Sometimes a standard home printer isn’t enough, as it lacks the size and capabilities needed to print your work in the quality and size you desire. In instances like these, a professional photo printer – especially one with wide-format capabilities – is the device to buy; it’ll let you produce large photo prints, high-quality art prints, and even image-heavy marketing materials such as posters.
Typically, wide-format photo printers offer print sizes greater than A3 and also boast improved print quality and paper handling. This means you can print your masterpieces or company marketing materials on a variety of different paper types and still achieve a gorgeous result.
Unfortunately, finding an effective printer with wide-format capabilities can be quite a challenge. These devices are much rarer than standard photo printers and are available in much more limited quantities. After extensive research, I discovered that Canon offers a fantastic range of wide-format printers. And by carefully evaluating each model using a range of criteria – including print size, print quality, and printer design – I selected the four best Canon wide-format photo printers available in 2024.
Canon’s Best Wide-Format Photo Printers for Professionals:
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1. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4100
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4100 printer is capable of printing up to A0, yet it somehow keeps the prints churning out for an effective workflow.
The best Canon wide-format photo printer has to be the imagePROGRAF PRO-4100, and it’s my top recommendation for professional work, including fine art photography prints, posters, and CAD drawings. The printer has excellent capabilities and allows you to print at a resolution of 2400×1200 DPI.
In terms of size, you can print up to A0. Despite this, I am blown away by the print speeds; it can churn out CAD drawings at 3.2 PPM, for example, which is very impressive. I appreciate the ability to configure a second roll, too, allowing for a consistent print workflow if you’re using this printer as part of a larger business.
You also get borderless printing, which is essential for posters and fine art prints. The ink system utilizes Canon’s LUCIA inks, which are excellent for serious photographers (the inks are known for providing high-quality results with excellent depth). And the printer supports a variety of media types, including roll paper, cut sheets, plain paper, and heavy-coated paper.
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The printer easily integrates with printing services and other software, enabling quick setup for printing CAD drawings, among other things. However, if you’re serious about using this device, make sure you consider its size; the printer measures 63x39x46 in (159x98x116 cm) and weighs a hefty 251 lb (114 kg) when fully assembled, so I certainly would think twice before purchasing it to use in my home office!
2. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100 printer supports a variety of borderless print sizes up to A1 and offers exceptional photo and poster print quality.
If you don’t need to print photos and other media at huge sizes but still want moderate large-format capabilities and high-quality results, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100 is a suitable option for professional work. It can produce borderless A1 prints, so you can use it for fine art photography, general fine art prints, and posters.
I appreciate the sleek design of this printer, and it offers a range of customization options so you can easily create an effective print workflow. I find the LCD control panel really useful, too, as you can make quick changes and check the settings without having to constantly run back to your computer.
Some basic specs include the 12-color pigment ink system using the LUCIA PRO ink from Canon, a maximum print resolution of 2400×1200 DPI, and support for a 170 mm media roll. Although you will most likely set the print parameters beforehand, if you do want to work more quickly, the PRO-2100 has an automatic detection feature for the media type to ensure you use the right quality settings. If I had a business working with a variety of different print types, this would be at the top of my priority list!
In terms of media types, you can print standard paper, roll paper, glossy photo paper, and coated paper. This gives you great flexibility if you want to experiment with different types of prints. It is a smaller device compared to the PRO-4100 – it measures 43x39x46 in (110x98x116 cm), making it more suitable for use in home offices or smaller business setups – but it is still heavy at 262 lb (119 kg).
3. Canon imagePROGRAF iPF785
Thanks to its fast output and ergonomic feed design, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF785 is ideal for businesses that need to produce a steady stream of prints such as CAD drawings or posters.
The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF785 is an ideal business solution, and I recommend it as a top choice for companies that produce photo prints, posters, and/or CAD drawings in high volumes. It offers fast print speeds at wide-format sizes due to the 32 GB memory, 320 GB storage drive, and impressive printhead speed.
You can print up to A0 in size, including borderless prints, so no space is wasted. In terms of output, an A0 CAD drawing can be churned out in full color in 41 seconds, which is really impressive. I’ve found the hot-swap ink system to be a lifesaver, too – you can swap ink cartridges while the device is printing without any interruption, which helps save on paper costs.
If you’re using this printer in a business environment, the built-in account tool allows you to keep track of metrics like paper and ink usage per job, which certainly comes in handy if you need to bill clients. In terms of media, it accepts paper up to 260 GSM and also supports roll printing with a maximum roll diameter of 15 cm.
I like the sleek design of this wide-format photo printer, and the output section means you can easily take your work from the feeder without causing any damage or smearing. The only downside is that, as this is an older model, it doesn’t have an LCD control panel.
4. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 prints up to A3+ and offers a compact design that’s ideal for photographers who work in a home office.
I get that some professionals may want wide-format printing but don’t have the room for a full upright printer, such as photographers operating a print business out of their homes. If you’re in the same boat, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a compact option that still offers high-quality wide-format printing.
This desktop printer is still admittedly larger than most inkjet printers designed for photographers, but it can easily fit on a desk or shelving unit. I also like that the different trays and supports fold away neatly to reduce the overall footprint of the printer when it’s not in use.
In terms of size capabilities, this device can handle A3+ paper at 13×19 in, so you can go a bit wider compared to smaller photo printers. I love that the printer uses Canon’s nine-ink LUCIA PRO pigment system and chroma optimizer, which means that the print quality is exceptional. With most photo printers, I find that darker areas of prints and shadows are not truly black or lose some depth, but this isn’t the case with the PRO-300. As a result, your photo prints will have much more realism and will look amazing when framed and mounted on a wall.
You can get really creative with the photo paper types and sizes, as the printer has top- and rear-feeding options. You can easily print banners from paper rolls, and I love the panorama option, too. It lets you print panorama photos up to 39 in (99 cm) long in a single run so you never have to worry about cropping and chopping your epic landscape shots ever again.
If you’re a serious photographer or artist and you want a great professional photo printer for home use, the imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a smaller device that’ll do a great job, and it won’t cost a fortune, either.
Pick a Powerful Wide-Format Photo Printer
A professional photo printer is a big investment, so I encourage you to think carefully about your options before buying. Canon certainly excels in this area, and the options above are all great choices for fine art prints, CAD drawings, posters, and more.
Before committing to a Canon wide-format photo printer, make sure you measure the area you intend to use it in and check it against the dimensions of your chosen product, as these devices are typically upright models that take up a lot of space. Next, make sure you check the printer’s maximum output size and resolution so you know it meets your requirements.
To recap, if you want the ultimate in size and print quality, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4100 is the best professional photo printer on the market.
Alternatively, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100 is excellent with its smart media handling, innovative ink delivery, and impressive consistency, while the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF785 is a great choice for businesses thanks to its high printing speeds and money-saving hot-swap system.
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