As graphic designers, we regularly have to think outside the box, turn on our creative juices and create amazing visuals using a number of tools.
But, do your designs look as enchanting on paper as it does when viewed on the screen?
This is where a top-quality printer for designers comes into play!
Do you own an excellent printer that recreates your image resolutions, vivid coloring, and enchanting designs on paper?
No?
Don’t worry; we have compiled the 7 best printer for designers that will consistently recreate your amazing designs on paper.
Sit back, relax as we reveal all the great printers available on the market for the designing community.
| IMAGE | NAME & Details | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 Inkjet Printer |
| Check The Price |
| Epson ET-7700 Expression EcoTank Printer | Check The Price | |
| HP ENVY 6055e Color Printer |
| Check The Price |
| Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Photo Printer |
| Check The Price |
| Brother HLL8360CDW Color Laser Printer |
| Check The Price |
| HP M404n LaserJet Pro Laser Printer |
| Check The Price |
| Epson Expression XP-7100 Printer |
| Check The Price |
Top Pick
Canon image PROGRAF TA-20
- USB, Ethernet
- 5 pages per minute
- Free poster creation software
Best printer for designers: for 2022 Review: Key Features, Pros, and Cons
Struggling to find the best printers for designs is a common theme in the designing community. This is a source of worry for professional designers who really care about how their designs come out. With so many component parts making up a design, the quality of your printer can make or break a design project. The table below highlights our 7 best printer for designers and the features that make them stand out.
1. Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 Inkjet Printer
Highlighted features
- USB, Ethernet
- 5 pages per minute
- Free poster creation software
Our first recommendation for the best printer for designers comes from Canon!
The Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 is a powerful printer. It is suitable for large-scale printing, especially for magazines, poster covers, and other heavy-duty work that a standard printer can’t handle.
First, it uses inkjet technology with a maximum black and white print speed of 5 pages per minute. It also comes with a wireless technology that ensures seamless connectivity. Users can hook on to smart devices without connecting a cable to the printer.
Coming at 47 x 36 x 49 inches, this printer will take all forms of printing in its stride and produce excellent outputs. One feature we love about this printing machine is the ability to print on 24 inches sheets with zero quality compromise.
What’s more? The Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 comes with poster creation software that provides the necessary tools to upgrade your designs to the next level.
Pros
- This printer comes with USB and ethernet ports for interconnectivity.
- Users can replace the ink while printing to prevent interruptions and quality compromise during printing.
- It is easy to set up.
Cons
- It is pricey.
2. Epson ET-7700 Expression EcoTank Printer
Highlighted features
- Cartridge-free printing
- Supersized ink tanks
- 7” Color LCD
This is a fairly pricey printer for designers. However, this printer comes with excellent features. It is designed to have an overall low printing cost, thanks to its supersized ink tanks.
With the Epson ET-7700, you will have zero worries about cartridge replacement for a long time. The supersized ink tanks can hold ink that can print 9,000 pages or two years of regular use.
During the period we had this printer, we got vivid graphics and text. Not forgetting the sharp colors and a premium 5760×1440 dpi resolution. The Epson ET-7700 dealt with both heavy and lightweight paper with ease. And with a rear and front tray, it handled all forms of design jobs thrown at it. For its price, expect this printer to expertly recreate all your designs on paper.
However, it does not come with an auto-paper feeder for copying, scanning two or more pages of papers unattended.
Pros
- This printer comes with a built-in card and USB slots.
- It comes with ink that can print up to 9000 color pages or 14,000 black and white pages.
- It is fitted with a dedicated photo and paper tray.
Cons
- Epson customer service can be better.
3. HP ENVY 6055e Color Printer
Highlighted features
- 7 ppm color, 10 ppm black
- Copy, print, scan
- Borderless printing
The HP ENVY 6055e has copy, print, and scan functionalities compared to many that we tested. Interestingly, it is inexpensive. The price, in combination with the premium features, wins it a spot on this list.
While it comes with all standard AIO features, it is also fitted with a built-in dual-band WiFi that makes printing operations on this printer easy. It is even easier when you consider the HP printer app downloadable on Android and iOS.
While replacement ink will cost more than the expense incurred for the printer, in the long run, the HP Instant Ink subscription service makes it manageable. This printer is one of the most functional and at this price on the market today. With the durable build and excellent print quality, it represents excellent value for money. And while you will find other inkjet printers on this list with ink-saving properties, the HP ENVY 6055e is perfect for designers running on a limited budget.
Pros
- It is affordable.
- The printer comes with a self-healing Wi-FiTM that reduces connection interruptions.
- It can print from Google Docs, Dropbox, and other cloud services with few taps.
Cons
- It has no ethernet port.
4. Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Photo Printer
Highlighted features
- Panorama printing
- Dye-based
- 0” Color LCD
The Canon PIXMA PRO-200 is another printing wonder from the house of Cannon! Coming with premium printing features, this product is perfect for designers and photographers who value quality over quantity. It even offers a printing option as large as 13″x19″ which is a rare printing option among many printers that we tested.
One of the excellent features of the Canon PIXMA PRO-200 is its portability. Weighing just 1.00 lbs, you can carry this printer around with ease. In addition, the print quality is superior to many standard printers, as it consistently turns out Hi-Res prints. Another feature we love about this printing machine is the ability to hold 150 sheets at once, offering a seamless and continuous printing operation.
You will also find easy-to-navigate buttons on the printer that make printing extremely simple and straightforward for first-time users. With this printer, you will accomplish your printing goals with little stress.
Pros
- It comes with a 3-inch LCD display that helps with the printer’s maintenance.
- It allows printing via ethernet or WiFi.
- Weighing just 1 pound, it is easy to move from one place to the other.
Cons
- It can only print 1 page per minute.
5. Brother HLL8360CDW Color Laser Printer
Highlighted features
- Cloud service direct print
- High-yield replacement cartridge
- Automatic duplex printing
- Up to 2400 x 600 dpi
The Brother brand is well-known for high-quality prints in the graphic design community. It wins a spot on this review because of its vivid print and auto-duplex feature.
For the few days we spent testing this printer, we can boldly say that this printer will serve graphic designers and creatives looking for a top-quality printing option with its superb 250 printing paper capacity and a big paper tray at the bottom.
But that is not all; you can hook this printer with your smartphone or tablet with the many connectivity options it comes with. We found the transfer of files to the printer simple and smooth. The laser technology guarantees excellent results, ensuring that all prints are accurately represented and transferred to the paper.
Another feature we love is the ability to print on an A4 size paper, supported by a printing speed of 33 pages per minute. This product offers excellent printing features for the price. It is one of the products we recommend to the designing community.
Pros
- This printer supports USB, NFC, Ethernet, and WiFi connectivity.
- It supports auto-duplex printing.
- It comes with a 2.7” LCD color touchscreen for simple operations.
Cons
- At 48.10 lbs, this printer is heavy.
6. HP M404n LaserJet Pro Laser Printer
Highlighted features
- 38 pages per minute
- Ethernet, USB
- Laserjet technology
The HP M404n LaserJet printer is another excellent printer suitable for graphic design and photography-related work.
One of the reasons why we included this printer is its portable size that makes it easy to carry around with ease. Aside from that,, the HP M404n LaserJet printer allows you to print up to 40 papers per minute. It is perfect for small to medium-scale businesses that need to print large scale wireframes or sketches. The printer is primed to move your designing business forward.
In addition, users get to print paper sizes up to A4 and can arrange 250 sheets of paper on the spacious tray for printing. With additional features such as the built-in Ethernet port, in-class security, and fast prints, this monochrome laser printer will speed up your processes and ultimately grow your business.
Pros
- This printer comes with a USB and ethernet port.
- It has a maximum print speed of 40 pages per minute.
- It is portable and will fit into small spaces.
Cons
- The replacement toners are pricey.
7.Epson Expression XP-7100 Printer
Highlighted features
- Auto Document Feeder
- Wireless Plus Ethernet
- 4” LCD color touchscreen
If you need the best printer for designers that can work for other purposes, you should consider going for the Epson Expression XP-7100 Printer.
We included this printer on this list because of its crisp document scanning ability and a knack for consistently printing art of Hi-Res quality. Also, this product weighs 21.50 lbs making it a suitable option for designers who need a lightweight printing machine for shop, office, or home office.
The Epson Expression XP-7100 Printer has a printing speed of 11 pages per minute. A decent speed to get much done in little time. Plus, this device allows you to print borderless 4X6 inches photos with a paper feeding capacity of 30 pages using an auto document feeder.
So, for the best print quality that will recreate your designs on paper masterfully, consider going for the Epson Expression XP-7100 Printer. You will be glad you did!
Pros
- This printer comes with a 4.3” LCD touchscreen for easy menu control.
- It comes with an auto-document feeder that eliminates the need for manual operations.
- It also comes with a Creative Print app that aids the seamless printing of images from Instagram and Facebook.
- The printer is inexpensive.
Cons
- The auto-duplex mode can be better.
Best printer for designers: Buying Guide
Let’s take a deep dive into factors you should consider before making a buying decision for the best printer for designers.
Individual Ink tanks
Go for printers with separate ink tanks per color; otherwise, you will suffer a clogging mishap. As designers, we often recommend inkjet printers with at least four-color plots for excellent print quality. Learn how pigmented inks form prints on paper; it will bring you convenience in the long run.
Pigment or Dye ink
Generally, dye inks fade faster than pigment. As such, if your prints are not needed long-term, an affordable dye ink option like the Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Photo Printer will work best in your favor. However, if longevity is crucial to your work, go for printers utilizing pigment inks; they will last longer than dye inks.
Inkjet Printers vs. Laser
Technological advancement means it has become increasingly difficult to choose between inkjet and laser printers. Generally, we use features like resolution, color, speed, but now, characteristics like pages-per-minute and sustainable cartridge replacement are equally important.
To break it down, inkjet printers are preferable to graphic designers because they create stark and vivid prints. However, if your goal is a quality print at the lowest possible cost, a laser printer will work best for you. In all, your choice will depend on your type of work, convenience, and budget.
Maximum Print Size
This will depend on the type of print you produce and the max print size of the needed media. Are you working with standard sizes such as legal or paper size? Consider going for Brother HLL8360CDW Color Laser Printer, it will cause you zero harm. In contrast, if you need larger prints or non-standard sizes, go for an inkjet printer.
Speed (Page per minute)
Speed is another important factor to consider. A printer that takes a lot of minutes to recreate designs on paper will be stressful and inefficient. All printers on our list have a superb page-per-minute ratio, HP M404n LaserJet Pro Laser Printer has a whopping PPM of 38 PPM. Although, the speed will differ according to media size. For instance, a large size file will take longer to print than the standard printing speed. This factor was key to selecting the products above during our testing. As such, only printers with high printing speed made our list.
Toner and Ink Cartridges
Unfortunately, people often neglect this factor when making a printer buying decision. Don’t do that!
Toner and Ink Cartridges should be an important consideration as it contributes a lot to future printing expenses.
In general, laser toner cartridges will produce more pages; it is print efficient, albeit expensive. But if you already own inkjet cartridges, it’s best to search for a compatible ink.
Paper Compatibility
This is another important factor to consider before making a printer buying decision. Your preferable printer should accept both heavy, light, and double-sided papers.
Please note, many inexpensive printers are not compatible with heavy grade papers, which can be a problem. This is a cause for concern in many laser printers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which printer is suitable for high-quality prints?
If you are a small business, who needs to print color or black and white documents with a touch of grey tones at the highest quality possible, go for inkjet photo printers. On the other hand, color laser printers have a limited color gamut that cannot recreate certain color effects.
Q: What printer is best for high-volume printing?
In general, laser printers are preferable for high-volume work. This is because they’re designed to handle high printing volumes at a cost-effective rate. The following are the best printers for designers to handle high-volume prints: HP M404n LaserJet Pro Laser Printer and Brother HL-L8360CDW Color Laser Printer..
Q: What does 2400 dpi mean?
For printers, print resolutions are expressed in dots-per-inch (dpi). This means the number of dots that can be produced on a paper per inch. A printer’s resolution is a measure of the quality of a print. A printer with high dpi will have better print quality. As such, a printer having 1200 X 1200dpi is better than others labeled 2400 x 600.
Q: Which is better, ink tank or inkjet?
The major difference is that the ink tank stores more ink volume than a standalone inkjet cartridge. As such, they last longer and are preferable for designers who print regularly.
Conclusion
There you have it – our best printer for designers. These printers are the best in all ramifications on the market today. They will recreate your designs on paper flawlessly and effortlessly on card stock, posters, business cards, and any other paper type.
We suggest you make a list of requirements you need in a printer, then compare to your preferred choice before deciding on one. Doing this ensures you can get what you need exactly.
From all of us, we say happy designing!
