Art is no longer limited to the traditional form of paint and canvas. These days, you can create art through photography and on computers which you can later print out.
Unfortunately, not every printer is suitable for handling your artwork, so here's a list of the eight best printers for art prints and the factors to keep in mind when choosing one.
The best printer for art prints that we reviewed is Canon Pixma MG3620. We loved Canon Pixma MG3620, particularly because it can print up to 16 pages and has an easy wireless setup, among other features, which makes this printer the best overall.
Our second best printer for art prints is Epson SureColor P800 Inkjet Printer which only came second because, besides the fact that it is also pocket friendly, the printer is easy to set up and prints quickly and quietly. The third best printer for art prints is the Canon Pixma iX6820 which has unparalleled technology for producing vivid colors and allows for wireless printing.
1. Canon Pixma MG3620
- Mobile device printing: Easily print from your iPhone, iPad,...
- Quick and easy wireless setup
- Powerful printing options: Airprint, Google Cloud Print, NFC,...
- Compact and space-saving design
- Print on both sides of the page with auto 2-sided print
You may have for a couple of times wished you could print right from your mobile device. While it is convenient, unfortunately, it is hard to come by a printer that offers a great feature for printing from your mobile device and is cheap. Well, look no further. The Canon Pixma MG3620 is one such printer for your fine art printer and prints. We reviewed and found that, unlike most artwork printers that offer limited printing options, this has a myriad of printing options and also is easy to set up and print wirelessly.
We could not help but observe that this artwork printer is perfect for budget-minded users searching for convenient and powerful printing options in a printer. It is labelled so that it can print up to 16 pages per minute. We could not just take their word for it, but we went ahead and tried this too. To their word, this printer does 9.9 pages per minute in black and white mode and up to 16 pages per minute in color mode. This feature makes the Canon Pixma MG3620 to be one of the fasted artwork printers on the market today.
The printer can also print on both sides of the pages when you choose an auto 2-sided print mode. This saves not only time but also paper. It has a compact and space-saving design means that the printer takes up minimal space. On the other hand, the wireless setup makes printing wirelessly from your device easy. To say the least, when you choose this printer, you are covered despite what type of printing you are looking for. Compatibility is an important factor when buying printers and many other printers and electronics. This printer is compatible with Canon Print, Google Cloud Print, Mopria, AirPrint, and NFC.
We are certain that this Canon Pixma MG3260 is a great deal if you are operating on a budget. You can set it up, operate it easily, and print out high-quality printouts. We are also certain that you too won't complain when you purchase it.
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2. Epson Expression Photo HD XP 15000 Wireless Wide-Format Art Printer
- Epson printing system is designed to be used exclusively with...
- Professional ultra HD photo quality get brilliant border less...
- Individual 6 color Claria photo HD ink includes red and gray inks...
- Professional projects: Made easy features a 50 sheet rear tray...
- Ultra compact wide format A3 plus printer 30 percent smaller than...
The best printer for art prints on the market is the Epson Expression Photo HD XP 15000, which features improved quality, multiple color inks, and Ultra HD border-free prints. This top-tier art printer produces stunning prints with excellent output thanks to its 6-color Claria Photo HD inks, which can reproduce the variation and expression of your art.
With additional Red and Grey inks, you can rest assured that this photo printer provides a complete range of colors suitable for enhanced black and white art prints. Safe to say, the Epson XP is a comprehensive tool that can knock out several processes at once, earning it the top spot in this list of the best printers for art prints.
When we tested it, we realized its front tray could hold 200 sheets, while the rear specialty tray can accommodate up to 50 sheets, making it easier to handle large printing projects, even on cardstock. It also features 2-sided printing, which conveniently prints both sides of the sheet simultaneously, eliminating the need for repeating the process.
This printer has wireless connectivity, meaning we did not have to plug our device in as long as we had a wireless network.
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3. Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer
The Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer is arguably among the best portable photo printers that capture the best balance between quality and portability of the device. As the printer is manufactured for those who prefer quality and bright pictures with densities, it is suitable for family portraits, businesses that require small format prints or traveling.
The wireless features in the form of Bluetooth or Canon’s easypod are available in the Canon SELPHY CP 1500 model of printer. It uses dye-sublimation that ensures the photographic prints are water-proof and long-lasting and the colors really vibrant. One of the best features which we came across was its wireless functionality that lets you print via Wi-Fi from your smartphone or laptop.
Through USB-C compatibility, one can easily connect several devices; moreover, through the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, its possible to edit photos before you print. It even has various print options; the borderless, the bordered and the layout prints among others.
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4. Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
The Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 is a sophisticated all in one photo printer delivering photorealistic vibrant print quality for photo lovers and home office users. More than just being able to handle our photos, this compact printer also performs well as a general printer and scanner for documents so it is perfect for households looking for a printer that can do all.
In addition, Epson has integrated features that make it easier to carry out print tasks and improves on the quality of the photos. The MP990 uses five-color Claria Premium ink that produces detailed, high-quality photo prints with great blacks. Its main connectivity features comprise Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Ethernet connections meant for devices for ease of printing. This is in the support of the 30-page automatic document feeder (ADF) and auto-duplex printing support to assist in cutting the time spent on printing.
The LCD display measures 4.3 inches and is touch based hence useful when setting or modifying certain settings, viewing images as well as selecting print options and its compact size which makes it easy to place in restricted spaces.
Overall, the Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 is an excellent solution for anyone who requires top-quality photo prints in a home printer.
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5. Brother Business Color Laser Printer, HL-L8360CDW
Among all the Brother products, the HL-L8360CDW Business Color Laser Printer was specially built for creating professional quality color photos. Originally intended to be an office printer but suitable for homes, this printer is great at providing image clarity and speed. It is particularly useful for those who require accurate color copies but do not want to compromise on printing time.
It boasts of a 2400 x 600 dpi resolution, making your photos and your professional documents look clear and bright. It has multiple paper trays and accepts a selection of papers from A4 to A3, which raises the total paper capacity up to 1,300 sheets for large-volume printing needs. Some of the advantages are easy to use Wireless Connectivity which includes Wi-Fi, Google Cloud Print, and AirPrint from mobile devices, and touch to connect through NFC. Using the rich color touchscreen configuration, getting through settings and print jobs is easy and simple.
In conclusion, the Brother HL-L8360CDW is an amazing printer that could deliver high quality colored prints and does not have any major limitations.
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Factors An Artist Should Consider When Choosing The Best Printer For Art Prints
1. Types Of Printers
The type of printer usually depends on what and how much you are printing.
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1. Inkjet Printers
An inkjet printer uses an ink cartridge that you apply to the paper wet, but it rapidly dries. Color Inkjet printers are the most common in the market and can print a wide variety of items. Modern models are faster and more versatile than laser printers, but the cartridges are less durable.
2. Laser Printers
A laser printer uses a toner, a type of ink dust that quickly bonds to paper providing fast and efficient results. They are a suitable option if you want to handle monochromatic printing, making them ideal for office work. Nevertheless, a laser printer isn't flexible since it doesn't provide much color variation. These printers also have low running costs.
3. All-In-Ones / Multifunctional Printers
These printers can fax, scan, and print, making them a comprehensive option for graphic designers with diverse projects. It's cheaper to buy a multifunctional printer than to get a scanner and a printer separately.
4. Photo Printers
There is no better printer for art prints than a photo printer. They are the best printers for art prints because they produce better print quality than other types. Photo printers can handle different paper types and can deliver wider prints.
2. Printing Speed
The measure of how fast the printer can print is stated in Pages Per Minute (PPM). Color prints have different PPMs than black and white, but that isn't a big deal unless you have a large stack to print.
The standard PPM for black and white art prints is bout 15 - 20 pages, while that of color ranges from 10 -15 pages. If you need to handle numerous photo prints within a short time, you should strongly consider the printing speed.
3. Resolution
DPI, which stands for Dots per Inch, refers to the number of dots the printer can make on a square inch of photo paper. You should check out this spec if you want art printers that can create high-resolution images.
DPI is a bit outdated, and newer printers come with software that enhances the resolution without altering the DPI. So, this is not the only function to keep an eye on as you look through the best printers for art.
4. Printer Connectivity
Almost all the printers on the market today offer multiple connection options. As a standard, the best printer should at least have Wi-Fi and cloud printing compatibility, but it could also include;
1. USB
USB ports are common on printers and can allow you to hook up hard drives and numerous other devices. When you use this connection, you can print media directly off your device without requiring assistance from a computer. Unfortunately, most printers only support USB-A connections and not USB-C.
2. Ethernet
Printers can also have Ethernet ports to provide wired internet connections. This feature might not be essential for home-use printers; it is more appropriate for studios and office setups.
3. WiFi
The models in our list of the best printers for art prints have WiFi compatibility. This means that you can connect the printer directly to your WiFi network, which allows you to send your artwork from your phone, computer, or any other device directly to the printer using suitable software. This eliminates the need for any wires or cables, which makes it convenient.
WiFi-direct connections are different from standard network connections since it involves a secure connection between the device and the printer. Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print are among these technologies.
4. Cloud Printing
Some printers can feature internet-based functions that allow you to access images and other media sites like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Flickr. However, this function requires an internet connection to operate.
5. SD Card
Another slot your printer should have is the SD card port which can allow you to navigate and select files to print from the printer's menu. This is useful for artists like photographers who normally save photos on SD cards.
5. Duplexing Printing
One of the most efficient features arising among printers is duplex printing which refers to a printer's ability to print both sides of the page without manually flipping it. It works by printing one side of the page first and then pulling the page back in the printer, flipping it over, and finishing the other side.
Most all-in-one devices will have this function alongside an automatic document feeder. If you frequently print photos or fine art on both sides of the page, you should ensure you choose a printer with duplex capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The Best Printer For Art Prints On The Market?
The overall best printer is the Canon Pixma MG3620. It has various printing options, including printing wirelessly from a mobile device. It is easy to set up and budget-friendly.
2. Is Inkjet Or Laser Better For Art Prints?
Inkjet printers are the best for printing photos, but laser printers use toner rather than ink which is more durable. So, it depends on whether longevity or quality is your priority.
3. Which Is Faster, Inkjet, Or Laser?
Laser printers are faster than inkjet types and have more efficient use of resources.
4. What Is The Disadvantage Of A Laser Printer?
Laser printers, especially the colored types, are expensive, plus the cost goes higher since toners are more pricey than ink cartridges.
5. What Is The Difference Between A Laser Printer And A Cricut Printer?
A printer for Cricut is used for home crafts like printing Scrapbooks, cutting paper, vinyl, fondant, and fabrics, while a laser printer is used to print on various varieties of paper for both official and non-official use. Laser printers do not have cutting capabilities like Cricut printers for craft artists.
6. Is Canon or Epson Better For Art Prints?
First, both Canon and Epson printers are the best printers in the market right now that produce museum-grade quality. Equipment from the two brands is the most used and recommended, especially in digital art printmaking. While all are the best, there are several differences between the two, and when you buy one, ensure you understand and compare those differences.
For example, the print head replacement in the Epson can be costlier and inconvenient. I would instead go with Canon, even though it is imperative to check what their warranties say. A built-in hard drive is another feature that the Epson printer does not have, but Canon has. This is a plus for Canon printers. The hard drive is the printer’s server that manages print jobs, especially when sent from multiple devices or computers. On the other hand, Epson printers offer an internal print server hard drive only as an optional accessory feature.
Automatic firmware updates on Canon printers allow you to connect the printer to the Wi-Fi and search for updates to the firmware if they are available. If available, you can just update them easily using a tap on the LCD screen. For Epson printers, things are different as the firmware updates are only available on the Epson software update program.
The bottom line, therefore, is that each brand is excellent for art printing despite its quirks and idiosyncrasies. Photographers of the highest caliber and galleries and museums alike use both brands to print. The final choice of a good art printer depends on you and what features you want in an art printer.
7. How Do You Print High-Quality Art?
Most artwork requires 300 dpi. When the artwork is set at this resolution, the result is outstanding. Printing large prints at 150 dpi is recommended since the difference in printing quality is unnoticeable when you view it from afar. The output device's resolution, on the other hand, varies depending on the paper and type of press used. When printing on glossy paper or magazine stock, put the output at 150 1pi, and when printing on newspaper stock, set it at 851pi.
8. Is Inkjet or Laser the Best For Art Prints?
The two most common printing options are laser and inkjet. You will pay more upfront for a laser printer than an inkjet. Nonetheless, it costs less in the long term as it prints faster. On the other hand, Inkjet printers cannot handle the hefty output like laser printers. The color saturation, nonetheless, is better with inkjet than with laser printers.
