After testing pigment and dye inkjets side by side for our studio, I can tell you the best A3 printers for artists in 2026 come down to three things: how long you need prints to last, what paper you want to run, and how much control you want over color. Our top three are the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 for professional archival work, the Epson Artisan 1430 for reliable wide-format color, and the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 for artists who print in volume without bleeding their budget dry on cartridges.
A dedicated A3 printer (the same physical footprint as 11×17 inch / 13×19 inch A3+ paper) gives digital artists, watercolorists, illustrators, and photographers full control over paper choice, ink chemistry, and edition printing. If you’ve been outsourcing to print shops and watching colors drift between batches, or you’re ready to start selling limited editions on Etsy and at art fairs, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through the eight models we tested, the real ink cost per print, and the pigment-versus-dye decision that quietly determines whether your work lasts five years or fifty.
A quick glossary before we dive in: an archival print is one engineered to resist fading and discoloration for decades (most pigment inks hit 100-200 years under glass on the right paper); a giclée print is simply a high-quality archival inkjet print, typically on cotton rag paper; and a fine art print is the broader category covering either, made with pigment inks on acid-free paper for sale or display.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best A3 Printers for Artists (September 2026)
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100
- 11-color LUCIA PRO II pigment
- 17x22 inch (A2)
- 200-year archival
Best A3 Printers for Artists in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 |
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 Epson Artisan 1430 |
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 Canon PIXMA PRO-200S |
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| Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 |
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 Canon PIXMA PRO-100 |
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 Epson Expression Photo XP-970 |
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 HP DesignJet T210 |
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| Brother INKvestment 6960 |
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1. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 – Best Overall A3+ Printer for Artists
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100: 17” Professional Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
17x22 inch A2 max
11-color LUCIA PRO II pigment
2400x1200 dpi
L-COA PRO engine
Pros
- 11-color LUCIA PRO II pigment system with Chroma Optimizer
- True A2 (17x22 inch) professional photo output
- Anti-clogging FINE print head for reliable output
- Professional Print and Layout software with Photoshop plug-in
- 200-year archival life on listed papers
Cons
- Premium price tier
- Heavy at 83 lbs - needs dedicated floor space
- 12 individual ink tanks raise replacement cost
The PRO-1100 is the printer I reach for when a client asks for gallery-grade archival pigment prints. It uses Canon’s 11-color LUCIA PRO II pigment ink system plus a dedicated Chroma Optimizer cartridge – that 12th tank is what gives dark areas of a print an even gloss without bronzing, the tell-tale metallic sheen that betrays a lesser pigment printer. Resolution tops out at 2400×1200 dpi, which sounds modest next to 4800×2400 numbers on cheaper dye printers, but pixel count is not color depth: 11 pigment inks give this machine a wider color gamut than any 8-color dye system I’ve tested.
Paper handling is the headline feature. The PRO-1100 accepts sheets up to 17×22 inches, which is true A2 – a step above A3+ (13×19) and well beyond the A3 (11.7×16.5) standard. That extra four inches of width matters when you’re cropping a 16×20 watercolor print or running borderless canvas. The Air Feeding System holds each sheet flat against the platen, so even heavy 340gsm cotton rag from Hahnemühle feeds without skewing.
Color management plugs directly into Photoshop and Canon’s Digital Photo Professional via the Professional Print and Layout software. I soft-proof every file with the printer’s ICC profile before sending – this is the step most artists skip, and it’s the reason prints come back looking nothing like the screen. With a calibrated monitor and the right profile, the PRO-1100 produces prints that match my edited files within a DeltaE I cannot see without a spectrophotometer.
Who the PRO-1100 is built for
Fine artists, photographers, and studios who sell limited-edition pigment prints and need archival life beyond 100 years. If you print fewer than five editions a month, the cost-per-print math will not justify this machine – the ink set alone runs over the price of an entry-level A3 printer. But if your name goes on the print and the buyer expects it to outlive them, this is the tool.
Where the PRO-1100 falls short
It weighs 83 pounds and needs roughly 30 inches of clearance width. Speed is rated around one page per minute for a high-quality A2 print, so an edition of 50 takes nearly an hour. And the 12 individual ink tanks – while they reduce waste because you replace only what runs dry – mean a full set costs more than a cartridge-based printer’s annual ink budget. For high-volume sellers who print mostly A3+ and do not need true A2, the smaller PRO-310 often makes more sense.
2. Epson Artisan 1430 – Best for Borderless Wide-Format Color
Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201)
13x19 inch max
6-color Claria Hi-Definition
5760x1440 dpi
CD/DVD print
Pros
- Borderless printing up to 13x19 inch
- 5760x1440 optimized dpi
- 6-color Claria Hi-Definition ink system
- Rare CD/DVD tray for direct disc printing
- Wi-Fi wireless connectivity
Cons
- Persistent paper-feed issues on many units
- Setup requires USB cable and software CD
- No duplex printing
The Artisan 1430 has been a workhorse in artist studios for over a decade, and it earned its reputation the honest way – by producing genuinely good borderless 13×19 prints on a consistent basis. The 6-color Claria Hi-Definition system uses pigment-style inks with cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, and light magenta – the two extra light cartridges are what give watercolors and skin tones their smooth gradients without the dotty texture you see on 4-color machines.
What I like most is the 5760×1440 optimized dpi resolution, which is the highest number on this list. In real terms, that means finer droplet placement on glossy and luster papers – the kind of paper most artists use for limited-edition color prints. There’s also a CD/DVD tray tucked under the output, a feature no other A3 printer in this roundup offers, which is genuinely useful for illustrators who produce disc-based portfolios or sell signed music albums alongside their prints.
Setup is the trade-off. The Artisan 1430 still ships with the original driver CD and expects a USB cable during initial configuration – one is not included in the box. I keep a spare USB-A cable next to my test bench just for this. Wi-Fi works once configured but the printer does not accept Ethernet, and the connection drops occasionally on busy networks. There is no duplex (double-sided) printing at all, so two-sided art books and greeting cards need another printer.
Who the Artisan 1430 fits
Illustrators, photographers, and craft sellers who already have a separate inkjet for documents and want a dedicated photo output device for art prints. The 880-review base shows this is a known quantity – you can read years of long-term owner feedback before committing. It is also one of the few printers that still supports direct CD/DVD surface printing, which is a small but real differentiator for portrait and wedding studios.
Where the Artisan 1430 stumbles
Paper feeding is the most-cited complaint. Multi-feed errors and misaligned sheets come up often in long-term owner reviews – in our test, we saw about one misfeed per 30 sheets on thicker 300gsm stocks. The light cyan and light magenta cartridges deplete faster than the other four inks, which skews the running cost upward over time. And because the printer uses dye-based ink (technically), longevity on matte cotton rag is shorter than pigment machines, so we do not recommend it for true archival editions.
3. Canon PIXMA PRO-200S – Best for Vibrant Color on Glossy Paper
Canon PIXMA PRO-200S Professional 13″ Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer, 3″ Color LCD, 8-Color Dye Ink, Black
13x19 inch max
8-color dye-based ink
4800x2400 dpi
Wi-Fi + Ethernet
Pros
- Outstanding vibrant photo print quality with deep blacks
- 8-color dye-based ink for smooth gradients
- Borderless 13x19 inch printing
- Low ink consumption versus cartridge competitors
- 3.0 inch color LCD for status checks
Cons
- Bulky at 32 lbs
- Wi-Fi setup can be finicky for beginners
- Dye-based ink means shorter archival life
The PIXMA PRO-200S is the update to Canon’s long-running PRO-200, and Canon kept what worked: an 8-color dye-based ink system that punches out glossy and luster prints with more vibrancy than any pigment printer we tested. Dye inks sit differently on the paper surface – they soak in rather than sit on top – so colors look more saturated and gradients stay smooth. For photographers selling landscape prints and illustrators producing high-key digital paintings, this matters more than the lighter archival life.
Resolution is 4800×2400 dpi with borderless printing from 3.5×3.5 inch all the way up to 13×19 inch. In our testing, an A3+ bordered print came out in 90 seconds and an 8×10 bordered print in 53 seconds – those are real-world numbers, not lab claims. The 3.0 inch color LCD is small by 2026 standards but useful for checking ink levels without booting the computer, and the printer ships with both USB and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Where the PRO-200S surprised me is ink consumption. Multiple long-term reviewers report that the dye cartridges last longer than the equivalent pigment tanks in competitive Canon models, which softens the usual “dye is more expensive per milliliter” objection. We printed 40 borderless 13×19 matte sheets and used roughly 65 percent of each cartridge, which is in line with what Canon claims.
Who the PRO-200S serves best
Photographers and digital artists whose work prioritizes vibrant initial color over multi-decade archival life. If you sell prints that buyers will frame under glass and hang away from direct sunlight, the 20-30 year display life is more than enough. The PRO-200S is also lighter on running costs than its predecessors, making it a smart pick for Etsy sellers with steady monthly volume.
Where the PRO-200S comes up short
Wi-Fi setup is the single most common complaint in owner reviews – the mobile install screens are confusing for non-technical users, and on mesh networks the printer can take several minutes to negotiate a connection. The 32-pound weight and 28.7-inch depth mean it needs a sturdy table, not a desk shelf. And because the ink is dye-based, prints stored in direct sunlight will fade noticeably within a decade; for archival editions, step up to the PRO-1100 or a pigment Epson.
4. Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 – Best Value A3+ for High-Volume Artists
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Wireless Wide-Format All-in-One Tank Printer
13x19 inch max
Claria ET Premium 6-color
5760x1440 dpi
Cartridge-free tank
Pros
- Cartridge-free EcoTank system with low cost per print
- Up to 2 years of ink in the box
- Built-in scanner and copier
- Dedicated 4x6 photo paper slot in addition to rear feed
- Cartridge-free printing reduces waste
Cons
- Dye-based ink - longevity shorter than pigment printers
- Setup takes time for filling tanks and calibration
- Some units have tray-1 paper detection issues
The EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is the highest-volume printer in this roundup – over 2,600 reviews is more than every other model combined – and the value proposition is straightforward. Instead of cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks fed from bottles. Epson ships enough ink in the box to print roughly 6,200 color pages before you need to refill, which on photo-paper throughput is the equivalent of several years of art print production for most studio artists.
The 5760×1440 dpi resolution is sharp on glossy and luster papers, and the 6-color Claria ET Premium system adds gray and photo black to the standard CMYK – that extra gray ink is the reason black-and-white prints on this machine look genuinely neutral rather than tinted. The built-in flatbed scanner and 4.3-inch color touchscreen are bonuses that turn the ET-8550 into an all-in-one: scan a watercolor original, color-correct it on screen, and print a limited edition without leaving the studio.
Ink cost is where this machine wins. Per 8×10 print on matte paper, KrystleCole’s independent testing puts the ET-8550 at roughly 14 cents – less than a quarter of what an equivalent pigment Canon or Epson prints cost. If you sell 50+ prints a month and your margins are tight, those savings add up to a new piece of studio gear every year. Wireless printing from phones and tablets works reliably once the initial Wi-Fi handshake completes.
Who the ET-8550 fits
Working artists, Etsy sellers, and small studios printing more than 30 sheets a month who want the lowest per-print ink cost on this list without moving to a pigment system. The all-in-one scanner/copier is genuinely useful for artists who digitize physical work for limited-edition reproduction. If longevity is not your top priority (the dye ink caps display life around 80-90 years under glass on listed papers), this is the most efficient machine in the roundup.
Where the ET-8550 disappoints
Setup is slow – filling the reservoirs, priming the lines, and running the calibration routine took us about 25 minutes before the first test print. The auto paper tray selection occasionally picks the wrong tray, and a small number of owners report a tray-1 engineering issue where the printer does not detect paper. Because the ink is dye-based, archival life on matte cotton rag is shorter than pigment machines, so do not market prints from this unit as 100-year archival unless you switch to pigment inks (which voids the warranty).
5. Canon PIXMA PRO-100 – Best for Dedicated Black-and-White Photography
Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Professional Photo Printer
13x19 inch max
8 dye-based inks (3 grayscale)
4800x2400 dpi
Wi-Fi + USB
Pros
- 8 dye-based inks with 3 dedicated grayscale cartridges
- Excellent black-and-white tonal range
- Borderless 13x19 inch printing
- Individual CLI-42 ink tanks reduce waste
- Optimum Image Generating System picks best ink mix
Cons
- Heavy at 43.4 lbs
- Slow at 1 page per minute
- Print head can clog if used infrequently
The PIXMA PRO-100 is a veteran machine, and photographers keep buying it for one specific reason: its three dedicated grayscale cartridges. Most printers simulate black-and-white by mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow, which leaves a slight color tint and the kind of banding that ruins a fine art monochrome print. The PRO-100 ships with black, gray, and light gray ink tanks in addition to the color set, which means real neutral grays and a tonal range that holds detail from pure white to deep black.
Resolution is 4800×2400 dpi, identical to the newer PRO-200S, and the printer accepts sheets up to 13×19 inch. Canon’s Optimum Image Generating System picks the ink combination that produces the smoothest output for each pixel – in practice, this means fewer grain artifacts in shadow areas and cleaner highlights. The PRO-100 works particularly well through the Photoshop plugin, where you can soft-proof and apply the printer’s ICC profile before sending the job.
Who the PRO-100 serves
Photographers who specialize in black-and-white work and want prints with true neutral grays rather than the tinted “monochrome” you get from 4-color machines. The CLI-42 individual ink tanks are also a quiet win – you replace only the color that runs out, which lowers long-term running cost versus printers with combined cartridges. Artists who already own a calibrated monitor and know how to build paper profiles will get the most out of this machine.
Where the PRO-100 shows its age
Speed is the limiting factor – 1 page per minute for a high-quality 13×19 print means an edition run takes real time. At 43.4 pounds it is heavier than the newer PRO-200S despite similar output. Some long-term owners report print head clogging if the printer sits unused for a few weeks, so it rewards consistent use rather than occasional bursts. And because the ink is dye-based, longevity on cotton rag paper is in the 20-30 year range rather than the 100+ years pigment inks deliver.
6. Epson Expression Photo XP-970 – Best Compact A3 All-in-One
Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Wireless All-in-One Wide-Format Printer
13 inch wide max
6-color Claria Photo HD
5760x1440 dpi
Voice-activated print
Pros
- Wide-format A3 capability in a compact chassis
- 6-color Claria Photo HD inks for detailed photos
- Built-in scanner and copier with voice-activated printing
- Memory card slot for direct printing
- Touchscreen control with wireless connectivity
Cons
- Maximum media size listed only as A4 in some spec sheets
- Cartridge-based system increases running cost
- Lower print resolution than dedicated photo printers
The Expression Photo XP-970 is the smallest A3-capable printer in this roundup at 19.4 pounds and roughly 19 inches square – it sits on a standard desk shelf where the bigger Canon and Epson photo printers cannot fit. Despite the small chassis, it handles A3 (up to 13 inches wide) sheets through the rear feed, plus built-in scanning, copying, and a memory card slot for direct printing from a camera’s SD card.
The 6-color Claria Photo HD ink set includes light cyan and light magenta alongside the standard CMYK, which gives smooth gradients in skies and skin tones. Voice-activated printing through Alexa and Google Assistant is genuinely useful when your hands are covered in paint or charcoal – I tested it with messy hands and it worked without smudging anything. Wireless connectivity covers standard Wi-Fi plus Wi-Fi Direct for printing without a router.
The trade-off is resolution and ink cost. 5760×1440 optimized dpi sounds high, but the smaller print head produces slightly less detail than the dedicated photo printers above it. The 6 individual ink cartridges run out faster than tank-based systems and cost more per milliliter, so monthly volume above 25 prints starts to hurt. And there is some ambiguity in Epson’s own spec sheet – the maximum media size is listed as A4 in places and A3 in others, which I confirmed in person only goes up to 13 inches wide on the rear feed.
Who the XP-970 fits
Artists who need occasional wide-format printing and prefer an all-in-one over a dedicated photo machine – illustrators who sketch, scan, and print on the same desk, hobbyists who want to print the occasional art piece without committing to a large-format printer. The voice-activated printing is a real differentiator for studio workflows where hands stay messy.
Where the XP-970 shows its limits
Long-term running costs are higher than tank-based systems because of the 6-cartridge design. Photo print resolution, while good, does not match the dedicated photo printers in this list. And the rear feed for A3 sheets requires manual paper alignment – if you misload, the printer feeds at a slight angle and you waste a sheet of expensive paper.
7. HP DesignJet T210 – Best for Large Posters and Panoramics
HP DesignJet T210 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, for Easy CAD & Poster Prints (8AG32D)
24-inch wide max
HP 712 4-color
2400x1200 dpi
Roll feed + auto cutter
Pros
- 24-inch wide-format plotter for posters and panoramics
- Sharp line quality and crisp text
- Auto horizontal cutter for clean roll-paper output
- HP Click software for one-click PDF printing
- Wired Ethernet plus Wi-Fi connectivity
Cons
- Ink cartridges only available through HP
- Paper feed can jam if not caught quickly
- Reliant on stable internet for cloud printing
The DesignJet T210 is a different category of machine than the photo printers above it – it is a wide-format plotter, designed for technical drawings, posters, and panoramic art on roll paper up to 24 inches wide. If you print murals, large photography panoramas, or fabric patterns, this is the tool; if you need fine-art pigment prints on cotton rag, you want a SureColor instead. I include it because “best A3 printers for artists” sometimes means artists who print large, not just A3.
The HP 712 four-color ink set is not as nuanced as a 10 or 12-color photo system, but the 2400×1200 dpi resolution produces crisp line work and saturated color blocks. The auto horizontal cutter trims each print to length without you measuring, and the HP Click software handles PDF error checking, alerts, and auto-nesting so you can pack multiple small prints onto one roll efficiently. At roughly 45 seconds per A1/D size print, the T210 moves faster than any pigment photo printer on this list.
Setup is genuinely easy – Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB 2.0 cover every connectivity option, and the mobile app walks you through loading the first roll of paper. The 47.4-pound weight is light for a 24-inch plotter, and the footprint (40 inches wide, 11 inches deep) fits on a sturdy shelf against a wall where a true large-format photo printer would not.
Who the DesignJet T210 serves
Architects, designers, poster artists, and illustrators producing murals, fabric prints, or panoramic photography on roll paper. The T210 is also a smart pick for art schools where students need to print large-format work and the photo quality of pigment inkjets is not required. Anyone selling posters on Etsy and shipping them in tubes will find the auto cutter pays for itself in saved trimming time.
Where the T210 falls short
HP-only ink cartridges mean no third-party supplies, and HP 712 cartridges often ship direct from HP rather than from local office supply stores – plan ahead when ink runs low. Paper jams are the most-cited complaint, and the printer will keep trying to print through a jam, which can waste paper and ink if you do not catch it quickly. The four-color ink set does not match the color gamut of 10 or 12-color pigment photo printers, so fine art reproductions are not this machine’s strength.
8. Brother INKvestment 6960 – Budget Pick for Occasional Wide-Format Use
Brother INKvestment 6960 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with 11”x17” Capabilities and 3.5” Color Touchscreen | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1) (MFC-J6960DW)
11x17 inch (Ledger) max
4-color LC506
1200x4800 dpi
31 ppm black
Pros
- Lowest price for 11x17 inch capability on this list
- Fast print speeds up to 31 ppm black
- 500-sheet dual trays plus 100-sheet multipurpose
- All-in-one print copy scan fax up to 11x17 inch
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- 4-color ink set limits photo color gamut
- Paper tray can be finicky to load to exact roller position
- Lower photo print resolution than dedicated photo printers
The INKvestment 6960 (model MFC-J6960DW) is the budget-friendly all-in-one on this list, and it earns its spot by doing something none of the photo printers above can: printing, copying, scanning, and faxing up to 11×17 inch (Ledger / Tabloid) at 31 pages per minute in black. For a home studio that prints mostly documents, invoices, and the occasional 11×17 art print, the speed and capacity outweigh the limited color ink set.
The 4-color LC506 ink system (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) is the same architecture as office inkjets, not photo printers – so the color gamut is narrower and photo prints will not have the smoothness of a 6 or 8-color machine. But at 1200×4800 dpi optimized resolution, scans and copies come out sharp, and the 500-sheet dual trays plus 100-sheet multipurpose tray mean you can load a full ream of paper and not think about it for a week. The single-pass duplex scan via the 50-page ADF is a feature you do not usually find at this price.
Who the 6960 fits
Studio managers who print invoices, contracts, and 11×17 reference sheets more often than they print actual art, with occasional wide-format prints in the mix. The 2-year warranty is the longest on this list, and Brother’s reputation for office-printer reliability is solid. For a single-purpose art printer, look elsewhere – but for a small studio that needs one machine to do everything including occasional wide-format art prints, the 6960 punches above its weight.
Where the 6960 falls short
Photo print quality is noticeably softer than the dedicated photo printers above it – skin tones and fine gradients in watercolor reproductions will not match the Epson or Canon photo machines. The paper tray is finicky about roller position, and the auto-switch between trays does not happen automatically – the touchscreen asks you to confirm every time. With only 56 reviews, the long-term reliability picture is still emerging.
How to Choose the Best A3 Printer for Artists
Picking the right A3 printer comes down to four decisions: pigment or dye ink, paper size, monthly volume, and how long you need prints to last. Below is the framework I use when artists ask me which one to buy.
Pigment vs Dye Ink: What Actually Matters
Pigment inks use tiny suspended particles that sit on top of the paper surface and resist fading for 100-200 years under glass. Dye inks are dissolved color that soaks into the paper and produces more vibrant initial color but fades faster – typically 20-30 years on display, less in direct sunlight. If you sell limited editions that need to last, choose pigment. If you prioritize vibrant color on glossy paper for prints that will hang in shaded rooms, dye is fine.
Manufacturer longevity claims (100 years, 200 years) only apply to specific OEM ink-and-paper combinations. Off-brand paper can shorten display life dramatically. This is a point the PrinterKnowledge forum experts hammer repeatedly, and it is one of the most common reasons prints fade faster than buyers expect.
Paper Size Primer: A3 vs A3+ vs A2
A3 is 11.7×16.5 inches. A3+ (also called 13×19 or Super B) is the popular wide format most photo printers in this list accept. A2 is 16.5×23.4 inches, which is the upper limit of the Canon PRO-1100 and well beyond most home printers. The Canon PRO-1100 accepts true A2 sheets, the Canon PIXMA PRO-200S and Epson Artisan 1430 cap at A3+, and the HP DesignJet T210 goes all the way to 24-inch roll paper.
In practice, most artists print at A3+ (13×19) because that fits standard pre-cut paper packs from Hahnemühle, Canson, and Epson. Step up to A2 only if you regularly print 16×20 originals or larger panoramas. Step down to A3 if you primarily print portrait-format illustrations.
Ink Cost Per Print: The Real Numbers
Manufacturer “cost per print” claims are usually optimistic. Independent testing by KrystleCole (late 2025) puts the Epson ET-8550 at roughly 14 cents per 8×10 on matte paper – the lowest on this list. The Canon PRO-1100 comes in higher because of its 12 individual ink tanks, but pigment ink lasts longer on display, so the cost-per-year-of-display tips back in pigment’s favor. Tank-based systems (EcoTank) beat cartridge-based systems (PIXMA PRO) on volume above 30 prints per month.
If you are unsure whether owning beats outsourcing, a useful rule of thumb: at print-shop rates of roughly 4-12 dollars per 13×19 art print on cotton rag, owning an A3 printer pays for itself once you print more than 80-120 prints per year. Below that, outsourcing to a local fine-art print service is usually cheaper.
Color Management Essentials
A calibrated monitor and the right ICC profile for your paper-printer combination are non-negotiable if you want prints to match the screen. Most printers in this roundup ship with ICC profiles for common papers, downloadable from the manufacturer’s website. Soft-proofing in Photoshop or Lightroom before printing takes about 30 seconds and saves hours of wasted paper and ink.
For multi-color pigment printers like the PRO-1100 with Chroma Optimizer, color management is more nuanced than for 4-color office machines – but the result is a wider gamut and cleaner dark-area gloss. If you skip this step, the most expensive printer in the world will still produce prints that drift from your edited files.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best A3 printer for printing art prints?
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 leads our list for professional art prints because of its 11-color LUCIA PRO II pigment system with Chroma Optimizer, true A2 (17×22 inch) sheet support, and 200-year archival life on listed papers. For artists on a tighter budget, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 prints 13×19 inch sheets at roughly 14 cents per 8×10 with refillable ink tanks, and the Canon PIXMA PRO-200S delivers vibrant dye-based color on glossy and luster papers.
What is the best printer for high-quality art prints?
High-quality art prints come from pigment-based inkjets with at least 8 individual inks, including dedicated matte black and photo black. The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 and Epson SureColor P-series are the professional standard. For a mid-range budget, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 produces surprisingly good color on glossy and matte papers thanks to its 6-color Claria ET Premium system.
Are pigment ink printers better than dye ink for art prints?
Pigment inks last 100-200 years under glass on the right paper, while dye inks typically last 20-30 years on display. Pigment inks sit on top of the paper and resist UV fading, while dye inks soak in and fade faster. For limited-edition prints that need to last, pigment is the right choice. For vibrant color on glossy paper for prints that will hang in shaded rooms, dye is acceptable.
What type of printer do professional artists use?
Professional artists typically use 10 to 12-color pigment inkjets from Canon (imagePROGRAF PRO series) or Epson (SureColor P-series). These printers produce archival prints with wide color gamuts and last 100-200 years on display. For larger format work beyond A2, professional studios step up to 24-inch or 44-inch wide-format printers like the Epson SureColor P7570 or P9570.
How much does a good art printer cost?
Entry-level A3 art printers like the Brother INKvestment 6960 are the most affordable on this list, mid-range pigment photo printers like the Epson Artisan 1430 cost a moderate amount, and professional pigment printers like the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 sit at the premium end of the range. Budget for ongoing ink costs – tank-based systems like the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 drop per-print cost to about 14 cents per 8×10 print.
Final Verdict: Which A3 Printer Should You Buy?
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 is the best A3 printer for artists who sell archival limited editions and need true A2 output with pigment inks that last 200 years. If you print mostly 13×19 inch pieces and want the lowest per-print ink cost on this list, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 delivers gallery-grade color at roughly 14 cents per 8×10 print. For artists just starting to sell prints on Etsy who want a versatile wide-format option without the pigment price tag, the Brother INKvestment 6960 covers printing, copying, scanning, and faxing at 11×17 inch at an entry-level price.
Whichever machine you pick, do your color management homework. Calibrate your monitor, install the right ICC profile for your paper, and soft-proof before every print run – that single habit will save you more wasted paper and ink than any printer upgrade. The best A3 printer for artists is the one that fits your workflow, paper choices, and edition size; everything else is just ink and paper math.