Canon PFI-3700 ink cartridges are 700 ml pigment ink tanks used with selected Canon imagePROGRAF professional wide-format printers. They are intended for production environments where photographers, fine-art printers, print shops, and commercial imaging businesses require a larger ink capacity and a multi-color printing system.
For distributors and procurement teams, confirming a PFI-3700 order involves more than matching the number printed on the cartridge. Buyers should also verify the complete printer model, individual color codes, regional requirements, cartridge configuration, and whether Matte Black belongs to a different cartridge family.
This guide explains the main details to check before requesting compatible PFI-3700 samples or preparing a wholesale order.
Quick reference
PFI-3700 is a 700 ml cartridge family. In the 12-consumable PRO-series configuration, most colors use PFI-3700, while the 700 ml Matte Black cartridge is identified separately as PFI-2700 MBK.
What Is a Canon PFI-3700 Ink Cartridge?
PFI-3700 refers to a family of large-capacity pigment ink tanks for selected Canon imagePROGRAF printers. Each cartridge contains one color or Chroma Optimizer and has a nominal capacity of 700 ml.
The larger capacity is particularly relevant to businesses with regular print volume. Compared with smaller cartridges in the same printer platform, a 700 ml tank can reduce cartridge-change frequency and simplify stock planning. Actual consumption will still depend on image coverage, media, print mode, cleaning cycles, and the type of work being produced.
Compatible PFI-3700 cartridges are independently manufactured alternatives. They are not original Canon products. Cartridge construction, ink formulation, chip recognition, filling condition, and printer compatibility should therefore be checked before a bulk purchase.
PFI-3700 Colors and Cartridge Codes
The PFI-3700 family covers 11 ink-related consumables in the professional 12-consumable system:
| Cartridge code | Color | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| PFI-3700 PBK | Photo Black | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 C | Cyan | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 M | Magenta | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 Y | Yellow | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 PC | Photo Cyan | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 PM | Photo Magenta | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 GY | Gray | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 PGY | Photo Gray | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 R | Red | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 B | Blue | 700 ml |
| PFI-3700 CO | Chroma Optimizer | 700 ml |
Why Matte Black Is Different
One of the most important ordering details is that the 700 ml Matte Black tank is not normally ordered as PFI-3700 MBK. It is identified as PFI-2700 MBK.
This means that a complete 12-consumable quotation may contain 11 PFI-3700 references plus one PFI-2700 Matte Black reference. Buyers who submit only “one full set of PFI-3700” may accidentally omit Matte Black unless the required color list is clearly stated.
Compatible Printer References
Canon lists the 700 ml PFI-3700 and PFI-2700 cartridge options for the following imagePROGRAF PRO-series printers:
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2600 — 24-inch printer
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 — 44-inch printer
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6600 — 60-inch printer
These printers use an 11-color pigment ink system plus Chroma Optimizer. However, buyers should still confirm the complete printer model and installed ink configuration. A similar-looking imagePROGRAF model may belong to a different generation or use another cartridge family.
Some related Canon GP-series configurations may also reference selected PFI-3700 colors, but their color sets can differ from the PRO-series system. Do not assume that every PFI-3700 color is required simply because the printer accepts cartridges from this family.
PFI-3100, PFI-3300 and PFI-3700: What Is the Difference?
Selected printers in this platform can use several cartridge capacities. The family number helps identify the capacity:
- PFI-3100: 160 ml
- PFI-3300: 330 ml
- PFI-3700: 700 ml
Matte Black follows a separate numbering pattern:
- PFI-2100 MBK: 160 ml
- PFI-2300 MBK: 330 ml
- PFI-2700 MBK: 700 ml
The larger cartridge is not automatically the best option for every customer. A studio with intermittent output may prefer a smaller purchasing commitment, while a production print shop may value fewer cartridge changes and more predictable stock control. The appropriate capacity depends on print volume, storage planning, cash flow, and local demand.
What Buyers Should Check Before Ordering
1. Complete Printer Model
Record the complete model shown on the printer label or control panel. References such as PRO-2600, PRO-4600, and PRO-6600 should not be shortened to a generic “PRO series” description.
2. Required Colors
Provide the color suffix for every cartridge. Do not order only by the family number. PBK, MBK, GY, PGY, B, and CO are different consumables even when the cartridge bodies appear similar.
3. Cartridge Capacity
Confirm whether the customer requires 160 ml, 330 ml, or 700 ml cartridges. Mixed-capacity inquiries should list the quantity required for each code separately.
4. Chip and Regional Requirements
For compatible cartridges, confirm the destination country and printer version. Chip recognition and firmware conditions should be reviewed before the order, especially when products will be resold across multiple markets.
5. Ink and Cartridge Configuration
Ask whether the quotation is for a finished cartridge with ink and chip, an unchipped cartridge, a cartridge body, or another supply configuration. These descriptions are not interchangeable.
6. Packing Requirements
Wholesale buyers may require neutral boxes, private labels, barcode labels, carton marks, or mixed-color cartons. These requirements should be discussed before production rather than after the cartridges have been packed.
How to Evaluate a Compatible PFI-3700 Sample
A sample should be evaluated through a controlled process. Installing one cartridge and printing a single image is not enough to understand recognition reliability or production performance.
A practical evaluation can include:
- Checking the cartridge body for deformation or leakage
- Confirming the chip is recognized by the intended printer
- Verifying the displayed color and ink information
- Monitoring installation and ink-delivery behavior
- Printing familiar files on the customer’s normal media
- Reviewing neutral grays, gradients, dark areas, and saturated colors
- Allowing representative idle periods before retesting
- Recording any warning messages or cleaning requirements
If the printer is already running another third-party ink, do not assume that two formulations can be mixed without evaluation. Discuss the current ink, remaining ink level, changeover plan, and possible flushing requirements with the supplier first.
Information to Send for a PFI-3700 Quotation
Providing a complete inquiry helps the supplier check the configuration and prepare a more useful quotation. Send the following information together:
- Printer brand and complete model
- Destination country or sales region
- Required cartridge codes and colors
- Quantity for each color
- Required capacity
- Chip and cartridge configuration
- Sample-testing requirement
- Neutral or private-label packing requirement
- Delivery destination or China forwarder details
Example inquiry
We need compatible 700 ml cartridges for a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 used in Germany. Please quote the required PFI-3700 colors and PFI-2700 MBK, including chips, neutral packing, sample availability, and carton information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PFI-3700 a 700 ml cartridge?
Yes. PFI-3700 is the 700 ml cartridge family for its listed colors. The corresponding 700 ml Matte Black reference is PFI-2700 MBK.
Does one PFI-3700 set include Matte Black?
That depends on how the supplier defines a “set.” Matte Black has a different family number, so buyers should list PFI-2700 MBK separately rather than relying on the word “set.”
Can PFI-3700 be used in the PRO-2600, PRO-4600 and PRO-6600?
Canon lists PFI-3700 700 ml replacement tanks for these three imagePROGRAF PRO-series models. Final compatible-product matching should still include the complete printer model, color, region, and cartridge configuration.
Are PFI-3700 and PFI-1700 the same?
No. Although both may be described as 700 ml cartridge families, they are associated with different printer generations. Similar capacity does not mean identical cartridge construction, ink formulation, chip, or compatibility.
Should a wholesale order be placed before sample testing?
For a new compatible product or a new supplier, sample testing is recommended before committing to volume. The test should reflect the buyer’s actual printer, media, files, operating conditions, and expected idle periods.
Need Help Confirming a PFI-3700 Configuration?
Send the complete printer model, cartridge code, required colors, destination market, quantity, and packing requirements to Yescolor. Product photos or an existing cartridge-label photo can also help reduce matching errors.
Canon, imagePROGRAF, and related model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to describe compatibility. Yescolor supplies independently manufactured compatible products and is not affiliated with the referenced printer manufacturer. Final compatibility should be confirmed before ordering.
