A mid-range inkjet photo printer, the Pixma iP3500 takes up Canon's classic design: a successful mix of silver-gray and lacquered black plastic. Folded up, it is a cube 43 x 30 x 14,5 cm which is discreet. But in use, you have to deploy the vertical feed tray at the back, and the receiving tray at the front. The size then increases considerably. Positive point for Canon, the iP3500 does not have multiple plastic elements that must be clipped (the extensions of the receiving and feeding trays, for example). These elements are integrated, judiciously folded into the body of the device. Impossible to lose a bit!
The iP3500 cuts to the chase. No frills, it's a printer that is intended for text, graphics and photos. For this, it uses four separate ink cartridges (black, cyan, magenta and yellow). Once the cover is open, the receptacle trolley stops in the middle of the machine and lights up all the cartridges with red LEDs. Very handy for seeing the ink level at a glance. The connection to the computer is via USB. This is also the only connection available, with the PictBridge port to print directly from your camera. Everything happens via a computer, the drivers, and the Easy-PhotoPrint application for managing photo output. Of course, this is just a suggestion from Canon. Nothing prevents you from printing directly from your favorite management or photo editing software.
The quality of the text and graphics output is impeccable. The quality of photo prints is also very good provided you take a few basic precautions. Canon's application guides you step by step, but be sure to indicate the type of paper used. The slightest error results in traces of printing. The colors are faithful and saturated, the Pixma iP3500 however fishing on the restitution of black (very dark gray) and large flat areas of color. For the latter, the ink droplets are relatively perceptible whereas they are almost invisible for more heterogeneous images. The sudden transition from one color to another also seems to pose some difficulties for the iP3500, with borders that walk on it a little.
Print speed is at the top of the pack with an average of 30 to 45 seconds for printing an A4 photo.
- by Daniel Pascoal
Specifications
- Inkjet technologies
- Standard USB 2.0 connectivity
- Dimensions (HxLxP) 436 x 302 x 145 mm
- 4800 x 1200 print resolution
- Weight 4,9kg
