In today’s digital age, photography has become more accessible and prevalent than ever before. With the rise of social media and the need for eye-catching visuals, the demand for high-quality photo prints has increased exponentially.
As a result, photographers have been searching for the best large-format printers to produce stunning, professional-grade prints that capture the essence of their work. But with so many options on the market, choosing the right printer can be a daunting task, especially for beginners in the field.
The dynamics of photo printing have changed over the years, precisely with the emergence of large format printers, but navigating through the options available is still challenging. There are various factors to consider, including costs, print size, color accuracy, connectivity, and overall print quality, to mention a few.
Therefore, the search for the best large-format printer for photographers is a highly intricate and personalized process that requires patience, research, and an in-depth understanding of the photographer’s requirements. Despite the complexities involved, finding the right printer can significantly enhance the output of any photographer, allowing them to create stunning works of art.
As a professional photographer, there’s nothing quite like printing your own photos. It’s not just about having control over the process, but also the satisfaction of seeing your hard work come to life in a physical form. So let us help with the process!
Selection Criteria for Large Format Printers 2023—Buying Guide
Professional photography demands excellence and precision. Large format printers excel in selling fine art prints, while providing remarkable prints that capture original images with vibrant details.
These printers outperform standard-sized photo labs, allowing for customized and flexible printing jobs. Professional photographers usually experience an upgrade in quality and control with large-format printing.
These printers are deemed essential in creating stunning gallery prints, unique fine art pieces, and other styles. Print resolution, color accuracy, cost, and paper compatibility are factors to consider when choosing one, though.
Investing in a high-quality large format printer delivers rewards in enjoying previously unavailable print control, embracing artistic vision, and showcasing talent to potential clients. Explore the world of large-format printing to discover the tools to elevate photography and sell fine art prints.
Yet, not all printers are created equal, especially when it comes to large-format printing. That’s why we’re here to give you the lowdown on the top large-format printers for professional photographers.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Large Format Printer
Photography is an art form that captures not only the subject but also the emotions and atmosphere. A high-quality printer is crucial for public display or personal use of printed photos.
Choosing a large format printer can be daunting, but the right printer can bring images to life with ease.
Quality should always be the focus in creating stunning and awe-inspiring prints that capture the essence of the artist. Investing in proper printing equipment is an investment in art, career, and long-term success.
Printing Quality
When you delve into the realm of art printing, you’ll be mostly working with graphics, and photographs. Accurate depiction, great resolution, and a wide color gamut are the hallmarks of high-quality art printing.
The quality of the printed product might also be affected by the printer model you use. Keep in mind, if you plan on using it for business, that laser printers are faster, but inkjet printers give superior quality.
Printer Speed
As a professional photographer, it is oftentimes that you are under pressure when it comes to delivery dates. So it comes naturally to look into printing times when looking for a wide format printer.
When deciding how fast your printer has to go, think about how many pages you typically print in a day. A home printer is fine for the occasional craft project, but it won’t cut it for a busy gallery. For an idea of how quickly your art printer can print, have a look at the specified number of pages per minute.
Replacement Inkjet Cartridges
Prior to making a choice, it is important to investigate the printer’s ink system maintenance options. Keep in mind that the higher the number of colors employed by the printer, regardless of whether you use ink cartridges or dye-based inks, the more realistic the result will be.
For the best results when printing illustrations or artwork, use as many as nine different ink tanks.
Top Product Recommendations for the Best Large Format Printer for Photographers 2023
- Best Overall Large Format Printer for Printing Photographs: Canon Pixma Pro-200
- Best Professional Large Format Printers: Epson SureColor P20000
- Best Wide Format Inkjet Printer for Roll Prints: HP DesignJet T730
- Best Large Format Printer for Borderless Printing: Canon ImageProGraf Pro 1000
- Best All-in-One Large Format Printers: Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
- Most Compact Large Format Printers: HP DesignJet T230
1. Best Overall Large Format Printer for Printing Photographs—Canon Pixma Pro-200
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 10/10
- Max Resolution – 4800 x 2400 dpi
- Print Speed – 90 seconds
- Number of Inks – 8
- Type of Ink – Dye-based
About Canon Pixma Pro-200
The Canon PIXMA Pro 200 is a good solution for photographers on a small budget who yet want lab-quality photos. This inkjet printer produces borderless prints up to A3, making it one of the best printers for photographers, on panoramic fine art paper. When used with transfer paper, you can even create canvas patterns for a variety of artistic applications.
The manual feeder can handle paper with a thickness of up to 380GSM and a tray capacity of up to 150 sheets. The addition of a third feed option, which allows for direct printing onto CDs and photo paper, is even more impressive, especially given the low price of this equipment. Skew Correction technology on the PIXMA PRO-200 enables exact paper loading, with paper alignment handled automatically by inbuilt sensors for dependably high-quality results.
Despite being less expensive than the professional choices on our list, this printer takes eight ink cartridges to generate art prints that look like they were created in a photo studio. Yet, as dye-based inks have a much shorter lifespan than pigment-based inks, you may be concerned about the longevity of your artwork. Canon, on the other hand, claims that its genuine inks will last more than a century.
Overall, this printer prints high-quality black-and-white art, even in wide format, it is recommended that you properly calibrate your printer to achieve the greatest possible quality.
Pros:
- High-quality colors on fine art paper
- Can handle both glossy and matte media
- Great monochrome prints
- Low initial cost
Cons:
- High ink costs
2. Best Professional Large Format Printers—Epson SureColor P20000
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 10/10
- Max Resolution – 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Print Speed – 13.7m2/hour
- Number of Inks – 10 colors, 800 nozzles per color, 800 nozzles black ink
- Type of Ink – Thermal, pigment ink
About Epson SureColor P20000
The Epson SureColor P20000 is a large format printer specifically developed for professional photographers and graphic designers who want the best quality output and color fidelity. This printer’s 10-color UltraChrome HDX ink system produces prints with superb color accuracy and vibrancy, making it an excellent choice for photographers who need to generate high-quality images for exhibition or sale.
The P20000’s large format capabilities, which allow printing on rolls of paper up to 64 inches wide, are one of its most notable characteristics. This is especially handy for photographers who wish to make large-scale prints for exhibition or display without being constrained by the limits of smaller printers.
Another noteworthy feature of the P20000 is its superior media handling capabilities, which enable printing on a variety of media types, including fine art paper, canvas, and even metallic and synthetic material. Due to its adaptability, it is a fantastic choice for photographers who wish to try out numerous printing procedures and material kinds.
Pros:
- Great for printing photos professionally
- Heavy duty printer
- Handles prints up to 64 inches
- Can handle a wide range of materials
Cons:
- High initial cost, even though it is one of the best wide format printers on the market
3. Best Wide Format Inkjet Printer for Roll Prints—HP DesignJet T730
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 10/10
- Max Resolution – 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Print Speed – 1.5 inches/second
- Number of Inks – 4 colors
- Type of Ink – Ink cartridges
About HP DesignJet T730
The HP DesignJet T730 is a large-format printer built specifically for roll printing. This printer’s compact design makes it suitable for small and medium-sized organizations in need of a dependable and effective printing solution for producing large-format prints.
Its ability to handle rolls of paper up to 36 inches wide is one of its most notable qualities, making it an excellent choice for printing posters, banners, and other large-scale prints. Furthermore, the T730 employs HP’s Thermal Inkjet technology, and offers great print accuracy and brightness even at high speeds.
Another noteworthy aspect of the T730 is its advanced networking choices, which include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity. This makes it simple to share the printer with many people or connect it to a network, ensuring that everyone has access to the printer when it is required.
Overall, the HP DesignJet T730 is a fantastic solution for enterprises that need a dependable and efficient large-format printer for roll printing. Its compact size, advanced connectivity choices, and high-quality printing capabilities make it an excellent choice for rapidly and efficiently generating high-quality prints without losing print quality. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in other big format printers, it is a cost-effective and dependable alternative for enterprises that require roll prints on a regular basis.
Pros:
- Wireless printing
- Great for banners and panoramic prints, a wide range of print sizes
- Very good print speed
- Handles roll paper
- Very good for technical drawings as well
Cons:
- Small range of inks
4. Best Large Format Printer for Borderless Printing—Canon ImageProGraf Pro 1000
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 9/10
- Max Resolution – 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Print Speed – 17 x 22 inches / 43.2 x 55.9 cm: 4 Minutes 10 Seconds
- Number of Inks – 12
- Type of Ink – Ink cartridges
About Canon ImageProGraf Pro 1000
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 is widely regarded as one of the greatest large format printers available, and it is specifically built for photographers and graphic designers who want high-quality prints. This printer’s capacity to generate borderless prints up to 17 inches wide is one of its notable characteristics, making it a fantastic choice for producing big-format prints with stunning clarity and color fidelity.
The PRO-1000 employs a 12-color Lucia Pro ink system with a chroma optimizer to produce prints with remarkable color accuracy and vibrancy. Furthermore, the PRO-1000 employs Canon’s sophisticated air-feeding system, which helps to guarantee that paper is fed evenly through the printer, reducing the chance of paper jams or other issues.
The PRO-1000’s big LCD screen is another great feature, making it simple to manage the printer’s sophisticated settings and features. Furthermore, the PRO-1000 has a variety of connectivity choices, including Wi-Fi and Ethernet, making it simple to share the printer with numerous users or connect it to a network.
Pros:
- Impressive image quality
- 12 ink cartridges in individual carts, so they can be replaced per color
- Good print speed
Cons:
- Cleaning cycle can take up to one hour
- High-cost ink
5. Best All-in-One Large Format Printers—Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 9/10
- Max Resolution – 5760 x 1440 dpi
- Print Speed – Up to 29 pages/minute
- Number of Inks – 6
- Type of Ink – Ink cartridges
About Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a large format all-in-one printer built primarily for photographers and other creative professionals who want high-quality prints along with office work. This printer is an ideal solution for anyone who needs to make big format prints fast and effortlessly, thanks to its small design and powerful capabilities.
The XP-15000’s capacity to print borderless photographs up to 13 by 19 inches is one of its most notable characteristics, making it a good choice for producing high-quality prints for galleries. Furthermore, the XP-15000 employs Epson’s six-color Claria Photo HD ink technology, which ensures that printouts have remarkable color accuracy and vibrancy.
The XP-15000’s versatility as an all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier is another noteworthy feature. This makes it a fantastic alternative for photographers who need to scan, copy, and print their work.
Pros:
- Low initial cost
- Compact design
- All-in-One machine allows for business use as well
Cons:
- Only six ink cartridges
6. Most Compact Large Format Printers—HP DesignJet T230
Large Format Printer Selection Criteria
- Print Quality – 9/10
- Max Resolution – 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Print Speed – 35 sec per A1 plot
- Number of Inks – 4
- Type of Ink – Ink cartridges
About HP DesignJet T230
The HP DesignJet T230 is a compact large-format printer that is ideal for businesses and professionals who need to generate high-quality prints in a limited amount of area. This printer, with its small size and superior features, is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a dependable and efficient printing solution for producing large-format prints.
The T230’s ability to handle rolls of paper up to 24 inches wide is one of its most notable qualities, especially when considering its overall footprint; while HP’s Thermal Inkjet technology, offers great print accuracy and brightness even at high speeds.
Another noteworthy aspect of the T230 is its advanced connectivity choices, which include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity. This makes it simple to share the printer with many people or connect it to a network, ensuring that everyone around the house or office has access to the printer when it is required.
Overall, the HP DesignJet T230 is a good choice for businesses and professionals looking for a small but powerful large-format printer. Its sophisticated features, such as the capacity to handle rolls of paper up to 24 inches wide and advanced connectivity choices, make it an excellent choice for rapidly and effortlessly generating high-quality prints. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in other big format printers, its small design and low cost make it a good alternative for anyone who wants to produce large format prints on a regular basis.
Pros:
- Compact size
- Can switch automatically between media, such as glossy paper
- Good printing speed
Cons:
- Not very appropriate for high-volume printing
Conclusion—The Best Large-Format Printer for Photographers 2023
We’ve explored the world of large-format printers for photographers and made a conclusion. These machines are impressively powerful and produce high-quality prints with vivid colors.
The best large-format printer can bring your images to life in a breathtaking way. Manufacturers have put a lot of dedication into their craft, which we admire.
We were left with a deep sense of respect and awe. Hopefully, this article helped you find the perfect large-format printer for your needs.
In conclusion, the decision to invest in a large format printer for photography is a daunting task, but it’s also incredibly necessary for any photographer serious about creating high-quality prints. With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs.
However, through careful research and assessment of features such as color accuracy, print resolution, ink longevity, and media compatibility, you can arrive at a printer that meets all your requirements and delivers exceptional results. Ultimately, the best large-format printer for photographers varies based on individual preferences and needs.
By owning a printer, you have complete control over the printing process, from paper selection to color calibration, thus ensuring an accurate representation of your artwork. Additionally, it saves time and money compared to outsourcing printing services, and the prints produced are of higher quality, durability, and detail.
So, don’t wait any longer, invest in the best large format printer for your photography needs, and watch as your creations come to life in the most spectacular way possible.
Overall, the Epson SureColor P20000 is a fantastic large-format printer for photographers, with excellent color accuracy, adaptability, and the ability to generate large-scale prints with outstanding detail and vibrancy. While it may be a little pricy for some, its extensive features and capabilities make it a good investment for professional photographers who want the highest print quality.
While the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 is a fantastic big-format printer that can produce borderless prints up to 17 inches wide, its advanced features, including the 12-color Lucia Pro ink system and air-feeding mechanism, make it a perfect choice for photographers and graphic designers that want the highest print quality and color accuracy. While it is somewhat expensive, its extensive features and capabilities make it a smart investment for anyone who requires big-format prints with exceptional detail and vibrancy.
Finally, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a fantastic all-in-one large format printer aimed at photographers and creative professionals. Its advanced capabilities, such as the capacity to print borderless photographs up to 13 by 19 inches and its varied functioning as an all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier, make it an excellent choice for anyone who needs high-quality prints quickly and effortlessly. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in other big format printers, its small design and low cost make it a good alternative for anyone who wants to produce large format prints on a regular basis.
We hope you found our analysis of the top large format printer of 2023 to be helpful. Consult our associated guides for further sources of comparable items for the artistic lifestyle.
