Epson SC-T3100X large-format inkjet printer A1, 24", 4 colours, Wi-Fi, LAN

The SC-T3100X is a large-format printer: its largest format is A1 and its maximum width is 24″ (61.0 cm). An A1 sheet is four times the size of A3, so an entire floor plan, a mechanical drawing or a map fits on it without taping pages together. Posters, information boards and presentation material can be printed in-house too, without waiting for an outside print service.

Besides A1, the printer supports A2, A2+, A3, A3+ and A4, plus the B-series formats B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5. Supported widths are 17″ (43.2 cm) and 24″ (61.0 cm). The supplier data lists Other in the field for the largest A-series size, but A1 clearly appears in the list of formats, and that is the printer's practical largest standard format.

The printer uses four ink cartridges: black, cyan, yellow and magenta. These four primary colours produce colour drawings, maps, schematics and posters. Each colour sits in its own cartridge, so you only replace the colour that has run out rather than the whole set. The small number of cartridges makes tracking and reordering ink straightforward.

According to the manufacturer, resolution for black printing in normal quality is 2400 × 1200 dpi. That matters most on technical drawings, where much of the content is black: thin lines, small dimensions and text. High resolution keeps them crisp even on a large sheet, so the drawing can be read without a magnifier and details do not blur together.

The printer has both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. A wired network connection is the dependable choice in an office where several people share the printer and print files are large. Wi-Fi lets you place the printer where a network cable does not reach. According to the manufacturer, duplex printing is not supported, which large-format drawings and posters rarely need anyway.

According to the manufacturer, the printer weighs 38 kg and has a white chassis. A machine this heavy needs a firm, level base and room for A1 prints to exit without obstruction. Installation is best done by two people. The manufacturer does not give dimensions in this product data, so choose the location using Epson's installation guide.

Architecture, engineering and construction offices printing drawings up to A1; technical departments in manufacturing that need a drawing in the production hall right away; schools and universities printing posters and teaching material; and advertising and design teams that want to produce large prints in their own office and share the printer over the network.