For photographers and artists seeking to create impactful, large-scale prints, the choice of printer is paramount. When it comes to producing very wide, high-quality images, the Epson SureColor P900 stands out as a top contender. This 17-inch printer delivers exceptional prints that rival our top pick in overall quality, utilizing the same professional-grade pigment inks, but with the added advantage of wider output.
Epson SureColor P900 professional photo printer printing a detailed color photograph.
For those looking to sell prints, make a bold statement with their work, or simply enjoy the enhanced visual impact of large format photography, the Epson SureColor P900 distinguishes itself from the competition. It offers a user-friendly experience compared to other wide-format printers like the Canon ImagePrograf PRO-1000, while maintaining the same outstanding print quality as our overall top recommendation, the Epson SureColor P700. Notably, it shares the same elegant design and compatibility with a wide array of paper types.
Epson SureColor P900 wide format printer angled side view showcasing paper input and sleek design.
One of the impressive features of the P900 is its consistent printing speed across different connection types. Whether using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB-B, print speeds remained virtually identical. In tests comparing it to the 17-inch Canon PRO-1000 at similar resolution settings, the Epson P900 consistently demonstrated faster performance, sometimes marginally depending on the paper used. Importantly, unlike the Canon model which experienced slowdowns over Wi-Fi, the Epson P900 maintained its speed, ensuring efficient workflow regardless of connectivity.
In a practical speed test, printing a 12×18 inch image from a high-resolution crop of NASA’s Pillars of Creation on 13×19 inch luster paper via Wi-Fi, the P900 completed the task in 16 minutes and 33 seconds, significantly faster than the Canon PRO-1000’s 24 minutes and 10 seconds.
The P900 inherits many of the beloved features of the P700. This includes the use of long-lasting pigment inks, extensive paper compatibility, a user-friendly large touchscreen interface, and the appealing design featuring a transparent window to observe the printing process. The P900 flawlessly handles a diverse range of premium papers, including Red River’s Polar Gloss Metallic and Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag, Hahnemühle’s FineArt Baryta Satin, Canson’s Infinity Baryta Photographique, Awagami Factory’s handmade Japanese paper, and various options from Epson’s Professional Media line, such as Legacy Fibre. All of these paper types yielded stunning print results, showcasing the printer’s versatility and ability to cater to diverse artistic preferences.
A key advantage of the Epson SureColor P900 is its roll feed capability, enabling printing of extra-long panoramic images. While the width is limited to 17 inches, the length can extend up to an impressive 129 inches (nearly 11 feet) with the addition of an optional roll-feed adapter. This significantly surpasses the Canon PRO-1000’s maximum length of 47 inches, opening up possibilities for creating striking vertical banners or expansive artwork. However, it’s worth noting that the P900 roll feed lacks a built-in cutter, requiring manual cutting with scissors or a paper cutter.
While the P900 excels in many areas, its main paper feed (rear feed) can be occasionally prone to feeding multiple sheets at once. Although not a frequent occurrence in testing, a misfeed did result in wasted paper. Therefore, it is advisable to manually feed single sheets, especially when using expensive fine art papers, to prevent potential paper waste. Conversely, the roll feed and the front paper feed mechanisms performed reliably without such issues. The front feed, while slower for thicker media, handled expensive paper types with care and precision.
Print head clogging, a common concern with inkjet printers, has been minimal with the P900. Extensive testing, including periods of inactivity up to two months, revealed that only a single head cleaning was necessary to restore optimal performance. This represents a notable improvement over older inkjet models, although the Canon ImagePrograf PRO-1000 has demonstrated similarly robust performance in this regard. Regular printing, ideally a nozzle check pattern every two weeks, is recommended to maintain the printer’s nozzles in optimal condition and prevent potential clogging issues.
In conclusion, the Epson SureColor P900 is an exceptional image printer, particularly for those requiring wide format output. Its superior print quality, speed, versatile paper handling, and roll feed capability make it the Best Image Printer choice for professionals and serious enthusiasts venturing into large format printing. While the main paper feed requires some caution, its overall performance and features solidify its position as a top-tier best image printer in its class.
