The best pigment ink printer for heat transfer is a printer that prints the most vibrant and vivid images on heat transfer material. The best pigment ink printers are able to print on a wide range of materials, including cloth, paper, plastic, metal, and more.
As the demand for printing on fabrics increases, so does the need for high-quality printers. This is where pigment ink printers come into use. With these heat transfer printers, you can use your favorite colors to create unique designs that will look superb on a variety of surfaces.
Read Our Other Printers' Unbiased Reviews: i. Best Sublimation Printer - ii. Best 11X17 Color Laser Printer - iii. Best Negative Scanner
The best way to find the best pigment ink printer for your needs is to compare different models from different brands with similar features and specifications.
Since many inkjet printers can use this type of ink, picking the best pigment ink printer can be hard and requires knowledge. After testing the different options on the market, we’ve put together a list of the best pigment ink printers to make your job easier, since not everyone is familiar with the tools.
Reviews of the Best Pigment Ink Printers for Heat Transfer in 2023
Before we take you to our list, we would like to clarify that any manufacturer on the list does not sponsor us. All the recommendations we have listed here are based on our personal opinions considering various factors like speed, resolution, ink quality, connectivity options, duty cycle, printing costs, etc. With that said, let us get to our first recommendation on the list.
List of Top Pigment Ink Printers for 2023
1. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – high-quality wide-format Pigment Printer
2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – High-end Pigment Ink Printer
4. Brother MFC-J491DW – Cheapest Option pigment ink printer
5. Canon IP8720 – best affordable option
6. Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Professional Pigment ink printer
#1. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Best Wide-format Pigment Ink Printer
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a good printer for amateur photographers who want to use pigment ink. It can produce high-quality wide-format photo prints up to A3+ sizes.
Product | Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi |
ISO Print Speed | Black: 9.2 ISO ppm Color: 9.0 ISO ppm |
Maximum Paper size | 13″ x 44″ |
Display Type | 2.4-inch LCD color display |
Connectivity | Hi-Speed USB, USB host, Wi-Fi with support to Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet 10/100 |
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Review –
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is a pigment ink printer that uses a new technology called Epson Micro TFPI. With this tech, Now the printer can print 16 times faster than printers of the past.
Design and build quality
The XP-15000 has a pretty minimalistic design, with the entire body being made of hardened, high-quality plastic. For the first impressions, the device seems premium and appears very compact for a wide-format printer, with its dimensions being 18.7″ x 30.9″ x 16.2″ (476 x 785 x 412 mm) (W x D x H). It has an all-black body with a lid on top. By opening the cover, you will have access to the nozzle area and the ink cartridges.
Ease of use
Setting up this pigment ink printer and getting the first print is a cakewalk with the on-screen instructions, thanks to the 2.4-inch LCD color display. The display doesn’t come with touch functionality. However, it is relatively easy to access the menu and other functionalities of this printer using the hardware keys present by the display’s side on the control panel.
Speaking of the screen’s viewing angles, it is quite readable from any direction thanks to the tilting mechanism on the control panel. The front portion of the printer has a retractable tray that comes in automatically with stepper motors, which I would call a fancy but unnecessary feature.
Connectivity
The device excels in the connectivity area, with pretty much everything that a typical modern-day printer demands. It has a Hi-Speed USB port that lets you connect it directly to a computer to receive prints. You also get to see a USB host port that lets you print now from removable storage devices like pen drives, hard disks, etcetera. This color inkjet printer comes with Wi-Fi capabilities and supports Wi-Fi Direct when it comes to wireless power.
Print quality
This printer does exceptionally well in terms of printing. When using pigment ink, the images became crisp and vibrant, had decent color depth, and exhibited great dynamic range. It has an optimized resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi (dots per inch).
Printing speed
When it comes to printing speeds, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 isn’t the fastest that we have tested, but it averages decent printing speeds. We have tested the rates on this inkjet printer by trying out different quality settings on different paper sizes, and the results turned out to be;
- A4 print at High quality – 3 minutes 45 seconds,
- A3+ print at High quality – 6 minutes 49 seconds,
- A3 at standard quality, high speed – 2 minutes 19 seconds,
- A3 print at High quality – 5 minutes 46 seconds, and 28 x102 cm print at High quality – 10 minutes 29 seconds.
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Verdict
If you are an amateur photographer and are looking for a professional printing solution, the Epson Expression XP-15000 pigment ink printer is an ideal choice. It offers rich connectivity options and has a smaller footprint to fit comfortably and blend well with your workspace. The device is versatile, with support for printing on various media, including card stock and CDs. Besides these, it also comes with support for the auto-duplexing mode to simplify your document printing.
#2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – High-end Pigment Ink Printer
The Canon PRO 10 is a masterpiece in the PIXMA line-up that has a perfect balance between upfront costs, running costs, and performance. If you are a monochrome fanboy, you cannot go wrong with your choice. On the versatility front, you get to print on different media, including CDs.
Product | Canon PIXMA PRO-10 |
Physical Dimensions | 27.2 (W) x 15.2 (D) x 8.5 (H) |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | Up to 4800 x 2400 dpi |
Print speeds | 8 x 10 Image on A4 with Border: Approx. 3 minutes 35 seconds 11 x 14 Image on A3+ with Border:Approx. 5 minutes 20 seconds |
Supported paper sizes | 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, Letter, Legal, 11 x 17, 13x 19 |
Connectivity | Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) EthernetHi-Speed USBPictBridge (Cable not included) |
Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – review
The Canon PIXMA PRO-10 is a pigment ink printer that produces high quality color output. It has a print speed of up to 8.5 seconds per photo and supports the latest generation of pigment inks that produce vivid and vibrant images.
The Canon PIXMA PRO-10 is an excellent printer for professionals who need high quality color output for their work. It can be used in any kind of office or home setting, with its compact design and easy to use interface.
Design and build quality
The Canon PRO 10 has a pretty impressive design, with its entire body being made of suitable quality plastic with a matte-black finish all-over. It isn’t the lightest out there. It weighs 43.9 lbs. However, it has a smaller footprint compared to most pigment ink printers with similar capabilities and measures about 27.2″ (W) x 15.2″ (D) x 8.5″ (H). The build quality is excellent, and it appears that it will last for an extended period of time.
Ease of use
Even though the device doesn’t come with a display, Canon makes it easy to use with the software tool that comes with it. It boasts a 50-sheet auto document feeder functionality that makes it handier. Besides this, the printer also shares its support with most other services, including PictBridge and AirPrint.
Connectivity
On the connectivity side, it has everything that you would typically expect from a printer of this generation-LAN, WiLAN, USB, and PictBridge support. It also has a Direct Wi-Fi feature that lets you directly connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the printer to print and manage print jobs.
Print Quality
The printer can print out gorgeous 13×19 prints with impressive details. It does exceptionally well in terms of printing in monochrome. However, in our testing, we have observed mild banding and struggled to print thin colored lines. Nevertheless, this can make the best pigment ink printer that can print near to professional photographers’ grade quality.
Print speed
If it is a professional photo-quality printer, the speed shouldn’t be of more significant concern to many. However, if you plan to use this at an enterprise level, you will need your guy to run faster. In our testing, the Canon PIXMA Pro-10 averaged out at 1 minute 55 seconds for a 4X6 print and 3 minutes for an 8X10 print. These aren’t the greatest, but not the worst compared to most other photo-quality printers on the market.
Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – Verdict
The Canon PIXMA PRO-10 can produce excellent monochrome and color photos with darker backgrounds thanks to the included chroma optimizer ink. This ink has deeper blacks, gives a uniform glossy finish to your prints, and expands the color gamut. However, this printer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea as the printing costs can quickly add up. It is only meant for professionals who seek excellent quality in their output. There is no doubt that the PRO-10 is the best pigment ink printer we have tested.
The Epson SureColor P600 mastered the combination of quality output, speed, and paper handling capabilities. It can print panoramic photos as large as 13 x 129 inches making it an ideal choice for graphic artists and prosumers. If you can get past the price tag, this is a pretty impressive professional printer to own.
Product | Epson SureColor P600 |
Physical Dimensions | 24.2″ x 32″ x 16.7″ (W x D x H) |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | 5760 x 1440 dpi |
Ink Type | Ink Type: Pigment-based Epson UltraChrome® HD ink technology |
Maximum Printable Area | 13″ x 129″ |
Connectivity | Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (1 port)100Base-T Ethernet (1 port) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ (802.11n only) |
Epson SureColor P600 – Review
The Epson SureColor P600 13 wide pigment ink printer is a top-of-the-line product. It features nine UltraChrome HD pigment inks that create vivid, long lasting images. Users can quickly set up their prints with custom settings like borderless printing.
Design and build quality
The device felt very premium for the first impression and seemed a bit larger than typical inkjets, with the dimensions being 9×24.2×14.5 inches (HWD) when the trays are closed and 16.7×24.2×32 inches with fully opened trays. The body of the Epson SureColor P600 is made in good quality plastic to ensure longevity.
Ease of use
The Epson SureColor P600 pigment ink printer has a pretty decent user interface with a self-explanatory menu. Setting up the device and getting your first print is a cakewalk with the on-screen instructions. It comes equipped with a 2.7-inch touch panel color LCD screen that can be tilted up or down to set it at a comfortable viewing angle. Assigning and managing print jobs from multiple devices is now made easy to support services like AirPrint and Google cloud print.
Connectivity
The Epson P600 pigment ink printer offers a wide range of connectivity options to choose from. It has a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port and an Ethernet port if hard wiring is what you prefer. You may also select the built-in Wi-Fi functionality to interact with the printer.
Print quality
Speaking of the print quality, the Epson SureColor P600 does exceptionally well in terms of color reproduction. The colors are accurate, and the photos turned out to be vivid, crisp, and preserved all the minute details from the original. However, the print quality majorly depends on the type of photo paper used. We have tested with the Ultra-Premium Photo Paper Luster that Epson had recommended using.
Printing speeds
As far as the printing speeds on this device are concerned, it averaged about 1 minute for a 4×6 and 1:55 for an 8×10 with the speed settings set to default. When the same image is printed with the settings put to maximum quality, we have observed 2:06 and 4:10, respectively, almost double the previous observations. Also, the printing time was turned out to be 4 minutes flat for a 13×19-inch print at speed setting.
Alternative model to Epson SureColor P600 rinter
Epson SureColor P600 – Verdict
The Epson SureColor P600 is by far the best pigment ink printer that we have laid hands on. It has impressive print quality. From wired to wireless, it offers every connectivity option that you would typically need. If you are a professional venturing out for a good pigment ink printer, you cannot go wrong with your choice considering the P600. Alternative models for this mode are Epson Stylus C88 and Epson SureColor P400.
#4. Brother MFC-J491DW All-In-One – Cheapest pigment ink printer
The Brother MFC-J491DW is a compact, affordable, economical, and feature-rich pigment ink printer that is ideal for home, office, or can even fit your dorm rooms, thanks to the smaller footprint design. It isn’t just limited to printing; it can also be used to scan, copy, and fax your documents and support wireless mobile printing to help print remotely from multiple devices.
Product | Brother MFC-J491DW |
Physical Dimensions | 15.7″ x 13.4″ x 6.8″ (W x D x H) |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | 1200 x 600 dpi |
Media Type | Plain, Glossy Paper ‡, Recycled Paper |
Paper handling sizes | Letter, Envelope, Legal, Executive, A3, A4, A5, A6, Envelope (C5), Envelope (DL), Envelope (Monarch), Photo (3.5″ x 5″), Photo (4″ x 6″), Photo (5″ x 7″), Photo (5″ x 8″), Photo (8″ x 10″) |
Connectivity | Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
Brother MFC-J491DW AIO – review
Brother MFC-J491DW pigment inkjet printer is a great choice for home and small office users. It offers high-quality print copies in both colour and black-and-white with very crisp visuals. The machine also comes with a 20 sheet automatic document feeder, so you can quickly scan multiple pages.
Design and build quality
The MFC-J491DW has a relatively simple design with an all-black plastic body. It has smaller footprints for an all-in-one inkjet printer. With all the trays closed, it measures about 15.7″ x 13.4″ x 6.8″. Even though the whole body is made of plastic, Brother used high-quality materials to make sure it will last. The top of the printer hosts a flatbed scanner with a resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi.
Ease of use
It didn’t take us a long time to set up the device, as everything is self-explanatory. On the device’s control panel, to the right of the 1.8-inch LCD color display, there are some hardware keys. Though the board seems a bit outdated and the screen size is small, it is still convenient to use. The panel can articulate up and down, making it more suitable for the user.
Connectivity
The printer has a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port that can be used to connect it directly to a computer. Or, you may choose to use the Wi-Fi option to get it connected to your home network and print remotely. It also supports the Wi-Fi Direct option, which lets you connect directly to the hotspot generated by your printer without the need for a home network. However, this printer misses missing an Ethernet port, which is a bummer for many.
Printing speeds
The printing speeds on the Brother MFC-J491DW AIO pigment ink printer make this device stand out. We tried printing text documents with minimal graphics and photos here and there, and the speeds averaged 4.4 ppm. When printing a more vibrant, highly detailed 4×6 image, the printer averaged 32 seconds per print, which is incredible for a photo printer.
Print quality
The Brother MFC-J491DW isn’t a professional-grade printer to print stunning graphics, but it can be a decent home printer that supports the pigment-based ink system. In our testing, the prints turned out to be proper. But the prints can’t compare to those made by professionals, and the price we pay for this device is fair for what it does. The MFC-J491DW exhibits some banding and has poor color accuracy.
Brother MFC-J491DW – Verdict
The Brother MFC-J491DW All-In-One pigment ink printer isn’t the best choice if you are looking for a professional photo printer. But it is a good option to think about, especially if you want a printer for your home or to make your own crafts. It is compact and can blend well with any desk environment. For its price and functionality, you cannot go wrong with your choice.
#5. Canon IP8720 – A best affordable option
The Canon IP8720 is the best in class, with a much affordable price tag. It allows you to print stunning borderless photos up to 13″ x19″. The device has a 6-color ink system that includes gray ink and can output images at impeccable resolutions up to 9600 x 2400 dpi.
Product | Canon IP8720 |
Physical Dimensions | 23.3” x 13.1” x 6.3” (W x D x H) |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | 9600 x 2400 dpi |
Media Type | Plain, Glossy Paper ‡, Recycled Paper |
Paper handling sizes | 4” x 6”, 5” x 7”, 8” x 10”, Letter, Legal, 11” x 17”, 13″ x 19”, U.S. #10 Envelopes |
Connectivity | Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
Canon IP8720 – review
Canon’s IP8720 pigment ink printer is perfect for any home or office. It has a six-color system that includes four dye-based inks and two black pigment inks. It is also capable of producing perfect borderless photos up to 13 x 19 inches.
Design and build quality
The entire body of the Canon IP8720 is made of glossy black plastic except for a few panels and buttons that have a matte finish. As far as the looks go, the device feels sleek and premium for the first looks. The device measures 23.3(W) x 13.1(D) x 6.3(H) and weighs about 18.6 lbs.
Ease of use
Though you do not get to see an onboard display on the Canon IP8720, you wouldn’t still feel it missing as the included PC utility software makes it easy to manage and operate. Setting the device up and running is also a cakewalk with a few simple steps. Besides this, the printer also supports different cloud printing services that further simplify usability and add more convenience to the user enabling them to assign print jobs from technically everywhere in the world.
Connectivity
The connectivity note offers both wired and wireless solutions with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port and support for Wi-Fi connectivity. Besides this, it also supports Wireless PictBridge, AirPrint, Canon proprietary application for Android and iOS, Google print services etcetera.
Print quality
As this is a budget printer targeting amateurs, you shouldn’t expect or compare the results with costly near-professional printers in the market. However, there is not much to complain about the Canon IP8720 pigment ink printer’s output quality. The image turned out to be pretty decent with nearly accurate colors. Some banding is seen here and there but isn’t noticeable unless looked at in particular.
Print speeds
We ran print speed tests on the Canon IP8720, and it averaged about 2.7 pages per minute for a text document. In the case of high-quality 4×6 photo print, the printer clocked at 59 seconds.
Canon IP8720 – Verdict
The Canon IP8720 is ideal for moderately serious photo enthusiasts. It is affordable, easy to use, and has decent design aesthetics. With six ink tanks that included grey, the prints became crisp and vibrant with nearly true colors. Wireless capabilities and multiple cloud support make this device stand out among the best pigment ink printers on the list.
#6. Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – A Professional Pigment ink printer
The Epson Stylus Photo R2000 is specifically made for those who take photography seriously. With the aid of this, one can print stunning digital photos in A3 or A3+ at superior quality. You can also add a roll of paper to be able to print photos with a lot of detail that cover a large area.
Product | Epson Stylus Photo R2000 |
Physical Dimensions | 24.5″ x 31.4″ x 16.5″ (W x D x H) |
Printing Technology | InkJet |
Maximum Print Resolution | 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi |
Media Type | Plain, Glossy Paper ‡, Recycled Paper |
Maximum Printable Area | 13 x 44-inch |
Connectivity | Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Ethernet port |
Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Review
The Epson R2000 is an impressive pigment printer that allows you to print professional grade photos. Its UltraChrome Hi-Gloss2 pigment ink produces stunning prints that can last up to may 200 years without fading. The printer also comes with a variety of software packages for Mac and Windows PCs.
Design and build quality
The device comes in a dual-tone black and white body made out of good-quality hard plastic. It has two paper feeds: the top cassette is capable of holding A3, A4, A3+, and other smaller sizes, and the rear feed can handle fine art sheets, rolls, thicker stock, or photo paper. The printer itself feels a little bulkier, with its dimensions being 24.5″ x 31.4″ x 16.5″ and weighing about 26.5 lbs.
Ease of use
It took us less than 10 minutes to completely set up the device and get the first print. The printer was detected as soon as it was plugged into our Windows computer. Installing the CD’s utility in the box is a good idea if you want to use all of its features. Once the device is up and running, assigning print jobs to the Stylus R2000 is a cakewalk.
Connectivity
Connectivity is yet another essential factor to consider in a modern printer. The more connectivity options there are, the more versatile your device can be. Speak of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB connectivity, and the Epson Stylus Photo R2000 has it all.
Print quality
Epson uses eight individual ink cartridges, namely Photo Black, Matte Black, Magenta, Cyan, Red, Orange, Yellow, and Gloss Optimizer. This device’s print quality turned out to be stupendous, thanks to the Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 pigment ink. It showed naturalness in colors, and the tones came out okay. Black text on plain paper came out clean. Well, who would use this professional printer to print regular documents? The details came out exceptionally well, thanks to the 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution.
Print speeds
According to what Epson had claimed, the printing speeds would be 1 minute and 8 seconds for an 8″ x 10″ photo and 1 minute and 43 seconds for an 11″ x 14″ photo. But when we printed a 15 x 10 cm photo using the best setting for image quality, it took about 1 minute and 15 seconds on average. However, printing speeds shouldn’t be a concern, especially when you wish to print at maximum quality.
Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Verdict
The Epson Stylus Photo R2000 is one of the best pigment ink printers out there, with an impressive colour range. It offers decent connectivity options to fit every need. However, the R2000 is not meant for higher print volumes as its duty cycle is lower. The price of this device may appear exorbitant in general, but enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate it for its affordability.
Also Read: Best Printer for Home use with Cheap Ink
9 things to consider before buying a Pigment-based ink Printer in 2023
Now that you know what to choose, it is equally crucial that you understand how we determine the best in the market. We have attempted to explain the paraphernalia relating to pigment ink printers in more straightforward terms for your ease of understanding.
Support for Pigment Ink
The pigment ink is a unique ink technology aiming for that extra premium look and durability in your photo prints. Printers that support this ink are not so commonly available and are usually on the expensive side.
Brand
Printers are a costly affair. You cannot experiment with your choice. A bad decision can cause you mental and financial distress. You cannot go wrong with most reputed brands, as their products are failproof because they put a lot of research and development into them. Another big reason to choose a reputable brand is its serviceability. Pigment ink printers demand a lot of maintenance and frequent servicing. Most established brands in the market are fortunate to have a service nearby.
Budget
The budget is the biggest thing to pay attention to, above all. The term “best” is always a budget constraint. You can find the best within every possible budget. I would suggest you decide on a budget first before you hunt for the best pigment ink printers.
Print Resolution
The print resolution directly refers to the degree of detail in the printed image. The higher the resolution, the greater the details will be. The answer is measured in DPI, which stands for dots per inch. It means that the more dots printed per inch, the higher the image’s resolution will be. This will ensure excellent sharpness and details. It would be best if you chose a printer with decent resolution figures.
Connectivity
The connectivity options are one’s personal choice. Before you go out and buy a printer, decide how you want to connect to it. These days, many printers on the market come with some or all of these connectivity options: hi- USB connectivity, USB host, Wi-Fi functionality with Wi-Fi Direct support, an Ethernet port, and NFC.
Size of the printer
The size of the printer matters to many, as not everyone is fortunate to have bigger workspaces. Determine what works best on your desk or in the space where you want the device to go.
LCD Display
Most modern printers now have an LCD touch screen display, while others have a non-touch display and hardware keys to help you navigate to different printer functions. Without the onboard display, you will have to rely on the utility software to make changes to the printer.
Printing Speeds
Pigment ink printers are usually slow. However, some printers can handle prints at remarkably faster speeds. Most photo fans only print once in a while, because these printers aren’t made to print a lot. Speed doesn’t make much difference when the print job is smaller.
Wide-format support
Most people wish to print their works on wide-format printers up to 13″ x 19″ or even more. If you happen to be one of them, you will have to get yourself a good pigment ink printer with broad format capabilities.
What is Pigment Ink, and what makes it so unique?
Pigment ink is a particular type of ink used in inkjet printers to give your prints different qualities. This pigment-based ink is made by mixing solid pigment powder particles with a neutral liquid carrier. Unlike traditional dye-based inks, these pigment particles do not dissolve.
What makes the pigment ink so unique is its inertness and stability compared to its organic-based dye-ink counterparts. This makes them inherently water-proof and leaves them to form bright, vivid pictures by laying down microscopic dots on the paper. The prints obtained by the pigment ink printers will be of high resolution, have wide color and density gamuts.
How Does a Traditional Dye-Based Ink Printer Differ From a Pigment Ink Printer?
The difference between pigment ink and dye-based inks is that pigment ink uses solid particles of pigment powder suspended in ink. The dye-based inks, on the other hand, are made by mixing the dye with water and other optical compounds.
To give you a better understanding, the dye ink can be compared to sugar dissolved in water, whereas the pigment ink can be compared to sand mixed in water. In the former, the sugar is seen to have dissolved completely, whereas the sand remains unaffected. The same is true of these two inks. One dissolves completely and gives the paper its colors, while the other stays as tiny dots that make up the images on the paper.
What Are the Advantages of Pigment Ink Printers Over Dye-Based Printers?
- The pigment inks have many advantages when compared with the traditional dye-ink printers. These are a few.
- The photos printed using pigment ink printers are more smudge- and water-resistant. This is the one area where dye-based ink printers lack the most.
- Prints taken from pigment ink printers are resistant to fading when exposed to UV light over time.
- Pigment inks exhibit better color stability and last longer compared to traditional dye inks.
- They offer excellent details and resolution when printing high-quality images.
Who uses pigment ink printers?
Pigment ink printers are not everyone’s cup of tea. They are meant for professional use, where high-quality images are of greater concern. Professional photographers, graphic designers, engineers, architects, contractors, sign and banner print shops, marketing and advertising agencies, retail spaces, museums, and a lot of other places use these a lot.
Also Read: Best Portable Photo Printers 4X6
FAQ’s – Pigment Ink base printers
The following are some of the questions that we often hear from our readers about pigment ink printers & dye based prints.
No, you cannot use pigment-based inks in all inkjet printers, as these inks will quickly clog the inkjets if you use them on a printer designed for dye-based inks. It is recommended to check for compatibility before you try pigment ink on your inkjet device.
Pigment inks are inherently resistant to water and UV radiation due to their inert properties. However, this majorly depends on the material that you are using to print your photos.
Yes, you can use pigment ink to print on the fabric. However, this might demand pretreatment to the material that you are printing on.
The Epson Stylus Photo R2000 can be the best pigment ink printer if you are on the hunt for a professional quality printer to bring your digital photos to life.
Usually, pigment ink printers are on the costlier side; however, if you are looking for a cheaper one in the market, the Brother MFC-J491DW All-In-One can be a decent choice amateur photographer aiming at decent photo quality.
If the budget isn’t your consideration, the Canon PIXMA PRO-10 can be the best Canon pigment ink printer you can truly count on.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Reviews of the Best Pigment Ink Printers for Heat Transfer in 2023
- 2 List of Top Pigment Ink Printers for 2023
- 3 1. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – high-quality wide-format Pigment Printer
- 4 2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – High-end Pigment Ink Printer
- 5 3. Epson SureColor P600 – Best premium pick
- 6 4. Brother MFC-J491DW – Cheapest Option pigment ink printer
- 7 5. Canon IP8720 – best affordable option
- 8 6. Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Professional Pigment ink printer
- 9 #1. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Best Wide-format Pigment Ink Printer
- 10 Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Review –
- 11 Design and build quality
- 12 Ease of use
- 13 Connectivity
- 14 Print quality
- 15 Printing speed
- 16 Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Verdict
- 17 #2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – High-end Pigment Ink Printer
- 18 Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – review
- 19 Design and build quality
- 20 Ease of use
- 21 Connectivity
- 22 Print Quality
- 23 Print speed
- 24 Canon PIXMA PRO-10 – Verdict
- 25 #3. Epson SureColor P600 – Best premium pick
- 26 Epson SureColor P600 – Review
- 27 Design and build quality
- 28 Ease of use
- 29 Connectivity
- 30 Print quality
- 31 Printing speeds
- 32 Epson SureColor P600 – Verdict
- 33 #4. Brother MFC-J491DW All-In-One – Cheapest pigment ink printer
- 34 Brother MFC-J491DW AIO – review
- 35 Design and build quality
- 36 Ease of use
- 37 Connectivity
- 38 Printing speeds
- 39 Print quality
- 40 Brother MFC-J491DW – Verdict
- 41 #5. Canon IP8720 – A best affordable option
- 42 Canon IP8720 – review
- 43 Design and build quality
- 44 Ease of use
- 45 Connectivity
- 46 Print quality
- 47 Print speeds
- 48 Canon IP8720 – Verdict
- 49 #6. Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – A Professional Pigment ink printer
- 50 Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Review
- 51 Design and build quality
- 52 Ease of use
- 53 Connectivity
- 54 Print quality
- 55 Print speeds
- 56 Epson Stylus Photo R2000 – Verdict
- 57 9 things to consider before buying a Pigment-based ink Printer in 2023
- 58 Support for Pigment Ink
- 59 Brand
- 60 Budget
- 61 Print Resolution
- 62 Connectivity
- 63 Size of the printer
- 64 LCD Display
- 65 Printing Speeds
- 66 Wide-format support
- 67 What is Pigment Ink, and what makes it so unique?
- 68 How Does a Traditional Dye-Based Ink Printer Differ From a Pigment Ink Printer?
- 69 What Are the Advantages of Pigment Ink Printers Over Dye-Based Printers?
- 70 Who uses pigment ink printers?
- 71 FAQ’s – Pigment Ink base printers
I’m looking for an affordable inkjet printer that uses pigment ink that can be colorfast/fade resistant on fabric that will be washed from time to time. I was all set to get the Canon ip8720 you have listed here but learned that it uses ChromaLife 100 which is a dye based color ink. Can you explain why you list it as a pigment ink printer? Will this dye withstand being washed? Also I can’t find info on the dye used in the Brothers printer…are both black and color inks actually pigment inks? I can’t afford the professional printers at this time.
Brother J491DW uses the LC3011 ink for colour which is Dye based not pigment.
Brother has informed me that they do not use all pigment inks
If you want to print planner or note pages, do NOT use pigment based ink, because it will smuge terrible either using a classic eraser or your frixion pen eraser. Dye ink will NOT smuge, no matter how hard you use your erasers. It applies of course for anything you want to write notes on, scanned-printed textbook pages, test paper forms etc.
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Printer is NOT a pigment based ink printer. You guys and copying your product knowledge from others to make a buck. Really? I wonder how many people follow your dishonest blogs & reviews. You can do alot better than this. DO some research please.
Thanks for this roundup. However, your top pick the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 uses dye-based inks. Also the Canon IP8720 only uses pigment black; the colors are dye-based.
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