Best Overall
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310
Key details
- Ink System
- 9-color pigment
- Running Costs
- Pigment cartridges
- Max Media Size
- 13 x 19 in
- Print Resolution
- 1200 x 1200 dpi
The PRO-310 uses nine pigment colors plus a Chroma Optimizer to produce deep black density and a wide color gamut on 13x19 sheets. Dedicated gray inks keep black-and-white prints neutral through the grayscale, a decisive factor for photographers whose clients expect gallery-grade permanence. The Chroma Optimizer suppresses gloss differential on glossy media, so framed work shows even reflective surfaces rather than patchy unevenness. The result is a print that behaves like a gallery object, not a lab proof.
Installing the nine cartridges and running the initialization takes longer than a consumer inkjet, but the panel guides each step and the head alignment routine is clear. The 31.6 lb body stays steady during printing, and Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB let the printer sit in a networked studio rather than next to a computer. Once the right paper profile is selected, 13x19 sheets run without constant attention. The machine settles into a rhythm after the first few prints.
This is for the working photographer who sells 13x19 client prints, prints black-and-white work, or wants imagePROGRAF pigment output without moving to a 17-inch machine. The per-print cost of pigment ink is a real expense, and the workflow is built around individual sheets and small client sets, not production runs. Photographers who price prints to include consumables get the archival quality their clients are paying for.
The 17-inch imagePROGRAF sibling in this group prints larger exhibition sheets, but the PRO-310 keeps the same pigment chemistry in a frame that fits a normal studio desk. Photographers whose orders rarely exceed 13x19 gain permanence without taking on the footprint and cost of the larger machine. The 13-inch format also means simpler storage for a print business that works from a spare room rather than a dedicated darkroom.
The pigment system is the reason this printer commands a premium over dye-based 13-inch models. Photographers selling archival prints can recover that premium in the first few client orders, and the printer does not demand a dedicated print room. For a photographer whose name goes on the print, that combination of pigment permanence, neutral black-and-white, and a 13-inch chassis is what the PRO-310 uniquely provides.
💡 Keep a regular print schedule; the pigment system runs cleanest with steady weekly output.
Pros
- Nine-color pigment ink with Chroma Optimizer produces deep blacks and a wide color gamut on 13x19 media.
- Dedicated gray inks keep black-and-white prints neutral with strong tonal separation.
- Initial setup is manageable for a pro-level pigment printer, with guided cartridge installation and alignment.
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connections fit studio networking without requiring a tethered workstation.
Cons
- A new unit can arrive with an ink-system fault that interrupts the first print session.
- Maintenance cycles use a noticeable amount of pigment even when no print is running.
For photographers whose 13x19 client work demands archival pigment output, this is the desktop printer to buy. No other 13-inch option in this group pairs the same pigment permanence with a desktop footprint.
