Being an artist, especially a graphic designer, requires great aesthetic sense. To bring the same visually appealing digital creation on paper demands the best printer for graphic designers. After all, your hard work and design are rated on what gets printed on the paper. Your client will also ask for a sample before sending it out to the printing press for bulk printing.
This is where you will need the services of a printer. With all the options out there, you can easily get yourself one with proper research, time, and investment. You need to be clear about your professional and personal use and the intensity of the printer. When you are a designer, you need results on paper. This means that you have to take care of the technical aspects like speed and print quality.
This list contains the best professional printers for graphic designers and the fundamental features you should consider before buying one.
10 Best Printers For Graphic Designer – Best Picks
No. | Products | Rating | Price |
1 | Canon Color imageCLASS MF733Cdw Editor's Choice | ||
2 | Epson Expression XP-6000 Printer | ||
3 | Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer | ||
4 | HP ENVY Photo 7855 All in one | ||
5 | Brother HLL8350CDW Wireless Printer | ||
6 | Brother HL-L3210CW Compact Printer | ||
7 | Canon Pixma TS6320 Wireless Printer | ||
8 | Lexmark C3224dw Color Printer | ||
9 | Canon PIXMA PRO-200 | ||
10 | Epson Expression EcoTank Printer |
Editor’s choice
The editor’s recommendation for the best printer for Graphic designers is the Canon Color imageCLASS MF733Cdw. Canon’s color image class series has produced excellent printers in the past. With MF733Cdw, you can expect all the features but better and more advanced. Moreover, the printing speed of 28 ppm makes it one of the fastest professional printers for graphic designers. The sheet capacity, output, and print quality all makeup to an outstanding device worth the price.
For some people, the heavy build is an issue. But if you compare it with its properties, the first-class features it exhibits clearly outweigh the bulkiness. For a laser printer, it does a remarkable job in giving almost the same color output as the inkjet printers.
1. Canon Color imageCLASS MF733Cdw Printer
One of the best laser printers for graphic design, Canon Color imageCLASS MF733Cdw ranks among the top printers in the market. This all in one laser printer has an outstanding printing speed of 28 ppm. It could not get better than your prints coming in your hands in only 9 seconds. The sheet capacity is excellent, with up to 512 sheets, which can be upgraded to 850 sheets. It also has an outstanding paper output of 150 sheets.
Its body is a bit on the heavier side, but the multiple connectivity options it provides make it easy to use. The direct wifi connection lets you print your documents from anywhere in the room. This wireless device proves to be versatile through its mobile connection feature. This printer might charge a high running cost for single-use, but it will be worth it if you have an office or a team.
MF733Cdw uses V2 color technology, which gives a vibrant and vivid color display with sharp graphics. Duplexing feature prints both sides of the page without any manual aid. It multitasks really well with printing, scanning, faxing, and copying facilities.
2. Epson Expression Premium XP-6000
Next printer on our list of best graphics printers is from the expression series of Epson. This specific inkjet printer uses five color inks to print stunning pictures. The variety of inkjets ensure that the print does not get saturated and bleed out. Not only is the color vibrant, but it also gives sharp text printing on documents.
The printing speed is fast in both colored and black formats. For a colored print, it is approximately 16 ppm, and for black and white, it is around 11 ppm. Easy to use operation means that you can print two-sided documents without the hassle of flipping them by hand. The built-in USB and memory card ports provide supreme level connectivity. Epson Expression Premium XP-6000 does not only sound fancy, but it also has an elegant touch screen LCD display.
The wifi compatibility implements that you can print through other devices, such as your phone or tablet. This network-free printing provides an ease to the user. It also has some advanced photo editing tools that work in auto photo correction. It works excellent with printing, scanning, and copying.
3. Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer
Among the best printers for posters, Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer would top the list. This inkjet printer does not give you the traditional 8 inches*10 inches, instead a massive 13 inches*19 inches. With an affordable price point, this might be one of the most suitable packages for poster and banner printing.
With a six-color ink system, you can expect deep and sharp details on paper. Different ink systems also imply that your colors will not overlap and bleed over each other. The resolution of 9600 x 2400 dots per inch gives phenomenal results both for fine text and color photos. You do not have to work with wires lying around the floor. The wifi compatibility means that you can practically print out from any corner of the office. You only need a device with a wifi connection.
Canon has specially integrated its Pixma printing solution (PPS) in this printer. This software lets you print your documents with a touch on your mobile device. Other convenient printing options include AirPrint and Google Cloud Print.
4. HP ENVY Photo 7855 Printer
HP ENVY Photo 7855 raises the bar for all other budget printers. This inkjet printer has been engineered with its primary focus on color printing. Therefore you should expect nothing but excellence from it. It is easy to use, with all the connectivity options it provides. Dual-band wifi, Bluetooth, and ethernet compatibility give you both wired and wireless options. It also has a decent wireless printing facility with AirPrint and wireless direct printing from your mobile phones.
It gives a supreme user experience with HP’s powerful printing app. With it, you can easily set up and operate this printer, like scanning through your camera and printing through your cloud. This printer supports various paper sizes, making it an easy choice for the best printer for business cards and flyers. You can print a letter, legal, A4, 4*5 inches, 4*6 inches, and many more sizes.
The automatic document feeder is an essential part, helping creators save time and energy. The printing speed is average, with 15 ppm for black and white and ten ppm for colored printing. Overall, this is an excellent investment for a content creator.
5. Brother HLL8350CDW Printer
Brother printers may seem heavy and bulky in appearance, but they significantly reduce the operational cost. Therefore, they are a perfect alternative to the high end, expensive printers with almost the same specs. This is the best laser printer for graphic design, with an exceptional printing speed of 32 ppm, ensuring maximum productivity. Moreover, it has a duplex printing feature that prints both sides of the page automatically.
The built-in wireless connectivity options like wifi and USB, and ethernet networking, help users work comfortably. Wireless printers are a great addition to the printer family. It is a struggle to take care of all the wires and your prints; hence a wireless option is a lifesaver. The paper capacity of 300 sheets is enough for a single person or a small team. You can also upgrade to 800 sheets through the additional add-on tray.
It provides professional-level crisp and bright visuals through its magnificent 2400 x 600 dpi resolution. The replacement toner cartridges save you a lot of bucks with their high yield capability.
6. Brother HL-L3210CW
Brother HL-L3210CW is one of the best laser printer for graphic design when you are on a budget. This affordable piece has all the features and specifications you would never expect to be sold at this price. It has a breakneck printing speed of 19 ppm, which helps you get your tasks done on time. The laser print quality is sharp and vivid. It has a 250 sheet paper tray, which maximizes your productivity with less frequent sheet refills.
Although the document feeder is manual, it can handle a variety of paper types and sizes, adding to its diversity. It has built-in wireless, USB, and wifi connection interfaces pertaining to flexible connectivity. The compact outlook makes it an ideal choice for small offices and apartments. If you want a laser printer that produces results, this would be it.
The affordability of its toner cartridge adds to its worth. This version of brother’s laser printer is manufactured to be cost-effective by all means.
7. Canon Pixma TS6320 Printer
Another superb professional printer for graphic designers is Canon Pixma TS6320. This wireless inkjet printer gives detailed and bright results, whether text or photos. It has a 1.44 inches LED display that provides easy navigation to the users by displaying the printing status. Five separate ink tanks’ involvement ensures that you get the perfect color grading without over-saturation or bleeding.
This printer features an automatic, adjustable output tray. Therefore, you can print numerous sizes on the same printer, and it will adjust its tray accordingly. It also provides you with flexible connectivity through your smartphone and the canon print app. With this feature, you can easily print, edit, or scan pictures directly from platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The wifi and Bluetooth connectivity options add to the ease of the user.
With TS6320, canon significantly upgraded its user interface with easy operation. The text output is sharp, while the picture output is bright and vivid. Hence, this is a superb budget printer with transcendent features.
8. Lexmark C3224dw Wireless Printer
One of the best graphics printers, Lexmark C3224dw, is probably the most affordable option you could find. It has a compact and straightforward outlook that provides convenience to the consumer. If you have a small office or a room you want to fit a printer into, this would be the ideal choice. It has an adequate capacity of up to 250 sheets, making it a practical option.
Something that most people struggle with is the set up of these yechy devices. With this one, you do not need to worry anymore. It has a super-fast, wireless set up that ensures no time wastage. The USB, Ethernet, and wifi connectivity possibilities render ease of use. Hence, it is convenient for users to print from their mobile phone from anywhere. Mobile printing is supported by Lexmark mobile print app, Mopria, Air Print, and Google Cloud Print.
Lexmark also features its full spectrum security system. This means that whatever document or picture you upload for printing will remain secured through the system. With supreme laser output, this printer has a printing speed of 24 ppm and a standard duplexing feature. The print result is not the best, but it is pretty good for the price.
9. Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Professional Printer
Six ink system is excellent, but Canon PIXMA PRO-200 comes with an incredible number of eight color dye-based ink system, leaving behind many professional printers. Therefore the print result is nothing short of stunning. Of course, this comes at a reasonable price too, but for the professional result, it delivers the cost is nothing. It has a compact outline, which is easy to use and move. With an efficient and breakneck print speed, you can get your prints done in 90 seconds.
It exhibits diverse printing sizes, which means you can print your documents anywhere from 13*19 inches to 13*39. When searching for the best printer for business cards and flyers, this would be the absolute fit. It has a 3 inch LCD display, which lets you check ink levels and other work status, providing an easy means to maintenance. The wifi and ethernet connectivity helps with a convenient user experience.
PIXMA PRO-200 also has Canon’s professional print and layout software. The ppl software helps you find the perfect settings for your printing. You do not have to spend hours trying new settings; this interface does it all for you.
10. Epson Expression Premium EcoTank
Another great member of the inkjet printers is this Epson Expression Premium EcoTank. This all in one printer, scanner, and copier is a wide format device, making it the best printer for posters. It has extreme sized tanks that reduces the frequency of refills. The standard tank lasts for approximately a bundle of 9000 colored pages or 14000 black. This is enough to last you for a long time. The presence of a paper tray increases the productivity of the device.
It has a reasonable duty cycle of 300 pages per month. The built-in USB and memory card slots help you with connectivity and operation. It also displays a 2.7 inch LCD, which aids in setting up and navigation. The wifi direct saves you from the hassle of being with the printer in person for every small print. You can effortlessly connect the printer with your mobile phone or other devices and print from anywhere.
The price may seem high for an inkjet printer, but in the larger picture, the massive ink tank of Epson Expression saves you from spending on those expensive ink refills. This means that you will actually save more than you are spending. The high-quality prints it produces also makes up for its price. It prints faster and better than many other inkjet printers. The scanner works well too. Whether you need it to print text on documents or vibrant pictures, the result is extraordinary for both.
Buying Guide For The Best Printer For Graphic Designers
Printing Size
As a graphic designer, your designs will be used for a variety of different purposes. If they are to be used for business cards or invitation cards, you can easily make do with any regular home printer. The problem arises when you have to print large sized posters or banners. This is because you will need a large format printer that is used in printing presses for it.
You should always keep print size into consideration among other techy aspects because usually, laser printers do not exhibit large format printing. You can expect a standard A4 or legal sized printing, but it is hard to find anything greater than that. Even though laser printers show faster printing speed and crisp graphics, the media industry endorses inkjet printers for their considerable printing size ability.
Cost-Effectiveness
Inkjet printers are relatively cheaper than laser printers, but laser printers prove to be more cost-effective in the long run. The expense of cartridge replacement makes inkjet printers equal to the price of the laser. Then which one should you get? Truthfully, it all depends on your use. If your use consists of bulk printing, then a laser printer would fit you. If a top-notch color print is your priority, then you should get an inkjet printer.
Nowadays, you can find a lot of multipurpose printers. This means that you pay for a printer but get additional features like scanning, copying, etc., with it saving you money and space.
Type Of Printer
You can either get an inkjet printer or a laser printer. The type of printer that would suit you depends on how you plan on using it. Initially, when laser printers came out, they lacked print quality. Nowadays, the difference in the result of two has become almost negligible. Most of the professionals in the industry recommend an inkjet printer over the laser.
Laser printers have outstanding printing speeds, with a low cost per page. When you talk about inkjet printers, the on-page color contrast and hues are phenomenal. Therefore, if you are a startup on a budget, you might want to get yourself a laser printer. If you are a professional whose priority is vibrant and stark images, inkjet will suit you better.
Sturdiness
Anyone who is investing in a printer wants something that will last them long. Otherwise, you can get short-term work done through the printing presses or other means. An inkjet printer requires maintenance and care as compared to laser printers. When deciding on a printer, do not just focus on the budget. What use would be a printer that is inexpensive but dies after a few prints only?
Laser printers can sustain in rough conditions as well. It majorly depends on what you need a printer for your budget, type of work. Hence, durability is an essential factor when searching for a printer.
Conclusion
Getting a printer is a big decision, majorly because now you will have to print everything on it., from your personal use to professional use. When looking for the best printer for graphic designers, you have to be more attentive to specs. The function matters as much as the print quality does.
No matter if you are a beginner or a professional, you will need these features in the long run. Therefore, getting a printer that saves you time and money all the while delivering impeccable results is essential for graphic designers. Hopefully, we have answered your question of what printers do artists use? or which printer is suitable for printing graphics? Our list contains some of the market’s best pieces, but you should do proper research of your needs before finalizing a printer.