Can the laser printer print on card stock? In principle, the answer is yes. There are, however, several factors to take into consideration, such as the weight of the cardboard and the budget at your disposal.
In fact, not all laser printers are able to print on high-weight cardboard, an operation that is mostly entrusted to higher-cost professional machines. It is also necessary to pay attention to the way in which printing is carried out, in order not to cause serious damage to the device.
Another fundamental point to pay attention to, which may seem trivial but which many underestimates, is the level of ink contained in the toners. An almost exhausted toner, in fact, would lead to a very poor final job.
Here is a brief guide on how to print on card stock with the laser printer, with everything you need to know about how printing works and the aspects to consider.
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Configure the laser printer for printing on thick paper
Table of Contents
First you need to set the type of paper you want to print in the print options.
Select your printer, then go to Properties or Preferences (items may vary for different manufacturers). Now click on the tab type of paper or media type (if the menu is in English will find the paper type and media type entries). In the new window select the Cardboard option (in English Cardstock or Matte), confirming the selection by clicking on the OK button.
At this point, you can then choose other common options, such as the number of copies.
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Choose the right direction of the print
Printing a business card requires a different orientation than printing a postcard with a landscape, for example. For this reason, before starting to print, it is important to set the correct orientation according to the required product. Through the printer options on the computer select Portrait or Landscape orientation.
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As for loading the paper, refer to the instructions indicated on the printer. Some printers require loading flush with the right edge of the tray. In this case, the mobile guide slides from left to right, so as to rest flush with the left edge of the card. Other printers, on the other hand, require the thicker paper to be loaded in the center of the tray, carefully checking that the guides are adjusted inward so that they rest flush with the edges of the card.
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Check the weight of the card stock
A fundamental element for printing on card stock with the laser printer is to check the weight of the paper. As already explained, not all laser printer models offer complete compatibility with the various types of thick paper that can be used. Generally, it is sufficient to take the instruction booklet and check what is the maximum weight supported by the model in question.
Up to 170 g or 210 grams it is possible to find cheap laser printers on the market that get along without particular smudges, offering a valid product.
Things change if you go up with the weight of the cardboard, reaching the common 250g / 300g required, for example, for printing a business card. In this case, it is necessary to choose a more expensive model, which almost always exceeds the predetermined spending budget.
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Relying on professional companies
The alternative to spending out of the budget is to rely on professional companies, which work every day in close contact with authentic professionals (such as advertising agencies). These companies have among their machines professional laser printers capable of printing on cardboard, regardless of the weight of the paper.
