Epson SureColor P900 review
A 17-inch pigment printer whose most valuable feature is something it does not do.
A 17-inch pigment photo printer with UltraChrome PRO10 ink including violet, dedicated nozzles for photo and matte black, a 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead and Carbon Black Driver mode.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ink | UltraChrome PRO10 with Violet, for a wide colour gamut |
| Black ink | Dedicated nozzles for photo and matte black, with no switching |
| Printhead | 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC |
| Black density | Carbon Black Driver mode, for increased Dmax on glossy paper |
| Mobile | Prints colour-managed files directly from iOS devices |
| Media width | 17 inches |
Specifications above come from Epson's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- No black ink switching is the headline and it deserves to be. On printers that switch, every change between glossy and matte paper purges ink and takes minutes, and it is the most resented behaviour in photo printing.
- Violet in the ink set extends the gamut into blues and purples, which are exactly the colours that photo printers historically struggled with.
- Carbon Black Driver mode increases maximum black density on gloss, which is what gives a print depth rather than a grey where black should be.
- 17 inches means A2, which is the size at which a print reads as a piece rather than an enlargement.
- Direct colour-managed printing from iOS, which is genuinely useful for anyone whose workflow lives on a tablet.
Where it falls short
- Ten cartridges is ten things to replace and a lot of capital sitting in the machine. One empty cartridge stops printing.
- It needs regular use. Pigment printers left idle for long periods run cleaning cycles that consume ink, and the ink you waste that way is invisible until you look at the cost.
- Paper is half the result. Budget for proper media, because a great printer on poor paper produces a mediocre print. Our photo paper versus plain paper comparison shows the difference plainly.
- It is a photo printer, which means it is a slow and expensive way to print documents. Keep a laser for that. Our photo printer versus all-in-one comparison covers why one machine rarely does both well.
- A2 output needs somewhere to dry flat and somewhere to store, and that space requirement catches people out.
What owners report
The single most repeated point in owner reports is the absence of black ink switching, which people who moved from older Epson or Canon models describe as the reason they upgraded. That is unusual: it is a convenience feature that owners rate above image quality, which tells you how much time and ink switching used to cost.
Black and white output is the other consistent praise, and ink cost is the consistent complaint. Occasional printers report cleaning cycles eating ink, which is a real cost of ownership rather than a defect.
Who it suits
- Photographers who print on both glossy and matte papers.
- Anyone selling or exhibiting prints at A2 who needs pigment permanence.
- Black and white printers, where the multi-black pigment set earns its keep.
Who should skip it
- Occasional printers, who will lose more to cleaning cycles than a lab would charge.
- Anyone whose largest print is A3+, who should buy the P700.
- Document printing, which belongs on a laser.
Alternatives worth considering
The same UltraChrome PRO10 ink with violet, the same 10-channel head and the same no-switching black design, at 13 inches. If A3+ covers your work, this is several hundred dollars saved for no loss in print quality.
Check price on Amazon11 pigment inks plus a chroma optimizer that evens out gloss differential, with anti-clogging technology and Canon's Professional Print and Layout software. The chroma optimizer is its strongest argument against the Epson.
Check price on AmazonA cartridge-free tank printer that prints photos up to 13 inches wide and also scans and copies. Dye rather than professional pigment, so less permanence and less gamut, but the ink cost per print is a fraction and it doubles as a household all-in-one.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
What is black ink switching and why does it matter?
Most photo printers use photo black for glossy paper and matte black for matte paper, and share one nozzle line between them. Every time you change paper type the printer purges one ink and charges the other, which takes minutes and wastes ink. The P900 has dedicated nozzles for both, so it simply never does this.
Epson P900 or Canon PRO-1100?
Both are 17-inch pigment printers at similar prices and both produce excellent prints. The Epson never switches blacks, which saves ink and time if you use mixed papers. The Canon adds a chroma optimizer that evens out gloss differential on glossy stock. Choose on which of those two annoyances bothers you more.
P900 or P700: is 17 inches worth it?
Only if you print at A2. The ink, the head and the no-switching design are the same on both, so the P700 gives identical quality at A3+. If your prints are for a portfolio or for framing at A3, the smaller machine is the better buy and takes less desk.
How much does a print cost on the P900?
It depends on the size, the coverage and the paper, and paper is often the larger share. Our ink cost calculator lets you enter cartridge prices and estimate coverage, which is the only honest way to arrive at a figure you can price work from.
Do I need to print regularly to keep it healthy?
Yes. Pigment printers run automatic cleaning cycles to keep nozzles clear, and those consume ink. Printing something every week or two keeps ink moving and reduces the number of cycles. A photo printer used twice a year is an expensive way to buy cleaning cycles.
Keep reading
- Photo printer vs all-in-one
- Photo paper vs plain paper
- Best photo printers
- Epson SureColor P700 review
- Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.