Canon i9900 Photo Printer - focused high-resolution color printing

The Canon i9900 focuses on high-resolution color and photo printing via a multi-cartridge ink system that improves tonal range and repairability of individual colors. It excels at photo output but is not optimized for fast, economical black-and-white office printing. The printer has limited onboard memory, so connecting it to a dedicated workstation or print server improves handling of large jobs. As a legacy model, buyers should weigh driver and support availability against modern Canon photo printers.

Overview

The Canon i9900 is a dedicated photo inkjet that was designed to prioritize high-resolution color reproduction over general office throughput. Photographers and small print shops picked it for rich color gradations, relatively fine detail, and a cartridge system that supports photo-grade inks.

Color system and inks

The i9900 uses multiple independent ink cartridges so you can replace only the color that runs out. The original model shipped with six separate ink tanks (including dedicated photo cyan and photo magenta positions), which improved tonal transitions in prints compared with four-color consumer inkjets.

Refilling cartridges with third-party ink or refill kits is possible, but it can affect color consistency and may void manufacturer support. Canon recommends using genuine inks for predictable color and archival performance.

Strengths: photo quality, color speed

Where the i9900 stood out was in photo printing: smooth skin tones, extended gamut for saturated colors, and support for glossy and fine art papers. Its photo prints were faster than many comparable consumer photo inkjets at the time, thanks to its multi-nozzle print head architecture, commonly referenced in older specs as having thousands of nozzles/modules. ¹

Limitations: general printing and memory

This printer was never marketed as an all-purpose office device. Duplexed text throughput and cost-per-page for heavy monochrome use were not competitive with laser printers. In many real-world workflows the black-and-white printing speed and economy lagged behind color photo performance.

Another practical limitation for high-volume production was limited onboard memory and no standard slot for memory expansion, so large print jobs could be slower when jobs were spooled from the printer alone. Many users kept the device connected to a dedicated workstation or print server to offload processing and avoid those constraints.

Where it makes sense today

As a legacy model the i9900 still delivers strong photo prints for hobbyists who already own the hardware and supplies. For new buyers or businesses needing support, modern Canon photo printers and professional large-format devices offer improved color management, higher durability, and current driver support. ²

Practical tips

• Use genuine inks for archival stability and predictable color.

• Keep the printer connected to a computer for large job spooling.

• Consider replacement or upgrade if you need fast monochrome printing or current OS driver support.

1. Confirm the original Canon i9900 cartridge count and exact ink names (six cartridges and whether they included photo cyan/photo magenta).
2. Verify the '6144 modules' or the original nozzle count/print head configuration claimed in older specifications.
3. Confirm current (2025) support/discontinuation status for the Canon i9900 and whether Canon lists modern driver downloads.