SKU:

CS-CN-42-GY

Condition:

New (compatible)

OEM Part #:

CLI-42

Color:

Gray

Ink Type:

Dye

Page Yield:

492 pages

Chip:

Yes — new compatible chip

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1 Year

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this printer carry a gray tank when it already has black?

Black alone makes harsh jumps in monochrome work. This CLI-42 gray cartridge gives the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 a true midtone step, so shadow and mid-gray areas print with fine gradation instead of dropping abruptly from black to white. That middle step is what black-and-white photographers buy this printer for.

What does gray do for a black-and-white photograph in practice?

It smooths the long tonal ramp in skies, fog, concrete, aged wood, and portrait shadows, adding intermediate tones where black and light gray alone would show visible stepping. In color prints it also supports neutral shadows, helping gray suits, asphalt, and overcast scenes stay neutral instead of picking up a color cast.

Which printer and which slot is this gray made for?

The Canon PIXMA PRO-100 is the only compatible printer, and this tank belongs in the slot labeled Gray. It is not interchangeable with the lighter gray beside it. Check the label on the tank you remove; the full compatibility list is under Compatible Printers on this page and confirms the single model.

How long should the 492-page rating last a monochrome printer?

The rating is about 492 pages under standard test conditions. A photographer printing mostly black-and-white draws this tank steadily, because gray participates in nearly every monochrome image, while a color-focused user may barely touch it. Watch the level report as a series nears completion so a replacement does not interrupt an edition.

Gray or Light Gray — what is the real difference?

Gray is the darker midtone; CLI-42 Photo Gray is the lighter step, listed as the light gray of the system. Gray carries the deeper half of the tonal scale, and the light tank refines highlights and near-whites. Photo Gray on its label and Light Gray in set descriptions mean the same slot.

Does gray matter at all if I print only in color?

Yes, though more quietly. Neutral areas in color work — stone, metal, cloudy skies, white clothing in shade — lean on the gray tanks to stay free of unwanted tints. You will use it more slowly than CLI-42 Cyan or CLI-42 Magenta, but an empty gray can still shift the neutrals in a healthy print.

Will the PRO-100 recognize this gray cartridge and track its level?

Yes, it carries a new compatible chip and reports levels normally. If a firmware update is followed by a recognition warning, reseat the cartridge and restart the printer once. Do not keep resetting in a loop; if the warning persists, the lifetime warranty covers a replacement or a refund.

Can the full system be renewed together when several tanks fade?

Yes. The CLI-42 Set of 8 contains both grays, along with CLI-42 Black and the five colors. Each cartridge is individually sealed, so you open a tank only when its slot is ready. For a single faded midtone, though, replacing this gray alone is the cheaper, waste-free move.

What warranty and return terms come with this cartridge?

A Lifetime Warranty covers defects such as leaking, failed recognition, or poor printing, with replacement or refund as the remedy. Returns run for 1 year. This is a Clever Supplies compatible cartridge rather than a Canon original, and the coverage backs its gradation performance across the monochrome work you bought it for.