Will There Be A Printer Under Your Tree?
Many of you have already heard this, but I will reiterate it: “A photograph is not a photograph until you can hold it in your hands.” This necessitates the ability to create prints from your photographs, which you can share with others or cherish and admire your work.
As an avid printer, I can only express my enthusiasm for the art of printing. I have accumulated many printers and have been consistently creating prints for 50-plus years. My studio is filled with drawers, boxes, and tins of prints, and I have extensive experience teaching printing.
As you know, Rockhopper Workshops and photoPXL offer Fine Art Printing workshops at the Indianapolis Art Center, where I am an artist. The Art Center studio boasts a spacious and well-equipped space with five Epson printers, computers, and a comprehensive classroom setup, providing everything necessary for learning the art of creating fine art prints.
One way to learn to print is to attend one of our five workshops in 2025. You’ll learn all the skills you need to master printing on your own, and you can take home all the prints you make.
Check this article out about making prints.
The Printers I Use and Own
Epson has been my preferred printer company for over 20 years, and I have a substantial collection of their products. I also have a few Canon printers, which are also of exceptional quality. I intend to create a similar article soon focusing on my Canon printers.
As the holiday season approaches, I believe this article may be of help to photographers seeking a printer for their photography work. This is a great time to purchase a printer, with many printers being sold at special holiday pricing. Think of the fun you could have making prints over the holidays.
Each printer mentioned in the article is accompanied by a link that directs readers to explore various retailers for purchase. Additionally, Amazon and B&H are included, with occasional links from Roberts Camera. As an affiliate with Amazon and B&H, I receive a small commission on each sale (full disclosure).
Besides the printer, it is essential to consider the type of paper to use. Many articles on our website provide information on various paper options. I prefer Red River Paper, particularly their Polar Matte and Baryta papers. For further exploration, please visit their website. They offer a sample pack that can be an excellent starting point for beginners.
Should you have any inquiries regarding the printers, please post a message through the photoPXL forum. The forum features a community of experienced fine art printers and photographers willing to assist you, including some photoPXL staff members and me.
The Printers
Epson offers a range of high-quality printers tailored for photographers, artists, and professionals seeking exceptional print results. Here’s a breakdown of their features and pricing:
Epson SureColor P700
This is one of the best printers you can get for the price. For most people, this is the perfect printer as it’s a 13 x 19″ printer. It will handle making prints from just about any camera file, as well as mobile phones and iPads. It’s the little sister of the P900. It has a 13-inch width, which allows you to make anything from 4 x 6 Prints to 13 x 19 or longer panoramas. I have a P700 in my house (man Cave) and I use it a lot. It uses the same ink set as its bigger brother, the P900 (not the same ink cartridges)
Past Article Links
Epson P700 Print At Home Print Them Out No Excuses
Epson P700 and P900 Printers Announced
•Maximum Paper Size: 13 inches wide.
•Ink System: UltraChrome PRO10 with a 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead, offering expanded color gamut.
•Key Features: Outstanding color accuracy, no switching between Photo and Matte Black inks, and compact desktop design.
•Price: $829 You can find good deals on the internet
This Item Can Be Purchases at AMAZON B&H Photo Roberts Camera
Epson SureColor P900
I have two of these printers. One is in my Man Cave at home, and the other is at the studio. We use the P900 very heavily during our fine art print workshops. Consistency and reliability are what I have come to expect from this printer. It’s a 17-inch wide printer that has a rear feed, and you can also feed it from the front for thicker papers. It has wireless capability so that you can print from your mobile devices wirelessly.
For printing, I use the Epson Print Layout tool, which is free for Windows and Mac users, and Imageprint Software from Colorbyte Imageprint is also a big part of the instruction that we give at the Fine Art Printing workshops.
The printer is easy to set up and use. We even show a video of setting the printer up, see below for the link.
Below are some links that go into more detail on these printers so you can explore them further. Mark Segal has written an excellent article and review on the P900.
Past Article Links:
Epson P900 Review by Mark Segal
•Maximum Paper Size: 17 inches wide.
•Ink System: Similar to the P700, featuring UltraChrome PRO10.
•Key Features: Wider format than the P700, superior black density with Carbon Black technology, and exhibition-quality prints.
•Price: $1,349
This Item Can Be Purchases at AMAZON B&H Photo Roberts Camera
Epson SureColor P5370
This is one of Epson’s newest prints and one of their best. I was privileged to have one of the first 5370 printers in the country, and I have put it through its paces. The 5370 has the same software and print head as the P900. It boasts larger ink cartridges, a more robust build, roll paper capability, and a built-in cutter. It works beautifully over a wireless network for cable-free printing and is super easy to use. This printer is built like a tank. See the links below for more details.
Past Article Links:
The NEW Epson SureColor P5370 Printer
Epson SureColor P5370 Set Up and Unboxing
•Maximum Paper Size: 24 inches wide.
•Ink System: Advanced pigment-based inks for vivid and long-lasting prints.
•Key Features: Ideal for graphic designers and photographers looking for broader printing capabilities at a mid-range price point.
•Price Range: Approximately $2,000-$2,500 .
This Item Can Be Purchases at B&H Photo
Epson SureColor P9570
I have had the Epson 9570 since it was first released; this printer can make 44-inch wide prints and has been a very reliable printer since I have had it. Some people had some issues with the printer when printing heavier art-type papers, but many of those issues were caused by not setting the printer correctly. Because I use Imageprint Software, I never had those problems. Imageprint takes control of the printer and makes sure, based on the paper being used, that the settings are correct when printing. Epson has also introduced an updated Media Installer that handles 3rd party papers and the needed settings using different print media.
I have pushed many rolls of paper through this printer, and the results have been excellent.
Past Article Links:
Epson Introduces Reengineered SureColor P-Series Wide-Format Printers for Professional Photography
Epson Printers PhotoPXL Print Series
How Big Can It Go – iPhone RAW and Gigapixel
•Maximum Paper Size: 44 inches wide.
•Ink System: UltraChrome PRO12 with a PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead.
•Key Features: Unparalleled color brilliance with 12-color inks, industry-leading print permanence, and optimized for professional art and photography.
•Price: $6,895
This Item Can Be Purchases at B&H Photo
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
This desktop-sized printer kicks butt. Rather than ink cartridges, this printer uses tanks filled with ink bottles. The printer is the perfect starter printer for anyone. It makes a great family printer and a great start-out printer. My 8550 sits in my office; I use it to make print proofs and small print projects. It works without any issues, and the ink seems to last forever. The printer comes with a flatbed scanner, too. It’s worth checking out if you want a first-time printer.
Past Article Links:
Epson’s NEW EcoTank Printers – Things Are About to Change
Epson ET-8550 Review – Hands On
•Maximum Paper Size: 13 inches wide.
•Ink System: Cartridge-free design using EcoTank technology for reduced printing costs.
•Key Features: Prints on both paper and specialty media, exceptional photo quality, and ideal for home studios or small businesses.
•Price: Approximately $799
This Item Can Be Purchases at AMAZON B&H Photo Roberts Camera
Epson PictureMate PM-400
The Epson PM400 is the printer that gets the most use in our house. It’s a snapshot printer capable of making 4×6 and 5×7-inch prints. We print right from the camera roll on our iPhones. It’s so simple to use and there are some special capabilities that allow garnishing your prints with specialborders or multiple images on one sheet of paper.
We are giving each of our kids this printer for Christmas, along with an extra 100 sheets of paper and an ink cartridge. Our kids shoot a ton of images, but these pictures sit in the cloud. I know our kids will enjoy making prints of their family activities. This printer would make great Christmas gifts for those in your family that are shooting on mobile phones.
Epson PictureMate PM-400 – Print At Home
•Maximum Paper Size: 4×6 inches.
•Ink System: Dye-based inks designed for vivid photo prints.
•Key Features: Portable design for quick and easy photo printing, perfect for events or home use.
•Price: Around $250
This Item Can Be Purchases at AMAZON B&H Photo
Epson’s diverse lineup caters to varying needs, from compact photo printing to large-format professional printers. These printers are designed to provide exceptional color accuracy, durability, and ease of use for both amateur and professional users. Don’t you owe yourself one of these great printers to bring your work to life?
Kevin Raber
December 2024
Elevate Your Vision
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