15+ The Best Printers for Graphic Designers
Getting the best printer for graphic design is vital because these days, designers heavily rely on printers when doing their work.
Printers are a vital tool when it comes to showcasing your work as a designer, either to fellow designers or your clients.
As a creative who values high print quality, finding the best printer may be a bit difficult these days.
Which printer produces the best graphics?
There are a variety of printers that produce good quality graphics on the market these days.
It just depends on the price point and what other features you are looking for.
However, I tried to make everything easier for you by listing the things to consider and my recommendations for the best ones.
Here is my recommendation of the 16 best printers for graphic designers.
Do you want to add your product to the list? — Find my address on the contact page and send your product for review.
15+ Best Printers for Graphic Design
- Canon Pixma iP8720 — Best overall inkjet
- Brother HL-L8360Cdw — Best laser printer
- HP ENVY 5055 — Budget-friendly
- Epson Photo HD XP-15000 — Best mid-range
- HP ENVY Photo 7855 — Most convenient
- Canon imagePROGRAF — Best home office printer
- Epson SureColor P800 — Most versatile
- Canon PIXMA PRO-200 — Best wide-format
- HP DesignJet T210 — Best for business owners
- Brother HL-L3210C — Best everyday printer
- Epson Expression Photo XP-8500 — Widest range of colors
- Epson Expression Premium EcoTank ET-7750 — Best all-around printer
- HP DesignJet Z6 — Best in high-impact prints
- Brother HLL8360CDW — Best laser printer for small designs
- Lexmark CS410dtn — Best for small-medium designs
- HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw — Best printer for refilled toner tanks
How to choose the best printer for graphic designers
When selecting the best printer, there are a lot of things to consider, such as choosing between laser or inkjet, ink and toner cartridges, dye-based or pigmented inks, size, and the paper it accepts.
Here are the factors that you should consider when choosing the best printer for your graphic design needs.
- Laser vs. Inkjet Printers
- Individual Ink Tanks
- Ink and Toner Cartridges
- Dye-based vs. Pigmented Inks
- Size
- Paper
Now let’s go through each of them to see their importance when choosing a printer.
Laser vs. Inkjet Printers for
Due to technological advancements, choosing between laser and inkjet printers has never been this challenging.
Altogether, 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 at low cost, then perhaps laser printers are best for you.
Individual Ink Tanks
You must make sure that it has individual tanks for each color — or else, obviously, it will cause you to suffer from clogging.
As a designer, I recommend choosing an inkjet printer with no fewer 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 it can be a major contributor to your future expenses.
You can produce more with laser toner cartridges, making them more efficient, but with inkjet cartridges, you need to look for compatible ink.
Dye vs. Pigment Ink
Graphic designers usually make use of more affordable alternative ink options.
Ideally, dye inks tend to fade faster, but this is already a good pick since graphic designs are not usually needed in the long term.
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, in this situation, considering the maximum print size of a model is necessary.
If you typically work with the most common sizes, such as paper or legal size, then going for laser printers will do you no harm.
On the other hand, if varied and larger prints are what you need, inkjet printers are what you are looking for.
Paper Compatibility
Another factor you should consider when buying a printer is the type of paper it accepts — it must accept both light and heavy paper, as well as double-sided pages.
Moreover, you should note that inexpensive models are usually not capable of accepting heavier-grade paper, making it a bit of a problem.
With these in mind, I have gathered some of my personal favorites that will surely help you produce spectacular and high-quality photos while staying within your budget.
1. Canon Pixma iP8720
The Canon Pixma iP8720 is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for the best overall graphic design printer.
The best overall inkjet printer for designers.
This budget-friendly printer offers print-shop quality up to 13 by 19 inches.
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With its well-built feed system, the Pixma iP8720 accepts up to 150 sheets of a variety of paper weights and finishes.
In this case, this printer offers versatility — from business to school-type and professional-grade — anything a designer would need.
The Pixma iP8720 lets you print with almost no head clogs and at a respectable speed, additionally making it more suitable for serious photographers and graphic designers.
Canon printers are known for their reliable and quality printing.
For this reason, it’s no surprise that this is at the top of my list.
Generally speaking, if you are looking for the best graphic design inkjet printer, the Canon Pixma iP8720 might be the perfect fit for you.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Glossy photo paper
Pros
- Excellent print quality
- Easy installation
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Single paper tray
- Unstable wireless connection
- Desk space-consuming
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2. Brother HL-L8360Cdw
The Brother HL-L8360CDW is an excellent choice for graphic designers who require a reliable, quality, and efficient laser printer.
The best laser printer for graphic designers.
It has an advanced triple-layer security feature that helps you ensure restricted document and device access.
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The HL-L8360CDW produces excellent color and black prints up to 2400 x 600 dpi.
For one thing, with its undeniable high performance, this printer elevates your productivity through its 33 ppm printing speed.
The HL-L8360CDW has a 50-sheet multi-purpose tray for letterhead and alternative media printing and optional multi-layer trays that can hold up to 1,050 sheets.
This also offers cost-efficient printing with the Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges that are built to last.
So if you’re looking for a single-function laser printer with a broad spectrum of features, then the Brother HL-L8360CDW is highly recommended.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Card stock, Label
Pros
- Flexible paper handling
- Excellent print quality
- Triple layer security
Cons
- Expensive
- High running cost
- Space-consuming
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3. HP ENVY 5055
The HP ENVY 5055 is a budget-friendly printer you can get on the market.
A budget-friendly printer for graphic designers.
More than just being a “budget” option, this model gives you versatile features to support a range of tasks.
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This ENVY 5055 offers professional-quality prints up to 8 by 10 inches, made possible through its 6-color Claria Photo HD Ink feature.
Like most photo printers, this model does the basics — print, scan, and copy wide, high-quality photos with the right amount of crispness.
Surprisingly, the ENVY 5055’s borderless printing comes with good details and excellent color accuracy.
Despite its price, it is ENERGY STAR approved for maintaining a small ecological footprint — saving you from your regular power expenses.
If you are looking for the best all-in-one printer for graphic design, then this budget-friendly HP ENVY 5055 is perfect for you.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper
Pros
- Low running cost with Instant Ink
- Excellent color accuracy
- Amazon Alexa compatible
Cons
- High running cost without Instant Ink
- Slightly unresponsive touchscreen
- Ethernet and USB incompatible
4. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a high-quality A3 printer that can print on nearly any common paper weight or finish.
The best mid-range graphic design printer.
This printer’s XP-15000 model features six separate dye ink tanks for printing photos that are as close to reality as possible.
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The XP-15000 is also excellent for printing on heat-transfer media and cardstock.
In order to print 800 pages per color, these cartridges are compatible with high-yield ink cartridges.
The XP-15000 can output a wide range of file formats and offers excellent image quality.
This is a good deal if you’re willing to spend a little extra money on a good-quality printer for your graphic designs.
If you are looking for a printer that is small and user-friendly, then the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is an excellent choice.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Epson
Print media: Paper (plain), Card stock
Pros
- CD print feature
- Ultra-fast printing
- Wireless versatility
Cons
- No fax feature
- High running costs
- Manual document feeder
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5. HP ENVY Photo 7855
The HP ENVY Photo 7855 brings you nothing but excellent quality photos and comes with a scanner, making it the most convenient printer on the list.
The most convenient printer for graphic designers.
For its price and features, you will never regret risking your tight budget on this very convenient printer.
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What makes the HP Photo 7855 so convenient is its wireless printing through Wi-Fi direct and Ethernet, along with its USB and memory card ports.
As can be seen, it can produce great quality prints that are well-saturated and vivid, making them suitable for general business use.
The HP Photo 7855 measures 7.7 by 17.9 by 19.8 inches and weighs 17 pounds, stepping up its convenience.
Its size is also very compact and doesn’t demand too much space in your workspace.
Altogether, the HP ENVY Photo 7855 is a great choice if you’re looking for the best all-in-one printer for small businesses.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Labels, Glossy photo paper, High-resolution paper
Pros
- High scan resolution
- Decent printing speed
- Reasonable cartridge price
Cons
- Inadequate touchscreen sensitivity
- Single color cartridge
- Lacks duplex scanning
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6. Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20
The Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 is great for marketing, design companies, schools, and architectural and engineering firms.
The best home office graphic design printer.
This printer is considered one of the best graphic design printers for home and office use.
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The imagePROGRAF is capable of storing an entire ream of paper between the two trays.
It is also equipped with high-yield ink cartridges that are capable of producing an astounding number of color and monochrome pages.
The imagePROGRAF can handle envelopes, photo paper, and duplex printing, but it doesn’t come with a lot of ink.
As has been noted, the 24-inch TA-20 large format printer has a place in every office.
Overall, the Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 is an excellent choice for graphic designers and business owners.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Grey
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Banner paper, Fabric, Glossy photo paper
Pros
- Customizable Application Library
- Touchscreen display
- Built-in security
Cons
- Lacks auto-duplex ADF
- Big footprint
- Poor connectivity
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7. Epson SureColor P800
The Epson SureColor P800 is a great choice for creatives who are looking for the most versatile and high-end graphic design printer.
The most high-end printer perfect for professional graphic designers.
It is powered by the Advanced Micro Piezo (AMC) technology along with its unique ink-repelling coating technology.
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The Epson P800 is perfect for professional graphic designers who want to step up the game with larger prints on a wide variety of media.
It proves its overall quality with its undeniably sturdy trays that seem well-built for heavy use.
The Epson P800 has a Top Media Input Tray that can hold up to 120 sheets of plain paper, 30 sheets of premium paper, and 10 sheets of presentation-quality photo paper.
It also comes with a 2.7-inch LCD color touchscreen with three buttons for ON and OFF, Home, and Return options.
If you are looking for the best professional graphic design printer, then the Epson SureColor P800 is a great option.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Epson
Print media: Paper (plain)
Pros
- Excellent print quality
- Very compact
- Supports a variety of papers
Cons
- Paper roll lacks a cutter
- Prone to ink loss
- Manual feed tray
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8. Canon PIXMA PRO-200
As far as large-format printers go, the Canon Inkjet Printer, PIXMA Pro-200, is one of the best options available.
The best wide-format graphic design printer.
It is one of the best business printers that can produce stunningly accurate prints.
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The PIXMA PRO-200 is also ideal for entrepreneurs looking for the best graphic design printer near them.
In terms of speed and quality, it’s one of the greatest options out there for consumers looking for high-quality printing.
The PIXMA PRO-200 uses eight ink cartridges and is very fast for an inkjet printer.
As one of the best A3 printers and the best printer for art prints, this printer is capable of producing results at 4800 x 2400 DPI.
If you are looking for the best wide-format printers for graphic design, then look no further than the Canon PIXMA PRO-200.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Inkjet
Brand: Canon
Print media: Glossy photo paper
Pros
- Fast photo printing
- High-quality prints
- Duplex printing
Cons
- Above-average ink cost
- Manual document feeder
- Limited to small papers
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9. HP DesignJet T210
If you’re looking for the best graphic design printer for business use, then the HP DesignJet T210 is a must-have.
The best printer for small and medium businesses.
This printer is popular not only with graphic designers but also with architects, engineers, and construction professionals.
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The HP T210 is ideal for technical line drawings and renderings requiring precise, accurate line quality and crisp text, posters, and maps.
You can now manage your large-format printing and printer virtually anywhere and anytime with the HP Smart app from your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.
The HP T210 is a wise choice for business owners that want to have the best graphic design printer available.
It will allow you to print easily and affordably with the world’s smallest plotter printers and a modern office design.
Overall, buying the HP DesignJet T210 is surely a great investment for both creatives and entrepreneurs.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: Thermal Inkjet
Brand: HP
Pros
- Duplex printing
- Compact
- Durable steel frame
Cons
- Non-touchscreen display
- Lacks Wi-Fi Direct
- Manual feed
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10. Brother HL-L3210C
The Brother HL-L3210C is definitely a great choice for designers and business owners that are looking for the best-buy printer.
The best graphic design printer for everyday use.
Another feature that makes it stand out and is perfect for businesses is its compactness, which allows you to save more space.
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The HL-L3210C is powered by LED technology, ensuring great-quality professional prints.
This model measures 9.9 by 16.1 by 18.1 inches and comes with an antiquated control panel with a one-line monochrome LCD display.
With its robust design, the HL-L3210C offers easy-to-use navigation even when paired with phone and tablet printing options.
This printer can reduce your expenses by providing high-yield supplies that are built to last.
If you need an upgrade from the previous one, the Brother HL-L3210C might be of help with your medium-sized business needs.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Monochrome
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Envelopes, Card stock
Pros
- Versatile paper handling
- High-quality prints
- Wireless connectivity
Cons
- High operating cost
- Manual double-sided printing
- Lacks auto-feed tray
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11. Epson Expression Photo XP-8500
The Expression Photo XP-8500 is a printer that produces stunning, photo-lab-quality prints, offering you borderless photographs.
The best printer for widest range of colors.
This printer delivers beautiful photographs and, as a result, explores a broad range of artistic colors.
The Epson’s Expression Photo printer is affectionately referred to as a small-in-one printer, although the prints can come out as big as 8" x 10" and in a stylish way.
The printer produces stunning results with a rear paper feed slot that can certainly be utilized with specialist art paper.
Unlike other printers, this one uses 6-color ink cartridges, allowing you to produce photos with better contrast, a smoother tone, and deep, rich blacks.
You can also wirelessly print collages, stationery, and more from your tablet or smartphone with Epson’s Creative Print App.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a wide range of colors, the Epson Expression Photo XP-8500 is definitely a great choice.
As I've said, I’m greatly impressed by the photo quality. As I have said, it is better than what you usually get at your local drugstore.
In conclusion, the headshots from this printer come out with more realistic colors than the professional shop I go to.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: inkjet technology
Brand: Epson
Print media: Glossy photo paper, specialist art paper
Pros
- Outstanding quality prints
- Quiet and compact
- Easy installation
Cons
- Slightly expensive
- Small capacity cartridge
- Manual document feeder
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12. Epson Expression Premium EcoTank ET-7750
The Epson Expression is a printer that offers all-in-one, revolutionary cartridge-free printing with easy-to-fill, supersized ink tanks.
The top all in one printer for a long term value.
Subsequently, a printer could create up to 11" x 17" photos in clear colors and have a cartridge-free feature, resulting in an easy-to-fill tank that reduces the need for frequent refills.
The Epson Expression Premium EcoTank ET-7750 is an excellent all-around printer; as a result, it can make bold, crisp black text at 15 pages per minute.
Equally important, this printer delivers excellent quality photos and documents and accepts various paper types and sizes.
It has auto-stop ink bottles that are only available from Epson, contrary to other products, and the colors are loaded separately to make filling each tank easier.
In addition, the built-in Wi-Fi of this printer is quick, making it easy to connect computers and other devices using the Epson printing app to print from a mobile device.
For instance, if you’re seeking the finest all-around art printer, as I have shown, the Epson Expression Premium EcoTank ET-7750 is a great choice.
I’m surprised by the photo quality because the pictures that are printed on the photo paper appear to be great and can stand up against those from a photo studio.
Nevertheless, it is a reliable photo printer that consistently produces excellent product labels and is a great choice.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: inkjet technology
Brand: Epson
Print media: Glossy photo paper, Paper (plain)
Pros
- Ink efficient
- Excellent print quality
- Easy installation
Cons
- Slow printing speed.
- Poor color accuracy.
- Slightly expensive
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13. HP DesignJet Z6
The HP DesignJet Z6 is a printer that works best for photographers and graphic designers to create high-impact indoor prints.
The high-impact indoor prints for graphic designers.
For starters, this printer produces higher-quality results with fewer inks for high-definition output, making it more efficient and ink-efficient.
Firstly, it is designed to handle, even the most complex files, and it has built-in security to help you protect your work and your information.
However, the HP DesignJet Z6 would work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, and it uses dynamic security measures to block cartridges using a non-HP chip.
In any case, you could get smooth gradients, even for challenging color combinations, with HP Pixel Control and print media from 11 to 24 inches.
Additionally, with HP Vivid Photo Inks, the HP DesignJet Z6 printer can also produce prints that are resistant to water and fading both inside and out.
To conclude, I’m amazed by the photo quality that I could see even in high-contrast colors with the new high-definition HP printheads.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: Black
Printing Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet
Brand: HP
Print media: Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper
Pros
- built-in security features
- Fast printing
- Great for high-impact posters
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Poor connectivity
- Not compatible with every OS
14. Brother HLL8360CDW
The Brother HLL8360CDW is an excellent choice for smaller businesses that are looking for fast and efficient results.
The best laser printer for quick servicing.
For starters, this printer has a toner cartridge with a limit of 3500 pages; thus, it can help you keep down monthly operation costs.
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Then the Brother HLL8360CDW is great for offices, and small businesses that require heavy printing yield can certainly do the job.
Moreover, this printer offers good quality and is affordable, making it perfect for offices that require only a short amount of time.
However, the only drawback is that this is bigger than other printers. Nevertheless, its size ensures efficiency in high-volume printing.
In addition, it has an adjustable 250-sheet paper tray, which could expand the total printing capacity to 1,300 pages by adding multiple optional paper trays.
Therefore if you’re looking for the best color printer for your office that requires fast and efficient results, the Brother HLL8360CDW is definitely the best choice.
Summing it all up, the Brother HLL8360CDW is an excellent color printer for your office, quick, reliable, and low-cost to operate.
So far, I have been very impressed by the photo quality and printing speed, which are therefore perfectly fine for most home offices.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Brother
Print media: Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper, heavy paper
Pros
- Good print quality
- Low cost to operate
- Prints quickly
Cons
- Quite large
- High maintenance
- A bit expensive
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15. Lexmark CS410dtn
The Lexmark CS410dtn is a great choice for solid print results for small and medium-sized design firms.
The excellent laser printer for solid, everyday results.
The Lexmark CS410dtn prints at a speed of more than 30 pages per minute, and can produce up to 75,000 pages.
First, this printer can be used to print daily paperwork that no one wants to deal with, in addition to printing graphic design proofs.
Second, Lexmark CS410dtn prints easily print up to 6,000 pages a month despite having fewer maintenance hassles.
Its calibrations make it easy to develop a consistent brand image by accurately matching your colors.
Therefore printing from the first to the final page, the Lexmark CS410dtn toner definitely guarantees consistent quality, which results in sharpness for your images and graphics.
Additionally, it prints graphics and image-heavy documents quickly and easily because of its dual-core processor and 256 MB of upgradeable memory.
To sum it all up, I’m really pleased with this printer’s features. Additionally, this printer is dependable to me and very toner-efficient.
This is one of the most economical color laser printers from Lexmark, you can get low-cost replacement toner, and the prints are much better than in the local printing stores.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: Lexmark
Print media: Paper (plain), heavy paper (solid to medium)
Pros
- Good print quality
- Reliable and durable
- Prints quickly and silently
Cons
- Expensive to use
- Unable to scan or photocopy
- Not Wireless
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16. HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw
The HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw is the first laser printer that allows you to refill its toner tank instead of spending money on a disposable cartridge.
The best laser printer with refillable toner tanks.
This printer could save your printing budget around 60% more than buying another toner cartridge, making it a great choice for your budget.
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This laser printer HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw is cost-effective, space-efficient, and easy to refill.
Even though it produces monotone prints, it can still be a helpful addition to a graphic design studio and may be the best printer for such images.
If you need to print simple monochrome documents, the inexpensive all-in-one printer is difficult to beat, even though it doesn’t include an auto-duplex option.
This printer is a great choice for graphic designers that tend to print their projects in color, and paperwork, such as contracts and invoices, that are best in monochrome.
The toner of this printer HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw has a page capacity of 5,000, and it’s quite easy for you to reload the black ink.
As a result, this is an all-in-one laser printer that is small, stylish, and produces dependably sharp monochrome sheets.
Overall, the print quality of the HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202nw is consistent, clean, and especially good with pages of text.
Specifications:
Printer Output: Color
Color: White
Printing Technology: Laser
Brand: HP
Print media: Plain paper, Heavy paper, Bond paper
- Good print quality
- Easy to refill
- Space efficient
Cons
- Manual document feeder
- Slow printing speed
- LCD screen is a bit small
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Conclusions
Laser printers are much more expensive than inkjet ones.
But you can get the best quality out of them, providing you with vivid and sharp prints.
Which is the best graphic design printer for you?
Well, the truth is, you can get better quality and more vibrant prints if you have a bigger budget.
As a designer, you need to invest in a printer that is built to last and a printer that will give justice to your work.
Depending on your needs, you can get a printer for as little as $149 or as much as $1250.
If you can’t afford to take the risk, I highly suggest you go for the most expensive printer with the most features you can afford.
The Canon Pixma iP8720 Inkjet Printer remains the top option for several graphic designers, with the quality prints you can get for its price.
Needless to say, versatile and high-quality printers will be your best companions in making your designs come to life.
Do you have any recommendations? — Leave a comment below.
