The reference photo on your screen looks perfect, but the print on your desk is washed out, the reds are orange, and the print has a white border you did not ask for. Finding the best printer for artists is about ink and width first: how many inks lay down the color, and how wide the machine prints. We compared four printers by ink system, maximum print size, functions and stated specs, then ranked them with our Office Score.
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Quick picks
Best Overall Canon PRO-1100 17in Printer: 17-inch pro printer with 11 pigment inks and a 1-year warranty. Check price on Amazon
Best 13-Inch Pro Canon PRO-310 13in Printer: 9-color pigment system with chroma optimizer for gallery prints. Check price on Amazon
Best All-in-One Epson ET-8500 EcoTank: 6-color EcoTank that also scans and copies. Check price on Amazon
Best Wide-Format Value Epson Artisan 1430: 13 x 19 inch borderless prints with 6-color Claria ink. Check price on Amazon
The picks
| # | Product | Office Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canon PRO-1100 17in Printer | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 | Canon PRO-310 13in Printer | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 | Epson ET-8500 EcoTank | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 | Epson Artisan 1430 | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
Canon PRO-1100 17in Printer
A 17-inch professional photo printer with 11 pigment inks, built for gallery-quality art prints.
Pros
- 11 pigment-based inks plus a chroma optimizer for broad color gamut and gloss uniformity.
- 17-inch width handles large art prints the 13-inch picks cannot.
- LUCIA PRO II ink system for improved color reproduction and darker areas, per the listing.
- The only pick here with a stated 1-year warranty.
Cons
- 83 pounds, the heaviest printer here by far; it needs a sturdy table.
- Print only, with no scan or copy functions.
- The listing gives no print speed for color photo output.
- Pigment-based system with 11 inks; the listing does not state ink running costs.
Detailed Review
The listing describes a 17-inch professional inkjet with 11 pigment-based inks plus a chroma optimizer, LUCIA PRO II inks and professional print software. The spec table agrees at 17.1"D x 28.5"W x 11.2"H and 83 pounds, with a 1-year warranty. No contradiction found.
Who it's for: artists who want large, gallery-quality prints at home. Who should skip it: anyone who needs scanning or a printer that moves easily.
Its Office Score of 9.7/10 comes from performance 32/35, build 21/25, value 20/25, safety not scored (non-powered gear) and warranty 3/5: 76 of 90 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Max width | 17 inches |
|---|---|
| Ink system | 11 pigment + chroma optimizer |
| Weight | 83 pounds |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty |
Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 21 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. This product does not plug in or run on a battery, so safety is not part of its score. 1-year warranty. It does not say everything a buyer needs, such as who pays return shipping, so warranty scores 3 of 5. See How We Pick.
Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
Canon PRO-310 13in Printer
A 13-inch professional photo printer with a 9-color pigment system for gallery-quality prints.
Pros
- 9-color plus chroma optimizer pigment system for gallery-quality prints.
- Matte black ink for enhanced black density and dark areas, per the listing.
- 3.0-inch color LCD for checking ink levels and settings.
- 31.6 pounds, far lighter than the 83-pound 17-inch pick.
Cons
- 13-inch width; artists who want larger prints need the 17-inch pick.
- Print only, with no scan or copy functions.
- Warranty is listed only as 'Limited' with no concrete term.
- The listing does not state a color photo print speed.
Detailed Review
The listing describes a 13-inch wireless inkjet with a 9-color plus chroma optimizer pigment system and a 3-inch color LCD. The spec table agrees at 28.7"D x 18.6"W x 14.04"H and 31.6 pounds, with 'Limited' warranty. No contradiction found.
Who it's for: artists who want pro pigment prints up to 13 inches. Who should skip it: anyone who needs an all-in-one or larger formats.
Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 30/35, build 20/25, value 21/25, safety not scored (non-powered gear) and warranty 0/5: 71 of 90 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Max width | 13 inches |
|---|---|
| Ink system | 9 color + chroma optimizer |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1200 |
| Weight | 31.6 pounds |
Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 21 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. This product does not plug in or run on a battery, so safety is not part of its score. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.
Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
Epson ET-8500 EcoTank
A 6-color EcoTank all-in-one that prints, scans and copies, with cartridge-free refills.
Pros
- All-in-one: print, scan and copy, the only pick here that does all three.
- 6-color Claria ET Premium ink with edge-to-edge borderless printing.
- Prints on cardstock, envelopes, CDs and DVDs, per the listing.
- 4.3-inch touchscreen with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct.
Cons
- 6-color ink system rather than the 9 and 11-ink Canon systems.
- Maximum print width is not stated in the listing.
- Warranty is listed only as 'limited warranty' with no concrete term.
- No stated maximum print size, so large-format artists should check the listing.
Detailed Review
The listing describes a wireless color all-in-one with 6-color Claria ET Premium ink, edge-to-edge printing, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and double-sided scanning. The spec table agrees at 24.1"D x 15.9"W x 13.7"H and 18.5 pounds. No contradiction found.
Who it's for: artists who want one machine for printing, scanning and copying. Who should skip it: anyone who wants pigment inks or prints wider than the listing states.
Its Office Score of 9.6/10 comes from performance 29/35, build 20/25, value 20/25, safety not scored (non-powered gear) and warranty 0/5: 69 of 90 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Ink system | 6-color Claria ET |
|---|---|
| Functions | Print, scan, copy |
| Display | 4.3-inch touchscreen |
| Weight | 18.5 pounds |
Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 21 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. This product does not plug in or run on a battery, so safety is not part of its score. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.
Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
Epson Artisan 1430
A wide-format inkjet for borderless 13 x 19 inch prints with 6-color Claria ink.
Pros
- Borderless prints up to 13 x 19 inches, the largest stated size at this tier.
- 6-color Claria ink for hi-def photos.
- Prints from smartphones and tablets with no computer needed, per the listing.
- Flatbed scanner included alongside Wi-Fi printing.
Cons
- The listing does not state a print resolution.
- 35.3 pounds, heavier than the other 13-inch picks.
- Maximum copy speed of 2.8 pages per minute in black and white is slow for documents.
- Warranty is listed only as 'limited warranty' with no concrete term.
Detailed Review
The listing describes a wireless wide-format inkjet with borderless 13 x 19 inch prints, 6-color Claria ink and a flatbed scanner. The spec table agrees at 17.3"D x 27.8"W x 12.5"H and 35.3 pounds. No contradiction found.
Who it's for: artists who want wide-format prints plus occasional scanning. Who should skip it: anyone who wants a compact all-in-one.
Its Office Score of 9.5/10 comes from performance 28/35, build 19/25, value 19/25, safety not scored (non-powered gear) and warranty 0/5: 66 of 90 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Max size | 13 x 19 inches |
|---|---|
| Ink system | 6-color Claria |
| Scanner | Flatbed |
| Weight | 35.3 pounds |
Figures as published on the retailer listing, collected 21 October 2026. Performance figures are manufacturer rated.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. This product does not plug in or run on a battery, so safety is not part of its score. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.
Shredder and printer safety. Keep hair, ties, jewelry, children and pets away from the feed slot, use the safety lock, unplug when not in use, and give printers and adapters room to vent.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
More picks to compare
Epson SureColor P700 13-Inch PhotoCheck on Amazon
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21MCheck on Amazon
Compare the picks
| Printer | Office Score | Ink Colors | Max Width | Functions | Weight | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PRO-1100 17in Printer | 9.7/10 | 11 pigment | 17 inches | Print only | 83 pounds | View on Amazon |
| Canon PRO-310 13in Printer | 9.6/10 | 9 + optimizer | 13 inches | Print only | 31.6 pounds | View on Amazon |
| Epson ET-8500 EcoTank | 9.6/10 | 6-color | Not stated | Print, scan, copy | 18.5 pounds | View on Amazon |
| Epson Artisan 1430 | 9.5/10 | 6-color | 13 inches | Print, scan | 35.3 pounds | View on Amazon |
Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 21 October 2026.
How we scored them
The Office Score weighs performance, build, value, safety and warranty. For printers, performance means the ink system and maximum print width; only the Canon PRO-1100 states a concrete warranty term, a 1-year warranty, so it is the only pick with a warranty score. None of the four listings states a safety certification, so the safety score is zero across the list. How we pick explains the weights.
| Product | Office Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PRO-1100 17in Printer | 9.7 | 32 | 21 | 20 | n/a | 3 |
| Canon PRO-310 13in Printer | 9.6 | 30 | 20 | 21 | n/a | 0 |
| Epson ET-8500 EcoTank | 9.6 | 29 | 20 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| Epson Artisan 1430 | 9.5 | 28 | 19 | 19 | n/a | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.
How to choose the best printer for artists
Count the inks, not the megapixels
The Canon PRO-1100 lays down 11 pigment inks plus a chroma optimizer, the PRO-310 uses 9 colors plus the optimizer, and both Epsons use 6-color systems. More inks mean smoother gradations in skies and skin tones, which is what separates an art print from a document. If you sell or exhibit prints, start with the Canon pair; for everyday art and craft printing, the 6-color Epsons do fine. For the full category, browse our printers.
Pick the width before the brand
The PRO-1100 prints 17 inches wide, the PRO-310 and Artisan 1430 top out at 13 inches wide, and the ET-8500’s maximum width is not stated. Measure the largest print you actually make: buying a 17-inch machine for letter-size work wastes desk space, while a 13-inch machine cannot grow with you. The 83-pound PRO-1100 also needs a sturdy table, while the 18.5-pound ET-8500 fits a normal desk. For photo-specific picks, see our printer for printing photos at home guide.
Decide what else the machine must do
The Epson ET-8500 prints, scans and copies, and the Artisan 1430 adds a flatbed scanner; the two Canons are print-only. If you digitize sketches or make copies, the Epsons earn their keep; if you only print, the Canons put all of their engineering into the print.
Check the warranty line
Only the PRO-1100 states a concrete term: a 1-year warranty. The other three list only “limited warranty” with no term, so read the listing’s warranty section before buying. A stated term is the only promise you can hold the maker to.
Setup Notes
- Measure your desk: the PRO-1100 is 28.5 inches wide and 83 pounds, while the ET-8500 is 15.9 inches wide and 18.5 pounds.
- Check the largest paper size you print before choosing between 13-inch and 17-inch machines.
- Plan space for ink: the 11-ink Canon needs room for its cartridge set; check the listing for what ships in the box.
- Confirm the warranty term on the listing; only the PRO-1100 states one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which printer is best for gallery-quality art prints?
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100, with 11 pigment-based inks plus a chroma optimizer and 17-inch width. The PRO-310 offers the same pro ink approach at 13 inches.
Which of these also scans and copies?
The Epson EcoTank ET-8500 prints, scans and copies, and the Artisan 1430 includes a flatbed scanner. The two Canon imagePROGRAFs are print-only.
What is the widest print these make?
17 inches on the Canon PRO-1100. The PRO-310 and Artisan 1430 top out at 13 inches wide, and the ET-8500’s maximum width is not stated.
Do any of these state a warranty term?
Only the Canon PRO-1100, with a 1-year warranty. The other three list only “limited warranty” with no concrete term.
Which is the lightest printer?
The Epson ET-8500 at 18.5 pounds, followed by the Canon PRO-310 at 31.6 pounds.
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