Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 review
The plotter whose ink survives a rainy site visit, at a price that undercuts the obvious alternative.
A 24-inch large format printer with the L-COA PRO II processor, a high-density 6-channel PF-06 printhead, a 5-colour UV and water-resistant ink set and onboard calibration.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Processor | L-COA PRO II, approximately 30 percent faster than previous models |
| Printhead | High-density 6-channel PF-06, designed for minimal mist spray |
| Resolution | Up to 2400 by 1200 dpi |
| Ink | 5-colour set with a newly formulated magenta, UV and water resistant |
| Calibration | Onboard printer calibration for consistent colour |
| Media detection | Automatically determines media type, length and width |
| Media width | 24 inches |
Specifications above come from Canon's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Water and UV resistant ink is a genuine practical advantage for drawings that leave the office. A rained-on plot that is still legible is worth more than a marginal quality difference indoors.
- Automatic media detection removes the setting most people get wrong, which is telling the printer what paper is loaded.
- Onboard calibration means colour stays consistent as the machine ages, which matters when a set is printed over several days.
- Minimal mist spray from the PF-06 head is a maintenance benefit rather than a print benefit: less ink aerosol inside the machine means less to clean.
- It undercuts most 24-inch competition while adding features, which makes it a strong value proposition in a category where value is rare.
Where it falls short
- 24 inches is the ceiling. ARCH E and ANSI E need a 36-inch machine, and buying this and then needing wider is an expensive discovery.
- A 5-colour technical ink set is optimised for line work and text, not photographic tone. Renders will print acceptably and will not match a pigment photo printer.
- Large format ink costs what large format ink costs, and coverage drives it. Model it with our ink cost calculator rather than assuming.
- Canon's software ecosystem is different from HP Click, so a practice standardised on HP tooling has a retraining cost that is small but real.
- As with every plotter, curled roll media is the main cause of skew and jams, which is a storage discipline you take on with the machine.
What owners report
Published owner reports on the TM series consistently mention line sharpness and the speed improvement, and the water-resistant ink comes up repeatedly from people in construction and surveying rather than from office-based users. That split tells you exactly who the feature is for.
Automatic media detection is the other feature owners name unprompted, which is a good sign: features that eliminate a routine mistake get remembered, and features that add a specification do not.
Who it suits
- Construction, surveying and site-based work where drawings get handled outdoors.
- Practices printing at 24 inches who want calibration and consistency.
- Anyone replacing an older TM series machine, where the speed increase is the upgrade.
Who should skip it
- Anyone printing ARCH E or ANSI E, who needs 36 inches. Our HP DesignJet T650 review covers that class.
- Photographers and fine art printers.
- Offices already deep in the HP workflow, where the tooling difference is a real if minor cost.
Alternatives worth considering
The same width with roll feed, an automatic cutter and a two-year onsite care pack included, for less money. You give up the water and UV resistant ink and the onboard calibration, which matter only if your drawings go outdoors.
Check price on Amazon36 inches, for practices that genuinely print ARCH E. Twice the money and more expensive media, and the only reason to buy it is width.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Is water-resistant plotter ink worth paying for?
If drawings leave the building, yes. A set that gets rained on in a site hut or handled with wet gloves is a set that has to be reprinted, and that cost adds up quickly. If everything you print is filed indoors, it buys you nothing and a cheaper machine is the better decision.
Canon TM-240 or HP DesignJet T230?
Both are 24-inch technical plotters. The HP costs less and includes a two-year onsite care pack. The Canon adds UV and water-resistant ink, onboard calibration and automatic media detection. Decide on whether the drawings go outside, and let that settle it. Our HP versus Canon comparison covers the wider brand differences.
What resolution do I need for technical drawings?
Far less than the headline figure suggests. Line accuracy and text crispness at normal viewing distance are what matter, and every current plotter at this class does that well. Resolution numbers matter more for renders and photographic content, which is not what a technical plotter is optimised for.
What is printer calibration and do I need it?
It measures the printer's own output and corrects for drift, so a sheet printed today matches one printed last month. On a multi-day drawing set or anywhere colour carries meaning, that consistency is worth having. For pure black line work it matters far less.
How much does a 24-inch plot cost?
Ink plus media, and coverage drives the ink. A line drawing on bond costs a fraction of a full-coverage render on coated paper. Our ink cost calculator lets you enter your cartridge price and coverage estimate to get a number you can actually quote from.
Keep reading
- HP vs Canon compared
- Best wide format printers
- Best printers for architects
- HP DesignJet T230 review
- HP DesignJet T650 review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.