Whether you’re planning to send some beautiful invitations to your friends and family or want to stay at home and do some crafting with your partner or children, you will want to use construction paper instead of regular paper. However, you may be wondering if you can put construction paper in your printer.
Alright, let’s answer the question.
Can you put construction paper in a printer?
Construction paper most likely falls between 28 and 32 lb. paper. So, yes, you can put it on a printer. However, you will have to cut your paper into an ideal size for a printer. If this does not work for you, you can go to a local staples store and have them do your work for you.
You can create fun projects on construction paper, such as designing your paper masks, stencils and coloring pages, paper models, and homemade cards. This blog post will guide you on printing on construction paper and other things you need to know.
Continue reading to learn more.
Printing On A Construction Paper
As stated, you can put construction paper into your printer. But first, you have to cut the paper to size. You will shave off a half-inch to make it 8.5″ x 11″, which is the dimension required by a standard printer.
Also, you will need to look for your printer’s heavy paper setting. Each printer model has its different ways of printing on a thinker paper, such as construction paper. If you are unable to find the setting on your printer, find the manual and check it.
Here is a step by step guide on how to print on construction paper:
Step 1
Use scissors or a paper cutter and a ruler to cut out a piece of construction paper. Size the paper at 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Typically, construction paper is measured at 9 inches by 12 inches. This size is too large for most standard printers.
Step 2
Put the construction paper into your printer and check for heavy-weight paper settings. You can also check the manual for how to print on construction paper or other weight papers.
Step 3
Open the file you want to print out and prepare the text or image for printing on your computer. You should print only in black if you are using a colored paper. You can print in any other color if your construction paper is white.
Step 4
Follow the instructions on the screen of your computer to print the design or image onto the construction paper.
Step 5
Take out the construction paper from the printer and place it somewhere so that the ink can dry. It should dry in 7 minutes.
How To Print On A Black Construction Paper
Typically, you use white paper when you want to print, and you print the content in black ink. There are times that you will need to print on black construction paper. Since you are using black paper, you may need to make several changes to your document before printing.
Here is a step by step guide on how to print on black construction paper:
Step 1
Take out the black ink cartridge from your printer. Replace it with white ink on a black cartridge. Cartridge are available at arts and craft store. The manufacturers have labeled the ink cartridge according what computer it can work with.
Step 2
Replace the printer paper with black construction paper.
Step 3
Go to your computer and open the program you are printing from and load the document.
Step 4
Now, click “File” and then click “Print” and watch the design print on the black construction paper. Your content will be printed on construction paper with white ink.
How Do You Print Gold On Black Construction Paper?
You can print nearly every color on white construction paper. But this isn’t as easy when you want to print on black paper. Your computer’s printer ink is dye-based, so the dye sticks to the surface when you print on the paper.
While it is almost impossible to print white design on black construction paper, you can print lighter colors easily. Lighter shades like gold will look good on your black construction paper.
This step-by-step guide will explain how to print gold shade on black construction paper.
Step 1
Remove the ink cartridge that is in your printer and replace it with a cartridge that prints with metallic ink. You can get metallic ink cartridges in silver or chrome and gold shades. You can find these cartridges in different styles. Find one that fits your printer.
Step 2
Go to the “Printer Preferences” so that you can change the settings on your printer. Go to the “Print Quality” to Best and then change the type of paper to “Specialty Paper” or choose the best option depending on your printer. Remember that you need to cut the paper to the ideal size.
Step 3
Now, remove any paper that’s in your printer and put it in the black construction paper. Push the construction paper into the printer and stop when you feel it touch the inside. You know your printer will pull it through when the paper touches the inside.
Step 4
Go to your computer and open the document you want to print, and check if you want to make any changes. When you use a metallic ink cartridge, whatever is in your document, whether text or image, will print in gold on your construction paper.
Step 5
After making changes to your document, click “Print Preview” and see how your design will look when it prints out. Now, m necessary changes to the paper. The changes include the orientation for cards or fliers. Click “Print,” and allow your printer to do its work and print the gold ink on your construction paper.
Can You Put Construction Paper In A Copier?
No. You cannot put construction paper in a copier, and this is not due to the jamming factor. The paper leaves the little fibers in the copier. The fibres left in the copier causes it to jam more often.
Can Construction Paper Cause Any Harm To My Printer?
Generally, the answer is no if you follow the guide above. You may need to take some precautions. Construction papers are usually warped with moisture, so if you are not printing a large quantity, you can use a lower resolution so that less ink is sprayed on the paper. The ink will likely spread on the printer.
What Thickness Of Paper Will Go Through A Printer?
The standard thickness of the paper is 74gsm to 90gsm. Here is a list of some examples of the maximum GSM recommended for printing 74gsm to 90gsm for the basic standard office A4 paper that is used to print in your laser printers. 100gsm to 120gsm for the stationery paper that is used for standard letterheads and complimentary slips.
Is Construction Paper Better Than Card Stock Paper For Printing?
When it comes to choosing between card stock paper and construction paper for your design, you may be wondering which one is better. Arguably, it is easier to print on construction paper. All you have to do is cut the paper to the ideal size, switch on the heavy paper setting on your printer, and print your design.
Construction is only a bit thicker than the standard A4 paper, so it should work with a printer.
Card stock paper, on the other hand, is high-class and durable but much harder to print on than construction paper, particularly with a personal printer. You may jam your printer in the process. Also, you don’t have many choices when it comes to choosing the type and thickness of card stock you can use.
Card stock paper is more expensive than construction paper. However, if your printer is built for printing photos, then you can use card stock paper. If your printer is the standard home printer, printing on a card stock paper may not be easy. In this case, go for a construction paper.
The Difference In A Nutshell
When it comes to art and crafts, construction paper is great because it is easy to fold, cut, and create your design on. Children will also its vibrant colors and larger size. Card stock paper is very thick and has a smooth finish, which makes it more durable than construction paper. Card stock paper is ideal for formal invitations.
Both papers have their different uses, advantage, and disadvantages, from enjoying art and craft with kids to sending anniversary invitations to friends, family, and colleagues.
However, when it comes to printing with home printers, the ideal choice is construction. Consider printing on your card stock paper commercially.
Conclusion
If you have read this guide, chances are you want to start doing arts and crafts with your loved ones, or you want to design and print an invitation to send out to your friends, family, and colleagues.
You most likely have a printer at home, and you are wondering if you can put construction paper in a printer or use a commercial printer to print on the construction paper you have.
This guide has provided all the answers you need to decide whether you want to use your printer or take it to a local staples store.
