PRINTING

The best printers for crafting

From papercraft dinosaurs to business posters, Canon has the perfect printer for your crafting needs.
A woman cuts out Creative Park templates while sitting at a wooden desk, on which sits a Canon PIXMA printer and a selection of crafting materials.
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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

A Canon PIXMA printer sits on a desk, a colourful printout sitting in its tray.

The Canon PIXMA TS9550 Series is small in size but capable of handling A3 paper, so it's perfect for larger-scale crafting projects.

A Canon PIXMA printer sits on a shelf, blank paper in the rear tray and the colour touchscreen lit up.

It's easy to connect your smartphone to a Canon PIXMA TS8750 Series printer. Just scan the QR code on the printer's LCD screen and you're ready to go.

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.

The Canon PIXMA TS7650i makes the printing process quick and simple, featuring a 6.7cm colour touchscreen and Switch UI that can be tailored for different uses. It can produce black and white prints at 15 ipm (images per minute) and colour prints at 10 ipm thanks to its long print head that features more nozzles and optimised droplet size, so there's less waiting around, and more time for those finishing touches that add the 'wow' factor.

It's Wi-Fi-enabled, so the PIXMA TS7650i can be used with a range of Canon apps to add extra creative potential and you can also scan direct to a smartphone or copy at the touch of a button. It also benefits from being compatible with the PIXMA Print Plan1. This subscription-based service monitors your ink levels and delivers new cartridges to your door as soon as it detects that you're running low, giving you savings of up to 50% on standard ink costs2.

If you're balancing crafting with home office requirements, the Canon PIXMA TS9550 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.

The Canon PIXMA TS8750 Series is another printer with plenty of user-friendly features. Not only can these be accessed on its large 10.8cm touchscreen, but you can also connect to a smart device via QR code. It produces high-quality prints thanks to its six-ink system, and also has front and rear feeders, so you can switch between glossy photos and plain paper documents from the front cassette without reloading.

Best printers for photo craft projects

A Canon PIXMA printer sits on a wooden desk, printing colourful sheets of paper, with a selection of colouring pencils beside it on the desk.

With a fast print speed of 13 ipm for mono and 6.8 ipm for colour prints, the Canon PIXMA TS7450a Series streamlines the crafting process, so you can have your materials in your hands, ready to create, in no time. The rear paper tray can hold up to 20 sheets of photo paper.

A Canon SELPHY CP1500 printer is printing out a photograph, with a selection of family photograph prints next to it.

Compact and available in a range of colours to match your decor, the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is a great choice for crafters working in smaller spaces. It's easy to move around, and small enough to put in a drawer or cupboard when not in use.

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.

The Canon PIXMA TS7650i 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 TS7750i has an additional 35-page automatic document feeder. As well as the Canon PRINT app, the PIXMA TS7650i and PIXMA TS7750i 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.

Photo printing is also impressive with the Canon PIXMA TS8750 Series. The addition of a grey ink further reduces graininess and offers enhanced picture quality, particularly in shadows or monochrome prints. You don't have to wait long either, with photo lab-quality borderless 10x15cm images in as little as 13 seconds 3 , plus it's compatible with Canon's thickest photo papers, including Pro Platinum.

A combination of quality, versatility and style, the Canon PIXMA TS7450a Series 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).

For an equally chic but even more compact option, the SELPHY QX20 is the perfect choice. Its powerful battery and Wi-Fi-enabled printing means you can print wherever you like in two options: square (with 7.2x7.2cm print area) or the card size XC-20L / XC-60L at 5.4x8.5cm. Thanks to Dye Sublimation Printing technology - which adds an extra resilient overcoat - you can also rest easy knowing that your sticker prints will stand the test of time by lasting up to 100 years 4 .

The compatible SELPHY Photo Layout app also allows you to edit and print directly from a range of devices via Wi-Fi, as well as create collages and overlay patterns on your stickers. Additionally - when using SELPHY QX20 - you can also create truly borderless stickers for both paper sizes.

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.

Best printers for papercraft projects

A Canon PIXMA printer sits on a wooden sideboard. A hand is removing a printout of colouring designs from the tray.

The Canon PIXMA TS7650i features a pigment black ink that offers the same high quality and durability as a dedicated office printer. Its long print head allows for high-speed printing with a low initial cost, so you can get started on your craft project straight away knowing the results will not only look great, but also be affordable.

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 TS7650i and PIXMA TS7750i printers and the Canon PIXMA TS9550 Series 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, including Creative Park, mean there are thousands of templates to personalise and print at the touch of a button. Similarly to the Canon PIXMA TS7650i, the PIXMA TS9550 Series has a printing speed of 15 ipm for mono prints and 10 ipm for colour, so you can start crafting immediately.

In addition, the PIXMA TS9550 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.

Best software for crafting projects

A hand holds a smartphone with a windmill template from Canon Creative Park on the screen. In the background on a desk is a Canon PIXMA printer.

From papercraft toys and models to bunting and cake toppers for celebrations, the Canon Creative Park app has a wide variety of templates to inspire your next craft session. Why not browse the website on your laptop or the app on your smartphone and find your next artistic project, then send them to your Canon printer and start assembling them straight away.

A computer monitor shows the Canon PosterArtist software, with a large selection of poster templates to choose from.

If you use your Canon printer for both home office and crafting needs, Canon PosterArtist helps you combine the two by offering lots of creative potential to design and print your own posters, flyers and other promotional material at home.

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 overcoat, filters, borders and even QR codes 5 . 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

  1. PIXMA Print Plan is only available to residents of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom.
  2. Based on average cost per page savings vs. original standard inks sold for the top 20 Inkjet all-in-ones in Western Europe, (Key Point Intelligence study – Jan 2022). Cost per page (CPP) of monthly subscription to Canon PIXMA Print Plan (200-page plan), without additional pages, compared to cost per page to print ISO/IEC 24711 pages on the top 20 Inkjet all-in-one colour cartridge printers, priced under 200 Euros in Western Europe, using standard-capacity cartridges. Average CPP used to determine percentage saving versus CPP for Canon PIXMA Print Plan (200 page plan). Ink yield and prices based on manufacturer website information in Germany. Sale prices of ink not considered for this study. Keypoint Intelligence January 2022 study commissioned by Canon, based on publicly available info as of Jan 2022. Printers selected by unit sales in IDC Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker – Final Historical 2021Q4, Western Europe.
  3. Photo print speed is based on the default setting using ISO/JIS-SCID N2 on Photo Paper Plus Glossy II and does not take into account data processing time on host computer.
  4. When stored in an album. Based on accelerated testing, assuming a temperature of 23° C / 73.4° F and humidity of 50%.
  5. Check the specific model product page for all available functions.

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