One of the most frustrating decisions for artists is choosing the right printer to print their art pieces.
Your art pieces deserve to be printed the right way.
After all, you’ve probably put lots of hard work into creating them, so you need to get a printer that does them justice.
With so many printer manufacturers and models, we understand how hard it can get to pick one, especially if you have no previous experience with printing jargon.
To make things easier, we’ve created a list of some of the best printers you can get for the money.
Comparison Table:
| Model | Number of Ink Cartridges | Resolution | Maximum Paper Size |
| Canon Pixma Pro-100 | 8 cartridges | 4800 x 2400 dpi | 13 x 19″ (borderless) |
| Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 | 6 cartridges | 1440 dpi | 13 x 19″ (borderless) |
| HP Envy Photo 7855 | 2 cartridges (1 black and 1 tri-color) | 1200 dpi | 8.5 x 14″ |
| Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 | Tank (5-color ink) | 5760 x 1440 dpi | 11 x 17” |
| Canon IP8720 | 5 cartridges | 9600 x 2400 dpi | 13 x 19” |
The 5 Best Printers for Art Prints in 2022
1. Canon Pixma Pro-100 – Best Overall Pick
The Canon PIXMA PRO-100 features an 8-cartridge ink system that allows you to print your art prints with high color accuracy.
Moreover, the Canon FINE technology enables you to print borderless 13 x 19″, high-quality art prints at an impressive resolution of 2400 dpi.
Another good feature of the PIXMA PRO-100 is that it’s compatible with Print Studio Pro, an excellent software package that maximizes print quality when printing directly from editing programs like Photoshop. Not to mention, this inkjet printer has a dedicated CD DVD tray.
As far as connectivity is concerned, the PIXMA Pro-100 supports USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet. It’s also compatible with Canon PictBridge that lets you print directly from your Canon camera. You can even print over cloud printing services like Apple AirPrint.
What We Like:
- Prints borderless 13 x 19″ art prints
- Excellent color accuracy
- Wireless connectivity
- High print resolution
- Can print on CDs and DVDs
What We Don’t Like:
- No scanning or copying functionalities
Bottom Line
If you want to print vivid, high-quality borderless art prints, the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 would be your best bet.
2. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Best Value for Money
The Epson Expression XP-15000 can print borderless 13 x 19″ art prints.
It features a 6-cartridge ink system that produces an outstanding color accuracy. Furthermore, at a print resolution of 1440 dpi, your art prints will come out super sharp.
Moreover, the paper tray takes up to 200 sheets at once, meaning that you won’t have to feed it frequently.
There’s a 2.4″ LCD screen right in the middle of the printer that lets you control the printer’s settings and execute commands Intuitively. As for print speed, the XP-15000 can print at a maximum speed of 9 ppm, which isn’t that bad but not great either.
When it comes to connectivity, the Epson Expression XP-15000 supports a variety of connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. You can even print over cloud services like Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint.
What We Like:
- 6-cartridge ink system
- Prints borderless 13 x 19″ images
- Good paper capacity
- LCD display
- Supports Wi-Fi
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited print speed
Bottom Line
There’s a lot to love about the Epson Expression XP-15000. From the great print quality to the intuitive controls and cloud printing support, you just can’t go wrong with this one.
3. HP Envy Photo 7855 – Best Versatile Artistic Printer
Up next on our list is the HP Envy Photo 7855 All-in-One printer.
Featuring a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, this printer can give you some high-quality art prints.
One notable feature of this printer is that it has a dedicated tray for photo paper, making it an excellent option for those who’ll use the printer for both art prints and documents.
Moreover, there’s an LCD screen that makes it easy for you to control everything about the printer and access its functions.
The maximum paper size is 8.5 x 14”, so make sure that you won’t need to print large art prints. The print speed is capped at 10 ppm for color photos, which is pretty decent for everyday use.
Furthermore, the cartridges are quite cheap compared to other printers in the same category. You can also subscribe to either Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service or HP’s Instant Ink to get a continuous supply of ink at discounted prices. If you opt for HP’s Instant Ink Service, you’ll get 2 months of free ink supply.
When it comes to connectivity, the HP Envy 7855 allows you to print over USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. You can also insert an SD card and print directly from it. Moreover, it supports NFC, allowing you to print from your mobile device with a single tab.
What We Like:
- Can copy and scan documents and photos
- Low initial price and running costs
- Good print quality
- Supports Wi-Fi and NFC
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited to 8.5 x 14” paper
Bottom Line
Carrying an affordable price tag, the HP Envy Photo 7855 is an excellent choice for those who don’t want to premium and not compromise much on features at the same time
4. Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 – Best for Ink Saving
One thing that makes the Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 stand out from the crowd is its super low ink costs. Instead of relying on a cartridge ink system, the printer is equipped with a supersized 5-color ink tank that can be refilled cheaply instead of forcing you to buy expensive cartridges.
What’s even better is that you get 2 years of free ink in the box, so you won’t need to refill the tank anytime soon.
With a maximum paper size of 11 x 17” and a print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi, the Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 lets you print large, high-quality art prints.
You also get a large 2.7” touchscreen display that allows you to print your art prints directly from the printer using the memory card slot. Furthermore, the printer can copy and scan your art pieces, which means that you don’t need to buy a dedicated copier and scanner.
As far as connectivity is concerned, Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 supports several connectivity choices, including USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. You can also use Wi-Fi direct to seamlessly print from your mobile devices.
Not a fan of storing your art prints on physical storage space? The Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 lets you print over cloud services like Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint.
What We Like:
- Can copy and scan documents and photos
- Low initial price and running costs
- Good print quality
- Supports Wi-Fi and NFC
- Supports cloud printing
- SD card slot
- Touchscreen display
- High print resolution
What We Don’t Like:
- Below average print speed
- Limited to 8.5 x 14” paper
Bottom Line
If long term ink-saving matters to you, the Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750 would be an excellent choice for printing your art prints at low costs.
5. Canon IP8720 – Best Budget
The Canon IP8720 is capable of printing art prints at an impressive resolution of 9600 x 2400 dpi, allowing you to print your art prints with rich details and extra sharpness.
You can print on paper sizes that range from small 4 x 6” paper all the way up to 13 x 19” paper, giving you more versatility when it comes to the sizes of your art prints.
One cool feature of the Canon IP8720 is the auto power-on function that turns on the printer when you need to print something without interfering with the printer. Moreover, the Canon IP8720 prints at a speed of 10.4 ipm for color, which should be enough for most artists.
Adding to all these features, the Canon IP8720 supports various connectivity options, including USB, and Wi-Fi. Furthermore, you can print using cloud printing services like Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print.
What We Like:
- Can print on 13 x 19” paper
- High print resolution
- Supports cloud printing
- Supports Wi-Fi
- Auto power-on function
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited paper tray capacity
- No dedicated photo paper tray
Bottom Line
If you want to print high-quality art prints without breaking the bank, you should seriously consider picking up the Canon IP8720.
How to Pick the Right Art Printer
There are a few things you need to consider before choosing a printer for your art prints.
Print Quality
No artist would like it if their printer ruins the amazing pieces of art they had spent months or even years crafting, which is why you need to pick a printer with great print quality.
One of the biggest things that impact print quality is the printer’s maximum print resolution. The higher a printer’s print resolution, the sharper your art prints will look.
The print resolution is measured in Dots Per Inch or DPI, which gives you an indication of the number of ink dots on each square inch of your art print.
Color Accuracy
An art print with washed out and inaccurate colors is an artist’s worst nightmare. That’s why it’s crucial that you pick a printer that can produce accurate, true-to-life colors.
Color accuracy is largely determined by the number and quality of ink cartridges a printer has. The more color cartridges, the more accurate the colors will be. The number of ink cartridges can range from 4 and up to 12 cartridges.
Paper Size
Before choosing a printer, make sure that its maximum paper size is enough for your needs. Borderless printing is a plus, too.
Print Speed
If you print a large number of art prints on a regular basis, make sure that you get a printer with fast print speed. You don’t want to spend the whole day printing a few art prints.
A minimum print speed of 10 ppm for color prints would be sufficient, but it’s your call anyway.
Ink Costs
Art printing is costly, but running costs can greatly vary between a printer and another. One of the most economical options is to get a refillable-tank printer instead of a cartridge-based one. These are usually much cheaper to refill.
Another thing you can do is to subscribe to the manufacturer’s ink replenishment service if it offers one. These services provide you with ink at discounted prices. Not to mention the fact that you’ll have a steady supply of ink so that you never run out of it. HP’s Instant-Ink is probably one of the most reliable ink replenishment services out there.
Connectivity
If you don’t like having too many cables around you, consider getting a printer with wireless printing capability. This way, you can easily print from any of your devices without having to connect it with a cable.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Paper is Best for Art Prints?
Generally speaking, glossy and semi-gloss paper is an excellent choice for art prints. Glossy paper makes the colors of an art print pop out, giving it a more beautiful appearance. Matt paper is also a popular choice for art prints, especially black and white ones.
How to Ship Art Prints?
For unframed art prints, it’s good practice to simply roll them up to leave some space between your art print and the packaging. You should also wrap them in plastic for further protection.
For framed art prints, you need to ship them in a different way to protect the frame from getting damaged. Use a cardboard box and apply painter’s tape over the glass and use a bubble wrap to fill the spacing between the frame and the glass. Finally, wrap the whole frame with glass in a bubble wrap and put the art print in the box.
Final Thoughts
Our favorite pick as the best printer for art prints would be the Canon Pixma-Pro 100. With a high print resolution, excellent color accuracy, and borderless 13 x 19” printing, you won’t regret getting this awesome printer. It’s undoubtedly one of the best printers for art prints.
Another good option for those on a budget would be the Canon IP8720. It allows you to save some cash without compromising much on print quality and features.
If you want to save ink costs in the long run, consider getting the Epson Expression EcoTank ET-7750.