Best Printer for Art Prints – Top Picks From Artists Review of 2020

A few leading brands fight for the title of the best printer for art prints. Canon, HP, Epson, and Lexmark make dependable artwork printers. You know your artwork can’t rely on poor performers. High-quality art demands the best prints at the lowest costs.

Unlike many would first believe, printers for art prints don’t have to be expensive. They don’t need to compromise on quality either. The best home printer for art prints works as a resolution of 4800 X 2400 dots per inch, supporting highly detailed prints.

Comparison of 10 Best Printer for Art Prints in 2020

Top 10 Best Printer for Art Prints Review in 2020

All major printer for art prints manufacturers offer at least some type of product suitable for arts and artists. They can all be used without prior printing knowledge. Here are the best choices.

1. Canon Pixma Pro-100 Wireless Inkjet Printer

High-quality printing is not new to Canon. Their Pixma Pro-100 printer stands out with its versatility and intuitive AI. It analyses the optimum print quality and adjusts the cartridges as needed. With a maximum output of 4800dpi, it is capable of delivering commercial-style prints right at home.

3 monochrome prints are available with this printer. As the best printer for art prints reviews show, these are black, gray, and light gray. But the deep black based on high-density printing is what makes these modes a bit better than on other printers.

Based on the Optimum Image Generating software, the printer also analyzes the best combinations of ink for the ultimate results. Artists who want to exhibit their prints can simply do so without too much hassle. It takes about 1 minute and 20 seconds to print an exhibition-quality photo with this printer.

Now, its practicality is among the best. It is WiFi certified which means it doesn’t need wired connectivity. Still, it comes with high-speed USB printing. Direct mobile printing is possible via PictBridge. Even CD/DVD printing is still supported. Photo paper is supported so any of these options can trigger artistic prints ready for display or sale.

The cartridges are based on Canon’s CLI PK Value cartridges. Unlike regular cartridges, they have 8 individual colors the printer decides when and how to use. These colors are black, gray, light gray, cyan, photo cyan, magenta, photo magenta, and yellow.

2. Canon Pixma iX6820 Printer Best for Art Prints

One of the best printers for making art prints is the Pixma IX6820 Wireless. Its resolution is a bit higher than expected and from here, it’s only a matter of time to find out what its capable of.

Photographers, digital artists, book and magazine editors or anyone in paper-based art find it particularly appealing for this reason. At 9600 X 2400dpi, this capable printer is rarely disappointing strictly on print quality.

It works with Canon’s 5 individual ink tank systems and it has been appreciated by artists in various fields already. Ink compatibility includes the PGI-250 blacks and the CLI-251 individual colors.

In terms of performance, you can expect to print a quality photo at a size of 4” X 6” within 36 seconds. It is a bit faster than other similarly-priced printers, although not all artists are driven by a printer’s speed. With 1 picoliter droplet size, the photos are sharp and detailed. Advanced features are also included. For example, Canon offers the possibility of printing a still from an HD movie clip.

The arty possibilities are never-ending as a result. It also offers administrative help with My Image Garden, software dedicated to grouping similar-style photos and other ready-to-print materials. Auto power on function has also been implemented. This interesting feature switches the printer on whenever a photo is sent to be printed. A Quiet Mode ensures lower disturbance even if it slows down the printing process a bit.

3. Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Inkjet Printer

Printing high-definition photos of up to 13” X 19”, the Artisan 1430 is one of the best printer for art prints. It uses separate colors in its cartridges and these are based on 6 Clara High Definition cartridges with colors such as black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, and light magenta.

It’s also capable of advanced color correction. In this case, this technology may make up the differences from what the artist sees on the monitor and how the prints look on paper. However, even with such technology, it may still be wise to try various monitor settings to balance the way artwork looks on the screen and how it is presented on paper.

When artists print a photo on the Epson Artisan, they can expect the quality of the work to be at the highest standard. The colors are water-resistant and they are also fade resistant. This is why even when they are displayed in a gallery with plenty of natural sunlight, they’ll maintain a full-color profile.

In terms of resolution, the printer is also among the best. It prints at 5760 X 1440dpi. Its droplets of 1.5 picoliters are also suitable for all types of prints. The high resolution and the small picoliters also mean the printer is a solid choice for portraits. Skin tones are among the most difficult to reproduce on paper.

4. Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer

Made to deliver one of the best home printers for art prints performance, the Canon IP8720 is one of the leading options for large prints. It doesn’t limit the artist’s prints as it offers a maximum printing size of 13 inches X 19 inches which places it among the best.

Its large print capacity is perfect for photography, mixed media, architecture or even specialized book printing. It uses the same 6 color system from Canon which is known for its high-quality grays and blacks. Other unique characteristics include a patented photolithography nozzle.

It is a smaller nozzle compared to what other printers offer. At 1pl droplets, it is a printer capable of taking care of the finer details. This is why it may be used by artists who want to sell their work, not only make the prints for personal reference. Advanced features are already known to Canon fans.

If you’re coming from another Canon printer, you may already be familiar with technologies such as Quiet Mode printing or borderless printing.  Google Cloud Print allows artists to print from any device which can be connected to the web.

Even more, it prints from Gmail, Google Docs and other Google tools. When printing from iPhones, users can rely on AirPrint for the same reliability as with Google printing. At the same time, the printer features Pixma printing software which may replace all of these with a native alternative for photos and documents.

5. HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer

As one of the best affordable printer for art prints, the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 is one of the printers which offer an all-in-one functionality. Artists don’t need to purchase copiers and scanner when using this printer. But its multifunction profile doesn’t affect its performance.

It is still based on solid cartridges with separate ink for black, yellow, cyan, and magenta. If you’re looking to print artwork and run your business on the side, this may be the right option. From printing photos or posters to printing delivery notes, it is a multifunctional solution.

Most can see its benefits from the start. There’s even a 2.65” touchscreen to control many printing functions right at the printer. In terms of versatility, the machine takes all types of papers, favoring further print cost savings. Unlike laser-based alternatives, it can print up to 50% more documents and artwork. Up to 22 pages of black-only prints are supported per minute. 2-side printing is also supported.

This is an intuitive solution for those printing books, coloring books or magazines. If photos are only printed on one side, other publications such as leaflets may also work with 2-side printing. Connectivity options aren’t bad either. Direct WiFi printing is supported. At the same time, iPhone printing also works with this all-in-one machine. Users need to use AirPrint for this to happen. With an automatic paper feeder, those printing larger projects may also realize just how much this simplifies their job.

6. Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer

Representing one of the best rated printers for art prints, the Pixma Pro9000 offers reliability with high-resolution prints. With a maximum resolution of 4800 x 2400dpi, the printer offers some of the most detailed prints for artists.

Two feeders are added for various types of paper. Although this is not unique to Canon’s Pixma printers, it’s still reassuring to know it can offer one of the most reliable results in terms of printing paper versatility. The top paper path is where you insert standard paper.

The bottom paper path is used for thick paper. Many types of heavier paper are inserted via the bottom feeder. Advanced technologies include Canon’s own Ambient Light Correction. When users set up the right ambient light in the printing software, the printer automatically adjusts this light to optimize the artwork.

Part of this printer’s success is based on its cartridge system. With 8 individual colors, it is one of the more complex solutions made to be used at home or the office. Vivid colors are the result of this cartridge system. The colors are black, cyan, magenta, yellow, cyan, light magenta, red, and green.

The cartridge system has already shown its full potential on all types of paper. Like other similar printers, the maximum size of 13 inches X 19 inches is supported with multiple prints using the same cartridge. Even fast printing is supported, but only via USB.

7. Epson Expression Photo XP-960 Wireless Photo Printer

This professional printer for art prints offers a wide paper printing capacity. Suitable for various art, it is better than many expect. In some departments, it outranks Canon and HP printers as seen in various reviews. For example, its large 4.6” touchscreen is the largest in its class.

It offers a powerful solution to those seeking added practicality. Those printing frequently find it particularly appealing. There are a few photos sizes the printer does best. It’s capable of quickly printing standard 4” X 6” photos. But it also handles large 11” X 17” borderless photos, perfect to be hanged off a wall.

This printer may be larger than many similar machines, but it also handles large papers and you need plenty of desktop space for it. However, this needs to be perfectly flat for it to print properly. Connectivity is not bad either. It prints when connected to the home’s WiFi network. But it also copies and scans all artwork that needs to be turned digital.

All of these functions work with HD photo quality. But many use it for its combination of attractiveness and the ability to control it through smartphones and tablets. Since many artists sketch directly on their tablets, it proves a considerable advantage. Ink cartridges are those used by Epson under the 277 series with separate colors. While some third-party cartridges may be used as well, it’s unlikely they’ll deliver the same quality, especially with photo printing.

8. Canon Pixma PRO-10 Color Inkjet Photo Printer

Every printer for artwork has its strengths and weaknesses. Canon’s Pixma Pro-10 is one of the printers made for top-quality prints with a glossy finish. This finish is determined by the pigment-based ink and the Chroma optimizer. Its gloss is seen on the entire surface of the picture.

For many users, this means the prints are going to last longer. However, it is not one of the printers to consider when you simply want to print out drafts, as it takes every piece of art seriously. Canon has implemented the same 4800dpi print resolution on the printer which has proven efficient with color details.

In terms of paper quality, Canon states this printer works with any products. But users say the printer is a bit better with the manufacturer’s paper. Regardless of the paper, the printer works solidly both wired and wirelessly. The cartridges are Canon’s 10-color releases. Some only use originals while others say they work a few extra times with refills.

9. Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank Supertank Printer

Considered one of the best printer for art prints for its ink offerings, the Epson printer is a top pack. It includes sufficient ink for up to 2 years right in the box. It is estimated this ink can print 14000 pages in black or 9000 pages in color.

Replacement ink bottles are also considered more affordable. When the time comes to add more ink, users find it a bit more affordable than similar alternatives. 5-color inks are used for the prints. Users can easily print out 11” X 17” artwork to a high standard using this ink system.

Free from cartridges, this printer also supports complete wireless connectivity. The features place it in front of the list for those printing artwork daily where printing cost needs to be as low as possible.

10. Lexmark MB2338adw Print Only Monochrome Laser Printer

This laser printer for art prints is made for productivity. High speeds Black printing supported . In this mode up to 38 pages per minute can be printed. But the multi-functional aspect of the printer is important as well. It also works as a fast copier.

With a 250-page load capacity, it makes continuous printing considerably easier. But most users appreciate its controls as well. Not everything goes through a computer. This is where the 2.4 inch screen proves the most efficient.

For most, it is the only way of dealing with fast copying. Fully supported by smartphone and tablet printing, it can be a future proof purchase as well.

Conclusion

Even the best printer for art prints needs a bit of calibration. Even if the printer is capable, the artist needs to calibrate it to the monitor’s color reproduction. Once this calibration has been made, prints are fast. The only discussion remains on whether artists can rely on ink-based printers or choose a laser alternative instead.

Today, many artists rely on ink to print high-quality work. Given some of these prints are made on glossy paper, it is a choice which not many artists regret. Furthermore, replacement ink or cartridges are now more affordable than before.