What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA Pro-10 Use?
Last Updated:CastleScore · October 2026
76/100 — Recommended
Canon PIXMA Pro-10
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | — | Not scored: Canon rates PGI-72 tanks in photos, not pages, so we cannot calculate an honest cost per page. |
| Reliability (13%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (12%) | 55 | Wi-Fi, Ethernet. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. Canon launched the PRO-10 in 2012 and followed it with the PRO-10S, which takes the same PGI-72 tanks. Canon USA still posts drivers and manuals for it.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
Why there is no Castle Ink cartridge for this printer
We don't sell PGI-72 tanks in any color. For a pigment photo printer like the PRO-10 we would point most people to genuine Canon ink anyway: pigment photo inks vary more between brands than document inks do, and Canon's paper profiles are built around its own ink.
Buy genuine Canon PGI-72. There is no XL, and each tank is replaced on its own, so keep a spare of the colors your images use most. The photo black is rated at about 510 4×6 photos and the yellow at about 380. The same tanks fit the PRO-10S.
Quick answer: what ink does the Canon PIXMA PRO-10 use?
The Canon PIXMA PRO-10 uses ten Canon PGI-72 pigment ink tanks: photo black, matte black, gray, photo cyan, photo magenta, cyan, magenta, yellow, red, and chroma optimizer. All ten are installed at once, and each is replaced individually when it runs out. There is no XL version of PGI-72; every tank is the same size.
The ten PGI-72 tanks
| Tank | Part number | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Black | PGI-72PBK | Deep blacks on glossy and luster paper |
| Matte Black | PGI-72MBK | Deep blacks on matte and fine-art paper |
| Gray | PGI-72GY | Smooth neutral grays and black-and-white prints |
| Photo Cyan | PGI-72PC | Soft sky and skin-tone gradations |
| Photo Magenta | PGI-72PM | Soft pinks and skin-tone gradations |
| Cyan | PGI-72C | Primary color |
| Magenta | PGI-72M | Primary color |
| Yellow | PGI-72Y | Primary color |
| Red | PGI-72R | Wider gamut for reds and oranges |
| Chroma Optimizer | PGI-72CO | Clear coat that evens out gloss and reduces bronzing on glossy prints |
Common questions about Canon PRO-10 ink
Do I have to switch between matte black and photo black?
No. The PRO-10 holds both black tanks at the same time and chooses the right one for the paper you select, so there's no swapping or ink wasted on a switch.
What does the chroma optimizer do?
It's a clear ink laid over the print on glossy and semi-gloss papers. It evens out the surface gloss, deepens blacks, and reduces bronzing. It's used much less on matte and fine-art papers.
Is there a PGI-72XL?
No. Canon makes PGI-72 in one size only, so the cost per print depends on how much of each color your images use.
How many prints do I get from a set?
Canon rates the photo black at about 510 4×6 photos and the yellow at about 380, but real use varies widely with image content and paper size, since photos use colors unevenly. Most people replace the blacks, gray and chroma optimizer more often than red or photo magenta. Keeping a spare of the colors you use most avoids downtime.
Can the PRO-10 print on fine-art and thick paper?
Yes. It prints up to 13 x 19 inches, and heavier fine-art papers (up to about 350 g/m²) and canvas load one sheet at a time through the manual feed. Set the paper type in the driver so it uses matte black and the right amount of ink. If prints look banded or blurry, run a nozzle check and see our print head alignment guide.
Why won't the PRO-10 recognize an ink tank?
Press the tank down until it clicks and its lamp lights, make sure the orange cap is removed, and check that each tank is in its labeled slot. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.
How do I replace a PGI-72 tank?
With the printer on, open the top cover so the print head moves to the replacement position. Press the tab on the empty tank to release it and lift it out. Remove the new tank from its package, twist off the orange protective cap, insert it into the matching slot, and press down until it clicks and the tank's lamp lights. Close the cover.
Are compatible PGI-72 tanks OK for the PRO-10?
Many photographers use compatible tanks for proofs and everyday prints, but pigment photo inks vary more between brands than document inks do. For exhibition or client prints, genuine Canon ink with a matching paper profile is the safest choice. Using third-party ink doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink and Does compatible ink void your printer warranty?.
PRO-10 key facts
- Type: professional 13 x 19 in. photo inkjet printer
- Ink: 10 Canon PGI-72 pigment tanks (including chroma optimizer)
- Blacks: photo black and matte black installed at the same time
- Paper: glossy, luster, matte and fine-art media up to 13 x 19 in.
- Not the same ink as the PIXMA PRO-100, which uses eight dye-based CLI-42 tanks
What PIXMA PRO-10 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Canon's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Can I print black-and-white with an empty color tank?
No. Canon requires all ten PGI-72 tanks to be installed, even for monochrome prints.
Can I control how much chroma optimizer it uses?
Yes. The driver's Clear Coating setting offers Auto (coat only where ink lands), Overall or Custom.
Do PGI-72 tanks also fit the PRO-10S?
Yes. PGI-72 is listed for both the PIXMA PRO-10 and the PRO-10S.
Can it print on CDs and DVDs?
Yes, one inkjet-printable disc at a time, using the included disc tray loaded through a slot on the front.
A 13-inch custom paper width gives me an error.
Red River Paper ran into the same thing in its review and had to set the width to 12.95 inches. The maximum paper length is about 26 inches.
PIXMA PRO-10 quirks worth knowing
- Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only (802.11b/g/n). If your router uses separate network names, join the 2.4 GHz one, or use the Ethernet port.
- Choosing a fine-art media type forces 30 mm margins at the top and bottom, and there is no borderless 11 × 14.
- Red River found its blacks on matte and fine-art paper less dense than some rivals', such as the Epson R3000. On glossy and luster paper this matters less.
- At about 44 lb (20 kg), it is heavy for a desktop printer. Plan on two people to move it.
More Canon ink guides: Canon PIXMA TS3722 · Canon PIXMA TR4720 · Canon PIXMA MG3600 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3290 — CastleScore 88
- Canon imageCLASS MF275dw (laser) — CastleScore 81
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 8, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon ink cartridges? Shop Canon ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.