Canon Pixma 1P4300 Users - Please Help
Decorating By Ladyfett Updated 27 Mar 2007 , 2:59am by Ladyfett
I am so frustrated. I have been researching edible image printers for months now and found some information on the Kopykake website. According to them I can use this printer. So I get everything to get started and I am getting an ink tank error! Can't print a thing! Thought it was the printer, took it back, tried again, still same problem. Anyone use this printer have this error have any ideas. Any help would be appreciated. Kopykake isn't available right now and I'm dying to get this fixed. Thanks so much!
It could be several things and it happened to us when we first began with ours too. First you need to load and fill every cartridge area/slot in your printer, if not it's unbalanced. Even if it's a slot not being utilized with your edible ink pack, just use additional ones that come in the packs.
Two, be sure to take ALL of the strip of tape covering over each ink cartridge hole completely off the cartridge and not just the piece that comes off easily when pulled, remove all of it.
Three, if neither of those work to eradicate the error message, then did you purchase the cartridge and printer cleaning pack? If not I think you can use a toothpick or a paper clip to stick gently into the hole of each cartridge ink/hole (what was covered by that tape strip) and ensure there isn't any dried ink or anything covering it. Then take a lightly dampened sponge, not a wet one, but slightly damp and run it across that area where the tape was and over the ink hole.
If that doesn't work I guess you will need to call Kopykake on Monday
I don't see the 4300 on KopyKake's site. They have ink for the 4000. However, they state that they are working on ink for the 4200. Presumably, the 4300 would also not be available yet. The 4200 and 4300 use the new CLI ink cartridges, which is a new spongeless technology.
I think your error message is trying to tell you that you've installed the wrong cartridges. Unfortunately....from what I can tell....there are no edible cartridges for this printer right now.
Check the inks that came with ur printer....if they have a small chip on them, the edible inks wont work. I have an ip4200 and it DOES NOT work with edible images. The inks have a small chip on them and without the chip the printer does not recognize them. HTH
Actually there is a link on the website that shows you that other printers can be used. The IP 4300 & IP 4200 can be used, but you have to move the chips to do it. (Kopykake won't allow you to order this directly off of the website, you have to call them so you find this out.) When you go to the kopykake website, click on edible pictures on cake products, edible ink and refill kits. At the top of this page there is a link that says Click here to view Edible Ink Tank / Printer Cross reference. This will bring up and adobe file that lists all of the available printers. In the second column it lists new pixma models and state "these tanks require chips ask us before ordering". It lists 8 models under there. This is where I got the info to buy this printer. When I called to inquire what to do, I told them I had this printer and they told me what cartridges to buy and what process I would need to take to use them.
I know on my 4200 when I replaced the inks with some that fit but had no chips it said cartridge not recognized and I had 2 go buy new inks....some1 had told me this printer could be used 4 images but when I got it and called kopykake and icing images they said it could not so I kept it to use for regular printing and bought another printer the Canon 6000.
What did they tell u to do with the cartridge in order to use them without the chip? Do u have to take the chip off a cartridge and glue them on the edible ones?
On this link on KopyKake it says:
The Canon iP3000 and iP4000 printers have been discontinued. Kopykake does not have cartridges to suit the newest printers (such as the iP4200).
We are researching new cartridge technology and will publish information when available.
http://www.kopykake.com/pc_CompatiblePrinterGuide.html
The people at kopykake gave me a tool to use to "break" the chips off of the old tanks and move to the new tanks. I know that it says that those models have been discontinued, but they also have attached this to their site. http://www.kopykake.com/documents/PrinterInks-Xref.pdf, it links off of this page http://www.kopykake.com/pc_edible_ink.html at the top it states Click here to view Edible Ink Tank / Printer Cross Reference
Check it out. Maybe when you bought yours they hadn't figured it out yet.
Since I really enjoy doing edible images, this issue has intrigued me. I've been crawling the net looking for insight. From what I can determine, it uses a totally different type of ink delivery system. There's more to it than just a chip. I will be very interested to see if anybody has had any luck modifying the cartridges to work with this specific printer. None of the other edible images sites list the ip4200 or the ip4300. Very odd that Kopykake would be the only one.
UPDATE -- Talked to Kopykake and apparently canon has made minor changes to the 4300 that you have to make adjustments to make it work. I gave up on that. Exchanged it for the 4200. Put the ink tanks in and worked immediately. No fuss! I was so happy, so I'm off to bake a cake to use my edible image I printed off. Just wanted to share.
Glad it worked out for you in the end.
I too have been researching on what the best printer to use is, so this thread was helpful to me.
I am looking into purchasing a printer for edible images. I have been doing tons of research and boy has it been confusing!!! 
I found the Canon ip4200 for sale and just want to clarify that you CAN use the inks from kopykake? It stills says on their website that they don't have the technology yet. Did you have to buy the chip and what set of inks did you buy? Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I buy the right printer! 
Thanks so much for your help!
You actually have to call them to talk to them before you can place the order. What happens is when you buy the canon printer, it comes with the ink tanks to start with. When you order the Kopykake ink tanks and paper, the ink tanks come with a tool that can be used to remove the chips from the canon ones to the kopykake ones. Once this is done, you would put it together as normal, print and so on. Its really easy with the IP4200. If you have specific questions, call kopykake, they will be glad to go over anything with you. You can also email or pm me, I'll be glad to help you out. I was so frustrated with the IP4300 I wanted to throw it out the window, so I completely understand the need to ask questions. 
. I printed out a design and put it on a cake, let me know if you want to see how it turns out and I can send you the picture.
First I just wanted to say Thank You, Thank You! This forum is so awesome! It is nice to see so many nice people are still around and willing to help others and share ideas!
Anyway, I just got off the phone with Kopykake and they confirmed exactly what you said. The ink cartridges DO work with the Canon IP4200 they just don't list it on there website because most people don't want to mess with removing the chip from canon ink tanks and placing it onto theirs. So I just ordered my printer from Circuit City which has it on sale for $64.99 and then a $15 mail in rebate! Not bad.
Thanks again for the information, I really appreciate it and I would love to see the picture you printed off!
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