Here I have reviewed the best printers for art prints along with its key specifications that any artist or graphic designer would love.
So let’s get into more details…
Just imagine – you’ve spent almost an hour rendering a graphic design on which you’ve worked for around 5 hours. Everything is done, and you’re feeling proud of yourself – you’re finally a professional graphic designer.
But then comes your client – he sees a visual imprint of your creation and claims that you’re only an amateur. How bad would that be?
Unfortunately, this is something that most online artists and graphic designers have to go through.
Nowadays, merely owning soft copies of one’s online masterpieces is not enough. Graphic designers need to own high-quality, physical iterations of their work.
This is why they need to look for the best printer for art prints. Now, wait – hold up. Why would an artist require only the best option available in the market? They can just make do with a generic printer to get physical copies of their work!
But that is not the case. To truly depict your masterpiece as it looked in the virtual form, you’ll need to purchase an art printer designed especially to cater to such needs. Otherwise, your prints will come out looking shoddy, imperfect, and only half as good as they could have been.
Finding the Best Art Printers in the Market
So now we’ve established that designers need to purchase only the best printer for art prints. But they’re not so easy to find – either there are too many options that suit your requirements, or there are too few. Either way, artists are left with a headache-inducing decision.
But don’t worry, this is where we come in. As an artist, you shouldn’t spend your hours worrying about which printer is the best for you – you need to concentrate on your work. Leave the printers to us.
In this article, we’ll narrow your search for the best art printer down to 5 world-class options based on different factors and considerations.
Best Printers for Art Prints
Art printers are different from general printers – they are more susceptible to capturing the essence and details of complex work. As such, there are a lot of things that can go wrong while purchasing an art printer.
But don’t worry, we’ll bring you only the best options.
1. Canon MG Series PIXMA MG2525 Inkjet Photo Printer – Best Printer under $100
Specifications
| Connectivity | USB |
| Printer Technology | Inkjet |
| Compatibility | PC, Laptops |
| Sheet Size | 4-inch x 6 inch |
| Dimensions | 16.8 x 12.1 x 5.8 inches |
| Weight | 7.6 pounds |
Overall Verdict
Priced at a meager price tag of under $100, the Canon MG Series PIXMA MG2525 Inkjet Photo model is a great printer for budding artists who do not have the luxury of an unrestricted budget.
With a convenient build, easy-to-handle functionality, and decent feature range, it is one of the most cost-effective and efficient products in this genre.
Review
When you’re looking for the best printer for art prints, maybe the highly-affordable Canon MG Series PIXMA MG2525 Inkjet Photo Printer won’t show up in the results.
It, after all, is a humble product with its origins rooted in the idea of creating something for people with a restricted budget. But this product certainly trumps many heavy-weights when it comes to value for money. It is priced under $100 makes it one of the cheapest options available in the market that doesn’t integrate when you click on a button.
With how it is priced, one would never figure out the efficient and user-friendly functionality that the printer has to offer. It has decent specifications as well – the resolution is good, allowing artists to capture their favorite works well; the sheet size is big enough to accommodate different kinds of designs; the overall build of the product is excellent and sturdy, making it convenient for the customer to use.
In our opinion, the Canon PIXMA MG2525 Inkjet Photo Printer is perfect for artists who do not churn out new designs frequently.
The printer, with all its benefits and features, works especially well for customers who do not have to print very frequently. Thus, if you are an artist who would need multiple copies of your art every day, you might want to look at some of the other options from our list.
The MG2525 model can very easily be termed as an all-in-one printer that can cater to all your requirements – from detailed art prints to generic documents.
The build or the structure of the product is just right – and it’s not heavy or large either. The feature pack is not as vast as some of the premium printers, but it offers everything that you would require for a good printing experience.
Key Features
- Compatible with various operating systems.
- Uses black pigment ink to ensure high-quality text prints.
- Uses inkjet technology to cater to the diverse requirements of the customers.
Pros
- Excellent value for money.
- Decent controls and functionality.
- Build quality is great.
Cons
- The resolution is not on par with the premium options.
- The feature set is not diverse enough.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-2750 Wireless Printer – Best Premium Art Printer for Bulk Uses
Specifications
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Printer Technology | Inkjet |
| Compatibility | Smartphones, PC, Laptops |
| Sheet Size | 8.5-inch x 11.7 inch |
| Dimensions | 22.3 x 14.8 x 10.2 inches |
| Weight | 12.1 pounds |
Overall Verdict
As one of the most premium options available in the market, one has a lot of expectations from the Epson EcoTank ET-2750 all-in-one Supertank Printer.
Thankfully, it does not disappoint.
The photo printing quality of the product is decent, with a good resolution. At the same time, the product allows customers to print designs in bulk before they have to purchase more ink for replenishment.
The only thing that it lacks is color accuracy, which is a big bummer for artists. But if you don’t like to play with complex colors, you wouldn’t notice much of a difference.
Review
In all fairness, the Epson ET-2750 all-in-one printer was supposed to be a jack of all trades, master of none. It wasn’t primarily advertised as an art printer, but it surely possesses the quality to work like one.
Even then, the limitations of the product in certain key areas like color accuracy and quality would bum professional artists out. But if there are artists who require printers for bulk manufacturing, you cannot go any better than this.
Despite the relatively hefty price tag, the Epson ET-2750 model is a cost-effective tool. For one, it can manufacture complex designs in bulk before it needs any more refill. This allows users to save a lot of running costs when it comes to ink replenishment.
Secondly, the build and structure of the printer are superb, using high-quality parts to provide a durable product. This ensures that if you invest in this product, it will be a long-term investment without any additional repair or damage costs to cover.
Hence, if you want something for the long run, this could be the perfect choice for you.
As we mentioned before, it might not be the most precise choice for professional artists. The printing speed of the product is lackluster, and the color accuracy is a major turn-off for designers. However, what it lacks in precision, it makes up for in terms of performance – the speed and rate of printing are phenomenal; text clarity is good, and ink cartridges are never empty.
It is a great product for artists who require a printer for themselves and their familial needs as well.
Key Features
- Comes with Genuine Epson inks for a high-quality printing experience.
- Equipped with the coveted cartridge-free printing technology.
- Offers good wireless connectivity.
Pros
- The supertank system makes the product cost-efficient.
- Wireless connectivity options are excellent and abundant.
- Comes with a viable mobile app for additional features.
Cons
- Colour accuracy is not precise.
3. Canon PIXMA G3260 Wireless Color Printer – Best in the Market for All-in-One uses:
Specifications
| Connectivity | Wireless |
| Printer Technology | Inkjet |
| Compatibility | Smartphones, PC, Laptops |
| Sheet Size | Multiple |
| Dimensions | 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches |
| Weight | 14.1 pounds |
Overall Verdict
One of the most popular moderately-priced printers, the Canon PIXMA G3260 serves as a good family printer and an adequate choice for artists as well.
The product comes with a decent flatbed scanner. The resolution, color scope, and color depth offered by the printer are great as well. The only thing that it lacks is excellent color precision – which is low by artists’ standards.
However, the product does have an efficient cost-per-print, making it a good option for long-term usage.
Review
While originally the Canon PIXMA G3260 MegaTank Wireless All-in-One printer was marketed as a great product for familial uses, we also concluded that it could be a great option for customers looking for art printers as well.
Sure, the color accuracy of the printer is a little off, but everything else – from the resolution and color depth to the running costs of the printer is downright excellent. To top it off, the product comes with a flatbed scanner, allowing customers to digitize photos should they want.
Another downside of the product is that its printing speed is not that great – both black-and-white and colored documents take a little bit of time to come out properly. On the other hand, artists usually don’t need to produce tons of copies every day; so slow printing speed might not affect them all that much.
Perhaps this is what makes the Canon PIXMA G3260 so efficient for artists – they can make use of all its features to their advantage. They won’t have to pay any extra money on features that they won’t be using either.
Key Features
- Capable of multitasking – can print, scan, copy, and fax documents.
- Comes with efficient and durable Ethernet ports.
- Capable of a printing speed of about 15 page-per-minute in black and 10 page-per-minute in colored documents.
Pros
- The cost-per-print is excellent.
- Build quality appears to be premium.
- Great page yield.
Cons
- Color precision is a little off.
- Slow printing speeds.
4. Canon TS6420 All-in-One Wireless Printer – Best Art Printer under $170
Specifications
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB |
| Printer Technology | Inkjet |
| Duplex | Automatic |
| Compatibility | Smartphones, PC, Laptops |
| Sheet Size | Multiple |
| Dimensions | 15.9 x 12.5 x 5.9 inches |
| Weight | 13.8 pounds |
Overall Verdict
The Canon PIXMA TS6420 seems to be the most suitable art printer for designers who are looking to purchase a moderately-priced output tool for themselves.
With a nice printed photo quality, good tone, and an awesome cost-per-print, the PIXMA TS6420 has managed to create a good fan base for itself over the years. The running costs of the printer are excellent as well, allowing artists to cash in efficiently. The color precision or accuracy is a little off, but it’s not a major issue.
Review
The Canon PIXMA TS6420 specializes in churning out high-resolution pictures in an efficient manner. However, it can serve as a great all-in-one printer as well.
The page yield of the printer is excellent; so is the cost-per-print of every document, be it a colored or a black document.
Moreover, the product surpasses its competition in one key aspect – connectivity options. The TS6420 model allows customers to establish strong and uninterrupted connections via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more.
There is one downside of this printer is the page yield when it comes to black documents. The speed of the printer is another area of concern – not at all impressive. Color accuracy is not bad, but it could be better – if you’re a professional designer who uses a lot of complex colors, you might want to look elsewhere. The availability of just one color cartridge also causes some inconvenience to the users.
Key Features
- Easy to use and convenient to set up.
- Uses a good system of strong mobile applications for convenient control.
- Comes with a brightly-lit 1.44-inch OLED screen.
Pros
- One of the most affordable options.
- Comes with XL cartridges.
- Good resolution.
Cons
- Lacks an automatic document feeder.
- Does not come with an Ethernet port.
5. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color Printer – Best in the Market for Customers without Budget Restrictions
Specifications
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Printer Technology | Inkjet |
| Compatibility | Smartphones, PC, Tablets |
| Sheet Size | Multiple |
| Dimensions | 25.2 x 15 x 7.9 inches |
| Weight | 41.1 pounds |
Our Verdict
Looking for the best art printer in the market? The Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300 wireless color wide-format printer has certainly got you covered. It has all the making of a great product – from excellent, high-quality photos to 100% precision when it comes to color accuracy.
Moreover, the printer also comes with a comprehensive color gamut, making it a mouth-watering option for professional designers. The only visible drawback of the whole product is the hefty price tag; thus, this product caters to the niche market of professionals who aren’t bothered to be restricted by any budget limitations.
Review
Premium options are premium for a reason – barring the hefty price tag of the Canon imagepROGRAF PRO-300 color printer, there is nothing that should stop you from purchasing the powerful, robust printer.
It has everything going on for it – from excellent resolution and performance to great photo quality and faultless color precision. It is the dream printer for any artist who would want to see their designs gain lifelike qualities.
Other details like color gamut, ink droplet size, and resolution of the printer are great to suit the needs of an artist as well.
Thus, for around $900, you get the most perfect art printer to ever have existed in the market. Apart from the standard documents, the product is also capable of printing tabloid-sized photos, documents, and banners.
The page yields, in comparison to all the other features, are just average – nothing too special. But with so much going on for the printer, hardly anything feels inadequate.
Key Features
- Enhanced ease of use with the Nozzle Recovery System and Skew Correction technology.
- Comes with a 3-inch color LCD monitor.
- Equipped with a Chroma Optimizer Ink system to enhance user experience.
Pros
- One of the best feature sets for a printer.
- Well-built, solid, and sturdy.
- Good cost-per-print for bulk uses.
- Excellent resolution, photo quality, and color precision.
Cons
- Hefty price tag.
How to Choose an Art Printer – A Buyer’s Guide (Expert’s Opinions)
Despite the cluttered printing industry, we managed to make your job easier by narrowing down your option to 5 elite options.
However, it’s still a tough job to choose the best printer for art prints out of those alternatives. To maximize the returns on your investment, you need to make sure that you purchase a printer that proves to be the most cost-efficient. This doesn’t mean that you just pick the cheapest option. Instead, you need to figure out which printer can fulfill most of your requirements at a minimal price.
To help you do that, we’ve come up with a buyer’s guide.
1. Print Quality
For any artist, print quality is the most important factor in judging any printer. They need to ensure that their designs look as beautiful on paper as they do on a screen.
For this, they need a printer that checks the following aspects of performance –
- Resolution: The resolution of a printer determines the overall quality of the print that it produces. For an art printer, customers should go for a product that has at least 1200dpi print resolution for excellent reproduction of their fine designs.
- Color Gamut: The color gamut determines the color spectrum that a particular printer can achieve. Thus, the output of your printer will be dictated by its color gamut – whether or not your printer can achieve the color profiles that you have used in your virtual designs.
- Ink Droplet Size: Believe it or not, this is an important factor determining a printer’s capability. The common measuring unit for a droplet size is picoliters. Ideally, customers should look for printers with a droplet size of around 4-12 picoliters. The smaller the droplets, the sharper the image.
- Color Accuracy: This is one of the most fundamental metrics that artists use to determine the feasibility of a printer. For professional artists, colors are important – complex designs involve the use of a lot of different colors that require precision for easy differentiation via the naked eye. If the color accuracy of the printer is not decent, complex designs can get mixed up. This is why many designers looking for art printers discard products with less than average color accuracy or color precision.
2. Size & Speed
The size of your printer isn’t just about making enough space to keep it on your desk. It signifies the kind of printing requirements that you have. The size of the printer essentially determines the size of the images it is capable of reproducing.
For instance, if you want to reproduce canvas, you will need to figure out how much canvas you will require for stretching when you need to reproduce images in bulk. The width of the printer is a good measure of this quality. The wider the printer, the longer and heavier your rolls can be.
The speed of a printer is a generic, popular metric. If you want to reproduce images in bulk, you need a faster product. If your requirements aren’t so hectic, you can simply get any decent printer.
3. Media Compatibility
As an artist, you must want to print your designs on a variety of media. But not all printers are capable of printing designs on different media. There are restrictions on products that allow them to only print on certain media.
A good rule for the customers is to make a list of all the media that they want to print on. Look for a suitable printer and check its media compatibility. Strike as many media from the list as it is compatible with to determine which product would be most suitable for your needs.
Media thickness is another important factor that one needs to consider – you can easily find the relevant information in the specifications sheet.
4. Convenience and Ease of Use
Features and print quality, while important, shouldn’t be the only factors to judge the feasibility of a printer. You can enjoy all the flashy features, but if your printer isn’t convenient while using it, you will never get satisfied.
Thus, ease of use is another factor that customers should consider. Here are some questions that they can ask themselves:
- How difficult is it to unload and load different kinds of media?
- Is the printer screen visible and easy to navigate?
- How difficult is it to set up and install the printer?
- Is it easy to understand and tinker with a printer’s media and ICC settings?
- How much control do I have as a user when I am working on my printer?
- Will I be able to explain how to use this printer to others without an instruction manual?
FAQs on Printers for Art Prints
Artists generally use a photo printer to produce hard copies of their complex, intricate, and beautiful artworks. They are erstwhile also known as art printers.
DPI is the standard unit of a printer’s resolution. It stands for dots per inch and indicates what the resolution of an image is on screen and in print. The DPI determines how many dots can be arranged in a linear line. The more the DPI of a printer, the more detailed the prints will look.
Photo printers do not have a standard or an ideal value. Depending on the requirements, customers can purchase a photo printer for anywhere between $100 and $800.
Read Also: 10 Best Printers for Stickers and Custom Label Printing
Conclusion
For artists, there is nothing better than seeing their artworks in physical forms. For special work, special printers are needed. As such, customers should only look for the best printer for art prints.
In this article, we’ve tried to help out artists by narrowing a wide market down to 5 of the best options. We hope that you’ll use our recommendations to invest wisely.
