Considering the best printer for architectural drawings is tantamount to considering a wide format printer with excellent print quality.
Architectural drawings can be done in two ways, through the conventional mode of architectural drawing and the CAD software. However, the conventional mode is becoming obsolete with the invention of CAD software.
The conventional mode of architectural drawing is the use of basic tools such as pencil or liner pens, tracing paper, adjustable triangle, eraser, compass etc, to achieve a manual architectural drawing with detailed attention to scale.
The second method is the use of computer aided design (CAD) software such as AutoCAD, ArchiCAD to make the architectural drawing then print it out with a high quality printer, why you need the best printer for architectural drawing.
The best printer for architectural drawing is essential for a quality output either in color or black and white depending on your choice. All that matters is the print quality because of the huge importance of architectural drawings, which includes:
- For effective communication of ideas and concept
- To develop a template for the building contractor also serves as a record of a building that already is in existence
The best printer for architectural drawing falls into the category of wide format printers, and not the standard 8.5×14 inches printers, which are however perfect for basic documents printing.
Overview of best printers for architectural drawings
| Product name | Maximum media size (inches) | Dimension (inches) | Product link |
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| Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer (3295B002) | 13x11 | 13.9 x 26 x 7.6 | View on Amazon |
| Workforce WF-7720 Wireless Wide-Format Color Inkjet Printer | 13x19 | 32.2 x 22.3 x 13.4 | View on Amazon |
| Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201) | 13x19 | 27.8 x 17.3 x 12.5 | View on Amazon |
| Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Ink Jet Printer (C11C589011) | 13x44 | 12.36x24.21x8.62 | View on Amazon |
| Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment Tank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer | 11x17 | 22.6 x 12.2 x 18.8 | View on Amazon |
| Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer | 13x19 | 51.34 x 34.53 x 41.81 | View on Amazon |
| Epson SureColor P800 17" Inkjet Color Printer | 17x 22 | 26.9 x 21.7 x 21.7 | View on Amazon |
Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer (3295B002)
Canon is one of the leading printers in the market because of the quality of their products. The canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II inkjet photoprinter is not an exception with its capability to produce large format print up to 13×11 inches with a maximum resolution of 4800×2400 dpi, thanks to the CANON FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology with a proprietary print head that delivers ink droplets as small as 2pl to produce quality output.
The printer uses 8 based dye inks, which includes the black ink and the color ink; CLI-8BK Black, CLI-8C Cyan, CLI-8M Magenta, CLI-8Y Yellow, CLI-8PC Photo Cyan, CLI-8PM Photo Magenta, CLI-8R Red and CLI-8G Green to bring your architectural drawings into reality.
Whether you need the classic black and white prints or you need an outstanding color prints, the CANON PIXMA Pro9000 is well capable to produce just that without borders up to 13×19 inches at an incredible speed approximately to 1 minute and 23 seconds, and setting up this printer for the first print is a breeze.
And there is such a thing called the CHROMO LIFE 100 system, which not just ensure quality prints, but also ensure your prints lasts for a very long time. The chromo life 100 system combines the FINE technology with the genuine CANON papers and ink to produce top-notch quality photos that lasts longer.
It features two –way paper path, which includes a front feeder for heavy weight paper types.
It lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, but connecting to the printer via the USB cable is lightning bolt with the USB 2.0 Hi-speed.
Do you need to print some beautiful pictures directly from your compatible digital camera, DV camcorder, or camera phone then you can do that with the PictBridge connection without the need for a computer.
As a photo printer that it is, it comes with Easy-PhotoPrint pro plug-in software to fine-tune your prints for optimal quality, and the ambient light correction feature optimize the color output to conform to your preferred light condition.
Besides this, the printer also features a built-in Auto photo fix technology that applies optimal image correction depending on certain environment.
Features include:
- Print resolution: Maximum 4800×2400 dpi
- connectivity technology: USB Cable USB Drive
- 2 Way Paper Feeding
- Product dimensions: 13.9 x 26 x 7.6 inches
- Weighs 32.4 lbs
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Workforce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-Format Color Inkjet Printer with Copy, Scan, Fax, Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet
The Workforce WF-7720 Wireless Wide-Format Color Inkjet Printer supports borderless printing up to 13×19 inches. You can either print in black or color with the input tray that can handle up to 250 pages at once with a rear feed paper tray for special paper coupled with a 125-sheet output tray plus 35-page automatic document feeder.
Utilize the 4.3 color touch screen for easy navigation and control of the printer settings.
The Workforce WF-7720 Wireless Wide-Format Color Inkjet Printer supports Wi-Fi connectivity, which makes it possible to print conveniently from your laptop over the wireless network, also send your print jobs directly from your tablet, mobile devices to the printer via the Wi-Fi network or better still, you can use the Wi-Fi direct to print from your compatible mobile devices without network, and it is also compatible with NFC to print from your smartphone with one-touch.
Besides the Wi-Fi connectivity the USB port is another option to connect a single computer to the printer via the USB cable, but you have to get it separately because is not included with the printer, the same thing applies to the Ethernet cable in case you want to set up a wired or Ethernet connection. You can as well print directly from your e-mail.
The print speed is impressive for both black documents and full color graphics and the printer operates quietly with the sound level at 47dB.
And the printer is Amazon Replenishment enabled to see to it that you never run out of ink as the printer keep tracks of your ink usage and reorder for more automatically as the tank reads low.
The power usage is less compared to the color laser printers. The manufacturer stipulate that the printer uses up to 80 percent less power if compared to color laser printers, which makes the printer economical to run. It offers excellent print quality and scan quality at resolution up to 4800 x 2400 dpi/ppp and 1200 x 2400 dpi/ppp respectively.
It comes with initial 4x DURABrite Ultra Ink cartridges (1x Black ink cartridge and 3x color ink cartridges: 1x Cyan, 1x Magenta, 1x Yellow) to start printing right from outside the box. It also comes with the installation disc and you can as well set up the printer through the Wi-Fi connectivity. The package also includes the power cord and the documentation.
Features include:
- Wireless printing
- Mobile device printing: Wi-Fi direct, Wi-Fi, NFC
- Auto 2-sided print, copy, scan and fax
- 35-page automatic document feeder
- Intuitive 4.3 inch color touch screen
- Versatile paper handling
- Borderless printing up to 13×19 inches
- Product dimensions: 32.2 x 22.3 x 13.4 inches
- Weighs 40.8 lbs
- 1-year limited warranty
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Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201)
The Epson Artisan 1430 wireless color wide-format inkjet printer has a whooping resolution of 5760×1440 dpi and the ink droplets is as small as 1.5 picoliter to ensure nothing but quality printing.
Another spectacular thing about this printer is its capability to print professionally on CD or DVD with the built-in CD/DVD tray. So go ahead to burn your creative architectural works on a CD/DVD and give it a professional label with the Epson CD/DVD printing.
And of course, the Epson Artisan prints wide format media up to 13×19 inches with ultra-high definition print quality, thanks to the 6 claria hi-definition ink cartridges, which includes the Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, Light Magenta also with the 6 claria color ink the photos are smudge, resistant to water scratch, water and fade, and you only need to replace the ink cartridge you need.
The printer also includes advanced color and lighting correction to produce perfect prints in clear and crisp text, optimal skin tones, and smoother gradations.
The Epson Artisan 1430 supports wireless network, which makes it possible to print from the computer wirelessly also from compatible mobile devices. You can likewise connect your computer to the PC via the USB cable though it is not included.
It comes with the CD/DVD tray, Six Claria Hi-Definition High-capacity ink cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, and light Magenta), the documentation and the installation disk.
Features include
- Connectivity technology: Wireless, Mobile, USB
- Print resolution: 5760 x 1440
- Borderless printing up to 13×19 inches
- CD/DVD printing
- Product dimensions: 27.8 x 17.3 x 12.5 inches
- Weighs 26 lbs
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Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Ink Jet Printer (C11C589011)
All you can expect from a printer with optimized resolution up to 5760 x 1440 dpi is exceptional quality, which is the case of the Epson Stylus photo R1800 inkjet printer.
The printer includes a CD/DVD tray which allows you to print on the CD/DVD. Get a wide color gamut from the Epson Stylus inkjet printer with the wide range 8 pigment based color ink cartridges it offers, which also includes the black ink cartridge.
It lacks wireless connectivity, which makes it differs from the Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer, however, it supports the wired network in which you can connect to the printer via the Ethernet cable, and of course, you can print from your computer via the USB cable especially if the Ethernet does not cut it with you, but the USB cable is not included.
Besides the printer, the package also includes the CD/DVD tray, roll paper holders, matte sheet support, CD position check and FireWire IEEE1394 cable.
Features include:
- Printer connectivity type: wired, USB
- Product dimensions: 12.36×24.21×8.62 inches
- Weighs 34.3 lbs
- Print resolution: 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi resolution
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Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment Tank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Wireless, Duplex Printing
Up to 1-year of ink in the box is the headline of the Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment Tank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer, and that really matters because sometimes the initial price of an inkjet printer is not the real deal, but the operating cost of the printer.
If the cost of ink of most inkjet printers is putting you off then you should consider this economical printer, which comes with up to 1-year worth of ink, so you can run the printer up to 1 year without replacing the ink cartridge, and when it comes to the time of refill, the ink cartridge is relatively inexpensive to refill and they last longer.
Besides printing, it also has scanning, copying and faxing capabilities up to 11×17 inches with 50-sheet automatic document feeder.
The Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment -in-One Printer is an ideal printer for businesses and home offices.
It comes with paper to give you the precise time to replace the ink as the printer display the estimated pages remaining, hence, provides real time condition of the ink usage. And you need not to order for more inks on your own if you activate the Amazon Dash Replenishment program.
It prints at a good print speed of 22 ppm for black prints and 20 ppm for color prints, and it has a maximum paper tray capacity of 250-sheets.
And when it comes to the printer connectivity technology is all with convenience with the multiple connectivity options such as the Ethernet, Wi-Fi connectivity and through the USB interfaces.
It also supports mobile printing, which allows you to print wirelessly from anywhere via your mobile devices. It also supports NFC one touch printing if your mobile device is compatible with the NFC.
The brother MFC Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment Tank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer is not just an economical printer, but also offers convenience in its operation with functionalities and capabilities.
Features include:
- Brother INKvesment tank
- Multifunctional printer: Print/copy/scan/fax
- Connectivity technology: Ethernet, USB 2.0, and Wi-Fi
- Comes with up to 1-year of ink in the box
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- 250-sheet input tray
- 3.7 color touch screen display
- Product dimensions: 22.6 x 12.2 x 18.8 inches
- Weighs 44.3 pounds
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Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer, Amazon Dash Replenishment Enabled
The Expression Photo HD XP-1500 inkjet printer can handle variety of paper design and borderless prints from 4×6 inches to 13×19 inches.
The printer also features a 50-sheet rear tray for specialty media as well as 200-sheet front tray.
Though the printer is not all in one printer, it does support auto sided printing, and due to its compact side it conveniently fits on any desktop and any spot you place it.
It uses 6-color ink cartridges, which includes color ink for vivid color prints, and black ink for excellent black and white documents. The printer feature a quiet mode you can activate to reduce the noise of the printer.
Utilize the easy to use 2.4 color touch screen to navigate the printer settings and likewise for easy set up. The printer supports mobile device printing in which you can send print jobs directly to the printer from your smartphones, iPhone, iPad tablets and other compatible devices.
So, after make some architectural drawings on your tablet or iPad, you can send directly to the printer without the need for a computer at a good print speed of 9.2 seconds for black prints and 8 seconds for color prints.
The printer comes with CD/DVD ROM for the set up of the printer as well as the ink cartridges. The package include 4x Claria Photo HD 312-I ink cartridges (1x Black, 1x Cyan, 1x Magenta, 1x Yellow) 2x Claria Photo HD 314-I ink cartridges (1x Gray, 1x Red), which you can use them to create beautiful prints for a start. And the printer supports Amazon Dash replenishment to reorder more inks automatically when the ink finishes upon activation.
Features include:
- Auto 2-sided printing
- 50-sheet automatic document feeder
- 200-sheet front tray
- Print up to 13×19 inches
- Connectivity print type: USB
- 3.7 inch color touch screen
- Individual 6-color Claria Photo HD Ink
- Product dimensions: 30.9×18.7×16.2
- Weighs 18.7 lbs
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Epson SureColor P800 17
Create borderless prints up to 17 inches wide with the Epson SureColor P800 17 inches inkjet color printer. If the 13 inches wide printer does not the meet need for your architectural drawing, surely, the 17 inches wide format printer in the Epson SureColor printer will meet it coupled with its functionalities and capabilities. The new optional roll feeder allows you to print roll-based media.
The Epson SureColor printer is among of the printer that delivers professional black and white printing with the advanced black and white print mode to give you that architectural drawing in aesthetic black print.
It also offers exceptional color printing with the high capacity ink 80ml cartridges. It uses 8 pigment based color ultrachrome inks to produce professional quality prints also with archival quality.
The printer provides multiple connectivity options just use any with freedom as it meets your business needs, whether the USB hi-speed interfaces, wired Ethernet network standard or the wireless connectivity.
It features an easy to use touch screen for easy navigation and control of the printer. You can as well print from your smartphones, tablet or iPhone, iPad through the compatible mobile apps and the Wi-Fi direct, which allows connection to the printer without network.
It supports Google cloud print, which allows you to save architectural files in the cloud also print from the cloud. The Epson SureColor P800 17″ Inkjet Color Printer is such a nice printer with lots of capabilities, but quite pricey.
Features include:
- Versatile media handling up to 17 inches wide
- Google cloud print support
- Uses Nine 80 ml ink cartridges
- easy to use color touch screen
- connectivity technology: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
- Optional roll media support
- product dimensions: 26.9 x 21.7 x 21.7 inches
- weighs 43 pounds
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Conclusion
Bring your architectural drawings into realization with these printers for architectural drawings, and they are the best at what they do, to give you a vivid and aesthetic prints.
Besides the print quality they offer, they are user friendly, easy to set up also relatively cheap to run!