Best Printer for Art Prints in 2023: our top 5 picks (September)
Looking for the best printer for art prints? You’ve come to the right place.
As a graphic designer or artist, you’ll often need a printer to print some of your work. However, using a printing services provider may not be cost-effective in the long run. Having your own printer is the best as that would save you a lot of money when printing artwork.
Art prints are usually printed on material that differs from the standard office paper used in most printers. Examples include:
- matte paper
- thin canvas
- luxury paper (e.g Giclèe)
- cotton rag
Thankfully, there are lots of art printers available on the market today that you can purchase which print on such materials. Some of the popular brands you’ll find include HP, Epson, and Canon, among others.
However, for someone buying a printer for the first time, knowing which product to buy can sometimes be a challenging task. The reason is that there are so many brands of printers out there, and it would be difficult for many first-time buyers to know which product offers the best features. Furthermore, what qualifies a fine art printer can be confusing.
We fully understand this, and that is why we have taken out time to put this article together for you. In this article, we will provide you with the best printer for art prints. All you have to do is read till the end of the article to find out all you need to know.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the Best Art Printers
In selecting the best printer for art prints, we considered certain factors like resolution (dpi), ink cartridges, print sizes, print speed, compatibility with specialty media, and price. Connectivity with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other connections was also considered.
So, we selected several brands of printers and compared them using the factors mentioned earlier. Eventually, we were able to pick 5 brands of printers that seem to offer the best. If you are interested in printing materials other than art prints, check out our best printer for stickers guide, or our round-up of the best 3D printers.
What do you need to print art prints?
In order to print art prints, you will first need to decide on the material you’re printing on. Most art prints are on matte art paper, linen paper or cotton rag. Here are some of our top picks if you want to stock up:
Now, let’s take a look at these printers one after the other in no particular order.
5 Best Art Printers
Best Printer for Art Prints in 2023: our top 5 picks (September)
- Comes with ink worth over 3,000 pages
- Comes equipped with a Hi-res scanner
- Full-color touch panel display
- SmartPanel app for virtual printing
- Somewhat big and bulky in size
The ET-8550 is a quality printer for art prints manufactured by Epson. It comes with some really nice features, making it worth every penny spent. This art printer produces superior image quality and high resolution prints at A3.
The setup process for the Epson ET-8550 is also very straightforward. In addition, it supports multiple connection types, such as USB, WiFi, and Ethernet. Aside from these, it also has an app (the SmartPanel app) which allows you to print from anywhere with an Android or iOS device. It has a great display which makes the device easier to use, too. This is a seriously smooth operator of a printer.
If you need an art printer to help you save money when printing photos or artwork, then this is it. The printer comes with an ink tank that can print approximately 3,000 pages. Aside from that, it comes with more than enough ink to get you up and running.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that this is a fairly big and bulky machine, so might not be good for those with little space.
- High-speed printing
- Print larger than A3
- Efficient and very easy to use
- Smooth printing workflow
- Small ink cartridges
If you are looking for high-quality prints at a larger scale, the Canon PIXMA Pro-200 would be the ideal option for you. The color reproduction is amazing, and the print speed is quite fast. This wireless printer comes with intuitive touchscreen controls. It is compatible with all kinds of operating systems, including new and old systems.
We love how smooth the workflow is on this printer, which makes it a great choice for creative professionals. However, the ink cartridges it comes with are pretty small, which makes it a slightly more expensive option in the long run. So if you’re on a tight budget, maybe look elsewhere.
The Canon PIXMA Pro-200 is also user-friendly, making it ideal for beginners. It has copier features, too. It can print on standard paper as well as heavier fine art media. The prints are sharp and can be used for commercial purposes.
- Comes with USB, SD, and LAN card reader
- It is affordable
- Easy to use
- High-quality print
- Somewhat heavy for a small-sized printer
The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 may seem small in size, but the performance is outstanding. This printer comes with a copier and scanner, allowing it to have 2 front paper trays (one A4 size tray and one photographic paper tray). We love the high quality of the prints produced. They have a great depth of color and high resolution which makes for great detailed art prints. This is thanks to superb ink quality and a precise internal structure.
With a smartphone, laptop, or PC, you can print from the photographic tray. The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 also features a small LCD touchscreen for easy operation. Furthermore, the art printer has an app that allows you to manage your prints and ink orders easily. The XP-970 only uses the Epson ink cartridges, which can be expensive for some people.
However, the initial cost of the printer is pretty low, so this might be a budgeting choice which hinges on whether you’re thinking long or short-term. If we’re talking initial cost, this is definitely a very strong budget choice for home or work use. This makes it ideal for small businesses or start-ups.
- Anti-clogging technology
- Color accuracy
- 12 pigment-based inks
- Quite big and bulky
The ImagePROGRAF Pro-1000 is another excellent art printer from Canon. This printer one of the most ideal printers for large projects or different paper sizes. The printer works fast and can generate an ‘C’ sizes print within minutes.
The Pro-100 is a desktop-sized printer, which makes it relatively compact and portable compared to larger professional-grade printers. This feature is advantageous for artists with limited space or those who need to transport the printer for exhibitions or events.
The Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro-100 is designed with an anti-clogging technology, which minimizes the possibility of clogging. It also features Wide Color Gamut, which helps boost color reproduction and image clarity. anon employs ChromaLife 100+ inks in the Pro-100, which are designed to deliver prints with excellent longevity. When paired with high quality papers, these prints can resist fading and maintain their quality for a considerable period, ensuring the longevity and preservation of art prints.
Furthermore, The Pro-100 utilizes a 8-color dye-based ink system, including three monochrome inks, which helps achieve excellent color accuracy and tonal gradations. This feature allows for vibrant and true-to-life color reproduction, making it suitable for art prints that require precise color representation.
- Automatic 2-sided printing
- Mobile and wireless printing
- Borderless photos
- Auto document feeding
- Doesn't have a display screen
The HP Envy 6455e is an all-in-one printer. You can enjoy 3 months of free ink delivery when you activate HP+. This helps you save money.
The printer supports a variety of paper sizes and types, including photo paper and specialty art papers. It has a dedicated photo paper tray that allows for easy switching between different paper types. This versatility in paper handling enables artists to experiment with different materials and achieve the desired effects for their art prints – something which is very useful for artists who work with a range of mediums.
The HP Envy 6455e printer is very easy to set up and use. Thanks to the HP Smart app, which guides you at every step of the way during setup. The HP Smart app also allows you to scan and print from anywhere with your phone. The printer supports cloud platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox, allowing you to print and scan from your cloud accounts.
The printer has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing a wireless connection from computers, smartphones, and tablets. This wireless functionality provides convenience and flexibility, enabling artists to print their artwork directly from their preferred digital devices.
This art printer also uses HP+ Smart Printing Technology, which keeps it up to date and helps it to be more productive. However, this feature requires an HP account and an internet connection.
What to consider
Whether it’s your first time buying an art printer or not, there are certain factors you must consider in order to get the best product.
Resolution
The resolution is one of the first things you must consider. Ensure that the printer can produce prints that are of high quality. Generally, a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) is considered the standard for high-quality prints. This resolution ensures that fine details are captured accurately and the printed image appears sharp and crisp to the viewer.
Print Speed
A printer with a high print speed will be better for heavy workloads. If you’re a small business that needs to print many prints in a short amount of time, opt for a high print speed. If you are focusing on a small amount of high-quality prints, a lower print speed might be necessary, especially if the prints are larger than average.
Type of ink cartridge
There are two main types of ink cartridge to put into consideration when buying an art printer – pigment ink cartridges and dye ink cartridges.
Pigment-based inks are known for their longevity and resistance to fading. They tend to have better color stability over time, meaning the prints are less likely to fade or experience color shifts. Plus, they are typically more resistant to water and smudging, which can be advantageous for art prints that may be exposed to moisture or require handling.
Dye-based inks are made from a soluble dye dissolved in a liquid carrier. They are known for their vibrant colors and smooth color transitions. While dye inks are commonly used in everyday printing, they can also be suitable for certain art prints due to their high color saturation, wide color gamut and cost-effectiveness.
Price
Price is of course a major factor to consider. Printers for art prints can cost as little as less than $100 and over $1000.
Type of Printer
Furthermore, the type of printer must be considered. Inkjet printers tend to be more popular than laser printers as they have better color depth and blend capabilities, but they are often more expensive.
Conclusion
As an artist or a printer who creates high-quality prints regularly, having the best printer for art prints will make your work a lot easier and save you money. Whether you’re a professional artist or a beginner, any of the printers mentioned in this article will be a good buy.
However, if you’re a photographer, you might be looking for a printer which can print photos especially well on photo paper. In that case, check out our guide to the best photo printer here.
Is Inkjet or Laserjet better for printing art prints?
Inkjet printers offer excellent color accuracy and produce high-resolution prints with vibrant colors and fine details, making them ideal for art prints that require intricate textures and gradients. They provide versatility in handling different types of papers, allowing artists to experiment with various textures and finishes. While inkjet printers have a lower upfront cost, the expenses of ink cartridges can accumulate, especially for large quantities. The longevity of inkjet prints can vary based on ink and paper quality.
Laserjet printers, on the other hand, are quicker and more durable, which makes them suitable for high-volume printing. Laser printers often have a higher initial cost, but they have a lower cost per page when printing in bulk. However, on the whole, inkjet printers tend to be prized over laser ones when it comes to art printing.
Our Verdict
