contrast on canon i550

Hi, I have the Canon Powershot S400 and the Canon i550 printer, I took some pictures and they look great on the computer, but when I print anything on the i550 with good quality paper (even the samples that came with the printer) they come out looking faded. The contrast just isn't there.
Is this a unique problem or has this been encountered before? Is there a simple solution out there? I would appreciate it if someone let me know!

I have a canon I850 , and have compared to I550.

When you compare the two above. The I550 is always going to be "dull" in color compared to the I850. the 550 should be similar to the i470D in contrast/vividness. The reason the I550 is cheaper and duller than the I850 even tho seemingly the same printer is because the I550 has only 256 nozzle on each of the colors ( CMY ). On the I850 however Y still has 256 nozzles, but has 512 nozzles on the cyan and magenta, allowing more color density per area, also the I850 has smaller nozzles combination of which gives more vibrant color. You may be able to compensate someone on the vivid-ness of the I550 by using "vivid" print under the canon easy photoprint, but unfortunatly that dull-ness is what the 550 does. Least From what I've tested over past few months.