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For most photographers and artists printing up to 13 × 19 inches, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 is the strongest all-around choice: independent testing rates its photo quality highly, though it is slow and its cartridge system can be costly. Choose the Epson SureColor P700 instead for an Epson-centered workflow with roll-media support and dedicated black channels. If you regularly print wider than 13 inches, compare the 17-inch Epson SureColor P900 and Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100. The right choice depends on print size, paper, volume, and color management—not a promise that any printer can make every file flawless.
Quick recommendations by print size and workload
| Need | Recommended option | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall for prints up to 13 × 19 inches | Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 | Independent testing favors its photo quality; it combines pigment inks with Chroma Optimizer. It is slow and has a costly cartridge system. RTINGS photo-printer testing; Canon PRO-310 specifications. |
| 13-inch Epson workflow | Epson SureColor P700 | Ten-color pigment system, dedicated Photo Black and Matte Black channels, roll-media capability, and support for thick media. Epson specifies genuine Epson cartridges. Epson P700 specifications. |
| 17-inch Epson workflow | Epson SureColor P900 | Ten-color pigment printing and dedicated black channels for larger work; roll capability requires an optional setup. Epson P900 specifications. |
| 17-inch Canon workflow | Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 | Eleven pigment-based inks plus Chroma Optimizer, with borderless output up to 17 × 22 inches. Canon PRO-1100 specifications. |
| Regular prints wider than 17 inches | Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2600 or a comparable wide-format Epson | A 24-inch class printer is more appropriate for ongoing canvas, fine-art, poster, or production work than a desktop model. Canon PRO-2600 specifications. |
| Very large professional output | Epson SureColor P9570 or a Canon PRO-4600/PRO-6600-class printer | Commercial-scale roll production is intended for wide-format photography, proofing, fine art, and graphics. Epson P9570 information. |
| Only occasional large prints | Professional print lab | Outsourcing avoids owning, maintaining, and profiling a specialist printer; it trades immediate control for per-print charges, shipping, and turnaround. |
These recommendations cover photographic, fine-art, gallery, proofing, and studio printing—not office printers designed chiefly for text, duplexing, or administrative documents.
What makes a printer suitable for professional prints?
Consumer, desktop, production, and office printers serve different jobs
- Consumer photo printers usually prioritize affordability and casual snapshots. They often have fewer ink channels and less media flexibility than specialist photo models.
- Prosumer and professional desktop printers commonly use 9–12 pigment or advanced dye channels, support broader color and tonal control, and handle fine-art media and larger sheets.
- Large-format production printers are typically 24 inches wide or more, often use rolls, and suit studio or commercial output where print size and throughput justify their space and upkeep.
- Office printers are built around document handling and general business use, not the tonal control and media choices needed for exhibition-quality reproduction.
Do not choose by advertised DPI alone. Printhead and droplet behavior, ink formulation, black density, paper handling, profiles, and the entire color-managed workflow affect the result. A higher resolution number is not, by itself, evidence of better-looking prints.
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- 8 COLOR dye-based ink system produces vibrant, high quality prints.
- BORDERLESS PRINTING from 3.5” x 3.5” up to 13” x 19”.
- HIGH SPEED PRINTING — bordered A3+ print in just 90 seconds or bordered 8" x 10" print in 53 seconds.
- 3.0'' COLOR LCD MONITOR -- Easily check ink levels, printer status, and other settings.
Pigment versus dye ink
Pigment ink is a common choice for fine-art work because it is designed for long display life and works well across matte and cotton-based papers. Dye ink can produce saturated glossy color, but permanence and media behavior depend on the specific formulation. Neither category guarantees a fixed lifespan: paper, framing, UV exposure, humidity, handling, and storage all matter.
Epson reports that UltraChrome PRO10 prints can achieve WIR display-permanence ratings of up to 200 years for color and 400 years for black-and-white under specified test and display conditions. Treat those as manufacturer-reported, media- and display-dependent figures, not a promise for every print or environment. Epson P700 details.
Ink channels, black-and-white work, and surface effects
Additional ink channels can help smooth tonal transitions, render subtle shadows and highlights, improve skin tones, and produce neutral monochrome output with less reliance on mixing basic CMYK inks. But ink count is not a league table: a well-profiled nine- or ten-color printer can outperform a poorly managed system with more channels.
- The Canon PRO-310 has nine pigment colors plus Chroma Optimizer. Canon PRO-310 details.
- The Epson P700 and P900 use ten-color UltraChrome PRO10 pigment systems, including dedicated Photo Black and Matte Black channels. Epson Print Layout offers an Advanced Black and White mode. P700 details; P900 details.
- The Canon PRO-1100 uses eleven pigment-based inks plus Chroma Optimizer; the PRO-2600 also has an eleven-color system plus optimizer. PRO-1100 details; PRO-2600 details.
Dedicated black, gray, and light-gray channels and a printer’s monochrome mode matter for black-and-white work because they help preserve neutral tones, smooth highlights, and shadow separation. Both Canon models also provide monochrome printing features; see the PRO-310 and PRO-1100 specifications.
Canon’s Chroma Optimizer is a clear coating for glossy or semi-gloss media. It can make sheen more uniform and reduce bronzing: reflective color shifts or metallic-looking patches in dark ink areas. This is most relevant on glossy, luster, and semi-gloss paper, not a decisive advantage for matte cotton rag, where deep matte blacks and tonal handling matter more. Gloss differential—the visible sheen difference between inked and uninked portions—also depends on paper, profile, drying, and lighting. Canon PRO-310 details.
Choose the print width you will actually use
Printer width and maximum borderless image size are not the same thing. Margins, paper type, feed path, and driver restrictions can limit the finished print; verify support for the exact paper and dimensions before buying.
- 13-inch class: A common borderless maximum is 13 × 19 inches, suitable for portfolios, home studios, and many wall prints. The PRO-310 supports borderless media up to 13 × 19 inches and custom lengths up to 13 × 70 inches. Canon PRO-310 specifications.
- 17-inch class: A fit for larger proofs and exhibition prints. Canon lists borderless photo output up to 17 × 22 inches for the PRO-1100, though restrictions apply to some paper dimensions. Canon PRO-1100 specifications.
- 24 inches and wider: Consider this class for recurring fine-art sales, canvas, posters, murals, and production work. It requires space, media handling, and a volume sufficient to justify ownership.
Which printer fits your workflow?
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310: best overall for most 13-inch work
RTINGS’ current photo-printer testing places the PRO-310 at the top for photo quality, highlighting detail, color accuracy, and vibrancy. Canon specifies nine pigment colors plus Chroma Optimizer, fine-art support, and borderless output up to 13 × 19 inches. RTINGS testing; Canon specifications.
Rank #2
- Professional-quality photos and prints — 6-color Claria Photo HD inks and a 5760 x 1440 dpi print resolution produce stunning borderless prints up to 11" x 17"
- Fast photo printing — delivers 4" x 6" borderless photos with astounding detail and accuracy in as fast as 11 seconds¹
- Convenient, easy operation — features 4.3" color touchscreen, plus Easy Mode for enhanced visibility and ease of use
- Versatile paper handling — separate trays for plain and photo paper, plus a rear feed for specialty paper
- Easy wireless printing — print from your laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet³; use Wi-Fi Direct⁴ for router-free printing
Choose it if you prioritize image quality, regularly print glossy or luster work, and do not need scanning or office functions. Its trade-offs are slow output and an expensive ten-cartridge system, so it is less attractive for high-volume batches or buyers focused on low running costs. It is a specialist printer, not an all-in-one.
Epson SureColor P700: the 13-inch Epson alternative
The P700 combines ten-color UltraChrome PRO10 pigment ink with dedicated Photo Black and Matte Black channels, roll-media capability, and support for sheet media up to 1.5 mm thick. Epson Print Layout supports ICC-based color workflows and black-and-white preview options. It is a strong fit when matte fine-art work, varied third-party papers, roll flexibility, or Epson’s printing software are central to your process. Epson P700 specifications.
Epson states the P700 is designed for genuine Epson cartridges, which limits aftermarket-ink choices and affects running-cost decisions. Like the Canon, it is not a general-purpose office device. Epson P700 specifications.
Epson SureColor P900 or Canon PRO-1100: the 17-inch decision
| Model | Ink and workflow | Size and media considerations | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson SureColor P900 | Ten-color pigment platform, dedicated black channels, Epson Print Layout and ICC workflow; Epson specifies genuine Epson cartridges. | 17-inch output and roll capability with an optional setup; sheet media up to 1.5 mm thick. Epson P900 specifications. | Photographers who prefer Epson’s color and black-and-white workflow and need larger occasional exhibition prints. |
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 | Eleven pigment-based inks plus Chroma Optimizer; Canon Professional Print & Layout support. | Borderless photo printing up to 17 × 22 inches, with restrictions for some paper dimensions. Canon PRO-1100 specifications. | Canon users who value the optimizer on glossy media and regularly produce gallery or fine-art prints at this size. |
Neither is a sensible upgrade if most finished work fits a 13-inch printer. For occasional oversize commissions, compare the cost and turnaround of a lab before buying a larger specialist machine.
Large-format production: Canon PRO-2600 and Epson P9570
The Canon PRO-2600 is a 24-inch model with an eleven-color system, calibration features, and media handling for canvas and fine-art use. Epson’s P9570 is a 44-inch wide-format option for photography, proofing, fine art, and graphics. These machines make sense when width, roll production, or steady throughput is part of the business—not simply because a larger printer can make a larger image. Canon PRO-2600; Epson P9570.
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Paper and color management determine whether the print matches your intent
Match the paper to the printer and the image
Photo printers may support glossy, luster, baryta, matte, cotton rag, textured fine-art, canvas, and specialty media, but a supported size does not mean every paper feeds the same way. Check the required rear or manual feed, maximum thickness, borderless restrictions, paper-type setting, and platen-gap guidance. The Epson P700 and P900 support sheet media up to 1.5 mm thick; Canon’s PRO-310 supports Canon photo and fine-art papers and compatible media, with manual-feed handling for heavier stock. P700 details; P900 details; PRO-310 details.
Rank #3
- 9 COLOR + CHROMA OPTIMIZER pigment-based ink system produces gallery-quality prints.
- EASE OF USE — ultimate productivity with Anti-Clogging System and Skew Correction.
- MATTE BLACK INK offers enhanced black density and wider dark area reproduction range.
- Easily check ink levels, printer status, and other settings with the 3.0-Inch COLOR LCD MONITOR.
- The LUCIA PRO II INK SYSTEM produces enhanced gloss uniformity, and scratch resistance.
Use an ICC profile made for the exact printer, ink, and paper combination whenever one is available. A glossy profile is not interchangeable with a matte profile, and a generic profile may be unreliable on unusual third-party stock. Confirm that the paper maker provides a profile and instructions for the correct feed path.
Set up a repeatable, color-managed print
- Calibrate the monitor with a hardware colorimeter. A visually adjusted screen is not a dependable reference; an overly bright display is a common reason prints appear too dark.
- Work in a known color space such as sRGB or Adobe RGB, chosen to suit the editing and delivery workflow.
- Install the exact ICC profile for the selected paper and printer, then soft-proof the image in the editing application.
- Choose one color manager: let the application manage color or let the printer driver manage it, but not both. Double color management can shift color and contrast.
- Select the exact paper surface and quality setting in the driver. Disable automatic enhancement when using a controlled color-managed workflow.
- Check printer condition with the manufacturer’s nozzle-check process and confirm the paper is loaded on the correct path.
- Print a small proof and let it dry as appropriate before judging it under consistent, neutral viewing light.
- Inspect and save the successful settings as a repeatable preset, including profile, application, paper type, quality, and feed path.
A print can look different from the monitor because of an uncalibrated display, wrong profile, incorrect paper setting, double management, automatic driver corrections, or different ambient light. Fix those conditions before making broad edits to the image. If the print is dark, first check display brightness, soft proofing, matte-paper viewing conditions, shadow editing, and the driver’s media mode rather than immediately increasing printer brightness.
Epson advertises ICC profile and printer-color support in Epson Print Layout, including black-and-white preview and other print-layout tools. Canon lists Professional Print & Layout support for its professional models. Lightroom and Photoshop also provide print modules; production workflows may use RIP software for nesting, tiling, roll media, or repeatable commercial jobs. Epson P700 workflow information; Canon PRO-1100 workflow information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Speed, ink, and maintenance are part of print quality
Rated print time is not production throughput
Canon rates the PRO-310 at approximately 2 minutes 50 seconds for an 11 × 14-inch bordered color photo, and the PRO-1100 at approximately 4 minutes for a 17 × 22-inch bordered color photo, under specified conditions. These are manufacturer figures for stated print sizes, not guarantees of a completed batch rate; RTINGS describes the PRO-310 as extremely slow. PRO-310 specifications; PRO-1100 specifications; RTINGS testing.
Real work time also includes image processing, loading paper, drying, nozzle checks or cleaning, switching media, and inspecting, trimming, or reprinting flawed sheets. If the studio has deadlines or batches of client orders, test the complete workflow rather than planning around a single advertised print time.
Estimate total ownership cost, not just the printer price
Ink cost per print changes with image coverage, paper choice, cleaning, cartridge capacity, and printer age. A multi-cartridge system can produce excellent output while making consumables a significant ongoing expense. Maintenance tanks, replacement heads, paper waste, calibration hardware, service, and test prints belong in the budget too. RTINGS flags the PRO-310’s ten-cartridge system as costly. Epson specifies genuine Epson cartridges for the P700 and P900. RTINGS review; P700; P900.
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Rank #4
- CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — Print lab-quality photos, graphics and creative projects; Get vibrant colors and sharp text with Epson's high-accuracy printhead and Claria ET Premium 6-color inks
- INK BOTTLES — Save on photos1 and creative projects with affordable in-house printing; All-in-one printer allows you to print 4" x 6" photos for about 4 cents each vs. 40 cents with traditional ink cartridges1
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Printer, scanner and copier lets you print up to 6,200 color pages³
- PRINT FOR LONGER — Up to 2 years of ink in the box² (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations with this wireless printer
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — Epson EcoTank printer helps reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills; Cartridge-free printer uses high-yield ink bottles; Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 100 individual ink cartridges⁴
A useful comparison is: estimated ownership cost per usable print = (annualized printer and calibration cost + ink + paper + maintenance waste + service cost) ÷ usable prints. Compare that with a lab’s per-print and shipping charges, while allowing for proofing, turnaround, and the value of immediate control.
Printer or print lab?
Owning a printer is most compelling when you make prints often, need same-day control, iterate on physical proofs, or sell enough work to justify managing paper and ink. A lab is often the more practical option when you order fewer than a handful of large prints a month, need very large sizes only occasionally, or do not want to maintain profiles, cartridges, and a printer. Ask labs about paper choices, proofing, color-management expectations, repeat-order consistency, shipping, and turnaround. Your own file preparation still matters: a lab cannot guarantee a screen match if the display and file are not managed consistently.
Troubleshoot common print problems
Colors differ from the monitor
- Calibrate the display and avoid judging it at excessive brightness.
- Verify the printer-paper ICC profile and exact paper setting.
- Make sure only the application or driver—not both—manages color.
- Disable automatic corrections in a controlled workflow, then assess a known test image under consistent light.
Print looks too dark
Check monitor brightness, the soft-proof view, shadow detail in the edit, the selected driver media mode, and the lower reflectance of matte paper. Correct the display and profile workflow before raising image brightness.
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Banding or missing lines
Check the nozzle pattern, printhead alignment, feed path, paper type, media curl or moisture, and any high-speed or bidirectional setting. Also consider whether the file is being enlarged excessively. Run only the manufacturer-recommended cleaning cycle; repeated deep cleaning can consume a lot of ink.
Uneven sheen on glossy prints
Check for gloss differential or bronzing, the paper profile, drying time, and harsh directional viewing light. Chroma Optimizer may reduce sheen variation on glossy media, but it does not remove the need for the right paper and workflow.
Borderless printing is unavailable at the size you need
Borderless support can depend on dimensions, paper type, and feed path, even when a printer supports borderless output generally. Check the model’s listed restrictions for the exact combination; Canon notes paper-dimension restrictions for the PRO-1100. Canon PRO-1100 specifications.
Quick Recap
Buying checklist
- What is the largest paper width and finished print size you actually sell or exhibit?
- How many prints will you make in a typical month, and will the printer sit idle for long periods?
- Do you mainly use glossy or luster paper, matte and cotton-rag papers, canvas, or several types?
- How much of your work is black-and-white, and do you need dedicated black channels or advanced monochrome controls?
- Do you need roll media, borderless output, or a manual feed for thick stock?
- Are ICC profiles available for your chosen papers, and does your print software support the workflow you use?
- Can your space accommodate the printer and store paper under suitable conditions?
- Have you accounted for proprietary cartridges, maintenance tanks, service, and calibration as well as the purchase price?
- Would a professional lab be cheaper and simpler for your actual print volume?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
