, and many users continue to operate their printers successfully while compatible inks remain available. That said, you may wish to consider how predictable your supply chain needs to be, especially if your printer supports production, education, or client facing work where consistency matters.

It is also worth noting that printers tied to discontinued ink sets may eventually become harder to support in the longer term, particularly when combined with earlier announcements regarding service parts and cover. Looking at the wider picture can help avoid reactive decisions later.

Considering newer Canon ImagePROGRAF alternatives

Canon’s current ImagePROGRAF range offers clear advantages for users coming from earlier dye based or mixed ink systems. Modern printers make full use of pigment inks, which deliver improved resistance to fading and water, and they often provide more efficient ink usage alongside faster print speeds. Media handling has also evolved, with automatic media recognition, clearer touchscreen workflows, and better integration with Canon drivers and Canon Professional Print and Layout software.

For users working with technical drawings, photography, posters, or everyday wide format printing paper, these changes can bring a noticeable improvement in efficiency and predictability, while also simplifying colour calibration and media selection.

A sensible time to review your setup

This stage of the ink lifecycle is often a sensible moment to review your printer requirements rather than an urgent trigger to replace equipment. You may find that your current device continues to meet your needs for some time, or you may discover that newer Canon models offer practical benefits that better suit how you now work.

At Prizma Graphics, we regularly help customers compare their existing Canon ImagePROGRAF printers with current alternatives, taking into account ink availability, media compatibility, software workflows, and long term support. If you would like to discuss how these ink changes relate to your printer or to explore suitable upgrade paths, we would be pleased to provide tailored guidance based on your setup and usage.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to talk this through in more detail.