Have you ever spent hours on your art, only to have your prints come out dull or streaky? Or maybe you’ve lost potential sales because your printer can’t handle larger print sizes.
Art Prints require specialized equipment with precise colour accuracy, consistent output, and good media handling capabilities—otherwise, you’ll end up wasting materials and sacrificing quality. Whether you want to sell art prints, high-resolution photographs, or wearable merchandise, you need the right printer to bring out the best in your work.
To help you choose, we’ve listed the best printers for artists, including what media they’re best for, and the top models to buy or lease today.
Inkjet Printers
Image Source: Canon
Best for: Fine art printing, watercolour-style images, digital illustrations, and mixed media.
Precision is everything when choosing among printers for artists, and inkjet printers nail it every time. These are the best printers for artists with detailed work requiring subtle colour gradients and smooth transitions. They produce high-resolution prints with more accurate colour reproduction than laser printers, making them ideal for capturing the nuanced details of watercolours and the precise lines of illustrations.
When choosing the best printers for art prints, look out for these key features:
Borderless printing- Multiple ink cartridges (four or more is best)
- Supports pigment-based ink (for fade-resistant prints)
- Compatibility with various paper types, including fine art papers
Our Inkjet Printer Picks:
- Canon PIXMA TR8520
- Epson SureColor P700
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
Large Format Printers
Image Source: Shutterstock
Best for: Oversized fine art prints, gallery prints, signage, and architectural drawings.
Large format models are the best printers for artists who think big. These allow you to produce murals, posters, and other large-scale pieces up to 44 inches or bigger. If you have large printing needs, these art printers keep your final product as close to the original piece as possible.
Watch out for features like:
- Print resolution of 1200 DPI or higher
- Advanced colour management systems
- Various connectivity options (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB) and/or cloud printing capabilities
- Ink and media tracker (to manage paper and ink costs)
- Hard drive for document storage
Our Large Format Printer Picks:
- Canon imagePROGRAF TM-200
- HP DesignJet Z6
- Konica Minolta AccurioWide 160
Production Printers
Image Source: Shutterstock
Best for: High-volume art print/photography jobs, commercial prints, and merchandise.
Need an art/photo printer where you can crank up the print volume without compromising quality? Production-level models are the right choice. These are the top printers for art prints if you’re shipping a large volume of prints or running a print-on-demand business. They’re also ideal for artists printing photo cards, fine art reproductions, gallery prints, or merchandise.
When choosing the best printers for art prints at a high production volume, look for features like:
- High-speed printing capability
- Advanced colour management systems
- Heavy-duty paper handling
- Large-capacity ink tanks
- Network connectivity
- Job queuing functionality
Our Production Printer Picks:
- Canon ColorWave 3500
- Konica Minolta ColorWave 910
- Ricoh Pro C7210SX Graphic Arts Edition
Dye Sublimation Printers
Image Source: Epson
Best for: Fabric prints, phone cases, mugs, t-shirts, metal prints, and other custom merchandise.
If your printing process requires other substrates than paper, dye sublimation models are the best options for you. Unlike regular printers that place ink on top of the paper, these specialized printers for artists infuse the ink directly into the material, creating permanent, full-colour images that become part of the product. The prints won’t fade, peel, or wash away easily, making this type of printer ideal for printing art that won’t fade or smudge.
If you’re venturing into dye sublimation printing, here are the specs to look out for:
- Automatic feed systems
- Compatibility with various operating systems and media types
- Large-capacity ink cartridges
- Multiple material settings
- Raster Image Processor software (for more accurate colour representation)
Our Dye Sublimation Printer Picks:
- Epson SureColor F170
- Sawgrass SG500
- HP Stitch S500
Pro tip: If your business is just starting out with dye sublimation, consider converting an inkjet printer like the Epson EcoTank to sublimation printing before getting an actual sublimation printer. To do so, fill it with sublimation ink and adjust the settings. It’s a cost-effective way to try sublimation printing without paying large upfront costs.
Bring Your Art to Life with Busys.ca’ Art Printing Solutions
Is your current printer limiting your art business? Upgrade to professional quality prints with the best printers for artists at Busys.ca.
We offer flexible options to purchase, rent, and lease premium printing technology to elevate your business—at a price that works for your budget. Whether you’re looking for compact studio models or large-format solutions for printing art, we’ve got you covered.
Get prints that live up to the quality of your art. Contact us today to get a quote or speak to our expert team to find the perfect match to your artistic vision and budget.
