How can I adjust parameters on an AirPrint printer in Catalina?

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Level 1

145 points

How can I adjust parameters on an AirPrint printer in Catalina?

I use a Canon Pixma TS8350 AirPrint printer on my new iMac, running Catalina 10.15.6. I can print, but there are no options available in the print dialog to adjust the colour balance or intensity of the print. This often results in prints that look a lot different to what I see on my screen (for example, prints are often darker or have a colour cast). This was not the case in my previous version of MacOS, High Sierra - there there was a rich collection of parameters shown in the print dialog. I asked Canon about this, and they said just now:

"...we would like to inform that since Mac OS Catalina does not allow the use of any other drivers than Mac's AirPrint protocol (type of drivers), everything hangs o Catalina, as you cannot use any of our software. It impacts also the adjustment of printer's parameters and it is up to Apple only. If you wish, you may want to take it up with them to see whether they could do anything about your issue."

Does anyone have a workaround for this - clearly the printer manufacturer isn't going to help! I have no idea if the same problem occurs with other makes of printer.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 25, 2020 4:40 AM

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Answer 1

Living Fossil Author

Level 1

145 points

Sep 25, 2020 8:52 AM in response to Jeff Donald

I just don't see that tab "Color Options" in the dropdown list on the Print Dialog which includes items like "Quality and Media". In fact the full list now is:

On the old driver, I got

But who is responsible for these differences - Canon or Apple?

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Answer 2

Jeff Donald

Level 7

23,749 points

Sep 25, 2020 9:19 AM in response to Living Fossil

Here is Apple’s Support Document on AirPrint supported printers,

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311

I do not see your Canon TS8350 listed as supported. Apple updates this document monthly. Canon would need to send updated drivers to Apple for them to fully support your printer with features you want. The updated drivers would be included in a future Apple update to Catalina.

However, with Catalina out for over a year and Canon’s response to you support request, indicates to me that Canon has ceased support for your printer.

Your printer will continue to print via the generic AirPrint driver that is installed when you install your printer in System Preferences on your computer. Because of lack of further support/development by Canon, you printer will not have the features you’re looking for.

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Answer 3

Rudegar

Level 10

173,664 points

Sep 25, 2020 4:49 AM in response to Living Fossil

odd they would say so sounds more like canons choice not to make a driver

I went to brothers site and choose some random printer and can find a catalina driver

https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadlist.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=hll2370dw_us&_ga=2.126869197.1158443112.1601034229-677908104.1601034229&os=10060

if I go to canons site

https://www.canon-europe.com/support/consumer_products/products/fax__multifunctionals/inkjet/pixma_ts_series/pixma-ts8350.html?type=drivers&language=en&os=macos%2010.15%20(catalina)

I got

This product is compatible with the operating system selected using AirPrint only - a driver is not required.

the whole point of airprint is that ios devices cant use device drivers so airprint does not use drivers but use a generic one, but brothers site seem to refute that cataline does not support drivers from the printer manufactures

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Answer 4

Living Fossil Author

Level 1

145 points

Sep 25, 2020 8:13 AM in response to Rudegar

Yep, I see what you're saying I just hoped there was some way to circumvent the lack of adjustments. I have a nasty feeling that if I run the printer under W*nd*ws 10 using Parallels, I will see a driver that does this stuff. But what a pain that would be.

Thanks anyway.

By the way, I have asked Canon to comment, but I bet they go on blaming Apple.

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Answer 5

Living Fossil Author

Level 1

145 points

Sep 25, 2020 9:30 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Thanks - depressing news, but obviously interesting. Before your reply reached me, I had just written to Canon asking why the printer wasn't registered. I wonder what they will say. I bought this printer quite recently (in France where I've been in lockdown) and nobody suggested it was obsolete - in fact it has some quite advanced features and the ink is very much available, including larger capacity ink cartridges which are better value for money. Furthermore, Canon were updating the Windows drivers for the device on their US site as recently as last month.

Curses! I can't afford to keep buying new printers, especially when the hardware is still OK. But there you are - over the years a lot of working stuff has been dumped - remember SCSI interfaces?

Thank you for the information, which I would certainly not have found on my own.

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Answer 6

Living Fossil Author

Level 1

145 points

Sep 25, 2020 8:05 AM in response to Jeff Donald

This whole tab appeared on my previous Canon printer under High Sierra. I am wondering whether to blame Catalina now for my present troubles, but I am not sure where to go next.

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Answer 7

Living Fossil Author

Level 1

145 points

Sep 25, 2020 9:10 AM in response to Jeff Donald

This:

So, nothing on colour options. Options for Double-Sided and Black and White appear as check boxes in another part of the print dialog (window)

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Answer 8

Jeff Donald

Level 7

23,749 points

Sep 25, 2020 5:08 AM in response to Living Fossil

Can you please provide a screenshot of what you're seeing when you get to the printer dialog box? This is the box where you pick paper surface, quantity of prints etc.

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Answer 9

Rudegar

Level 10

173,664 points

Sep 25, 2020 8:07 AM in response to Living Fossil

did you read my post? canon threw support for your and maybe all their printers under the bus in terms of supporting anything more than the generic AirPrint interface

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