PDF file exported from Illustrator is not being printed in rich colors

[majidx56571264]

When I print a file to my canon printer directly from illustrator I get a very good print with rich colors but when I convert the file to PDF and print the PDF file I get a pale print (light colors and the black is not really black, it is dark grey). The file is in CMYK. I've used PDF/X-4:2010 to export PDF files. I tried to set the color conversion to "No Conversion" and "Convert to Destination", and I've set the Destination to Document CMYK - U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2. I have read other solutions and non worked for me so far. I am still not able to get a good result. Can someone help please?

Illustrator V26.5 64bit, Adobe Acrobat Pro Version 2023.001.20174 64bit. My printer is Canon Pixma G1411

[Monika Gause]

Those inkjet printers generally produce brighter results with RGB colors.

When you use Acrobat for printing, it brings its own engine with it which might interfere with the printer settings.

[majidx56571264]

Is there a way around this? I need to use Acrobat to print instead of printing directly using Illustrator. 

[Monika Gause]

Does this need to be in CMYK? You might get brighter results with RGB. And then also: set up your color management and igure out which color profile works best with the printer. Also: you might want to figure out color handling generally. The printer driver maybe has its own color settings that might clash with what the applications do.

[majidx56571264 · Accepted solution]

Thank you everyone! I've finally found the problem. It turned out that I was choosing the wrong paper type from the printing options. I didn't imagine that printing quality may change that much when we choose a different paper type!