Top Pigment and Dye Printers for Preserving Memories

True or false: Scrapbooking is a modern hobby just a few decades old.

It’s both true and false. Although the modern scrapbook originated in the 1980s, its roots go back to the Middle Ages, when well-educated folks often kept handwritten journals. The evolution of printed images (thanks to advancements in printing and photography) and the progression of personal storytelling have culminated in the modern form of scrapbooking we know and love today.

First, Some Basics

Doodles and handwritten notes lend charm and personality to a scrapbook, but we sure do appreciate contemporary printing for simplifying our self-expression. With so many printers on the market, it may be hard to choose which is best. We’re here to guide you, but before we get into our recommendations, let’s cover some fundamentals of the digital scrapbooking world.

Desktop Inkjet Printers

If you’re a digital scrapbooker who prints entire or partial layouts for further embellishment by hand, you may prefer a desktop inkjet printer that prints 12” x 12” sheets. Some printers (but not all) can print scrapbook sheets “full bleed” with no borders.

Pigment vs. Dye Inks

Because pigment inks are designed to produce prints that last 50 to 70+ years, printers that use this type of ink tend to be more expensive professional models. Consider pigment ink if you want assurance of archival prints in many different environments. Most inkjet printers use dye-based inks. Offering the best color performance and paper compatibility, dye inks are not as fade-resistant as pigment. Current model dye ink systems from Canon (ChromaLife) and Epson (Claria) produce prints that are good to perhaps 40 years on display and around 100 years in dark storage.

Paper Feed Path

In general, HP printers feed from the front only. We like Epson and Canon because their rear-feed trays can more readily accept heavy card stock.

Drum Roll: Our Top Picks

These current-model printers are our favorites for assembling life’s special moments into scrapbooks. To see discontinued models that we also like, click here.

CANON PRO-200
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 8 Individual Cartridges
Ink Type: Dye
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
Borderless 12x12 Capable: Yes

CANON PRO-300
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 10 Individual Cartridges
Ink Type: Pigment
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
Borderless 12x12 Capable: Yes

EPSON SURECOLOR P700
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 9 Individual Cartridges
Ink Type: Pigment
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
Borderless 12x12 Capable: No

EPSON ET-8550
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 6 Large Capacity Ink Tanks
Ink Type: Dye
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
12x12 Capable: Must create custom size
Borderless 12x12 Capable: No

EPSON XP-15000
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 6 Individual Cartridges
Ink Type: Dye
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
12x12 Capable: Must create custom size
Borderless 12x12 Capable: No

CANON IP8720
Size: 13" Wide
Inks: 6 Individual Cartridges
Ink Type: Dye
Uses 12x12 sheets: Yes
12x12 Capable: Must create custom size
Borderless 12x12 Capable: No

Other Recommendations

If you’d like our advice on other aspects of scrapbooking, we’re happy to oblige:

• Software for Digital Scrapbooking
• Papers Recommended for Digital Scrapbooking
• Papers Recommended for Traditional Scrapbooking
• Scrapbookers Inkjet Sample Kit

Go Forth and Scrapbook

From calligraphy and hand drawings to formal portraits and casual snapshots, a scrapbook can capture your memories like no other medium. There’s something so satisfying about holding a scrapbook in your lap, flipping through each lovingly created page. We hope you’re inspired to embrace scrapbooking as a unique, tangible way to share your story with future generations.

Last Updated November 28, 2023

Original Publication Date: November 28, 2023

Article Last updated: November 28, 2023