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Finishing a digital painting on screen is only half the journey for many artists. Prints let you sell work at markets, mail commissions, build a physical portfolio and simply see your painting at its real size on a wall. The best digital painting printers for artists depend on what those prints are for. Selling archival art prints calls for a pigment-ink photo printer and fine art paper. Proofing colors, printing references and transferring sketches to canvas can be done with far simpler, cheaper machines.
This guide is honest about that split. The Amazon search for this topic returned mostly nail-art printers, which are not relevant to painters, plus three useful tools: a basic color inkjet for proofs and references, an automatic drawing plotter that transfers outlines to canvas, and a portable thermal printer for black-and-white reference sheets. We review those three and spend most of the page on what to look for in a true art print printer and when a professional print lab is the smarter choice.
Quick answer: For selling archival prints, look for a pigment-ink photo printer with at least six to eight inks and support for heavyweight fine art paper, or use a professional giclée print lab. For everyday color proofs and printing reference images at home, the inexpensive Canon PIXMA TS3720 handles the basics. To transfer a digital sketch to canvas for painting, an automatic drawing plotter traces outlines with erasable pens.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One — Best budget printer for proofs and references
- Automatic Drawing Plotter Machine — Best for transferring digital sketches to canvas
- Gloryang Inkless Portable Thermal Printer — Best for black-and-white reference sheets on the go
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TS3720 | Proofs and references | Color inkjet, 2 cartridges, Wi-Fi | Low cost, print-copy-scan | $$$ |
| Automatic Drawing Plotter | Outline transfer | Pen plotter, heat-erasable pens | Photo-to-outline drawing | $$$ |
| Gloryang Thermal Printer | Portable references | Monochrome thermal, up to 8.5 in wide | No ink needed | $$$ |
How We Chose
We did not print artwork with these machines for this guide. Picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each device supports a real step in a digital painter’s workflow, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We excluded several nail-art printers that appeared in the same search, since they are designed for printing on fingernails. None of the listings in this search was a dedicated archival art printer, so we explain what to look for in one below rather than recommending a product we could not evaluate from the data.
- Workflow fit: proofs, references, transfers or final prints.
- Print technology: inkjet, thermal or pen plotter.
- Paper handling: sizes and media types supported.
- Running costs: ink, paper and consumables.
- Ease of use: setup and connectivity.
What Makes a Printer Good for Art Prints?
Pigment vs dye ink
Dye-based inks produce bright colors and are common in everyday home printers, but they generally fade faster when exposed to light. Pigment inks sit on the paper surface and are known for better lightfastness, which is why professional art and photo printers favor them for archival prints. If you plan to sell prints, pigment ink is the standard to look for.
Number of ink colors
Basic printers use one black and one tri-color cartridge. Photo and art printers use six, eight or more individual inks, often including light cyan, light magenta, gray and multiple blacks. More inks generally mean smoother gradients, better skin tones and more neutral grays, all of which matter in digital paintings.
Paper size and type
Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) is enough for small prints and cards. Many art sellers prefer printers that handle 13 x 19 inches or larger. Just as important is support for thick fine art papers, such as cotton rag and textured watercolor-style papers, which often need a rear or straight-through paper path.
Color management
A good art printer supports ICC profiles for specific papers. Combined with a calibrated monitor, profiles help your prints match what you painted on screen. Without them, prints may come out darker or with shifted colors.
Running costs
Ink and fine art paper can cost more over time than the printer itself. Check cartridge sizes and prices before buying, and factor them into your print pricing.
Home Printing or a Print Lab?
Many professional digital artists never own an archival printer. They send files to a print lab offering giclée printing, which uses large-format pigment printers and fine art papers, often with color proofing services. A lab makes sense if you print occasionally, need large sizes or want to avoid maintenance and ink waste. Printing at home makes sense if you sell many small prints, want full control and same-day turnaround, or enjoy testing papers.
A practical middle path: use an inexpensive home printer for proofs and references, and a lab for final sale prints until your volume justifies an archival printer.
Preparing Digital Paintings for Print
- Paint at print resolution. Set up canvases at 300 pixels per inch at the final print size where possible.
- Calibrate your monitor. Screens are often too bright, which leads to dark prints.
- Soft-proof. Use your software’s proof setup with the printer and paper profile to preview the result.
- Flatten a copy. Save a flattened TIFF or high-quality file for printing, keeping the layered original.
- Test print. Print a small section or a reduced version on the final paper before committing to full size.
- Adjust and repeat. Brighten shadows or tweak saturation slightly if prints look different from the screen.
Choosing Paper for Art Prints
Paper changes a print as much as the printer does. Smooth matte fine art papers suit illustrations and flat graphic styles, keeping lines crisp without glare. Textured cotton rag papers give digital paintings a traditional, watercolor-like feel that buyers often love. Luster and semi-gloss photo papers deliver deeper blacks and more saturated color, which flatters dark, moody pieces and vivid concept art. Look for acid-free or archival papers for anything you sell, and match the paper to the printer’s supported weight and the correct ICC profile.
Sizes buyers expect
Common print sizes include 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14 and 13 x 19 inches, plus A-series sizes for international buyers. Plan your canvas proportions with these in mind so you do not have to crop important parts of a painting later.
Pricing and Packaging Prints
Add up the cost of paper, ink or lab fees, sleeves, backing boards and shipping before setting a price. Many artists offer open-edition prints at accessible prices and limited editions on premium paper at higher prices, signed and numbered. Package prints in clear sleeves with a rigid backer, and ship flat in stiff mailers or rolled in tubes for large sizes. Include a small card with care instructions: keep out of direct sunlight and frame behind glass for longevity.
Scanning Sketches Into Your Digital Workflow
A basic scanner is underrated for digital painters. Pencil thumbnails, ink drawings and sketchbook studies can be scanned at 300 to 600 pixels per inch, cleaned up with levels to remove paper tone, and set to Multiply as a line layer under digital color. This keeps the character of hand drawing while letting you paint freely on layers beneath.
Best Printers and Print Tools for Digital Artists Reviewed
1. Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One — Best for proofs and references
The Canon PIXMA TS3720 is a basic wireless inkjet that prints, copies and scans. It uses just two ink cartridges for full color, connects over dual-band Wi-Fi without needing a computer for setup, and supports borderless printing according to the listing. Print speeds are listed at about 7.7 black and 4 color images per minute, single-sided only.
It is not an archival art printer. With a two-cartridge system, gradients and neutral grays will not match a multi-ink photo printer, and it is not designed for heavyweight fine art paper. What it does well is the everyday work around painting: printing reference photos, color proofs to check composition and value, thumbnails for client approval and scanning sketches to paint over digitally.
Best suited for: Artists who need an inexpensive printer and scanner for references, proofs and sketches.
Key features:
- Print, copy and scan
- 2-cartridge color system
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Borderless printing
Pros:
- Very low price tier
- Scans sketches for digital paint-overs
- Easy setup
Cons and limitations:
- Not for archival sale prints
- Limited color range and paper handling
Buying consideration: Use it for proofs and scanning; send final sale prints to a lab.
2. Automatic Drawing Plotter Machine — Best for transferring digital sketches to canvas
This generic drawing machine uses precise movement control to draw outlines and line patterns with pens. The listing says it can turn photos into outline drawings for portraits and landscapes, includes a design library of over 500 templates and 60-plus lettering styles, and offers heat-erasable pens so outlines can be removed after painting.
For digital painters who also paint traditionally, this bridges the two: plan a composition digitally, then have the plotter transfer the line drawing to canvas or board for painting in acrylic or oil. The listing also describes an included kit with acrylic paints, brushes and canvas materials.
Best suited for: Artists moving digital designs onto canvas, wood or cards for hand painting.
Key features:
- Automatic pen plotter
- Photo-to-outline conversion
- 500+ templates, 60+ lettering styles
- Heat-erasable pens
Pros:
- Precise, repeatable outlines
- Bridges digital and traditional work
- Erasable guide lines
Cons and limitations:
- Premium price tier
- Generic brand with limited specifications
- Draws lines, not color prints
Buying consideration: Test the heat-erasable pens on your canvas or paper before a final piece.
3. Gloryang Inkless Portable Thermal Printer — Best for black-and-white references on the go
The Gloryang printer uses thermal technology, so it needs no ink, toner or ribbons. It connects to iOS and Android over Bluetooth through an app, and to computers with a driver. It prints on thermal paper from 2 to 8.5 inches wide, weighs 1.75 pounds and comes with three paper rolls and a carrying case.
Output is monochrome, and the listing notes it works only with the brand’s thermal paper. For artists, it is a handy way to print grayscale value studies, line art references or pose references at a cafe, class or plein air spot without carrying a full printer. Thermal prints are not intended for long-term display.
Best suited for: Traveling artists who want quick grayscale reference prints.
Key features:
- Inkless thermal printing
- Bluetooth, iOS and Android app
- Paper widths 2 to 8.5 inches
- 1.75 lb, carry case included
Pros:
- No ink to buy
- Very portable
- Good for value studies
Cons and limitations:
- Monochrome only
- Proprietary thermal paper
- Not for artwork prints
Buying consideration: Use it for references and value checks, not finished work.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Printer as a Digital Artist
Define the job
Sale prints, proofs, references or canvas transfers each call for different tools.
Choose pigment ink for sale prints
Pigment inks are favored for lightfastness on archival prints.
Check ink count
Six or more inks improve gradients and grays compared with two-cartridge printers.
Match paper size and type
Confirm maximum size and support for heavyweight fine art paper.
Look for profile support
ICC profiles and soft-proofing help prints match your screen.
Estimate running costs
Calculate ink and paper costs per print before setting prices.
Compare with a print lab
For occasional or large prints, a giclée lab can be cheaper and better.
Working With a Print Lab
If you go the lab route, a few habits make results more predictable. Ask whether the lab provides ICC profiles for its printers and papers, and download them so you can soft-proof at home. Order a small test strip or a proof print of a crop before committing to a large edition. Export files in the format and color space the lab requests, often a flattened TIFF in sRGB or Adobe RGB, at the exact print dimensions. Keep notes of which paper and settings you used for each piece so reprints match the originals.
Questions to ask a lab
- Which inks and printers do you use, and are they pigment-based?
- Which fine art papers do you stock, and can I order sample packs?
- Do you offer color proofing or adjustments before the final run?
- What file format, color space and resolution do you need?
- Do you offer drop-shipping directly to my buyers?
Paint Something Worth Printing
Night scenes and seascapes make striking prints. Try our digital night scene painting tips or the digital waves and ocean tutorial, then soft-proof the result before printing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Selling prints made with dye inks on plain paper as archival.
- Printing from an uncalibrated, overly bright monitor.
- Painting at screen resolution and enlarging for print.
- Ignoring ink, paper and packaging costs when pricing prints.
- Buying a nail-art or novelty printer for artwork.
- Skipping a test print on the final paper before running a full edition.
FAQs
What kind of printer do I need to sell art prints?
A pigment-ink photo or art printer with multiple inks and fine art paper support, or a professional giclée print lab.
Can I sell prints from a basic home inkjet?
You can print, but basic two-cartridge printers and dye inks are not designed for archival quality. Use them for proofs and references.
What resolution should my digital painting be for printing?
Aim for around 300 pixels per inch at the final print size. Large prints viewed from a distance can be a little lower, but start high when you set up the canvas.
Why do my prints look darker than my screen?
Monitors are often brighter than paper can reproduce. Calibrate your screen and soft-proof before printing.
Is a print lab better than printing at home?
For occasional or large prints, often yes. Home printing suits high volumes of small prints and full control.
What is giclée printing?
A term used for high-quality inkjet prints made with archival pigment inks on fine art paper, typically by professional labs using large-format printers and careful color management.
Final Recommendation
Decide what you need prints for. For sale-quality art prints, choose a pigment-ink printer with multiple inks and fine art paper support, or work with a giclée lab. For everyday proofs, references and scanning sketches, the Canon PIXMA TS3720 is an inexpensive helper. Artists who transfer digital designs to canvas can use an automatic drawing plotter, and the Gloryang thermal printer is a portable way to carry grayscale references.
Start with proofs and a few lab prints, learn how your colors translate to paper, and invest in an archival printer only when your print sales or personal use justify the ink and maintenance costs.
