A3 printers are widely used by both professionals and students for large-sized prints. A typical A3 printer can print paper size of 11 x 17 inches, while some can even print up to 13 x 19 inches paper size.
These printers are most suitable for architects due to its fast speed printing without any compromise on the quality of the print.
Most of the A3 printers available today have multi-functional roles, such as copying, faxing, and scanning activities, along with multiple connectivity options.
A3 printers are more expensive than standard printers, but they are worth every penny.
Mentioned below is my selection of the best A3 printers for architects within a good budget, along with their features and limitations, if any. Read on, to find out the best and buy it.
Top 10 A3 Printers For Architects
| PRODUCT | TITLE | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Epson Stylus Photo 1400 |
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View on Amazon |
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Canon Pixma iX6520 Inkjet Printer |
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View on Amazon |
Cheapest Ink |
Epson EcoTank ET-7750 |
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View on Amazon |
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Canon Pixma Pro-100 |
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View on Amazon |
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Brother MFCJ6945DW |
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View on Amazon |
 |
Epson WorkForce WF-7610DWF |
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View on Amazon |
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Brother MFC-J5330DW |
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View on Amazon |
Borderless printing |
HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 |
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View on Amazon |
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Epson Workforce WF-7720 |
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View on Amazon |
Budget Pick |
HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 |
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View on Amazon |
Epson Stylus Photo 1400 – My Top Choice
The Epson Stylus Photo 1400 is a one-of-a-kind inkjet printer that guarantees high-quality prints of sizes up to 13×17 inches in an ultra HD mode. It has a fast printing speed and can print up to 13×19 inches borderless photos in just three minutes.
This model features CD/DVD printing, which enables professional-looking digital prints easily. It also comes with a color and lighting correction feature so that you don’t have to worry about digitally enhancing your photos.
The printer has a 6 color Claria Hi-definition ink and boasts of the Epson’s Advanced Micro piezo technology that delivers crisp and sharp images with smooth gradations. It also comes with Adobe Photoshop elements, and its pictures are smudge-free, water-resistant, scratch-free, and do not fade. This is a great printer for printing professional posters, brochures, floor plans, drawings, etc.
This Epson printer supports all kinds of paper: matte, glossy, luster paper, and more. The best part about it is that you can replace only the ink cartridge that runs out and only one cartridge is used to print on both photo and plain paper.
The only downside is its inability to connect wirelessly.
PROs
- Professional-quality prints
- Easy CD/DVD printing
- Micro piezo print head technology
Cons
- No wireless setup
- Replacing ink can be expensive
- Expensive
Canon Pixma iX6520 Inkjet Printer – High Resolution Printing
This printer is a great choice for architects because of its multi-functionalities of print, scan, and fax, along with its small footprint and high-resolution prints.
This printer allows you to print excellent quality 4″x6″ borderless photos in just 37 seconds.
The printer features a FINE print head technology with select Canon photo papers that print borderless photos, which would last up to 300 years.
This printer uses five different ink cartridges, of which four are dye-based, and one is a pigment-based black ink to give professional-quality prints. The best part about this printer is that you only need to replace the ink cartridge that runs out.
This printer gives you a resolution up to 9,600 x 2,400 dpi, which is excellent for printing photos and documents for architects.
The product is easy to use, and another added feature is its Full HD movie print software.
This software enables printing of HD movie clips captured with Powershot cameras or Canon EOS Digital SLR.
Another amazing feature of this printer is the AutoPhotofix technology, which automatically categorizes your image into one of these five types- a snapshot, scenery, night scenery, snapshot with night scenery, and snapshot with scenery. It then applies the multi-zone exposure and optimal image correction.
This printer comes with 2.0 high-speed USB and the cable. The only negative point is its inability to connect wirelessly.
PROs
- Classy outlook
- High-quality prints
- Good print speed
- Flexible paper handling
Cons
- Expensive ink cartridges
- Ink consumption could have been more economical
Epson EcoTank ET-7750 – Most Ink Efficient
The Epson EcoTank ET-7750 is one of the best printers in the EcoTank line of products. The price can be a little alarming for some, but this multi-functional printer won’t disappoint you.
One of the features to look out for is its refillable tank system of five inks with a black pigment ink dedicated to photos. This printer can print tabloid/A3 prints and delivers a high resolution and excellent quality prints.
A striking feature of this printer is that the ten bundled bottles of the printer contain enough ink to print 3,600 photos in a 10×15 cm photo paper.
This Epson printer has an elegant design with a slightly bigger size than the cartridge printers. In this model, the ink tanks bulge out in the front panel, thus allowing you to see the quantity of ink left.
The refilling system in this model is designed to make refilling easy for you. It comes with colored bottles corresponding to the color of the ink tank to eliminate the mistake of filling the wrong color. It also has an automatic shut-off valve that prevents over-filling of the tanks.
The printer comes with a 2.7 inches display touch screen and has an SD card slot beside the USB port in front. It also has an Ethernet and USB ports at the back. However, it does not come with a USB data cable.
The Epson EcoTank ET-7750 is a three-in-one printer that can print, copy, and scan. It allows duplex printing and comes with ten bottles of ink that can last up to 3 years. It has three input trays, with the rear tray capable of printing in A3 size. However, it cannot print photos on glossy A3 size paper.
It has a fast printing speed of 28 ppm for mono printing. It is not as fast as a laser printer and has a limited paper tray efficiency of only 100 sheets.
It does not come with NFC. It readily connects through Wi-Fi direct or via Wireless network and is compatible with smartphones and tablets.
PROs
- High-quality prints
- Includes ink for up to 3,400 photos
- Cost-effective printing
Cons
- No fax, NFC, and ADF
- Limited paper tray capacity
Canon Pixma Pro-100 – best grayscale print quality for architects
The Canon Pixma Pro-100 is a printer meant for those who wish to print wide formats with professional quality. It is an 8 dye-based color ink printer that gives beautiful and fine colored prints. It also features dedicated grayscale inks for clean and crisp black and white prints.
The printer is compatible with smartphones and tablets using the Canon mobile printing app and also has Ethernet and USB connectivity ports.
With a print resolution of 4800×2400 dpi, you can print excellent quality on media up to 13x 19 inches in size.
This model features an Optimum Image-Generating System, which enables the printer to logically select the combination of inks to produce real-life colored prints. This is great when you need to print beautiful photos.
The downside to this model is that since it uses dye-based ink, the prints are more prone to fading, unlike the pigment system. However, with the right combination of Canon papers and ChromeLife 100+ ink, the prints should last for more than 100 years when stored properly.
It has versatile paper handling with a two-way paper feed trays- a rear tray for most media and a back tray incase of thicker papers.
PROs
- Professional-quality prints
- Elegant design and build
- Dedicated ink cartridges for grayscale prints
Cons
- Can be a little expensive
- Quality on matte paper is mediocre
Brother MFCJ6945DW – Highest ink capacity
The Brother INKVESTMENT color printer comes with ink that can last up to 1 year for an average of 300 prints with 40 and 60 color and black prints respectively. It is perfect for home offices and small businesses.
It boasts of a revolutionary Inkvestment system that enables the ink cartridges to hold more ink and also has an internal ink storage tank. The Brother’s intelligent page gauge gives you real-time information on the amount of ink left in the tank, thus eliminating the guesswork to replace the ink every time.
The printer also comes with an activated Amazon Dash replenishment system that pre-orders your ink from Amazon before it runs out, which is great for professionals busy with their other works.
This printer has multiple functionings- print, scan, fax, and copy of up to 11×17 inches. The printer can be connected via the Ethernet, USB port, or Wi-Fi direct.
It comes with NFC, thus making printing easy for you with NFC compatible devices.
The printer has a 3.7 inches display touch screen and also supports up to 50 sheets of the automatic document feeder. It is also capable of automatic 2 sided printing.
The printer is ideal for architects with a warranty of 2 years.
PROs
- Intelligent paper gauge
- Wide touch screen display
- Multiple connectivity options
- Automatic 2 sided printing
Cons
- Scan quality could be better
Epson WorkForce WF-7610DWF – Up to B5 printing
This Epson printer gives you laser-sharp, good quality color prints. It has a height of about 12 inches with dimensions of 22 x 17 inches and hence requires a significant amount of desk space.
It can print a wide range of paper sizes from A3 to even B5. This printer comes with two trays that can handle approximately 125 A5 sheets.
The printer allows wifi printing and also supports mobile printing such as Apple Airprint or Google print. It has USB and Ethernet ports, along with NFC and wireless connectivity.
It does not come with any cables or card readers. It has a 2.2 inches display screen that shows the printing status.
The print quality is very good because of Epson’s PrecisionCore technology. It has fast printing speeds of 18 ISO ppm for black and 10 ISO ppm for color.
It has a versatile paper handling with a 500-sheet capacity along with a rear feed for specialty paper. However, with this printer, extra care should be taken in paper handling because even a slight dog-ear can cause jam while printing.
The ink cartridges used should only be of Epson’s, and it features the Amazon Dash Replenishment system so that you will never run out of ink.
However, in the case of batch color printing of A3 sheets, the sheets may not dry instantly, and it is advised to remove them quickly.
This printer gives a resolution of up to 4,800 x 2,400 dpi, which is great.
PROs
- Fast printing
- Duplex printing
- Economic power use
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Paper handling could be better
- No front port for USB and card reader
Brother MFC-J5330DW – Most Versatile A3 Printer
This all-in-one color inkjet printer by Brother is a versatile model that allows you to do A3 printing conveniently in the confines of your home or office. With a footprint of only 15.7 x 20.9 x 12 in, this model allows wireless printing from your computer via the Ethernet or USB interface.
This model is compatible with smartphones and tablets through mobile apps such as the Brother iPrint & scan app, Morpia, Apple Airprint, and others.
You can print high-quality black and color prints, along with duplex printing and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder. This model also features a tray capacity of 250 sheets that can print media of 11×17 inches. There is a bypass tray for single-sheet specialty media printing, such as an envelope or card.
It comes with a 2.7-inch display touch screen through which you can print and scan from your Google dropbox or Google drive etc. and other common cloud services.
Its print speed is good with 20 ppm for IEC and 22 ppm for ISO, and also supports the Amazon Dash replenishment for replacement of ink cartridges.
The super high-yield cartridges in this printer enable lower printing costs by reducing the frequency of ink replacement.
The only drawback of this model is its inability to do Near Field Communication printing.
PROs
- Good quality prints
- Multiple connectivity options
- Good printing speed
- Versatile and flexible paper handling
Cons
- Photo prints could be of better quality
- Requires occasional reconnection to the wireless network
HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 – Best For Borderless printing
The HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 is an all-in-one printer that delivers good quality prints and can also scan, fax, and copy. It can print up to 11×17 inches of media size and can be easily connected through your mobiles or tablets via the HP ePrinting app. The Wi-Fi direct also allows wireless network connectivity options.
It comes with a 2.65-inch touch screen display that allows better navigation and control of the printer. It has a flexible media handling from 3×5 inches up to 11×17 inches and boasts of a good printing speed of up to 22 pages in a minute in case of black prints.
This model features an automatic document feeder and an automatic duplex printing, scanning, faxing and copying even.
It enables high volume paper handling with a printing capacity of about 500 sheets. It also comes with the Amazon Dash Replenishment to ensure that your printer never runs out of ink and has a backup warranty of 1-year.
This is ideal for professionals such as architects or photographers who wish to print high-quality borderless media.
PROs
- Multiple connectivity options
- Good print quality and speed
- Easy to setup and user-friendly
Cons
- Takes a lot of desk space
- Ink can be expensive
Epson Workforce WF-7720 – Laser quality prints
The Epson Workforce WF-7720 printer delivers laser-quality prints for architectural works. It has the capacity to print documents up to 11×17 inches sizes and borderless prints up to 13×17 inches in size.
This printer has multiple functions- scan, print, copy, and fax and comes with a 35-sheet automatic document feeder and an auto 2-sided printability.
This model features a versatile paper handling with a 125-sheet output tray, a 500 sheet input capacity along with a rear tray for specialty paper. It also comes with dual trays.
You can use smartphones and tablets to connect with the printer or can use the Ethernet, NFC, or Wi-Fi direct for a convenient printing experience.
This printer also features a wired network for more connectivity options. It has a 2.2″ touch screen display that allows you to navigate and control the printer easily.
It gives a good print speed of 18ppm and is super economical in power use- using up to 80% lesser power than other color laser printers.
This printer comes with four ink cartridges and features the Amazon Dash Replenishment system, where it preorders your ink from Amazon before the ink runs out in the printer.
It should be noted that no third-party ink cartridges can be used in this printer. It should only be Epson’s ink cartridges. This will prevent any future damages to the printer.
PROs
- Versatile media handling
- Good print quality
- Multiple connectivity options
- Easy to use
- Reasonable priced
Cons
- Can be a little noisy
- Not portable because of the weight and size
HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 – Affordable A3 Printing
Given the numerous inkjet printers with all-in-ones, this is a great choice for A3 printing for architects because of its low price cost, desk-friendly design, and its multiple functionalities.
This printer boasts of a 250-sheet paper tray and a 35-sheets automatic document feeder. It is a four-in-one and can print, fax, scan, and copy. It allows 2-sided print, fax, scan, and copy. You can directly connect the printer through Wi-Fi directly or via a Wi-Fi network.
It is compatible with smartphones and tablets through HP’s companion app.
The HP smart app is designed to ease the printing process by enabling scanning of documents through the phone camera and printing through common cloud services.
This printer allows you to print into any kind of paper such as glossy, envelopes, cards, and tabloid pages. You can even print both sides of a page with this printer; however, this is not possible with an A3 paper.
The overall study of this printer is not very attractive compared to others, and it also takes up a lot of desk space. The printer will work perfectly for a home office. However, it has a well-done degree of style and symmetry with grey and off white plastic panels.
The printer comes with a touch display screen of 2.65 inches along with an Ethernet and USB cable ports at the back. The downside here is the unavailability of ports in front, which would have made it more convenient.
The printer can scan and print up to a resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi and has a scan resolution up to 300 x 300 dpi. This is great given the low price it comes in. It has a fast printing speed of 22 ppm.
PROs
- Fast printing speed
- Very low price
- Duplex printing for A4
- Multiple functionalities
Cons
- No front USB port
- Can be a little noisy
- Poor quality build
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the few specs that architects should look into while buying A3 printers?
Before purchasing an A3 printer, you should be aware of these items:
– Portability of the printer– In a few cases, you may need to carry the printer to your construction site.
– Ink usage – The printer should have economical ink usage per page.
– Wireless connectivity – This will give you flexibility during emergencies and more convenience.
– Durable – Ability to handle high production runs.
Which ink-type is better for architectural printing?
Architects may need to take their blueprints or documents to the construction sites often. For this, the ink used should be water-resistant, smudge-free, and long-lasting in order to resist any environmental conditions.
In such cases, pigment-based inks work best since they are water-resistant and last longer. Dye-based inks tend to fade faster, but this may not be a problem always since you need the blueprints of a site only until the project finishes.
Inkjet or Laser printers are better for architects?
Laser printers are fast and will offer crisper details as compared to inkjet printers. They are better for volume prints but don’t offer the best quality in colored prints.
However, inkjet printers give more shine in the case of colored prints. It is better used for printing photos and presentations.
Choosing the kind of printer will depend on your imaging needs.
Conclusion
A3 printers are most needed for printing of documents and photos for various architectural works. The quality of the prints should be high with crisp and accurate color gradations. The printer should also be able to give good quality prints in grayscale.
While there is a myriad of A3 printers available for architects, care should be taken in choosing the one that best suits your imaging needs. The printer should be reasonably priced for the quality output it delivers.
A3 prints are a necessity for professional architects who wish to print high-quality blueprints or documents for work.
Any questions or comment about this article? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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