The best printers for crafting

Whether you're a professional crafter who relies on quality products to impress your customers, or an enthusiast who takes pride in your creative endeavours, the proper tools for the job can make a huge impact. Printers have become an important part of the crafting process and have the power to change an average creation into a true masterpiece.

The right printer can help bring intricate designs to life and explore new dimensions in your creativity. However, not all printers are equipped to meet the diverse needs of crafting. Here we explore some of the best Canon craft printers, and how their compatibility with a variety of paper types can help to take the quality of your creations to a whole new level.

• Best all-round craft printer
• Best printers for photo craft projects
• Best printers for papercraft projects
• Best software for crafting projects

If you do a range of crafting, or your household uses a printer for work or other projects, choosing one that ticks all the boxes will keep everyone happy – from kids working on school projects to adults selling their pieces online.

If you're balancing crafting with home office requirements, the Canon PIXMA TS9540 Series is a great choice. Though it has a compact A4 footprint, its rear feed can accommodate up to 50 sheets of A3 paper to produce larger borderless prints, such as posters for work or creative artwork for display. You can also print on 12x12cm paperboard media, which is popular size for scrapbooking. It has a user-friendly touchscreen and you can print, scan and copy from a smart device using the Canon PRINT app.

For photo craft projects, it's important to think about the print quality, range of papers and compatibility with creative apps that can really elevate your work. Crafting with photos can feel more personal, whether it's creating a vibrant multimedia scrapbook or using a decoupage technique to make thoughtful gifts. Parent, crafter and teacher Juliet Amma makes great use of her Canon PIXMA printer for work, hobbies and family life.

The Canon PIXMA TS6540i features an ink system with a pigment black ink that, along with the rich, dye-based colours, means users can print high-quality photographs at home. A two-way paper feeding system supports a wide range of media, printing photographs in numerous finishes and sizes including the popular 13x13cm square photo paper.

The slightly larger Canon PIXMA TS7740i has an additional 35-page automatic document feeder. As well as the Canon PRINT app, the PIXMA TS6540i and PIXMA TS7740i printers are compatible with Canon's Easy-PhotoPrint Editor, which provides the tools to create all manner of different layouts before sending them directly to print.

A combination of quality, versatility and style, the Canon PIXMA TS7440a is a convenient all-in-one printer that offers multiple wireless printing, scanning and copying options as well as an easy-to-use OLED display. The FINE print technology makes for high-quality results every time, and it's compatible with a number of paper types including glossy and matte photo paper, in a range of sizes such as borderless 10x15cm.

A more compact option with chic, decor-friendly colour finishes, the SELPHY CP1500 is ideal for producing photos on a range of media. Fast-drying technology means prints come out ready to handle and you can print in a range of smaller sizes, from 10x14.8cm postcard size to mini stickers (22x17.3mm).

A great option for displaying your photo creations is the Canon Photo Cube, which not only offers a smart way to store photos and square-shaped prints, but can also be transformed into a fun family photo album. Photo Cube variations also come with optional ink cartridges (check compatibility with your printer before purchase) and 40 sheets of square Photo Paper Plus Glossy II.

For those who enjoy the endless possibilities of papercrafting, a printer with good connectivity, access to creative apps, compatibility with a range of media and a fast print speed, is a must.

The Canon PIXMA TS7640i and the Canon PIXMA TS9540 all offer auto two-sided printing, which is ideal when both sides of the paper are on display – for instance, hanging decorations and dioramas.

Their Wi-Fi connectivity paired with free Canon apps, as well as resources like Creative Park, mean there are thousands of templates to personalise and print at the touch of a button. Similarly to the Canon PIXMA TS7640i, the PIXMA TS9540 Series has a printing speed of 15 ipm for mono prints and 10 ipm for colour, so you can start crafting immediately, ideal for your scrapbooking or paper crafting projects.

In addition, the PIXMA TS9540 Series has 45 built-in patterns for further creative options and is compatible with papers up to 300gsm (grams per square metre) – ideal for sturdier crafts, such as larger models and greetings cards.

Canon offers a range of free software to increase the scope of your crafting projects and support your creativity throughout the process. Whether it's a simple activity on a quiet evening, a family-friendly weekend project or a professional-looking design, there's something to light every creative spark.

For seamless connection between your smart devices and printer, the Canon PRINT app is an essential tool to effortlessly print, copy and scan, plus check your printer's status and any maintenance issues. It streamlines the process, and is compatible with a range of file types. You can even access and print photos directly from your social media or cloud storage. The Smartphone Capture and Copy function also means you can use your smartphone as a scanner, which is great for scanning kids' artwork to either save or print, correcting any distortions as you go.

Crafters can find a plethora of resources to create everything from ornaments to pop-up cards and toys on Canon Creative Park and it's free to register. Some templates are simple and don't require scissors – ideal for youngsters – while others are more advanced for experienced crafters who relish a challenge.

For those keen to use their skill to produce promotional material, Canon PosterArtist is a user-friendly tool for bringing posters, banners and other designs to life. Whether it's signage for your business, flyers for a school play or menus for an event, it provides access to auto-generated design proposals, templates and millions of free stock photos to give your creations that professional edge. The software is compatible with a range of Canon printers, including the imagePROGRAF, PIXMA, MAXIFY and i-SENSYS series.

Canon also has options specifically for photos. The Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor is compatible with PIXMA and MAXIFY printers, and allows you to create collages, calendars, wrapping paper designs and more. You can also add speech bubbles, symbols, text and frames to your photos.

For compatible Canon SELPHY printers, the SELPHY Photo Layout app offers layout and design tips, and allows you to add filters, borders and even QR codes⁴. It lets you print customised photos, stickers and bookmarks direct from a single mobile app – just scan your printer's QR code for instant Wi-Fi connection.

With so many ways to get creative, crafters can open up a whole new world with Canon's printers and creative apps. Whether you're at the start of your crafting journey and looking for inspiration to make quick, simple designs, keen to inspire your kids with interactive projects, or a professional crafter looking for new ways to streamline the process, there's never been a better time to get crafting.



Written by Kat Halstead