How to choose the best large format printer Naturally, a plotter like this can’t compete with specialist large-format photo printers for photographic quality, but we found that performed well for mono and color documents and general office plotting.
The ink set is relatively basic, combining a pigment-based black ink cartridge with dye-based cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges. You can set it up and run it from a smartphone, using HP’s companion app, and print on various sizes of paper using the automatic cut sheet and roll feeders, without having to continually change the media in the machine. We think this is a sleek and stylish plotter that would look great in a studio. Using recycled materials and low/renewable energy construction processes, it's available in ‘Steel’ or ‘Wood’ editions with alternative top panel finishes that complement the white build. Think printing about paper and eco-friendliness might not be the first thing that springs to mind when choosing the best large format printer, but this has the bonus of being HP’s first carbon-neutral DesignJet plotter. Unsuitable for high-quality photo printing If you find a 24-inch print width to still be restrictive, the imagePROGRAF PRO-4100 and imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 are even larger and use the same ink cartridges and print heads for 44-inch and 60-inch print widths respectively. We liked the auto paper cutter and we found that Canon’s supporting Professional Print & Layout software made the whole process quick and easy when creating bordered or borderless prints in custom sizes. There's support for a huge range of fine art media from the world’s best paper companies like Canson and Hahnemühle.
We found that The PRO-2100 delivers spectacular print quality for both color and mono photographic images, based on a range of 12 Lucia Pro pigment-based inks that includes that chroma optimizer we've already mentioned. Now, take that quality up to a grander scale, and you have the imagePROGRAF PRO-2100, a much larger, freestanding printer that takes rolls of paper up to 24 inches in width. These both deliver gallery-quality photo and fine art prints from conveniently compact desktop machines. We've already mentioned Canon’s A3+/13-inch imagePROGRAF PRO-300 and the A2/17-inch PRO-1000.
Read our full Epson EcoTank ET-8550 review for more details The flip side is that the ET-8550 costs nearly three times as much to buy in the first place when compared to a conventional A3+ printer in the same class. These are replenished via 70ml bottles, at a cost of around $17.50/£16 each, which makes this most cost-effective in the long run.Įpson says that the ink cost is therefore reduced by around 80 percent overall. Where the ET-8550 comes into its own is that it has ink tanks rather than cartridges. this has only six, but we found the combination of pigment-based black ink for crisp black text and dye-based inks for color produced good results on the whole. Specialist photo printers often have a significantly wider color gamut, with eight or more different inks. In fact, we also included it in our pick of the best all-in-one printers.
The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is different from most dedicated A3+/13x19-inch inkjet photo printers as it is much more of a multi-function device. Read our full Epson SureColor SC-P900 review for more detailsĪ smaller A3+, 13-inch, version of this printer - the Epson SureColor SC-P700 - is also available. All in all, a relatively compact footprint and accessible price, plus the flexibility this machine provides, make this a great buy. The 80ml cartridge size is fairly generous. There’s onboard Wi-Fi for printing from smartphones or cameras directly, and a 4.3-inch touch panel screen for making selections. We found that the three paper paths, including a front-loading one for fine art paper, made it easy to switch between different formats – and the roll paper option is great to have for panoramic prints. This is an update of the older Epson SureColor P800, offering a significant improvement in image quality, with deep contrasty blacks and rich tones thanks to an additional, tenth, ink. And Epson’s flexible flagship A2 printer is capable of printing up to 17 inches in width. Can’t decide whether you need a sheet or roll printer? The Epson SureColor SC-P900 provides a choice of both – although you do have to pay extra to get the roller unit.