Blog Home > What Is an A3 Printer? 

What Is an A3 Printer? 

Women using an A3 Printer

With an A3 printer, you can print large images at 11" x 17".

It is easy to be sure that your promotional materials are printed professionally with an A3 printer in your office. A3 Printers today come as multifunction devices. With your MFP, you can print, copy, scan, and fax larger images, pictures, and general information.

Even though most offices use A4 printers to print letters and other small documents, sometimes you need a larger copy to stand out. The printer A3 can be expensive but produces vivid graphics at larger sizes. With higher quality output than an A4 printer, it is the best choice for printing pictures, marketing materials, posters, and banners. A business that needs to print standard documents and likes to print marketing and promotional items in-house could benefit from an A3 Laser or inkjet printer.

A printer near you lets you quickly make changes or create different versions for comparison without waiting for a printing house or compromising quality by shrinking them down.

Does a Printer A3 Need a Particular Paper Size?

A3 is often referred to as 11″ x 17″ in the United States. Printers use A3 paper to print on. The A3 paper is much larger than the standard A4 paper generally found in traditional printers, and it’s called the A3 paper. A4 paper measures 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches, while A3 paper measures 11.7 inches by 16.5 inches.

A3 paper is twice as large as A4. Help determine what paper size you need for your printer - view our different paper sizes article.

 

What Are the Benefits Of Using An A3 Printer?

The larger paper size of A3 papers allows you to print more different types of documents. As a result of the larger canvas, one can print larger pictures with photo paper, graphs, posters, and other information with A3 printing.

Invest In an A3 Printer And Enjoy The Following Benefits:

  • Printing large images on A3 will result in professional-quality photos. A3 printers produce high-print-resolution content as sharp on paper as on-screen for professional photographers and graphic designers.
  • Your business will also be able to cut costs by bringing in-house marketing activities by investing in an A3 printer. Toner cartridges for A3 printers are larger and have a larger capacity, so they need to be changed less frequently.
  • You can reduce costs and increase productivity by printing promotional materials rather than outsourcing them and risking low-quality results.

Inkjet Versus Laser A3 Printers?

The most common types of A3 printers are inkjets and lasers. Choosing between the two can be challenging due to their benefits and drawbacks. One key factor in deciding on a laser or ink printer is whether you mainly want to print quality photos, color, or black-and-white documents.

The cost of inkjet printers is higher than that of monochrome laser printers (which only print in black). The most expensive printers are color laser printers. A laser printer’s toner cartridge must be filled with toner powder, which can be costly to replace.

  • Printing high-quality photos with an inkjet printer is the better option.
  • Laser printers, on the other hand, are best for printing large quantities of documents quickly and efficiently.

How Fast Can A3 Printers Print?

Printing speed (in pages per minute, PPM) is essential when choosing a printer, especially if you need many copies. It is important to remember that black-and-white printing is faster than color printing.

Also, make sure the paper tray has enough capacity. Duplex printing saves paper and time by automatically printing both sides of a document.

Multifunction Copier A3 with Standard Features

In high-end A3 Multifunction printers, duplex printing is possible with a resolution of 1200 x 2400 dots per inch. A sophisticated color touchscreen simplifies scanning, copying, and faxing with all that functionality. There are plenty of options for increasing the wide format paper capacity so the text is exceptionally sharp and the colors are particularly vibrant. Standard features can also include the following:

  • Mobile devices can print directly from A3 printers using apps, plugins, and wireless connections. Each printer model and manufacturer offers different mobile printing solutions.
  • Wi-Fi is a printer feature that allows you to print wirelessly without a network connection.

Does Your Office Have the Space for An A3 Printer?

A3 printing machines take up more space than A4 printers, and the A3 device has a larger frame because it handles larger paper sizes. The A3 machine is more durable and solid despite taking up more office space.

There are, however, desktop A3 printers that are similar in size to A4 printers. If you only need to print, you can use a desktop printer designed for small output and space. The size of these business A3 office workhorses is not the only issue, as they also have electrical, servicing, and network requirements.

Do You Need Special Paper?

A3 paper works well for large tables, diagrams, and drawings. Selecting the right paper for your printer is never a one-size-fits-all all affair. In some printers, heavier documents can be handled; in others, they cannot, leading to jamming and poor print quality. Ensure you know which paper is compatible with your copier/printer.

Advantages and Disadvantages of A3 Printers

In many ways, A3 printers perform similar operations to A4 printers. They are unique because they can print more oversized documents, like blueprints or architectural plans.

Advantages

  1. Sizes and formats that can accommodate larger documents
  2. You can choose between a laser printer and an inkjet printer
  3. Do not need printing services for more extensive marketing materials
  4. A high-quality printing service

Disadvantages

  1. High acquisition costs
  2. A3 Multifunction machines are more significant than A4 models
  3. Costly to maintain, depending on make and model.

All-in-one Document Printers

We offer a wide range of compact, robust, scalable A3 printers. Our company is an authorized Kyocera, Ricoh, and Canon dealer and a reseller for other printer manufacturers. Increase productivity and efficiency by moving projects in-house and speeding up delivery times with an A3 Multifunction Printer Copier. We can help you find the right print solution for your business.

BDS Author Logo
Written By:BDS
November 8, 2022

About BDS:

BDS is an authorized office technology provider/reseller with corporate headquarters in Marlborough, MA, and offices throughout New England and Florida. Since 1978, we have supported local customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Florida with copier and printing solutions.
Stay in touch!
Woman using copier machine

Contact Us

Our experienced team is ready to help with your printing needs. Submit this short form and we’ll be in touch quickly.


Related Articles

Managed Print Services for Small Businesses Advantages

Managed Print Services for Small Businesses Advantages

Managed Print Services (MPS) isn't exclusively for large corporations. MPS provides small businesses with numerous benefits, from cost savings to improved security and productivity. Let's explore why MPS could be the ideal solution for your small business and how it...

Cloud Services: How Cloud Print Works

Cloud Services: How Cloud Print Works

Is your team working remotely or hybrid? Are you looking to integrate mobile printing features into your print infrastructure? If this sounds like you, cloud print management solutions are the perfect solutions for you. Cloud print solutions are ideal for businesses...

Cloud Print Services for Businesses

Cloud Print Services for Businesses

The cloud printing service allows users to print from any network-connected device. Instead of the traditional printing method of directly connecting to a device through USB or a local network, users can send print jobs from their computers, mobile devices, or tablets...

Need a new MFP Copier?

As of late, we've experienced an influx in new customers related to current provider dissatisfaction, changes in equipment needs due to hybrid working, as well as critical cost-saving initiatives.

Do you think you might be evaluating copier options in the near future? Get a quote! 

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Share This