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Canon · Wide-Format Plotter
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-255
24" color graphics & photo printer
- ModelTM-255
- Prints24" wide
Genuine OEM hardwareAuthorized U.S. distribution
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The Canon TM-255 supports 24-inch roll media and cut sheets for local AEC drawing output.
- HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7, and CALS G4 support make it relevant to established CAD and document workflows.
- The device has no scanning or copying capability, which matters when replacing a multifunction plotter.
Not sure if the TM-255 is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
- Wide-format reach Prints up to 24" wide on rolls and sheets.
- Fine detail 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution for crisp line work.
- Ink platform Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow.
- Connectivity Wi-Fi + Ethernet for shared team printing.
- Verified specs 10 specs checked against the manufacturer datasheet.
Overview
Built for the work
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-255, Inkjet, 2400 x 1200 DPI, CALS G4, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7, Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 20 sheets, Plain paper, Roll
- 24″Max print width
- 2,400 dpiMax resolution
- 54.5%sRGB, measured
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The Canon TM-255 supports 24-inch roll media and cut sheets for local AEC drawing output.
- HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7, and CALS G4 support make it relevant to established CAD and document workflows.
- The device has no scanning or copying capability, which matters when replacing a multifunction plotter.
- Its 20-sheet input capacity and single tray favor departmental work over highly unattended mixed-set production.
- Teams that regularly require 36-inch documents should evaluate a wider in-family alternative rather than constrain the workflow to 24 inches.
A 24-inch plotter earns its place when a project team needs a permit sheet, detail enlargement, color-coded coordination drawing, or marked-up PDF without walking it down to a central reprographics room. The Canon TM-255 is a color inkjet device built around that desk-side AEC role: it accepts rolls up to 24 inches wide as well as cut sheets, speaks HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7, and CALS G4, and connects through Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or USB.
Its 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution gives CAD linework and small annotations a credible technical foundation, while the five-cartridge system provides color for phasing plans, utility markups, GIS output, and presentation-oriented sheets. The point is not simply to add color; it is to keep a cyan edge or a red revision cloud distinct when the drawing is being read under ordinary office light.
24" (61 cm)Maximum roll widthRoll and cut-sheet media support.
2400 x 1200 DPIMaximum resolutionFor technical drawings and color output.
500 GBInternal storageUseful in a networked document-production setting.
64 WTypical power consumptionSleep consumption is listed separately.
Where it fits in an AEC workflow
The TM-255 is most naturally a departmental or project-office printer for teams whose drawings remain within a 24-inch-wide format. That includes architecture studios issuing A1 and smaller sheets, engineering groups producing detail sets and color review copies, survey teams rendering maps, and construction offices needing a nearby source for updated plans. The supported page-description languages matter here: HP-GL/2 and HP-RTL remain relevant to established CAD plotting workflows, while PDF 1.7 and CALS G4 provide useful paths for document-centric and technical-file environments.
It is also a practical fit where submission options matter. Gigabit Ethernet is available alongside Wi-Fi, USB Type-A and Type-B connections, direct printing, and Apple AirPrint. IT teams should still validate driver behavior, authentication requirements, accounting workflows, and file handling in their own environment; the supplied specifications establish connectivity and language support, not how any particular CAD application or print-management system will behave.
Media, color, and operator reality
The machine accepts plain paper and roll media, with supported media thickness from 0.003 to 0.031 inches. Its single input tray has a total capacity of 20 sheets, while the roll specification allows a maximum roll length of 708.7 inches and a maximum roll diameter of 5.91 inches. Those limits make it sensible for ordinary drawing output and intermittent cut-sheet work, but they also set expectations: a busy print room producing frequent mixed-size sets will need regular operator attention rather than treating it as an unattended production engine.
Color is provided through five print cartridges, with black, cyan, magenta, and yellow listed among the printing colors. For AEC, that is useful when color carries information—discipline overlays, phasing, safety plans, and GIS symbology—not just when a sheet needs decoration. We measured it through the same ICC-oriented gamut framework used across this site, because a flat percentage says little about whether closely spaced map colors remain intelligible. See the measured-gamut methodology for how that reading is approached.
sRGB coverage (by volume)54.5%
Adobe RGB coverage (by volume)43.6%
Choosing within the Canon TM range
If 24-inch output is the firm requirement, compare the TM-255 with the Canon TM-240 24-in and the Canon TM-250 24-in before assuming that a familiar model name determines the right fit. The TM-250 is cataloged with scanner/MFP capability, whereas the TM-255 has no scanning or copying specification. That distinction matters for teams replacing a shared device used for redline capture, legacy-plan copying, or walk-up scanning.
For offices that routinely issue 30- or 36-inch construction documents, a 24-inch roll ceiling is the decisive limitation. The Canon TM-340 36-in is the more relevant in-family direction to examine when wider sheets are central to the workload. The TM-255 becomes more compelling when the work is genuinely smaller-format and local, not when the team is trying to force full-size plan production through a narrower device.
Compare the practical alternatives
Canon TM-240 24-inA same-width Canon TM option for a close workflow comparison.Canon TM-250 24-inConsider this route where scanner/MFP capability is part of the requirement.Canon TM-340 36-inA wider Canon TM alternative for organizations centered on 36-inch documents.24-inch wide-format rankingSee the TM-255 in its relevant device class.
The read
The Canon TM-255 is a focused 24-inch color inkjet choice for AEC teams that need reliable access to CAD, PDF, and technical-file output at the point of work. Its network options, direct-printing support, roll and cut-sheet handling, 500 GB internal storage, and 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution align well with distributed drawing production. The trade-off is scope: it does not scan or copy, and it does not solve a recurring need for 36-inch sheets or high-intervention plan-set production. Evaluate it as a capable local plotter, not as a replacement for every function of a central reprographics room.
Where it sits in the field: see the head-to-head against the Canon TM-250 24-in or the full class leaderboard.
Measured color
Color gamut, measured from the ICC profile
Computed with ArgyllCMS directly from Canon imagePROGRAF TM-255’s own manufacturer ICC profile (Glossy Film) — real, measured color data, not a spec-sheet claim.
612KCIELAB gamut volume — within the sRGB working space
54.5%of sRGB by volume
43.6%of Adobe RGB by volume
These are 3-D color-volume figures measured from the actual profile — a stricter, more honest gauge than the 2-D “% coverage” numbers on marketing spec sheets, which run considerably higher. Use them to compare printers on the same basis.
| Media | Volume (Lab³) | sRGB | Adobe RGB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backlit film | 733,324 | 56.9% | 48.2% |
| Satin / semi-gloss photo | 612,281 | 54.5% | 43.6% |
| Premium glossy photo | 612,281 | 54.5% | 43.6% |
| Other media | 612,281 | 54.5% | 43.6% |
| Banner | 424,460 | 40.7% | 31.9% |
| Matte photo | 414,942 | 40.3% | 31.3% |
| Vinyl | 400,190 | 39.6% | 30.3% |
Gamut volume is the size of the reproducible color solid in CIELAB, computed with ArgyllCMS iccgamut. Coverage is the share of the sRGB / Adobe RGB reference volume the printer reproduces (ArgyllCMS viewgam). A larger volume and higher coverage mean more saturated colors reproduced faithfully; wide-format pigment printers typically extend beyond sRGB in cyans and greens while falling short of its deepest blues.
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Maximum roll width | 24 in (610 mm) |
|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Printing colors | MBK/BK/C/M/Y (5 cartridges) |
| Page description languages | HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF 1.7, JPEG (JFIF 1.02), CALS G4 |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T), Wi-Fi 802.11n, Hi-Speed USB |
| Internal memory / storage | 2 GB memory + 500 GB internal drive |
| Media thickness | 0.07 – 0.8 mm |
| Ink cartridge capacity | 300 / 130 ml and 490 mlmanufacturer-verified |
| Dimensions / weight | 38.5 x 34.8 x 41.7 in; 121.3 lb (55 kg) |
| Operating noise | Approx. 41 dB(A) sound pressuremanufacturer-verified |
manufacturer-verified = checked against the manufacturer’s official datasheet, not aggregator data. Everything else is standards-body / catalog data we consider reliable.
Specifications
Full technical detail
Print technologyInkjet
Max resolution2400 x 1200 DPI
Max print width24"
ColorColor
ConnectivityEthernet (Gigabit LAN), USB, Wi-Fi
Use caseCAD / Technical
Printing
| Color | Yes |
|---|---|
| Printing colors | Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow |
| Print technology | Inkjet |
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Number of print cartridges | 5 |
| Page description languages | CALS G4, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7 |
Performance
| Control type | Touch |
|---|---|
| Color display | Yes |
| Product color | Black, White |
| Built-in display | Yes |
| Display diagonal | 4.3" |
| Internal storage capacity | 500 GB |
Paper handling
| Cut sheets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Media thickness | 0.003"–0.031" (0.07 – 0.8 mm) |
| Maximum roll width | 24" (61 cm) |
| Maximum roll length | 708.7" (18 m) |
| Maximum roll diameter | 5.91" (15 cm) |
| Paper tray media types | Plain paper, Roll |
| ISO A-series sizes (A0…A9) | A1, A2, A3, A3+ |
| Borderless printing media sizes | A3, A3+, B4 |
Ports & interfaces
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
|---|---|
| USB port | Yes |
| Ethernet LAN | Yes |
| USB connector | USB Type-A / USB Type-B |
| Direct printing | Yes |
| Ethernet LAN data rates | 10,100,1000 Mbit/s |
| Mobile printing technologies | Apple AirPrint |
Weight & dimensions
| Depth | 34.8" (885 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 38.5" (978 mm) |
| Height | 41.7" (1060 mm) |
| Weight | 120.2 lbs (54.5 kg) |
Power
| AC input voltage | 100 – 240 V |
|---|---|
| AC input frequency | 50/60 Hz |
| Power consumption (off) | 0.1 W |
| Power consumption (sleep) | 2.2 W |
| Power consumption (typical) | 64 W |
Operational conditions
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 15 – 30 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 10 – 80% |
Copying
| Copying | No |
|---|
Scanning
| Scanning | No |
|---|
Packaging data
| Package depth | 35.9" (913 mm) |
|---|---|
| Package width | 45.4" (1152 mm) |
| Package height | 37.2" (946 mm) |
| Package weight | 211.6 lbs (96 kg) |
System requirements
| Mac operating systems supported | Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.7.5 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Mac OS X 11.0 Big Sur, Mac OS X 12.0 Monterey, Mac OS X 13.0 Ventura |
|---|---|
| Windows operating systems supported | Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 |
Input & output capacity
| Total input capacity | 20 sheets |
|---|---|
| Total number of input trays | 1 |
Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the Canon imagePROGRAF TM-255 large format printer Wi-Fi Inkjet Colour 2400 x 1200 DPI Ethernet LAN — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 2
Paper & Media 12
Representative imageMagic 98gsm/26# Coated Matte Paper (DMPG98)Representative image20LB Inkjet Vellum (772)Representative image18LB Inkjet Bond Paper (Translucent) (750)Representative image28LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (748)Representative image46LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (747)Representative image6.5mil Matte Coated Paper w/ PSA (746PSA)Representative image20LB High Brite Inkjet Bond Paper (740)Representative image24LB Inkjet Bond Paper (731)Representative image20LB Inkjet Bond Paper (730)Representative image24LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper Economy (714)Representative image20LB Engineering Vellum (471)Representative imageWSL 28LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (448)Questions
Straight answers
Can the Canon TM-255 print CAD and PDF files?
It supports HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PDF 1.7, and CALS G4 page-description languages. Confirm the submission path and driver behavior with your specific CAD, BIM, and PDF workflow.
Does the Canon TM-255 scan or copy plans?
No. The supplied specifications list neither scanning nor copying capability.
What media can it handle?
It accepts plain paper and roll media, plus cut sheets. Maximum roll width is 24 inches, supported media thickness is 0.003 to 0.031 inches, and the maximum roll length is 708.7 inches.
What network connections are available?
The TM-255 supports Ethernet LAN at 10, 100, and 1000 Mbit/s, Wi-Fi, and USB Type-A and Type-B connections. Apple AirPrint and direct printing are also listed.
Is it appropriate for full-size construction plan sets?
It may suit detail sheets and smaller-format documents, but its maximum roll width is 24 inches. Firms that routinely require 36-inch output should consider the Canon TM-340 36-in or another wider device.
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