Create museum-quality giclee prints, archival reproductions, and stunning canvas art from your own studio.
Epson SureColor P900
17" wide, 10-color pigment
Epson SureColor P700
13" wide, phenomenal color
Canon PRO-300
Stunning gradient accuracy
Canon PRO-2100
24" wide, 11-color system
For artists, photographers, and creative professionals, having the right printer transforms your studio. No more outsourcing prints, waiting for deliveries, or compromising on quality. With a professional-grade fine art printer, you can produce gallery-ready giclee prints, archival reproductions, and stunning canvas art on demand.
We've tested the leading printers used by professional artists worldwide to bring you this comprehensive guide. Whether you're creating watercolor reproductions, photography prints, or digital art, these printers deliver the color accuracy, archival longevity, and detail your work deserves.
Giclee (pronounced "zhee-CLAY") is a French term meaning "to spray." It refers to the fine mist of archival pigment inks sprayed onto art paper or canvas by high-resolution inkjet printers.
True giclee prints use pigment-based inks (not dye) and archival substrates, ensuring prints last 100-200+ years without fading.
Regular Inkjet
Giclee Fine Art
Create gallery-ready prints from your own studio
The Epson SureColor P900 is the flagship 17-inch fine art printer for serious artists. Its 10-color UltraChrome PRO10 pigment ink system delivers an exceptional color gamut with smooth gradations that reproduce even the subtlest watercolor washes. This is the printer professional artists trust for gallery prints and limited edition reproductions.
🎨 Artist Favorite: The P900 handles thick fine art paper (up to 1.5mm) and canvas with ease!
Epson SureColor P900
~$1,295
Professional artist choice
The Epson SureColor P700 is the smallest printer we recommend for artists who want professional-quality prints. Using the same UltraChrome PRO10 pigment inks as its larger siblings, the P700 produces phenomenal color in a compact 13-inch form factor. Perfect for home studios or artists with limited space.
Epson SureColor P700
~$799
Compact professional
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is particularly beloved by watercolor artists for its exceptional gradient reproduction. The 11-color LUCIA PRO ink system with Chroma Optimizer captures even the most subtle color transitions and gentle washes. Canon's color consistency and ease of use make it a top choice for artists worldwide.
🖌️ Watercolor Favorite: The Chroma Optimizer adds a clear layer that unifies gloss levels for gallery-perfect matte prints!
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
~$899
Watercolor perfection
For artists who need to print large-scale works, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100 delivers breathtaking 24-inch wide prints. Its 11-color LUCIA PRO ink system produces colors that pop with vibrancy and depth, rivaling dedicated print shops. Features intelligent media loading and a built-in 500GB hard drive for workflow efficiency.
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100
~$1,695
Large format champion
Matte papers better replicate the look of original paintings, drawings, and watercolors. They hide brushstrokes less and offer a more traditional art feel.
Canvas prints add dimension and gallery presence. Specialty papers offer unique textures and finishes for specific art styles.
Pro Tip: Always use papers rated for your ink type (pigment vs dye). Most fine art papers are designed for pigment inks and may not work well with dye-based printers.
For fine art, always choose pigment-based inks. Pigment particles sit on top of the paper and resist UV fading for 100-200+ years. Dye inks fade in just 5-25 years and are not suitable for gallery prints.
More ink colors mean smoother gradients and a wider color gamut. 10-12 color systems are ideal for fine art, with dedicated light inks for highlight detail and multiple blacks for deep shadows.
Consider your typical print sizes. 13" is fine for standard art prints. 17" handles larger works. 24"+ is for serious production or oversized pieces. Remember: you can always print smaller, but not larger.
Fine art papers and canvas can be 1mm thick or more. Ensure your printer handles thick media (at least 0.8mm, ideally 1.5mm+) through a straight paper path.
Absolutely! Many artists sell limited edition giclee prints as a significant revenue stream. Owning your own fine art printer allows you to print on demand, control quality, and maximize profit margins by eliminating outsourcing costs.
Prints made with pigment-based inks on archival paper can last 100-200+ years when properly stored or displayed behind UV-protective glass. Epson and Canon both provide detailed archival ratings for their ink and paper combinations.
Yes! Monitor calibration is essential for accurate color matching between screen and print. Invest in a hardware calibration device (like a Datacolor SpyderX or X-Rite i1Display) to ensure what you see on screen matches your prints.
Both are excellent choices used by professional artists worldwide. Epson is often praised for superior color range and longevity, while Canon is noted for color consistency and ease of use. Many artists prefer Canon for watercolor reproductions and Epson for photography and digital art.
Costs vary based on ink coverage and paper quality. A typical 13x19 fine art print might cost $3-8 in ink plus $2-5 for archival paper. While not cheap, it's significantly less than outsourcing to print shops, especially for limited edition runs.
Create gallery-quality giclee prints from your own studio