Disclosure: This post is made possible after spending time to get to know the products thoroughly ourselves. We may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through our links. See our review process and privacy policy.
Updated: August 29, 2024
First impressions are important.
If you’re an artist or a graphic designer, owning the best quality printer makes all the difference in bringing your creative work to life.
We’ve thoroughly reviewed the latest model of printers that can best meet your needs.
In our research, we looked for models that could generate high-resolution prints with brilliant colour details, as well as models that could print on a variety of sizes, weights and types of paper.
Featured image by Freepik
So, what are the best printers recommended for artists & graphic designers?
Best All-in-One Printers for Artists and Designers
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
- Canon PIXMA G620 Megatank
- Canon TS9521C Crafting Printer
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw
- Epson EcoTank ET-15000 All-in-One
Best Printers for Professional Art Printing
- Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
- Brother Sublimation Printer
- Canon imagePROGRAF TA-30 – 36″ Large Format
- Epson Artisan 1430
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000
- Epson SureColor P700 13″
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
Best Printers Under $500
- HP Smart-Tank 6001 All-in-One
- Epson Expression Photo XP-8600
- Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wide Format
FAQs
- How to choose the best printer for art prints and graphic design?
- Is inkjet or laser better for art prints?
- What is a good printer resolution for art prints?
Best All-in-One Printers for Artists and Designers
1. Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
The EcoTank Photo ET-8500 all-in-one inkjet printer is a great offer if you need accurate colors and cost efficiency.
This printer is designed for creatives, photographers, artists and designers of all levels. It can print in 8 x 11″, 4 x 6″, 5 x 7″, and 8 x 11″ sizes and in various types of papers including stickers. It does 2-sided printing as well.
For about 4 cents each, you can print a 4 x 6″ picture in as little as 15 seconds. The 6-color inks can cover up to 6,200 color pages.
The scanning quality is excellent too. With 300 dpi, it’s incredibly clear and glare-free and you can scan and save the images directly to your phone.
Features:
• High-accuracy printhead with Claria ET Premium 6-color inks
• Supports borderless printing of up to 8.5″ x 11″
• Native 4,800 dpi 48-bit flatbed scanner for professional color and black & white scanning and copying.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Seamless Wifi connectivity • Excellent and convenient paper tray and media handling | • Less user-friendly touch screen display • Doesn’t support sublimation printing • May be tricky to setup for first time users |
Other related products you may like
Limia’s Care Waterproof Vinyl Sticker Paper
From $19.95 – Buy on Amazon
Small Smile Sticker Paper for Inkjet Printers
From $9.97 – Buy on Amazon
MARTY Printer Stand Shelf
From $29.99 – Buy on Amazon
2. Canon PIXMA G620 Megatank
The Canon PIXMA G620 all-in-one printer gives you the best of both worlds. This printer is ideal for high-volume photo printing. This printer produces beautiful and vibrant print quality thanks to its 6-color dye-based ink cartridges.
This printer is also lightweight – you can lift it out of the box with just one hand, which makes this printer very easy to move around.
Features:
• Space saving and compact design
• USB and Wifi connectivity
• 6- color dye-based ink system for a wider color gamut.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Amazing print quality • Cost saving – approx. 2.5 cents per 4″ x 6″ prints • Photo prints dry quickly with no smudging of ink | • Average printing speed • Rather small and less user-friendly screen display |
3. Canon TS9521C Crafting Printer
The Canon TS9521C all-in-one inkjet printer has all the features you need to print your art & craft projects and it’s ideal for everyday use.
If you’re looking to start selling prints on Etsy, this printer features 5 individual ink tanks that can handle all of your regular printing requirements, including pattern designs, greeting cards, schoolwork, scrapbooks, documents and photos.
The Wifi Air Print feature lets you print and scan directly from cloud-based apps like Facebook and Instagram.
This Canon printer also functions as an auto document feeder for scanning and copying.
Features:
• 12″ x 12″ paper support and borderless printing
• Auto document feeder for multi-page documents
• Bluetooth, ethernet, USB and Wifi connectivity.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to use • Budget friendly printer • Uses ink sparingly and yet, still gives you good quality prints | • Average Wifi connectivity • Cartridge ink refills are rather pricey |
4. HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw
The new HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw is the perfect choice if you want a printer that is both versatile and budget-friendly, while still providing high-quality printing.
This HP printer offers the convenience of wireless printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. It has a 250-sheet input tray, allowing you to print up to 28 pages per minute.
It also supports automatic duplex printing and prints at up to 600×600 dpi, There’s also data protection features built into its hardware, firmware and OS.
Features:
• 2-sided scanning
• 50-sheet auto document feeder
• Energy efficient – saves up to 18% on electricity
• Fast printing – print speeds of up to 28 pages per minute.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to setup and use • Faster and quiet printing • Data protection features safeguards the printer from cyberattacks • Mobile printing compatible with smartphones, PC and cameras with Wifi or USB connection | • Doesn’t support sublimation printing • Cartridge ink refills are rather pricey • Document feeder has to be manually adjusted when out of paper |
5. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 All-in-One
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is also one of the best printers recommended for beginner artists and designers.
This printer produces high-quality prints and has high-capacity ink tanks to ensure you won’t run out of inks while you print your art & design projects. Each replacement ink bottle set includes enough ink to print up to 7,500 pages in black & white and 6,000 colored pages.
Customers who bought it love how easy it is to use this plug-and-play printer – with a Wifi connection, this printer connects automatically.
Features:
• Hands-free voice activated printing
• Auto document feeder with auto 2-sided printing and a 250-sheet paper tray
• Cartridge-free printing – one set of replacement ink bottles included to last for up to 2 years of printing
• Has PrecisionCore heat-free technology and Claria ET pigment black ink that produces extraordinarily fine text and outstanding color photographs and graphics
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to setup and use • Impressive print quality • Versatile paper handling • Supports sublimation printing | • Sublimation ink not provided – needs to be bought separately • Scanner won’t support width exceeding 9″ |
Best Printers for Professional Art Printing
1. Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
The Epson ET-8550 supports a wide range print materials including glossy photo papers, card stocks with thickness of up to 1.3mm and stickers. Auto two-sided and large format printing of up to 13″ x 9″ are also supported.
It features a user-friendly touch display, seamless Wifi connectivity, and a convenient EcoFit ink bottle design for hassle-free color filling.
If you’re a small business owner or merchandiser, this printer will help you save cost on bulk printing. You’ll be impressed by its photo-quality prints as well.
Features:
• High-accuracy printhead with Claria ET Premium 6-color inks
• Supports borderless printing of up to 13″ x 19″
• Native 4,800 dpi 48-bit flatbed scanner for professional color and black & white scanning and copying.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Impressive print quality • Intuitive touch display and seamless Wifi connectivity • Supports sublimation printing | • Display screen is rather hard to read • Sublimation ink not provided – needs to be bought separately • Papers get stuck easily on its document feeder – has to be manually adjusted |
Other related products you may like
Neenah Recycled Extra-Heavyweight Card Stock
From $25.99 – Buy on Amazon
Joyberg 4″ x 6″ Blank Cards & Envelopes
From $6.99 – Buy on Amazon
40 pieces 8.5″ x 11″ White Cardstock
From $5.99 – Buy on Amazon
2. Brother Sublimation Printer
The Brother Sublimation Printer has been the preferred choice for small business owners and home users for its affordability and ease of use.
The printer produces vibrant and good quality prints. When used with its Artspira app, it offers seamless graphic transfers into T-shirts, hats, mousepads, mugs, tumblers and other sublimation surfaces.
Sublimation printing is best done hassle-free, without having to deal with a lot of settings. That’s just what this printer is.
Features:
• CMYK vibrant color smudge-free inks
• Fast printing speed
• Has self-cleaning feature – prevents the printhead from clogging
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to setup and use • Impressive print quality • Space saving | • Does not support large format printing • Average Wifi connectivity • The Artspira app isn’t available on desktop |
Other related products you may like
HTVRONT Sublimation Paper 8.5″ x 14″
From $24.99 – Buy on Amazon
Naturahand Waterproof Holographic Sticker Paper
From $8.99 – Buy on Amazon
Sliner Sublimation Mugs with Bamboo Lids
From $59.99 – Buy on Amazon
PYD Life (4 pack) Sublimation Tumblers
From $53.99 – Buy on Amazon
Blank White Sublimation T-Shirts for Kids
From $19.99 – Buy on Amazon
Whubefy 15″ x 15″ Heat Press Machine
From $149.99 – Buy on Amazon
3. Canon imagePROGRAF TA-30 – 36″ Large Format
Both first-time users of large-format printing and creative professionals can benefit from the Canon imagePROGRAF TA-30 printer.
The simple and compact design of this high-end inkjet printer makes it perfect for use at home or in a studio.
This printer is easy to use, quiet, and suitable for printing artwork, architectural plans, posters and pattern designs on fabric. There is also a built-in poster creation app to make printing your posters convenient and effective.
Features:
• Resolution 2400 x 1200 dpi
• Clear and accurate color printing
• Print paper sizes of 8″ – 36″ (2″ Core)
• Dimension: 42″ x 51″ x 35″ (106cm x 130cm x 89cm)
• Supported print media: Fabric, glossy photo paper, banner paper
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Space saving • Fast & quiet printing • High-speed printing – prints 113 poster per hour (27 sec. per D-size print) at 5ppm for color prints. | • Cartridge ink refills are expensive |
4. Epson Artisan 1430
The Epson Artisan 1430 inkjet printer produces high-definition images with a resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi.
You won’t have to worry about graininess on your prints thanks to its 6 distinct ink cartridges that go through extremely accurate ink nozzles.
The Artisan 1430 can print ultra HD formats up to 13″ x 19″ (33cm x 48cm) in size. The Epson ink is resistant to smudges, scratches, and water.
It’s also simple to share your Artisan 1430 with others thanks to the included Wifi networking capabilities. Anyone on your network can now make huge, gallery-worthy and professional looking prints.
Features:
• Wireless network ready
• Comes with 6 color cartridges
• Advanced colour and lighting correction
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Cost-friendly ink cartridge replacement • Produces beautiful art prints – ideal for for artists and illustrators who sell art prints. | • Slow printing speed • Heavy and rather bulky printer • Printer’s firmware does not save your last print settings • May not be suitable for large quantity or economy printing |
5. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 inkjet printer is ideal for professional photographers, graphic designers and artists.
This printer prints stunning black and white prints with deep blacks and detailed gradations. It is especially appealing because it highlights the dark shadow areas to make the image crisper.
For colored prints, this printer generates a wide color range, accurately reproducing even the most difficult colours. The printer’s output is amazing across all types of print papers including glossy, art, matte papers, and museum quality giclee prints.
Features:
• Wide Color Gamut – 11-color and Chroma Optimizer ink system
• Prints large format up to 13″ x 19″ (33cm x 48cm)
• Air Feeding System – prevents skewing of each page for precise ink placement
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Produces great image clarity with detailed black density in dark shadowy areas • The Anti-Clogging technology – generates faster print speeds and reduces clogging | • Heavy and rather bulky printer • Average Wifi connectivity • Consumes a lot of ink • Print head requires cleaning when not in use for an extended period of time |
6. Epson SureColor P700 13″
For artists who needs exhibition quality prints, the Epson SureColor P700 prints a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi and supports up to 13″ large format printing.
This printer gives you outstanding image quality and color control over detailed printing with its an advanced printhead.
The SureColor P700 inkjet printer is easy to use with its LED light for fast, convenient operation and it is designed to save space too.
Features:
• Compact design
• New 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead
• Dedicated nozzles for both black ink types – no switching needed
• Professional media handling – supports Epson Professional, Signature Worthy, and Legacy papers, as well as third-party media, in 2 rolls and sheets up to 1.5 mm thick
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to use and space saving • Suitable for giclee prints • High quality and permanent print – creates prints that last up to 200 years in color and black and white | • Cartridge ink refills are rather pricey • Printer’s firmware and document feeder is somewhat unstable; requiring reboot |
7. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a high-quality professional inkjet photo and fine art printer. It has a 9-color plus Chroma Optimizer ink that caters to the needs of photographers, artists and designers of all levels.
The printer is simple to use and works with a variety of print mediums. It can print in borderless and in widths of up 39″ (1 meter).
It also offers a large print preview, allowing you to adjust the size, crop, and color of your images and preview its final print size before printing.
Features:
• Space saving
• Fast photo printing
• 3.0″ color LCD display – allows for easy settings and maintenance
• Three different layout options: single image, numerous images on a page, and gallery wrap.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to use and space saving • Produces rich and professional-grade prints • Black-and-white prints have finer black and grey shades • Versatile media handling – also prints in panorama size | • Printer’s firmware lacks user-friendliness – software support for Mac OS is rather poor |
Best Printers Under $500
1. HP Smart-Tank 6001 All-in-One
Our favorite budget all-in-one printer this year is the HP Smart-Tank 6001. Reasonably priced, this inkjet printer does a decent job in printing high-resolution prints of up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi.
This is just excellent for art prints and photos. It prints in a variety of paper types and supports borderless printing.
If you’re on a budget but want to make lots of good quality art prints that you can sell on Etsy, this printer will be worth your investment.
Features:
• Prints 12 pages/minute
• 150 page input tray
• Print, copy and scan with automatic two-sided printing.
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Excellent print quality • Eco & budget friendly • Prints up to 8,000 color pages or 6,000 black pages right out of the box • Self “healing” Wifi connection – automatically detects and resolves connectivity issues | • Papers on the document feed get stuck easily |
2. Epson Expression Photo XP-8600
Also called the Small-in-One printer, the Epson Expression Photo XP-8600 can print your photos and artwork lightning fast!
Many customers who bought this model also love the easy setup and space-saving design. This printer is suitable for small office and home use.
Features:
• Borderless printing
• Supports versatile printing
• 6-color Claria Photo HD inks
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Very easy to setup and use • High resolution printing • Space-saving • User-friendly touchscreen interface | • Cartridge ink refills are rather pricey • Document feeder has to be manually adjusted when out of paper |
3. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wide Format
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 printer is perfect for professional graphic designers and artists.
Though the ink cartridges aren’t cheap, designers who purchased it praised the detailed and crisp print quality of this Epson model. It supports borderless and large format printing of up to 13″ x 19″ (33cm x 48cm).
If you’re a creative with an eye for detail, this printer will be a great buy for you.
Features:
• With a 200-sheet front tray – supports automatic 2-sided document printing
• Individual 6-color Claria cartridges with ultra wide color gamut and enhanced black-and-white prints.
• Professional Ultra HD photo quality feature – works brilliantly in borderless printing
| What we like about this printer? | Disadvantages |
| • Easy to use • Fast speed printing – 20 page/minute (color) or 27 sec./page • Supports thick card stock printing | • Cartridge ink refills are expensive • Document feeder has to be manually adjusted when out of paper • Supports only 2-sided printing of document sizes no more than 7″ x 10″ |
FAQs
How to choose the best printer for art prints and graphic design?
Determine the size: We have recommended a variety of printers available specifically for creatives. However, choosing the proper printer that will meet your needs begins with determining the size of your printouts. So, ask yourself if you require large-format or smaller format printing.
How often will you print? If you plan on doing a lot of printing and possibly selling your art prints, you should invest in a high-end printer that can generate gallery-quality images far faster than a low-end printer. They also feature larger ink cartridges, which means you won’t have to replace them as frequently, and you’ll normally find better rates on ink when you buy larger ink cartridges.
Paper thickness: Last but not least, consider the thickness of the paper you’ll be printing on. Choose paper that will not absorb a lot of ink. Many creative professionals choose photographic or fine art paper since it is thicker than conventional printer paper. And when it comes to paper thickness, lower-end printers are usually less versatile, so if you plan on printing a lot of thick media, a higher-end printer is usually a better choice.
Is inkjet or laser better for art prints?
Inkjet printers and laser printers are the two most common options. A laser printer costs more up front, but it runs significantly faster and costs less in the long term. Inkjet printers may not be able to handle the hefty output offered by laser printers. However, color saturation is still better with inkjet printers.
What is a good printer resolution for art prints?
300 dpi is recommended for most artwork. When photos or artwork are set to 300 ppi, most printers offer outstanding results. Large prints can be printed at 150 dpi because the difference in print quality is barely evident when viewed from a distance.
The resolution of the output device varies depending on the type of press and paper utilised. In general, if printed on glossy magazine stock, a photograph is output at 150 lpi, and if printed on newspaper stock, at 85 lpi.
You can learn more about resolution and canvas dimensions in the Corel Painter Help.
Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Written by
