Best Type of Printer for Graphic Design

Top 10 Printers for Graphic Designers to buy in 2021

People often ask me what's the best printer for graphic design, so I have gone through the important features to help you choose one that works best.

Graphic designers heavily rely on printers as it's a vital tool when it comes to showcasing their work to peers and clients.

What's the best printer for graphic design to buy in 2021?

As a graphic designer who considers high print quality, finding the best printer may be a bit difficult.

There is a variety of printers available on the market, at different price points and with different features to choose from.

However, I tried to make everything easier for you by listing the things to consider and my recommendations for choosing a printer for your graphic design needs.

How to choose the best printer for graphic design

When choosing the best printer, there's a lot to consider — from choosing between laser or inkjet, ink and toner cartridges, dye-based or pigmented inks, size, and the paper it accepts.

When choosing the best printer for your graphic design needs, there are six factors that you should consider:

1. Laser vs. Inkjet Printers
2. Individual Ink Tanks
3. Ink and Toner Cartridges
4. Dye-based vs. Pigmented Inks
5. Size
6. Paper

Now let's go through each of them to see their importance when choosing a printer.

Laser vs. Inkjet Printers

Due to advancements in technology, choosing between laser and inkjet printers has never been this challenging.

We used to consider things like speed, color, and resolution — but now, it all boils down to pages-per-month capacity as well as sustainable cartridge replacement.

To make it simpler for you, inkjet printers are more appealing to graphic designers with their ability to produce vivid and stark images.

However, if you're the type of designer who is leaning towards quality prints with low cost, then perhaps laser printers are best for you.

After all, it all depends on the type of work you do, your convenience, and of course — the budget that you have.

Individual Ink tanks

You must make sure that it has individual tanks per color — or else, it will make you suffer from clogging.

As a designer, I recommend choosing an inkjet printer with not lower than four-color plots to get the best quality in your photos.

Pro tip: Knowing how pigmented inks react to paper will surely bring you nothing but convenience in the long run.

Ink and Toner Cartridges

Surprisingly, people miss assessing cartridge replacement when buying a printer.

However, this is crucial since this can be a major contributor to your future expenses.

Basically, you can produce more pages with laser toner cartridges making it more efficient though it can be pricey.

But if you are into using inkjet cartridges, then what's best to do is to look for a compatible ink.

Dye vs. Pigment Ink

Ideally, dye inks tend to fade faster — but since graphic designs are not usually needed in the long term, making use of this more affordable alternative is already a good option.

However, if you consider this an important factor, I suggest going for pigment inks as they last longer than dye-based ones.

Maximum Print Size

Depending on the type of media that you produce, considering the maximum print size of a model is needed.

If you typically work with the most common sizes such as paper or legal size, then going for laser printers will bring you no harm.

On the other hand, if varying and larger prints are what you need, inkjet printers are what you looking for.

Paper Compatibility

Another factor you should consider when buying a printer is the paper it accepts — it must accept both light and heavy, as well as double sided pages.

Moreover, you should note that inexpensive models usually are not capable of accepting heavier grade paper making it a bit of a problem — this is also the deal breaker for most laser printers.

With these in mind, I have gathered some of my personal favorites that will surely help you produce spectacular and of high quality photos while staying on the budget.

‍1. Canon Pixma iP8720

Canon printers are known for their reliable and quality printing, so it's no surprise that this is on top of my list.

With its value, Canon Pixma iP8720 is the best printer overall for designers.

This model is the best choice for graphic designers who are looking for a budget-friendly printer that offers print-shop quality up to 13 by 19 inches.

Price: $349.94

Canon Pixma iP8720 — Best overall

This printer produces excellent output ranging from white and black to color photos with its 6 color ink system and 9600 by 2400 dpi resolution.

With its well-built feed system, the Canon Pixma iP8720 accepts up to 150 sheets of a variety of paper weights and finishes.

Moreover, this offers versatility as it prints nice-looking reports — from business, school-type, and professional-grade — pretty much anything a designer would need

Apart from its features, the Canon Pixma iP8720 lets you print with almost no head clogs and a respectable speed making it more suitable for serious photographers and graphic designers.

Interestingly, this model makes everything even better with its AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and PIXMA Printing Solutions that allow hassle-free printing of portraits straight from your phone.

With its unbelievable performance, it comes as no surprise that this model stands alone, for better or for worse.

So if you're looking for an affordable printer that offers excellent quality wide-format printing, then look no further.

Specifications:

Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Glossy photo paper

Pros

1. Excellent print quality
2. Easy installation
3. Budget-friendly

Cons

1. Single paper tray
2. Unstable wireless connection
3. Desk space-consuming

2. Epson XP-8600

If you're a designer who's looking for a compact all-in-one printer that does it all, then maybe the Epson Expression Photo XP-8600 is best for you.

This is the best compact printer if you need a small yet mighty machine in terms of printing performance.

Although small, this printer has a competitive edge against other brands with its ability to produce superb borderless photos up to 8 by 10 inches.

Price: $249.99

Epson XP-8600 — Most compact

The Epson Expression Photo XP-8600 is a real game changer offering a wide range of options and some unique abilities.

Though made with plastic, this mid-range printer delivers an edge for its sleek appearance — bringing you printing with style.

This printer gets a plus point for those who are eco-conscious as it allows you to print both sides of the paper automatically.

Talking about speed, this printer is designed to print one color photo on average of 30 seconds to a minute depending on the quality that you want.

One interesting feature of this model is the Print CD which allows you to create a layout and even print on printable CDs, CD-ROM, DVDs, or optical discs.

Moreover, setting up has never been so easy with Epson Expression Photo XP-8600's wide variety of connectivity options — starting from ethernet, Wi-Fi, to USB, among other third-party mobile solutions.

With this model, a narrow desktop won't be an issue with its small footprint — indeed a compact, space-saver printer.

Needless to say, this compact all-in-one printer is perfect for graphic designers who have a limited desk space but still want to turn their creative ideas come to life.

Specifications:

Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Epson
Print media: Paper (plain)

Pros

1. CD print feature
2. Ultra fast printing
3. Wireless versatility

Cons

1. No fax feature
2. High running costs
3. Manual document feeder

3. HP ENVY 5055

If an all-in-one printer is what you need but you're on a tighter budget, then this most budget-friendly yet improved printer will save you.

The most budget-friendly printer for graphic designers.

New features such as Bluetooth Smart, better Wi-Fi connectivity, and faster printing speed set the HP ENVY 5055 apart from the old HP ENVY 4520, providing designers a better experience.

Originally designed as an entry-level, this budget option surprisingly gets most of the job done.

Price: $149.00

HP ENVY 5055 — Most budget-friendly

The HP ENVY 5055 offers professional-quality prints up to 8 by 10 inches, made possible through its 6 color Claria Photo HD Ink feature.

This versatile printer measures 5 by 17.5 by 14.5 inches and weighs 5.5 kg with a monochrome touchscreen display of 2.2 inches.

Like most photo printers, this model does the basics — print, scan, and copy wide and excellent quality photos with the right amount of crispiness.

Surprisingly, the HP ENVY 5055's borderless printing comes with good details and excellent color accuracy.

But more than being a "budget" option, this model gives you versatile features to support a range of tasks.

Despite its price, this printer exceeds your expectations as it is ENERGY STAR approved for maintaining a small ecological footprint — saving you from your regular power expenses.

In terms of sustainability, you don't need to worry about handling refills since this is compatible with XL cartridges and HP instant ink through a straightforward subscription service.

For its price, the HP ENVY 5055 is the best budget-friendly printer you can get on the market.

Specifications:

Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper

Pros

1. Low running cost with Instant Ink
2. Excellent color accuracy
3. Reasonable price
4. Amazon Alexa compatible

Cons

1. High running cost without Instant Ink
2. Slightly unresponsive touchscreen
3. Ethernet and USB incompatible

4. Lexmark C3326dw

If you're a graphic designer who's running a small business, then you might want to consider purchasing one from Lexmark.

The best printer small-size businesses need.

The Lexmark C3326dw is suitable for graphic designers who are running a small business as it gets moderate amount of work done.

Price: $236.24

Lexmark C3326dw — For small-sized businesses

Measuring 9.6 by 16.2 by 15.5 inches, this compact and durable printer fits in any place.

It comes with integrated duplex printing, a tray with a capacity of 250 pages, a single-sheet spreader, and a two line color display.

Lexmark C3326dw also takes printing to another level with its multiple connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet.

And if you are the type that makes sure everything is secure, you should consider getting this printer as it features full-spectrum security by Lexmark.

Talking about speed, it can produce 26 pages per minute, powered by a 1-GHz dual-core processor and 265-MB memory.

This printer also offers one-piece toner cartridges and long-life imaging components that will surely save your business from frequent supply replacement.

Another notable feature of the Lexmark C3326dw is its built-in energy-saving mode and an alternative and automatic sleep-to-print to sleep mode.

And if you are into saving paper and energy, its EPEAT silver and ENERGY STAR certification will surely make you grab this printer.

So if you have a limited budget for your small business but still want to produce quality color printouts, then nothing is a better option.

Specifications:

Printer Output: Color
Color: White, Gray
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Lexmark
Print media: Paper (plain)

Pros

1. Duplex printing
2. Compact
3. Durable steel frame

Cons

1. Non-touchscreen display
2. Lacks Wi-Fi direct
3. Manual feed

5. Brother HL-L8360CDW

If you still haven't found the right printer, you might consider checking the best laser printer from Brother.

The best laser printer for graphic designers out there.‍

Brother HL-L8360CDW is an excellent choice for graphic designers who are in need of a reliable, quality, and efficient laser printer.

Price: $349.99‍

Brother HL-L8360CDW — Best laser printer

With its undeniable high performance, this printer elevates your productivity through its 33 pages per minute printing speed.

The Brother HL-L8360CDW produces both excellent color and black prints up to 2400 by 600 dpi class resolution.

Another feature that makes it competitive is its advanced triple layer security feature which helps you ensure restricted document and device access.

It comes with a built-in wireless 802.11 b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet network which allows both easy sharing and setup.

Apart from those features, this also offer cost-efficient printing with the Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges that are built to last.

Moreover, it also lets you enjoy additional functions such as near-field communication (NFC) and a color touch screen.

This printer also has an adjustable paper tray for letter or legal size paper that has a 250-sheet capacity.

Proving its paper handling flexibility, the Brother HL-L8360CDW comes with an additional 50-sheet capacity multi-purpose tray for letterhead and alternative media prints, and an optional multiple layer trays that can handle up to 1,050 sheets.

So if you're looking for a single-function laser printer with a wide spectrum of features, then I recommend this one to you.

Specifications:

Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Card stock, Label

Pros

1. Flexible paper handling
2. Excellent print quality
3. Expandable paper capacity
4. Triple layer security

Cons

1. Expensive
2. High running cost
3. Space-consuming

Best Type of Printer for Graphic Design

Source: https://medium.com/ebaqdesign/top-10-printers-for-graphic-designers-to-buy-in-2021-71b9a74dd1fb

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