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You have spent hours getting the colors just right on screen, only to have the printer turn your digital art into something that looks faded and muddy. That gap between what you see and what you get is the single biggest frustration for any artist shopping for a color printer. The right machine closes that gap with a pigment or dye-ink system that reproduces your exact hues, gradients, and shadow details on the paper you choose — so your prints finally match your monitor.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Every printer below handles at least 8.5 x 11-inch media and uses a multi-color ink set made for photo- and art-quality output. if you need true archival longevity or fast borderless proofs, these five models represent the best color printer for artists in different price and capability tiers.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Color Printer For Artists
An artist’s printer is a different beast from the home-office all-in-one that prints school forms. An artist’s printer prioritizes color accuracy, paper flexibility, and long-term print permanence.. Focus on these three factors before purchasing..
Ink Technology: Pigment vs. Dye
Pigment ink sits on top of the paper in tiny solid particles, so it resists fading and water damage for decades — Pigment prints can last up to 200 years in color before noticeable fading.. Dye ink soaks into the paper fibers, giving you brighter, punchier colors right away, but it is more vulnerable to UV light and moisture. For fine-art prints you plan to sell or display, pigment is the safer bet. For quick proofs, vibrant scrapbook pages, or prints that stay inside an album, dye ink works beautifully and costs less.
Ink Color Count and Gamut
Standard office printers use four ink cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Artist-grade models add light cyan, light magenta, gray, and sometimes violet or a chroma optimizer (a clear coating that evens out gloss and protects the print surface). That wider set of tones is what lets the printer render smooth sky gradients, subtle skin tones, and deep shadows without visible banding. Six colors is a solid baseline for most artists; nine or ten colors delivers the kind of gallery-level nuance you expect from a professional print service.
Media Size and Handling
A minimum 8.5 x 11-inch format is essential for a decent portfolio print.. If you want to sell 13 x 19-inch or larger pieces without piecing together panels, look for a wide-format model that accepts up to 13-inch or 17-inch roll paper (a long continuous sheet of paper, good for panoramas and banners). Also check whether the printer has a straight-through paper path for thick fine-art sheets and a rear feed for specialty media like canvas or luster paper (a paper with a low sheen finish, between glossy and matte).
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Color Count | Max Paper Size | Print Speed (Color) | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson Artisan 1430★ Best Overall | Budget-conscious artists wanting wide-format | 6 (dye) | 13 x 19 in | 2.8 ppm | Amazon |
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310Best Value | Museum-grade fine-art pigment prints | 9 + Chroma Optimizer (pigment) | 13 x 19 in | 2 ppm | Amazon |
| Epson SureColor P900 | Pro-level 17-inch pigment prints | 10 including Violet (pigment) | 17 in roll | 1 ppm | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer
Our pick — over 4★ from 850+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The wide-format workhorse that proves an older model can still deliver pro-quality color on a budget — it is the one to beat for artists who want 13 x 19-inch prints without spending a fortune.
You need borderless prints up to 13 x 19 inches without dropping serious cash. This is the printer that keeps showing up in artist studios year after year. Its 6-color Claria dye-ink system (Claria is Epson’s name for its dye-based ink, designed for vivid colors and fast drying on glossy paper) produces bright, punchy colors that owners say match their screens perfectly when you select the “Epson Vivid” profile in the driver. It also prints directly onto CDs and DVDs, a rare bonus for artists who produce physical media.
The catch is speed: it manages just 2.8 ppm (pages per minute) for both black-and-white and color, so you cannot blast through a 50-print run quickly. Some units have initial multi-feed issues, and the printer does not come with a USB cable for setup, so factor that into your first order. The Artisan 1430 is a much bigger machine than the XP-8800 all-in-one — it measures 24 x 13 inches — so check your desk space.
The thing owners praise most is overall printer quality — 267 people single it out. Print quality follows closely at 160 mentions. Reliability gets a mixed reception, and a few report that the printer continues printing even with a clogged head, which means you have to keep an eye on output. For a machine that has been on the market for years and still holds a strong owner base, the Artisan 1430 is the crowd favorite for a reason. You get a 13 x 19-inch creative advantage that no 8.5 x 11-inch model can match, and you can use third-party ink to keep running costs low. skip it if you need fast batch printing or a compact machine that fits a small desk.
The Draw
- Prints borderless up to 13 x 19 inches — big enough for portfolio presentations
- 6-color Claria dye ink delivers vivid, screen-matching color with the right profile
- CD/DVD printing tray included, a rare feature for creative projects
- Compatible with cheap third-party cartridges and continuous ink systems that slash running costs
The Catch
- Print speed is slow at 2.8 ppm — not built for high-volume production
- Large footprint (24 x 13 inches) demands dedicated desk space
- No automatic duplex printing; No USB cable in the box
- Occasional multi-feed and faint-color issues that require profile tweaks
Reach for it if: you want affordable wide-format printing and are comfortable using third-party ink to keep costs down.
Look elsewhere if: you need fast batch printing or a compact machine that fits a small desk.
2. Canon imagePROGRAF Professional 13″ PRO-310 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
The pigment-ink specialist that turns fine-art paper into museum-ready prints with breathtaking shadow depth, thanks to its 9-color Lucia Pro II pigment ink system plus a Chroma Optimizer (a clear coating that evens out gloss and protects the print surface).
When your living depends on print quality that matches a calibrated monitor, the PRO-310 is the printer you buy. Its 9-color Lucia Pro II pigment ink system plus a Chroma Optimizer delivers the kind of smooth gradients, deep blacks, and scratch-resistant surface that gallery owners look for. Owners say prints on glossy, luster, metallic, and fine-art papers all come out sharp with rich color and beautiful black-and-white tones — and the dedicated matte black ink provides enhanced dark-area reproduction that dye inks cannot touch. To get this level of accuracy, you need to use ICC profiles (a file that tells the printer how to match colors for a specific paper and ink combination), and owners who master that workflow report prints matching their monitors set to 90 cd/m² brightness.
The trade-off is speed: at 2 ppm for both black-and-white and color. The PRO-310 is also a print-only machine with no scanner or copier, so you need a separate device for digitizing work. A handful of buyers report feeding issues after fewer than 200 prints, which is unusual for a printer in this price tier. On the positive side, ink usage is efficient — one owner noted that after 45 prints the ink levels dropped very little — and wireless setup on 5GHz Wi-Fi works instantly. Print quality is the runaway top positive with 33 mentions, and setup draws 11 positive comments. Reliability gets a mixed verdict, with some calling it incredibly reliable and others saying theirs stopped working after four months. Ink cost and usage both score negative or mixed, so budget for ongoing consumables. If you need gallery-level pigment output with the best shadow detail in this lineup, this Canon is the one.
Gallery quality at a price: Owners who master the ICC profile workflow get prints that match a 90 cd/m² calibrated monitor perfectly, but the slow 2 ppm speed and occasional paper-feed gremlins mean this is a tool for deliberate production, not mass runs.
Choose this if: you sell fine-art prints and need pigment-based permanence, deep blacks, and broad paper-type compatibility.
pass on it if: you print dozens of pieces per day or need scanning and copying in one machine.
3. Epson SureColor P900 17-Inch Printer
The 17-inch wide-format beast that adds Violet to the ink set for a color gamut (the range of colors the printer can reproduce) you cannot get from smaller printers — the ultimate tool for large fine-art prints.
If you sell large-format fine-art prints, the P900 is the printer that can handle roll media up to 17 inches wide and sheet media up to 1.5 mm thick — thick enough for canvas and heavyweight fine-art papers. Its UltraChrome PRO10 ink system adds a Violet channel to the usual nine colors, which expands the gamut for more vibrant and rich colors, especially in the purple and blue range. That means you get truer deep blues in night skies or floral prints than the Canon PRO-310 or Epson R3000 can deliver. You also get dedicated nozzles for Photo Black and Matte Black, so there is no switching delay or ink waste when you change paper types — this feature is a lifesaver for artists who work in both gloss and matte.
The same owners who love the color also report frustrating reliability issues. The build quality draws criticism, with some calling it fragile and others saying two consecutive units arrived with defects. The initial priming uses about half the ink that comes in the box, so your first print costs more than you expect. One owner with a 17-inch roll feeder noted that you must carefully select media type before loading and pay attention to paper angles, and another reported a persistent light haze on matte paper that gave blacks a dark-grey cast across two different units. Print quality gets top billing with 33 positive mentions, but reliability is mixed at 13 mentions, and ink usage and ink price both score negative. On the plus side, a long-term independent artist found that printing at home was 25 to 50 percent cheaper than outsourcing to a fine-art print service, and the ink lasted three months of regular use. The 4.3-inch customizable touchscreen and Carbon Black Driver technology — which, according to Epson, dramatically increases black density on glossy papers — round out a feature set that only makes sense if you need 17-inch output and are ready to work through the learning curve.
Pro-scale output, pro-scale headaches: The 17-inch roll capability and Violet ink make it a genuine alternative to pro print shops, but quality-control issues and high ink cost mean this is not a low-maintenance machine. Owners who get a good unit and master the settings report “amazing prints on satin canvas or matte roll paper.”
Get it if: you need 17-inch fine-art prints with the widest color gamut and are willing to invest time in setup and profile management.
look elsewhere if: your largest print fits on 13-inch paper — the P900’s extra cost and complexity are wasted on standard sizes.
Understanding the Specs
Ink Color Count (Six vs. Nine vs. Ten)
More ink colors generally mean smoother color transitions and fewer visible bands in sky gradients or skin tones. A six-color set (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Light Cyan, Light Magenta) is a solid baseline — good enough for most artists who print photos, cards, and fine-art proofs. Nine-color systems add Gray, Light Gray, and sometimes a dedicated Matte Black, which improves black-and-white prints and shadow detail. Ten-color systems add Violet or a Chroma Optimizer to further expand the color gamut (the range of colors the printer can reproduce) for deep blues and purples that are hard to reproduce with a standard set.
Max Print Size and Borderless Printing
Borderless printing means you can print edge-to-edge without white margins — critical for portfolio prints, fine-art sales, and gallery presentations where a white border looks unfinished. The most common sizes for artist-grade printers are 8.5 x 11 inches (letter), 13 x 19 inches (super B), and 17 inches wide on roll paper (a long continuous sheet of paper, good for panoramas and banners). If you plan to sell prints at sizes larger than 11 x 17, a printer that handles 13-inch or 17-inch media is a necessity rather than a luxury.
Pigment vs. Dye Ink Permanence
Pigment ink particles sit on top of the paper and are more resistant to UV light, moisture, and ozone, making them the standard for archival fine-art prints that must last decades. Dye ink absorbs into the paper fibers and creates more vivid, saturated colors right away, but it fades faster under sunlight and is more prone to water damage. For sellable art, choose pigment. For craft projects, albums, and personal use, dye ink gives you better bang for your buck.
Print Speed and What It Costs You
Print speed matters when you batch-print greeting cards, proofs, or edition runs. A fast dye-based printer can hit 9 ppm (pages per minute) in color, while a slow pigment-based fine-art printer may manage only 2 ppm. Slower printers often produce more accurate colors and deeper blacks due to deliberate ink laydown.. Speed is irrelevant if you print only a few pieces daily.. For high-volume printing, speed becomes a critical time-saver..
FAQ
Can I use any brand of ink in these printers?
What is the difference between Claria and UltraChrome ink?
Will a 13 x 19 inch printer fit on a standard desk?
Can I print on canvas and fine-art paper with an artist-grade printer?
How much ink does a new printer consume during setup?
Should I get a printer with a scanner and copier?
What does “borderless” printing mean for my artwork?
How do I calibrate my monitor to match my printer output?
Can I use an artist-grade printer for everyday documents?
What is the difference between roll paper and sheet paper for wide-format printers?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
Across the board, the winner is the Epson Artisan 1430 because it balances wide-format capability with a 6-color dye-ink system that owners love for its color accuracy — plus the large-format 13 x 19-inch output is a genuine creative advantage. If you want fast, lab-quality photo prints with the convenience of a scanner and copier, grab the Epson Expression Photo XP-8800. And for the artist who demands gallery-grade pigment output in a 17-inch format, the Epson SureColor P900 is the one to reach for — just be ready to learn its quirks.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Gardening Beyond earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.