Top 10 Best Giclee Printers On The Market 2021

Good art deserves to be shown off. If your printer does not do your work justice, you’re missing the point then. Giclee printers are some of the top printers you can get to make beautiful prints.

Here is the problem though, many printers in the market do not give you that stunning quality. That’s why we rounded up and reviewed the best Giclee printer you can buy right now.

What you should be looking for is a high DPI when it comes to print quality and make sure the print size fits your needs. Not all printers can do large prints. If that’s something you need, be mindful of that.

Before we dive into the review, what is Giclee in the first place? Let’s briefly explain what it is and if you’re an artist, why you want Giclee prints.

What is Giclee?

Essentially Giclee is a French term. Its literal meaning is to spray. Now it’s starting to make more sense, isn’t it? Giclee printers can ‘spray’ what you want to print and can match the color and also apply ink pretty accurately.

The prints come out very good and that’s why so many artists are increasingly looking into Giclee prints. This type of print is done by inkjet printers. There is a caveat though.

You see, not all types of inkjet printers will give you a Giclee print. There are a couple of factors that make a print a Giclee print. Since these are very high-quality prints, the camera of the printer needs to be able to capture high-resolution images.

The desired recorded resolution on the screen should be 72 DPI and the image file of the art itself needs to be at least 300 DPI.

If you’re unaware, DPI stands for dots per inch. Basically, the more dots per inch a printer can print, the sharper the image will be.

Our 10 Best Giclee Printer Reviews of 2021

While Giclee is pretty easy to understand, choosing a good printer that does it isn’t quite the same affair. Don’t worry though. We rounded up the top 10 printers for Giclee you can buy right now. So, let’s get started with the reviews.

1. Canon IP8720 Wireless

We start the review with a juggernaut of a brand in the printing industry and they perhaps just made the best printer for Giclee prints with this IP87820. Canon is very well known for its cameras and printers. They have been in the business for quite a while and it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about what they’re doing.

The print quality of this one is top-notch. You have a 6-color ink system (including grey ink) and a maximum color DPI of 9600 x 2400 which is very impressive. This is what gives you phenomenal prints.

You aren’t stuck printing small images either. Let your artwork do the talking with large 13” x 19” prints. Ink compatibility is good too. It’s compatible with CLI 251 Cyan XL, CLI 251 Gray XL, PGI 250 Pigment Black XL and a lot more. The pigment printer post has some additional information for those who want a pigment ink printer.

Canon didn’t skimp on the design either. This one has a very professional black finish and looks very modern. The design aesthetic lends itself nicely to any type of setting. Whether you want to set it up in your home or office, it will fit right in.

Wires will be a thing of the past with this one. It can print wirelessly via WIFI. That’s pretty nifty stuff if we say so ourselves.

Highlighted Features:

• High DPI gives you a very sharp print.
• The wireless print functionality adds a ton of convenience.
• Modern design makes it suitable to use in any setting.
• Good ink compatibility makes it a versatile printer.

2. Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Giclee Printer for Home

For a mid-level printer that doesn’t cut any major corners, this one from the guys over at Epson is a great buy.

We have to say, the design isn’t all that impressive. It’s boxy and a tad bit large. But that won’t be a major issue for most. The black color finish still makes it suitable for different types of settings.

Your prints will turn out very sharp and stunning thanks to the high DPI printing capabilities of this printer. The maximum print resolution is 5760 x 1440 optimized DPI.

That makes it perfect for Giclee prints. The document feeder is very fast and can churn out prints with ease. There are a 30-page auto document feeder and auto 2-sided printing support.

To kick things up a notch this printer has a large touchscreen with intuitive controls to work with photos directly from a USB drive or a Micro SD card.

Apart from that, there is Amazon Alexa support as well. Oh, and did we mention you can print wirelessly as well? Because you can.

Highlighted Features:

• Durable built quality with a professional design.
• 30-page document feeder prints very fast.
• High-resolution optimized DPI gets you very clear prints.
• Large touchscreen with Amazon Alexa support is very cool.

3. Canon imagePROGRAF TA-20 24

Yep, this is another Canon printer. Tell us something, how many times have you been frustrated when your printer ran out of ink? And then you need to go out and buy some. Well, with this one, you can get started right from the box.

That’s because it has about $250 worth of ink already included. This means you can just set it up and start printing right away. Yes, we know that isn’t an unlimited amount of ink. But something is better than nothing.

The prints themselves are plenty sharp and with its inkjet technology, it makes sure all your Giclee prints will turn out exactly the way you want them. With a max resolution of up to 2400×1200 DPI, this is not a bad buy at all.

One small gripe we have with this one is the design. The beige color doesn’t quite look as good as the others. But if you’re into retro-looking hardware though, this will fit right in.

If you want to print posters, this is also your go-to. Canon’s imagePROGRAF TA-20 24 can churn out 104 posters per hour. That’s quite a lot of posters if you ask us.

Highlighted Features:

• Can print fast which saves you time.
• The high-resolution prints give you a quality finished print.
• Includes $250 of ink which is great for getting started right out of the box.
• Has free poster creation software which only adds to the overall value.

4. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000

If the previous one fell short in the looks department, this one possibly raises the bar for every other printer in the market when it comes to design. It isn’t just a no-good pretty boy though.

Let’s talk about design first. Epson’s design team did a fantastic job on this one. The design is sleek and very modern without looking ghastly.

There is a professional look to the whole thing. Whether you decide to put this in your office or print gorgeous Giclee at home or your studio, this will look good anywhere.

As we mentioned already, it isn’t just a pretty boy. This one can actually get some serious work done. When it comes to printing, this will surely impress you with not only its print quality but also with a host of other features.

For example, you can print 13” x 19” borderless prints and smartphone prints. If you’re wondering about the maximum resolution, well it’s 5760 x 1440 DPI. So, it’s easily on par with some of the best printers on this list.  

Other features you will love are its ability to work with different kinds of papers, 50-sheet rear tray, auto 2-sided document printing options and more.

Highlighted Features:

• The very well-designed printer makes it perfect for use in every kind of setting.
• High-resolution printing gives you crisp images and sharp texts.
• 2-sided document printing makes printing work documents fast and easy.
• Smaller design helps it fit in all almost all spaces.
• Wireless printing gives you convenience.

5. HP DesignJet 2PX9507 T120

HP might be known for their computers, but their printers are no short of quality either. Take this inkjet printer, for example. It balances features and design in a well-rounded package.

Let’s get right into it then. How’s the print? For the most part, you get pretty good quality prints that max out at 1200 x 1200 DPI. Your prints won’t come out looking blurry or amateurish.

This printer is also great for someone who is starting their venture selling Giclee arts and prints. Although the design isn’t anything particularly impressive, it’s not ugly either.

The dark color scheme makes it look understated. But we do feel like it looks a bit dated though.

You can work with a lot of different types of paper, so that’s a plus. Whether it’s photo paper, bond paper, vellum paper or coated paper, this printer can work with all of those.

And, of course, there are wireless printing capabilities as well. So, you won’t be stuck in the middle ages manually printing your pieces. 

Highlighted Features:

• User-friendly and accessible makes it a good beginner printer.
• Understated design that isn’t too great but it still looks professional.
• Good looking prints with a max resolution of 1200 DPI.
• Wireless functionality helps you get prints conveniently.

6. Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless

Canon has essentially produced a ‘big boy’ printer with this one. Whether you are a professional who needs stunning Giclee prints or just wants to test the waters a bit with some of the best print quality out there, this one is quite hard to beat.

Before we dive into the print quality though, we want to address the design. That’s because this might just be the best-looking printer on this list. Of course, that will depend on your personal taste, but you can’t say it doesn’t look good.

Smooth lines, with curves and angles at just the right places that are complemented with the shiny black finish, make it one premium-looking machine. If you’re into aesthetics, this printer is quite the buy.

As for the prints, you won’t be disappointed. This one gives you stunning prints with a resolution of 9600 x 2400 DPI. Be sure your Giclee prints will come out looking as great as you intended them to. Dare we say, it might even break expectations?

While print quality might be the most important feature, it isn’t the only feature. There are some quality-of-life features here as well. You can make use of the auto 150 sheet feeder to make printing multiple pieces easy.

The fine print nozzle ensures prints are precise and accurate each and every time.

Highlighted Features:

• The stunning design will lift the ambiance of any place.
• Detailed and quality printing thanks to the large resolution.
• Fast printing speed makes printing multiple pieces easy.
• The app allows for printing from any compatible device.

7. Epson SureColor T3170 24

If you’re tired of plain black printers, this one will help bring in a change of pace. With its white color finish and a host of awesome features like superfast printing, this one is perfect for commercial Giclee prints.

The printing speed of this one is quite phenomenal. You can print A1/D-sized prints in just 34 seconds. Yep, you read that right. That impressive printing speed makes it great for commercial use.

Or if you need fast prints for your personal project, then hey, go for it. You might be wondering what about the ink then? Won’t it run out faster? Well, Epson has thought about that too.

That’s why you can use large 50 ml cartridges so you can keep printing for longer without needing to refill as frequently. We do a deep dive into toner cartridges in our article on how to recycle toner cartridges responsibly.

 As we already mentioned the design is good too. The white color scheme is a nice change compared to the other ones.

A large touchscreen helps you operate it easily by giving you an intuitive interface that’s easy to understand. The last thing you want is a printer that halts up your workflow because it’s hard to operate.

With a print resolution of 2400 x 1200 DPI, your prints come out looking no lesser than a professional-grade piece of work.

Highlighted Features:

• Great quality prints give you a professional-grade final piece.
• Very fast printing makes it convenient for commercial printing.
• The design and the color finish a welcomed addition to any space.
• Large ink cartridges finally get rid of frequent cartridge changes.

8. Epson Artisan 1430

Top-notch prints and with a touch of modern features that everyone will appreciate. That’s how we would summarize this one. Epson’s Artisan printers have always been high performers and this isn’t any different.

The design of the printer is basic but still good. It’s boxy with a black finish but looks professional for the most part. We also quite like the fact that it doesn’t have any unnecessary design features that would make it look tacky.

The print quality of this printer is great, to say the least. With a maximum resolution of 5760×1440 DPI, your printouts will look just as stunning as any other high-end printer on the market.

Its impressive feature set doesn’t stop there though. You can get some of the most vibrant color prints thanks to the six-ink configuration. The configuration includes magenta, light magenta, yellow, black, cyan and light cyan.

The print size is limited to 13″ x 44″ which really is nothing to scoff at. For borderless prints, you can print up to 13″ x 19″ with this bad boy. Since that’s somewhat of a standard, we have no complaints there.

Highlighted Features:

• Professional looks that don’t have any tacky design elements.
• Great high-resolution prints that give you absolutely stunning results.
• Color prints are very vibrant and sharp due to the six-ink configuration.
• You can print using your phone and computer which adds convenience.

9. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000

With the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer, versatility is the name of the game here. You can use this one as a perfectly adequate desktop or office printer and also make good Giclee prints.

Canon does make good-looking printers. However, we wouldn’t say this one is their best work when it comes to the actual design of this thing. One good thing is it’s pretty understated. So, if you do wish to use it at an office, you can do so.

But design is one thing. Print quality is what it all comes down to. And that’s where this one truly shines. Equipped with an 11 color Chroma Optimizer Ink, Canon’s imagePROGRAF series of products are some of the best printers you can get.

The maximum print resolution for this one is 2,400 x 1,200 DPI. That number is nothing to scoff at and it makes it the best Giclee printer for home. You don’t need professional-grade hardware at home, do you?

Ease of use coupled with its adequate performance and additional features like WIFI support makes it quite a good printer.

Highlighted Features:

• Good quality prints that won’t leave you wanting more.
• Easy to use and intuitive which means you don’t have to fiddle with it.
• Wireless features add a layer of convenience to the use case.
• Supports a wide variety of operating systems for maximum compatibility.

10. CANON IPF4000 44 WIDE

If you want a Giclee printer that can work with large format prints, look no further. This one checks all the boxes for a quality printer and then more some. While the previous one is the best home printer for Giclee prints, this can be used for commercial purposes.

Don’t think you will get away by putting this beast in a small cramped space. It’s quite a large printer and rightfully so. This one is capable of printing large format prints of 44” wide. So, the size is quite large.

You can also do 12-color professional photographic prints. Adding to the impressive feature set is the automatic feeder. This makes your job easy since it can feed itself, all thanks to the automatic roll input.

As far as print quality goes, it will do a maximum resolution of 2,400 x 1200 DPI. This makes your prints come out rich and very sharp. If you need to save digital copies of your prints, it also comes with a 320GB HDD.

The design is good for a printer of this size. A black color finish makes it blend in with almost all kinds of settings and won’t stick out like a sore thumb in the room you decide to put it in. Again, this is a large printer though.

Highlighted Features:

• Capable of doing large format prints of 44”.
• Great quality prints thanks to the 2,400 x 1200 DPI.
• The included HDD gives you the option to save digital copies.
• Support for all kinds of media connectivity.

Giclee Printer Buying Guide

Let’s be honest, some Giclee printers out there do not come cheap. That’s why you need to know what to look for before making a purchase. You certainly don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a brand-new printer only to find out it’s not what you want. So, here are some of the things you need to look for.

DPI

It goes without saying that print quality should be your first choice when it comes to choosing a printer. If it doesn’t have good print quality, it’s practically useless. And print quality depends on the DPI.

Look for a high DPI printer that can make sharp and high-resolution prints. This will ensure all your work comes out looking stunning, every time.

Print Size

Another factor is the size of the prints you’re planning to do. If you already know that you don’t need to print beyond a certain size, you can go ahead and buy a smaller one.

But that’s the thing basically. You need to be sure what size you’re aiming for. In case you do need to print large formats, look into some of the larger printers that can print large formats.

Media Support and Other Features

Media support is crucial too. Look into if the printer supports different types of paper and whether it supports cut sheets or rolled media. Printers that support rolled media will do the cutting themselves. This is great for you since you don’t need to buy cut sheets separately.

Design and Build

Design and build quality might not affect the print quality directly, but these are still some things to think about. If your printer is going to be somewhere visible and in plain sight, you may not want an ugly piece of plastic ruining the whole décor.

That being said, all printers do actually look pretty similar with some standouts here and there. At the end of the day, this will come down to personal preference. Pick the one you like and the one that fits your needs.

Ink

Ink is just as much as important as the print quality. Giclee print comes out best with pigment-based inks. They are made of colored particles held in suspension. Dye based inks on the other hand are soluble dissolvent.

Pigment-based inks printer are known for producing rich color tones and the prints will also last longer as well. And for Giclee prints that is exactly what you want!

Your Use Case

A lot of new buyers don’t take their own specific needs into account. If you regularly make Giclee prints then it’s worth getting a Giclee printer. If you only pick one that looks good on paper you might not end up with a printer that’s right for you.

So, keep what size, resolution and also how frequently you need to make Giclee prints. All these will also come into consideration.

Also, if you don’t want smart features like WIFI and wireless/remote printing, you can get a printer without those features and possibly save some money as well.

Price and Brands

Settling on a price range is all about finding the features you want and picking one that fits your budget.

When it comes to choosing a brand, picking anyone from the reputed names in the industry is your safest bet. The brands we mentioned here have been in the game for a while now and are masters of their craft.

All the ones here are very reputed and we are sure you have heard of all of them at least one. So, you can pick one from our list without any worries.

Related: Our list of right printer for your art project.

How to Make Giclee Prints at Home: An Easy Guide for Beginners

We will let you in on a secret. You can make pretty good Giclee prints right at home. All you need to do is know what you’re doing. Here are the steps you need to make great Giclee prints. Even if you’re a beginner, this will help.

Set Right Resolution

Your first order of business should be setting the right resolution. Giclee is all about the right resolution. Giclee prints are very detailed and sharp. So, you would need to have a DPI of at least 300. Anything lower than this would result in poor quality prints and loss of color and accuracy.

Ink

Picking the right ink is a must. You need to work with pigment-based ink. This is different from dye-based ink in the sense that it’s made of small particles instead of a solution in a liquid.

Pigment-based inks will give you greater colors and the overall quality of the print will be good too.

Paper

Lastly, you need to get the right paper for your prints. Archival papers should be your go-to if you want nothing but the best quality. You can use museum-grade inkjet paper as well. These papers have a long lifespan and also looks great when you print on them

You can get great Giclee prints done by professionals. But if you’re a beginner and want to get a bit hands-on, you can easily print Giclee at home too. The more experience you gather, you will soon realize what works and what doesn’t.

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Are Giclee prints worth it?

Ans. The answer to this question is an absolute yes. Giclee prints are incredibly high quality and if you have a piece that you feel deserves the best and want to show it off, Giclee prints are the way to go. Landscapes look particularly good in Giclee.

Do Giclee prints last long?

Ans. One of Giclee print’s characteristics is that it’s long-lasting. They will hold the color much longer than your typical prints. This makes sure you will have a piece that will last for hundreds of years actually if preserved properly.

Are Giclee prints expensive?

Ans. Since Giclee is a higher quality print overall, they do tend to be more expensive. But since the sheer quality of these types of prints is so apparent, the price is justified. And if you plan on selling your prints, Giclee can be a very good investment.

Are Giclee prints hard to do?

Ans. If you’re just starting, you might face little hurdles when making Giclee prints. But, with some experience and if you follow the instructions, you will get up and running in no time. Once you are confident with your prints, you won’t go back thanks to the great quality prints you will be making.

Final Words

Alright then, now you know what is the best Giclee printer. Although DPI and print size are important, you shouldn’t sacrifice build quality and design.

It will sit in your workspace and it’s nice to have a well-designed printer anyway. If you want to go the extra mile, some smart features like remote printing are great to have.

Our best overall pick has to be Canon’s IP8720 Wireless with the Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 coming in second. You can also check out the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 for a more modest option.

Also read:

• Tips for printing great stickers from home by a sticker printer.
• Our selected printer for printing watercolor reproductions.
• Top 10 printer for postcards printing lists for you.