9 Best Canon Printers with Pigment Ink (November 2026)
The best Canon pigment ink printers include the Canon PGI-1200XL Genuine Pigment Black Ink Tank for smudge-resistant office text, the Canon MegaTank MAXIFY GX2020 All-in-One Wireless Color for home office documents and scanning, and the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13" Wireless Inkjet for pigment-ink photo and fine art prints.
On this page (7 sections)
- How we chose Canon pigment ink printers
- Canon pigment ink printers compared
- The best Canon pigment ink printers for documents and photos
- How do Canon pigment ink printers differ for documents and photos?
- What should you check before choosing a Canon pigment ink printer?
- Are Canon printers with pigment ink a good fit for craft and online shops?
- Which Canon pigment ink printer should you choose?
The best Canon pigment ink printers depend on what you print: choose the imagePROGRAF PRO-310 for pigment-based photographic output, the MAXIFY GX2020 for office documents and scanning, or the PIXMA G3290 for home printing with pigment black text and dye color. Canon's ink systems vary by model, so check whether you need pigment black only or pigment inks across colors.
Pigment ink is not one uniform setup across Canon printers. Some use pigment black alongside dye colors, while photo and business models can use pigment based inks for multiple colors.
For art prints, compare the Best Inkjet Printer For Artists guide. If you're choosing around a specific project, see our Best Inkjet Printer For Scrapbooking and Best Inkjet Printer For Etsy Sellers guides.
Our picks at a glance
-
1
Best for smudge-resistant office textCanon PGI-1200XL Genuine Pigment Black Ink Tank
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for home office documents and scanningCanon MegaTank MAXIFY GX2020 All-in-One Wireless Color
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for pigment-ink photo and fine art printsCanon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13" Wireless Inkjet
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon
- 4
Check itCanon PGI-280XL PGBK Compatible To TR7520
Best for crisp text on compatible PIXMA models - 5
Check itCanon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer
Best for wide business charts and mixed output - 6
Check itCanon GI-21 Genuine Pigment Black Ink Bottle
Best for refilling select PIXMA MegaTank models - 7
Check itCanon PGI-35/CLI-36 2 Genuine Black and Color
Best for compatible mobile PIXMA printers - 8
Check itCanon GI-26 Genuine Pigment Cyan Ink Bottle
Best for refilling select MAXIFY color tanks - 9
Check itCanon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Printer
Best for home printing with pigment black text
How we chose Canon pigment ink printers
The best Canon pigment ink printers should match the ink system to your main job, whether that's crisp documents, a home office workflow or photographic output. We compared the stated ink configurations, printer functions, paper handling and compatibility details.
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The scores also reflect how closely each item fits the intent of this guide, so ink bottles and cartridges are useful supporting picks rather than substitutes for a complete printer.
Canon pigment ink printers compared
Canon's pigment ink options range from black text tanks to full pigment color systems. Use the table to check whether each pick is a printer or an ink refill before comparing its fit.
| Product | Best for | Ink type | Page yield | Compatible printers | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PGI-1200XL Genuine Pigment Black Ink Tank | smudge-resistant office text | Pigment black | Up to 1,200 pages | MB2120, MB2720, B2020, MB2320 | 9.7 |
| Canon MegaTank MAXIFY GX2020 All-in-One Wireless Color | home office documents and scanning | 9.7 | |||
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13" Wireless Inkjet | pigment-ink photo and fine art prints | 9.7 | |||
| Canon PGI-280XL PGBK Compatible To TR7520 | crisp text on compatible PIXMA models | Pigment black | Select PIXMA TR and TS models | 9.6 | |
| Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer | wide business charts and mixed output | 9.3 | |||
| Canon GI-21 Genuine Pigment Black Ink Bottle | refilling select PIXMA MegaTank models | Pigment black | Up to 6,000 pages | Select PIXMA G-series models | 9.2 |
| Canon PGI-35/CLI-36 2 Genuine Black and Color | compatible mobile PIXMA printers | PIXMA iP100, iP110, TR150, TR160 | 9.1 | ||
| Canon GI-26 Genuine Pigment Cyan Ink Bottle | refilling select MAXIFY color tanks | Pigment cyan | Up to 14,000 pages | Select MAXIFY GX models | 9.0 |
| Canon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Printer | home printing with pigment black text | 8.7 |
The best Canon pigment ink printers for documents and photos
The right Canon pigment ink setup depends on whether you need the full pigment system for image work or pigment black for text. These picks span dedicated photo output, office printing and compatible ink refills.
Canon PGI-1200XL Genuine Pigment Black Ink Tank: Best for smudge-resistant office text
- Pigment black ink
- Up to 1,200 pages
- Compatible with select MAXIFY and PIXMA models
A replacement tank for compatible Canon printers, with pigment black ink designed for dense text and resistance to smudges and highlighters.
Pros
- Up to 1,200-page yield
- Designed for smudge and highlighter resistance
Cons
- Ink tank only, not a printer
- Fits select models only
The PGI-1200XL is a replacement ink tank, not a printer, and it fits select MAXIFY and PIXMA models. Canon describes its pigment black ink as dense and resistant to smudges and highlighters, making it a relevant refill for document printing.
Canon gives this tank a stated yield of up to 1,200 pages. Confirm your exact printer model before choosing it, since this cartridge family does not fit every Canon inkjet.
For a printer that uses pigment ink across color, look at the MAXIFY GX2020 or PRO-310 below. If you need a different compatible Canon refill, compare our Best Replacement Ink Cartridges For Canon Printers and Best Ink Cartridges For Canon Pixma Printer guides.
Canon MegaTank MAXIFY GX2020 All-in-One Wireless Color: Best for home office documents and scanning
- GI-25 pigment-based ink bottles
- Print, copy, scan and fax
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 35-sheet automatic document feeder
This refillable all-in-one uses pigment-based ink bottles and adds an automatic document feeder for multi-page office tasks.
Pros
- All four listed office functions
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 35-sheet ADF
Cons
- Larger office feature set may be unnecessary for print-only use
- Pigment configuration differs from photo-focused models
The MAXIFY GX2020 suits a home office that needs pigment-based color printing along with copy, scan and fax functions. For more ink tank printers with scanners, compare models built around refillable bottles.
Its GI-25 ink bottles use pigment-based ink in cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
A 35-sheet automatic document feeder helps with multi-page copying, and automatic duplex printing can handle two-sided pages. Canon gives the model a stated yield of up to 3,000 black and 3,000 color pages from one set of inks.
Choose it when office features matter as much as ink type. For a photo-first workflow, the PRO-310 has a more specialized pigment system.
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13" Wireless Inkjet: Best for pigment-ink photo and fine art prints
- 9-color pigment ink plus Chroma Optimizer
- 13-inch wide photo printer
- Matte Black ink
- 3-inch color LCD
A dedicated photo and fine art printer with a 9-color pigment system, Matte Black ink and Chroma Optimizer.
Pros
- Designed for photo and fine art output
- Matte Black ink for dark areas
- Anti-clogging system and skew correction
Cons
- Print only, with no scanning or copying
- Specialized photo features may exceed document needs
The PRO-310 is the strongest fit here for photographic and fine art output. Its 9-color pigment system with Chroma Optimizer includes Matte Black ink, and Canon says the LUCIA PRO II inks offer enhanced gloss uniformity and scratch resistance.
This is a print-only model with a 13-inch wide format and a 3-inch color LCD. It also includes an anti-clogging system and skew correction, features aimed at print productivity.
Choose it if you want a dedicated photo printer with pigment-based inks across the color system. For dye-based color options, see our best dye ink printer guide.
Canon PGI-280XL PGBK Compatible To TR7520: Best for crisp text on compatible PIXMA models
- XL pigment black ink tank
- For plain-paper documents
- Compatible with select PIXMA TR and TS printers
This individual XL pigment black tank is intended for crisp text on plain paper in compatible Canon PIXMA printers.
Pros
- Individual tank means replacing only the empty color
- Made for document text
Cons
- Ink tank only, not a printer
- Compatibility is limited to listed PIXMA models
The PGI-280XL is a pigment black replacement tank for select PIXMA TR and TS printers. It's intended for plain-paper documents, where crisp text matters more than a full pigment color system.
The XL tank is an individual cartridge, so you can replace the black tank without replacing the other ink colors. Check the printer model carefully before ordering, since compatibility covers only certain PIXMA models.
Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer: Best for wide business charts and mixed output
- Five individual ink tanks
- Pigment-based black with dye-based photo colors
- Prints up to 13 x 19 in
- 150-sheet auto sheet feeder
This print-only model pairs pigment black for documents with dye-based colors for photos and supports paper sizes up to 13 x 19 inches.
Pros
- Wide format for charts and presentations
- Five individual ink tanks
- AirPrint and cloud printing support
Cons
- No automatic duplex printing
- Color inks are dye based, not pigment
The PIXMA iX6820 pairs pigment black with four dye-based colors, giving it a hybrid setup for documents and color output. It supports paper sizes up to 13 x 19 inches, which suits wide charts and presentation materials.
Its five individual ink tanks let you replace the color that runs out. The auto sheet feeder holds up to 150 sheets, though the printer does not offer automatic duplex printing.
Pick it when wide-format business printing is the priority and pigment color inks are not required. For a full pigment color configuration, the PRO-310 is the closer fit.
Canon GI-21 Genuine Pigment Black Ink Bottle: Best for refilling select PIXMA MegaTank models
- GI-21 pigment black bottle
- Up to 6,000-page yield
- Compatible with select PIXMA MegaTank printers
A genuine pigment black refill bottle for compatible PIXMA MegaTank printers, with a stated yield of up to 6,000 pages.
Pros
- High stated page yield
- Bottle nozzle is designed for refilling
Cons
- Bottle only, not a printer
- Fits select MegaTank models
The GI-21 is a pigment black refill bottle for select PIXMA MegaTank printers, including G1220, G2260 and G3260. Canon gives it a stated yield of up to 6,000 pages.
This is a refill, not a complete ink set or printer. Match the GI-21 number to your printer before buying, since Canon uses different bottle families across its MegaTank range.
Canon PGI-35/CLI-36 2 Genuine Black and Color: Best for compatible mobile PIXMA printers
- Genuine black and color value pack
- Pigment black ink
- Compatible with select iP and TR models
A genuine cartridge pack for select compact PIXMA printers, with pigment black ink for text.
Pros
- Includes black and color
- Compatible with select mobile printer models
Cons
- Cartridges only, not a printer
- Limited model compatibility
The PGI-35/CLI-36 pack suits compatible compact PIXMA printers such as the iP100, iP110 and TR150. It includes black and color cartridges, with pigment black ink intended to support text quality.
Check your model's cartridge requirements before choosing this pack. It is useful for a compatible mobile printer, but it does not provide the wider paper handling or office functions of the printer picks above.
Canon GI-26 Genuine Pigment Cyan Ink Bottle: Best for refilling select MAXIFY color tanks
- GI-26 pigment cyan bottle
- Up to 14,000-page yield
- Compatible with select MAXIFY GX printers
A genuine pigment cyan refill for compatible MAXIFY GX printers, with a stated yield of up to 14,000 pages.
Pros
- High stated page yield
- Bottle nozzle is designed for refilling
Cons
- Cyan ink only, not a full color set
- Bottle only, not a printer
The GI-26 cyan bottle is a pigment color refill for select MAXIFY GX printers. Canon gives it a stated yield of up to 14,000 pages, though it supplies cyan ink only.
This bottle fits models such as the GX3020, GX4020 and GX6020. Confirm the exact model and ink family before refilling, especially if you are replacing more than one color.
Canon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Printer: Best for home printing with pigment black text
- Hybrid ink system with pigment black and dye colors
- Print, copy and scan
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per ink set
This wireless all-in-one combines pigment black for text with dye-based colors for photos and includes automatic two-sided printing.
Pros
- Hybrid ink system covers text and color photos
- Automatic duplex printing
- High stated page yields
Cons
- Color inks are dye based, not pigment
- Not designed as a dedicated photo printer
The PIXMA G3290 is a home all-in-one with pigment black for text and dye-based color inks for photos. It prints, copies and scans, with automatic two-sided printing for routine documents.
Canon states yields of up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per full ink set. Its hybrid system is a practical fit when sharp black text matters but you don't need pigment inks for every color.
How do Canon pigment ink printers differ for documents and photos?
For document-heavy use, a Canon printer with pigment black can give text a different ink setup from the dye-based colors used for photos. The PIXMA G3290 and iX6820 follow this hybrid pattern, while the MAXIFY GX2020 and PRO-310 use pigment-based ink systems across their listed colors.
The PRO-310 is the clearest photo-focused choice in this group because it combines 9 pigment colors with Chroma Optimizer and Matte Black. The GX2020 puts pigment color into a multifunction office printer, while the G3290 offers pigment black plus dye colors in a home all-in-one.
What should you check before choosing a Canon pigment ink printer?
Start with the exact printer model and ink family. A pigment cartridge or bottle only works with compatible printers, and the product names can look similar across Canon ranges.
Then decide whether pigment ink is needed for every color or just black text. If paper loading access matters, compare rear-feed inkjet printers too.
If your work centers on photos, compare a dedicated photo printer's ink setup and paper format; if documents dominate, look at the feeder, duplex function and whether the printer also scans or copies.
Are Canon printers with pigment ink a good fit for craft and online shops?
They can suit sellers who print product inserts, labels or art, but choose by the output type. A hybrid ink printer can handle sharp black text and color photos, while a full pigment color system may be a better match when pigment color output is central to the work.
For handmade projects that use patterned papers and scrapbook layouts, see our Best Inkjet Printer For Scrapbooking guide. Sellers balancing product photos and business documents can also compare the Best Inkjet Printer For Etsy Sellers picks.
Which Canon pigment ink printer should you choose?
Choose the PRO-310 for dedicated photo and fine art printing, the MAXIFY GX2020 for a pigment-based office all-in-one, or the PIXMA G3290 when pigment black text and dye color are enough for home use. Pick a cartridge or bottle only after matching its ink number to your existing printer.
If you want to compare Canon refill options after selecting a printer, use our Best Replacement Ink Cartridges For Canon Printers guide.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
Best for smudge-resistant office text
Canon PGI-1200XL Genuine Pigment Black Ink Tank
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for home office documents and scanning
Canon MegaTank MAXIFY GX2020 All-in-One Wireless Color
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for pigment-ink photo and fine art prints
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 Professional 13" Wireless Inkjet
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Which Canon printer uses pigment ink for photos?
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 uses a 9-color pigment-based system with Chroma Optimizer and is designed for photo and fine art printing. Its Matte Black ink supports darker areas.
It is a print-only model, so choose an all-in-one if you also need scanning or copying.
Do Canon printers use pigment ink for all colors?
No. Some Canon printers use pigment black with dye-based color inks.
The PIXMA G3290 and iX6820 use that hybrid arrangement, while the PRO-310 and MAXIFY GX2020 use pigment-based color systems.
Is pigment ink better for documents?
Pigment black ink is a useful choice for text-heavy printing. Canon describes the PGI-1200XL ink as smudge-proof and resistant to highlighters, while the PGI-280XL is intended for crisp text on plain paper.
Check your printer's compatible ink model before buying.
How do I choose between a cartridge and a tank printer?
A cartridge printer uses replaceable ink tanks, while a MegaTank model uses refill bottles. Match the ink format to your printer model and consider whether you want an all-in-one, a print-only machine, or a dedicated photo printer.
