If you are unfamiliar with transparencies, they are sheets of plastic film with a glossy finish made by reacting acetic acid with cellulose and sulfuric acid. The result is the sheets of plastic we often see being used on overhead projectors.
Transparencies can be found in different forms ranging from transparency films with stripes, device-specific films with special coatings, multi-purpose transparency films designed to function in multiple printers, paper-backed and thick transparencies.
Printing on transparencies can be extremely stressful for the simple fact that most printers are not designed for transparencies. Users often experience issues such as opacity, paper jams, ink smudges, and many more.
But how does one know which printer would work best for printing transparencies?
Transparencies can be a pain to print on or scan. Though most of the printers can print transparencies, it can get messy at times.
But why is it so important to get a printer that can print transparencies with ease? First of all, you need to save your ink. A printer that’s not suited for transparencies will make you spend ink like water. Trust me! You don’t want that!
We scoured the market and conducted well-informed research to find you some of the best offerings available in the market. When printing transparencies, it is prudent that you opt for a printer dedicated to printing transparencies. However, if a dedicated printer is out of reach, we would recommend that you opt for an inkjet printer. This is because inkjet printers can deliver precision and print opacity that other printers are incapable of providing. Below are some reviews of the best printers for transparencies that you can consider buying.
Our Recommendations
- Epson WF-7210 – Best Overall
- Canon TS5120 – Best In Versatility
- Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 – Best For Wide Format Printing
- HP Envy 4520 – Best For Multi-Purpose Printing
- Canon Pixma iX6820 – Best For Large Design Printing
- Epson ET-4760 – Best In Low-Cost Printing
- HP ENVY Photo 7855 – Best Budget Option Printer
- HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 – Best All-In-One Printer
- Brother MFC-J985DW – Best For Office Use
- Epson SureColor P800 Inkjet Printer – Best For Multimedia Printing
Epson WF-7210
If you came up to me and asked for a printer for transparencies then I’d be one of the many that would suggest you go for Epson WF-7210. This mid-range printer is the perfect mixture of performance and value!
Epson WF-7210 is a printer that supports both Borderless printing and duplex printing. It has an active area of up to 13 x 19″. The monthly duty cycle of this printer is impressive as it can dish out up to 20,000 pages a month.
Now onto a bit of a performance discussion. And let’s be honest here, it’s perhaps one of the best! The printer comes with a super high print resolution of 4800 x 2400 dpi and a blazing fast print speed of 18PPM.
The Epson WF-7210 comes with a 4 individual cartridge setup. The connection interfaces on this printer are premium too as you’ll find USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and NFC connection interfaces. It also supports direct printing through various apps (Google cloud print, Mopria)
Though the cost per page is somewhat high, it’s still one of the best printers for transparencies. So to be fair, you won’t find many printers that are better for transparencies than this one.
Pros
- Supports both borderless printing and duplex printing.
- A decent active area of up to 13 x 19″.
- A super high print resolution of 4800 x 2400 dpi.
- It prints at a blazing fast print speed of 18PPM.
- Superfast USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and NFC connection interfaces.
- Direct printing is supported through apps such as Google cloud print and Mopria
Cons
- High cost per page.
Canon TS5120
Coming at a close second as the best printer for transparencies, the Canon TS5120 is one of the most versatile printers you can find at the moment. Packed with utilities, this printer is sure to impress you!
So why is it so special? It can scan, fax, and copy while also printing! This printer features a lot of similar characteristics to the Epson WF-7210. It’s an inkJet printer with 2 individual ink cartridge setup. This printer also supports both duplex printing and borderless printing.
On to the performance section now and the resolution is the same as the Epson WF-7120 with 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution. The print speed however is a bit slow as it prints at a speed of 13PPM. The maximum printing size is bigger however at 8.5 x 14″.
One unique thing about the TS5120 is that it’s compatible with all of the OS you can imagine! Aside from Windows and Mac, it’s also compatible with Android, Windows 10 Mobile, and Amazon Fire! The TS5120 also features a fast USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 connection interfaces.
Although it lacks ethernet connection and ADF, the performance of this printer is one of the better now. So if you’re short of the budget for Epson WF-7210 then this one could be a handy alternative.
Pros
- It supports both duplex printing and borderless printing.
- A massive 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution.
- Printing is faster with the 13PPM print speed.
- Prints up to 8.5 x 14″.sized media.
- Compatible with every OS including Android, Windows 10 Mobile, and Amazon Fire.
- It features a fast USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 connection interface.
- Compatible with Cloud printing.
Cons
- Lacks Ethernet connection.
- No ADF
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Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
There’s a reason why after 2 years of being released the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is considered to be one of the best printers for printing transparencies. That’s because of the value that the Epson HD XP-15000 provides for the price.
As this is a wide-format printer, it can easily print large designs effectively. On top of that, it can handle paper sizes up to 13×19” with ease. It also has a 6 ink color system that provides more vivid and colorful printed images and documents.
The performance and usability of this printer are quite good. It has an Easy-to-use 2.4″ color LCD. With a decent 9PPM speed, you won’t need to worry about slow printing. There’s also a duplex printing feature which further reduces printing time. It also has a 50 sheet holding capacity tray.
As far as connectivity goes, you can connect via any medium. Be it an ethernet connection or Wi-Fi, it supports all. You can also print from mobile devices by using AirPrint or Google Cloud. However, maintaining this printer is a bit costly.
Overall, it’s a pretty popular choice for printing transparencies. And as it’s the best selling printer on Amazon, you should consider it as your choice.
Pros
- Provides great value for money.
- It can handle paper sizes up to 13×19” with ease.
- The only printer with 6 ink color system.
- A decent 9PPM speed.
- Supports duplex printing and has a 50 sheet holding tray.
- Supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable connection. You can also print via mobile apps.
Cons
- Running and maintaining this printer can be costly.
HP Envy 4520
This multi-purpose printer is one of the most sought-after printers in the market, and it is often sold out as soon as it is available. So there are chances that you’ll find this printer unavailable! But why is it so popular?
We’ll answer that question now. What you and I as a consumer want is the most utility at the least price. And the HP Envy 4520 does exactly that. It’s a two-sided duplex printer with wireless printing. This printer also comes with the Alexa interface alongside the Instant Ink replenishment program.
Time to get a bit technical now. Other than printing the HP Envy 4520 can also Print, scan and copy. It also has a 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution coupled with a max printing speed of 10 PPM. And as we mentioned already it supports auto duplex printing.
The HP4520 supports USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi connection interfaces but sadly no ethernet connection interfaces were available. It also supports direct printing from heaps of different mediums including AirPrint and HP Eprint.
Though the inks are a bit costly, we still think this is one of the better printers for transparencies currently. And if you want an Alexa integrated printer for transparencies then pick this one!
Pros
- The printer is voice-activated, and users can use an Alexa activated device to print.
- Users can perform multiple functions such as printing, scanning, and photocopying on the HP Envy 4520.
- Installing and setting up the printer is exceptionally straightforward.
- Users can print remotely from the HP ePrint app using their smartphones or tablets or with the AirPrint app.
- A decent printing speed of 10 PPM.
- A high 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution ensures crisp prints.
Cons
- Inks are costly
Canon Pixma iX6820
Though there are a lot of printers in the market currently, only a few are better than the Canon Pixma iX6820 because of the features the Pixma iX6820 provides within the mid-range budget.
The Pixma iX7820 is ideal for printing larger designs thanks to its being a wide-format printer. As it has a DPI of 9600×2400, it’s perfect for creating enlarged prints. The high resolution combined with pin-point precision provides accurate designs.
The features of the Canon Pixma iX6820 are more than enough for printing transparencies. It comes with an ink tank system that contains 5 colors. 4 of them are dye-based colors while 1 is a pigment-based black ink. The Pixma iX 6820 has a feature called the Fine Print-head technology. It allows the user to print transparencies without smudging it.
The Pixma iX6820 features built-in wireless, a fast USB connection, and an ethernet connection. You can also print from mobile devices with the help of Google cloud print or AirPrint. It also has a 150 sheet ADF which is more than enough for a busy day of printing.
However, it doesn’t feature duplex printing and doesn’t have a fixed PPM speed. Other than that, it’s a near-perfect printer.
Overall, it’s the best printer for printing transparencies. Though there are one or two things that might not be up to the mark, we still recommend it.
Pros
- As it’s a wide-format printer, it’s ideal for printing larger designs.
- It has a DPI of 9600×2400.
- It features a 5 color ink system.
- The Fine Print-head technology prints on transparencies without smudging them.
- Supports wireless connection, USB, and Ethernet.
- Print from mobile devices with the help of Google cloud print or AirPrint.
Cons
- Lacks Duplex printing.
- No fixed printing speed was mentioned.
Epson ET-4760
The Epson ET-4760 is our choice for the best printer for transparencies. Aside from being a printer filled to the brim with features, it’s a printer that cares about the way a user spends their ink!
So what makes the ET-4760 a good printer for printing transparencies? It’s known for being a low-cost printer. The included ink can run up to 2 years! If that wasn’t enough then I’ve got more! The replacement ink is priced as low as $13.
The performance of the ET-4760 is also top of the line. It puts out print at 15 PPM speed. There’s also an ADF that can handle up to 30 sheets at once. So you’ll be all set for a day of heavy printing. It also has a 2.4’’ touchscreen that’s pretty simple to use. There’s also a duplex printing feature.
The connectivity on this printer is pretty sleek. It features both Wi-Fi direct and ethernet connection. You can also print from your mobile devices with the help of apps such as Mopria, Google cloud print, Epson i-print, or AirPrint.
However, Epson-recommended ink cartridges are costly. On top of that, it doesn’t support flash memory devices.
Though it has a few negative points, the Epson ET-4760 is perhaps the best overall printer for printing transparencies.
Pros
- An all in one all-purpose printer.
- The included ink can run up to 2 years.
- It has Auto duplex printing.
- The automatic document feeder can handle up to 30 sheets at once.
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity.
- Supports a whole array of mobile printing apps.
- Refill cost is as low as $13.
Cons
- Doesn’t support flash memory devices.
- The recommended ink cartridges are costly.
HP ENVY Photo 7855
I’ll admit, we are a bit late to reach the budget option. But we’re here at last! The HP Envy Photo 7855 is the budget option transparency printer that you might not have heard of!
Apart from being a decent transparency printer, the HP Envy Photo 7855 is known for its portability. At a mere 16 pounds, this might just be the portable transparency printer you’ve been looking for. It’s also pretty good at printing other stuff besides transparency! So it’s not a one-trick pony!
The performance and usability of the HP Envy Photo 7855 are on point. With the Envy 7855, you’ll be getting a decent 15 PPM speed. There’s also a 35 sheet automatic document feeder. There’s also a 2.67’’ touch screen that eases the navigation of the printer.
The HP Envy 7855 boasts of a pretty diverse connectivity option. There’s both Dual-band Wi-Fi and ethernet cable connection for you to choose from. You can also print using mobile apps. To top it all off, there’s a USB and SD card port that lets you print from external storage.
However, the recommended ink cartridges are expensive. And the graphic quality can get a bit dull at times. Though this isn’t a big thing, it’s worth a mention.
Overall, you’ll be getting solid value for the price paid with this printer. There’s no doubt that this printer can print transparencies well enough.
Pros
- At just 16 pounds, it’s the lightest printer that can print transparencies.
- A decent 15 PPM printing speed.
- The 35 sheets Automatic document feeder is a stress reliever.
- The 2.47’’ touch screen makes navigation easier.
- Supports both Ethernet cable or Dual-band Wi-Fi connection.
- USB and SD card port available.
Cons
- Graphic printing can get a bit dull at times.
- Recommended ink cartridges are costly.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8720
The main attraction of the OfficeJet Pro 8720 is its usability. It’s an all-in-one printer so it can scan, fax, copy seamlessly. It provides a lot of value besides printing transparencies as it can print up to 13×18 cm. It is also ideal when fine-printing graphic designs.
The performance of the OfficeJet Pro 8720 is very good. You can get up to 24 PPM speed while printing. It also has a 50 sheet ADF and Auto-Duplex printing. All of these are eased up by the 4.3’’ color touchscreen.
The HP Envy 7855 features a standard connectivity option. You’ll be getting wireless, Ethernet, USB, and NFC as connectivity options. There’s also touch-to-print with NFC capability. You can similarly print from mobile devices using apps such as AirPrint, and HP ePrint app.
However, what we don’t like about this printer is its size. It can also be slightly inconsistent at printing texts at times.
Overall, OfficeJet Pro 8720 does a great job of printing transparencies at the business level. Apart from a few inconveniences here and there, it’s worth the price.
Pros
- It’s an all-in-one printer so it can scan, fax, copy seamlessly
- It can print pages up to 13×18 cm.
- The 24 PPM speed is the fastest among printers that can print transparencies.
- Wireless, Ethernet, USB, and NFC connections available.
- Supports printing from mobile devices.
- One-touch printing supported.
Cons
- A bit bulky.
- Slightly inconsistent at printing texts.
Brother MFC-J985DW
If you are in business or are a general-purpose office and are looking for a cost-effective printer, then the Brother MFC-J985DW is what you should be considering. With prints costing only 5 cents to produce, this printer is designed to operate cheaply.
Brother MFC-J985DW has always impressed me. Not only because of how it performs but also its other utilities which are much less talked of. For starters, this printer has a 6000 x 1200 dpi resolution which, you guessed it, is huge. It can print up to sizes 8.5 x 11.0″ which is perfect for transparencies.
The MFC-J985DW has a 12 PPM print speed. So it’s great for businesses. This printer is also quite colorful thanks to 4 individual color palettes ( CMYK: Cyan, magenta, yellow, black). This printer can also fax copy and scan.
The connection interface of this printer is very diverse. You can find Fast USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and NFC connection interfaces. It also supports direct printing from apps such as Facebook, google drive, one drive AirPrint, etc.
However, one slight nitpick that we’ve found is that it doesn’t work without wireless networks. Other than that it’s one of the most well-rounded and perfect printers that we’ve ever come across!
Pros
- A huge 6000 x 1200 dpi resolution.
- Decent 12 PPM print speed.
- Prints up to sizes 8.5 x 11.0″.
- It can also fax copy and scan.
- Fast USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and NFC connection interfaces.
- It supports direct printing from apps such as Facebook, google drive, one drive AirPrint, etc.
- The printer is amazon dash replenishment enabled, and therefore, your toner levels are measured, and more ink is ordered from Amazon when the amounts are running low.
Cons
- You cannot use this printer if you are not connected to a wireless network.
Epson SureColor P800 Inkjet Printer
The Epson SureColor P800 is undeniably a great printer if the high-quality professional prints are anything to go by. It is ideal for printing transparencies as it has been adapted for printing multiple media.
Let’s start with the build, the P800 unarguably has one of the stronger build qualities at the moment. It has a sleek matte finish and it looks nice. It’s a pigment-based printer that supports borderless printing.
In terms of performance, it’s doing quite well. The P800 has a 2880 x 1440 dpi print resolution. And thanks to the higher print resolution, the prints are nice and accurate. It also has 9 individual ink cartridges and offers a diverse color palette to use. It also prints up to 17 x 22″ sized media so printing transparencies isn’t a problem.
The P800 is run on fast USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connection interfaces. It also supports direct printing from apps such as google cloud print and AirPrint. However, paper alignment is a bit clunky and the running costs are a bit high.
But if we’re talking about the overall situation we’d recommend this. This is a great printer for the price.
Pros
- The touchscreen on the Epson P800 is remarkable and very responsive.
- Strong and stylish build quality.
- Supports borderless printing.
- A high a 2880 x 1440 dpi print resolution.
- A diverse 9 ink color cartridge.
- It prints up to 17 x 22″ sized media so printing transparencies isn’t a problem.
- A fast USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connection interfaces.
- Direct printing compatible.
- The output colors are Deep and highly saturated, which makes the print quality to be outstanding.
- The printer is extremely compact and lightweight, with a small footprint.
Cons
- Paper alignment on the Epson P800 is stressful and annoying as you have to correct it to avoid regular paper jams.
- High maintenance cost.
Final Thoughts
Printing transparencies aren’t easy. They are fragile thus you’ll need a good printer that can print transparencies with ease.
When choosing a printer for transparencies, the key thing that you should bear in mind is that you want a printer that can deliver a wholly opaque film that prevents light from bleeding around and through the images when you are projecting. This ensures that your images are crisp and remain highly detailed.
Transparencies are delicate and non-porous therefore you must have the right printer for the job, otherwise, you will end up with messy prints that are smudged. Be sure to conduct your research, that way, you are certain that the printer you choose can meet your needs.
Also, remember to familiarize yourself with the printer as well as its settings to avoid mishaps when you are doing final printing. Feel free to contribute your thoughts on our list above and let us know if you have any other printers that you would recommend for transparencies.