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The difference between a wide-format machine that keeps producing clean 13×19 inch prints for years and one that clogs the moment you skip a week is mostly down to two things: the ink system and the print head. This guide walks you through both, plus which models actually hold up under real use.
I’m Mo Maruf — the founder and writer behind The Tools Trunk. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You do not need a lab to make prints worth framing, but you do need to know which specs separate a workhorse from a headache. This breakdown of the best a3 photo printer covers ink types, paper handling, and the maintenance habits that keep colors rich.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best A3 Photo Printer
You want to print a full-bleed 11×17 poster, a 13×19 fine-art piece, or a borderless 4×6 without switching equipment. An A3 photo printer (also called a 13×19 inch or wide-format printer) is a machine built to output sheets up to 13 inches on the short edge. That size is the whole point. What separates a good one from a frustrating one depends on four decisions.
Ink type: pigment versus dye
Pigment inks sit on top of the paper and tend to resist fading and water better; dye inks soak in and often produce more vivid, saturated color. Neither is universally better — it depends on whether you print frequently or sporadically. A printer that sits idle for weeks is more prone to clogging with pigment ink, which is why many home users lean toward dye-based machines.
How many ink colors you actually need
More ink channels usually means smoother gradients and better black-and-white prints. A six-color system adds red and gray for wider color range and cleaner monochrome. An eight-color system (with dedicated gray and light-gray tanks) is the step up that matters most if you print black-and-white portraits or fine-art reproductions where subtle tonal shifts are visible.
Paper handling and tray capacity
Look at how the printer feeds thick stock. A rear feed or front feeder for heavy-weight paper handles cardstock and fine-art sheets without jamming. A separate photo tray keeps your glossy paper loaded while plain paper stays in the main cassette — so you are not swapping sheets every time you switch between a document and a print.
Resolutions and color depth
Print resolution, measured in dpi (dots per inch), tells you how fine the printed detail can go — higher numbers mean sharper edge definition on small text and fine textures. Color depth, measured in bits, describes how many distinct shades the printer can distinguish, which affects how smoothly colors blend across a gradient.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Ink System | Max Print Size | Functions | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100★ Best Overall | Gallery-grade fine art and large prints | 11 pigment inks + Chroma Optimizer | 17 x 25 inches | Print only | Amazon |
| Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 | Desk-friendly 13×19 printing on a budget | 6-color Claria Photo HD inks | 13 x 19 inches | Print only | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100: 17” Professional Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
Our pick — over 4★ from 80+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
Eleven pigment inks and a gloss optimizer turn a spare room into a print studio.
The PRO-1100 is the one to buy if your prints need to look like they came from a gallery. Its LUCIA PRO II ink system runs eleven pigment-based inks, and the included Chroma Optimizer lays down a clear coat over the print surface. In plain terms, that clear coat flattens the reflective sheen and widens the color range, so dark tones stay deep instead of going muddy. The engine also processes large image files quickly, and an air-feeding system keeps paper from skewing as it enters — accurate ink placement is the direct result.
What wins people over is the print quality itself. Owners describe realistic, vibrant images and prints they expect to outlast them, and praise the air-feeding paper path for handling thick stock without banding. Ink cost is the second most-discussed positive — a pleasant surprise for a pigment machine. Each ink tank holds 80mL, and the print head is replaceable, which owners note saves money compared to sealed-head designs. Because the head is user-replaceable, a clog does not scrap the machine.
The honest catch is speed and setup. Full-color output runs slowly, and the companion app frustrates some owners — the review pages literally sum it up with a buyer who reinstalled the app five times before giving up on checking ink levels wirelessly. Plan to drive it from a desktop and manage ink through the driver instead. The other reality is footprint and weight: this is a large machine, so measure your table before it arrives, not after.
What earns the top spot
- Eleven pigment inks plus Chroma Optimizer for flat gloss and wide color range
- Replaceable print head means a long serviceable life
- 80mL tanks per color reduce how often you swap ink
- Anti-clogging print head design and air-feeding paper path for fewer misfeeds
Where it asks for patience
- Slow output — full-color prints take a few minutes each
- Large and heavy; it needs a dedicated surface
- The companion app is unreliable for wireless ink checks
Reach for this if: You print fine-art or large-format work where color accuracy and archival life justify a serious investment.
Look elsewhere if: You want fast document printing or a compact machine that lives on a small desk.
2. Canon PIXMA PRO-200S Professional 13″ Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer, 3″ Color LCD, 8-Color Dye Ink, Black
An eight-ink engine that fires out a bordered A3+ print in about 90 seconds.
If you want wide-format output without waiting around, this is the fastest pick here — and the gap is stark. A bordered A3+ sheet takes roughly 90 seconds, and a bordered 8×10 finishes in 53 seconds. Compare that to the imagePROGzen, which changes how freely you print. The transparent tanks also let you see exactly how much ink is left without guessing.
What owners love most is the print quality, with setup close behind — the machine is genuinely easy to get running, and the six Claria ET Premium inks produce rich color and sharp detail. The scanner and copier round it out into a true all-in-one, and a large color LCD plus straightforward wireless printing from multiple devices make it pleasant to live with. It handles photography, crafts, and documents without complaint.
There is one recurring mechanical gripe worth knowing: a spring in the paper tray can fail to lift the stack, triggering false “out of paper” or “paper jam” messages. It is fixable, but it is the kind of thing that makes you reach for the manual. Some owners also find the auto tray selection unreliable and just choose the tray manually. Beyond that, the reliability picture is genuinely mixed — most units run beautifully, but a minority report random failures, which is worth knowing before you commit.
Money-saving strengths
- Refillable ink bottles cost cents per photo, not dollars
- Up to 6,200 color pages of printing from the box
- Print, copy, and scan in one wide-format machine
- Easy setup and intuitive wireless printing from phones and laptops
Things to be ready for
- A tray spring can fail and cause false paper-error messages
- Auto tray selection is unreliable — pick your tray manually
- Reported reliability is mixed across the user base
Best for: Photographers and crafters who print often and want ink costs to stop being the deciding factor in every print job.
skip it if: You print rarely and prefer set-and-forget hardware over occasional troubleshooting.
3. Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Professional Photo Printer
Two separate paper paths let this old workhorse take everything from thin sheets to heavy watercolor stock.
The Pro9000 Mark II earns its place through paper versatility. Two independent feed paths handle both standard sheets and thick fine-art stock, with a front feeder built for heavy-weight papers. That means a sheet of watercolor paper feeds as cleanly as a glossy photo sheet. Its 4,800 x 2,400 dpi FINE print head (dots per inch — a measure of how much detail the print head can lay down) delivers sharp details. A built-in ambient light correction feature adjusts color output to match the lighting you specified — useful when a print needs to look right in a specific room.
The eight-ink dye setup earned a devoted following. Owners describe the dye output as indistinguishable from lab prints, with no ink bleeding on heavy textured paper. Reliability tracks well over long stretches of heavy daily use — the printer quality and print quality categories dominate the feedback on this machine, both overwhelmingly positive. For a machine this age to still draw that kind of praise from photographers says a lot about the build.
The genuine compromise is print speed. At one page per minute on both color and black-and-white, it is the slowest pick here. It also carries a large footprint — though the trays fold away, which helps when it is not in use. And those same reviews that rave about quality note that heavy use can eventually clog the print heads, so keep a maintenance habit going. Run it regularly, keep the heads clean, and this is a remarkably capable machine for the money.
Why owners keep it
- Two paper paths including a front feeder for heavy-weight stock
- Eight dye inks for vivid color and crisp black-and-white
- Ambient light correction tunes output to your viewing environment
- Long-term reliability confirmed by years of heavy-use feedback
What to accept
- Very slow — one page per minute in both modes
- Large physical footprint, though trays fold in
- Print heads can clog under heavy use without regular maintenance
Suits you if: You print on a wide range of media and want a proven machine that handles thick fine-art paper without drama.
Pass on this if: Speed is a priority or you have limited desk space.
