Printing on Card Stock/Heavy Paper

  • Thread starter Thread starter JWil
  • Start date Start date
J

JWil

I want to make some wedding invitations and my color laser printer
doesn't accept most of the sample papers I chose because they're too
thick. I've heard that some inkjets are designed for handling thicker
or special papers (most good invitation stock seems to be > 110 lb)
with straight paper paths, etc. Can anyone recommend one of these?
I'd also like the printer to put up with pre-scored stock and
pre-embossed stock. Cost is not my object; resolution and ability to
handle special papers is. Thanks for any tips.
 
I've heard that some inkjets are designed for handling thicker
or special papers (most good invitation stock seems to be > 110 lb)
with straight paper paths, etc. Can anyone recommend one of these?
Click to expand...

The Epson 2100 (2200 in US) will handle mount board without a problem and
produces excellent results. I expect there are several other printers
which would also do the job.

Jon.
 
JWil said:
I want to make some wedding invitations and my color laser printer
doesn't accept most of the sample papers I chose because they're too
thick. I've heard that some inkjets are designed for handling thicker
or special papers (most good invitation stock seems to be > 110 lb)
with straight paper paths, etc. Can anyone recommend one of these?
I'd also like the printer to put up with pre-scored stock and
pre-embossed stock. Cost is not my object; resolution and ability to
handle special papers is. Thanks for any tips.
Click to expand...

If you're looking to do printing soon, I know the Office Max near me is
having a 39cent color copying/printing sale until the 4th I believe. I know
they've printed on card stock for me in the past. It may vary from location
to location tho.
 
Lux said:
If you're looking to do printing soon, I know the Office Max near me is
having a 39cent color copying/printing sale until the 4th I believe. I know
they've printed on card stock for me in the past. It may vary from location
to location tho.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the good intentions, but I'm not looking for a service
bureau, but the best way to print on heavy card stocks myself at home.
I'm going to be doing this a lot in the future.

But I'll return the favor, Lux. If you are still paying money for
color printing, you can apply for a FREE color laser printer grant
from Xerox. It's pretty easy if you get some tips on filling out the
application. Half my friends have them now. Xerox is indeed giving
color laser printers away to the right people. 2 yrs ago I got a
$5000 laser printer system out of them, and it works like a
gem...except on card stock heavier than 80 lb. And I've had 110 lb,
smooth card stock to go through it via manual feed, but it won't even
do that weight with the less smooth or pre-embossed wedding invitation
stocks you find at professional paper supply stores. The site is
www.freecolorprinters.com, I think. Contact me if you decide to do
this so I can tell you how to maximize your chances of succeeding with
the application...don't make me say "I told you so!"
 
Many of the newer inkjet printers are designed to handle thick papers,
such as the recent Epson models, some of which handle CDs for printing
purposes. However, not all inkjet printers handle non-inkjet coated
stocks very well. You may wish to consider some of the pigmented ink
printers which use Durabrite or Ultrachrome inks. The result will also
be smearproof and maybe even waterproof (so the tears of joy don't ruin
the invitation ;-))

Art
 
JWil said:
I want to make some wedding invitations and my color laser printer
doesn't accept most of the sample papers I chose because they're too
thick. I've heard that some inkjets are designed for handling thicker
or special papers (most good invitation stock seems to be > 110 lb)
with straight paper paths, etc. Can anyone recommend one of these?
I'd also like the printer to put up with pre-scored stock and
pre-embossed stock. Cost is not my object; resolution and ability to
handle special papers is. Thanks for any tips.
Click to expand...

Not quite the answer you are looking for but have you looked at HP's
colour laser papers? eg: their soft gloss laser C4179B (or poss A for US
sizes) I think the high gloss version maybe thicker paper

I believe Xerox has some papers that might be suitable as well. I think
you might find some at http://www.insight.com which I think has a US
section.

Are you using the special media path in your laser?
 
What you fail to mention is that this is a consumables contract and it
is only good in the US.

The printer is "free" if you qualify (it's based upon your printing
several thousand pages 2000-4000 a month). Xerox only charges you for
your consumables, which you must buy on line from them. If you fall
behind your "printing commitment" any month, it costs you $100. If you
fail to report it's worse, $125. After 3 years you can keep the printer.

However, the truth is, you pay for the printer via the consumables,
because, just like inkjet printers, laser color printers have gone to a
similar business model here.

I figured out, for instance, that if I were to buy a Minolta Magicolor 2
printer, that the cost of replacing the full consumables just once came
to more than the cost of the printer with the initial consumables.
Indirectly, the printer was "free" also, because the consumables covered
the cost. However, the benefit of buying the printer was that once I
owned it, unlike in the Xerox situation, I could buy consumables
wherever I could get the best value, I wasn't in a 3 year monopoly
contract with the vendor.

Anyway, the point is this model Xerox has come up with is not any great
value for most people. I am sure they have figured out their profits on
the consumables, and they cover the printer cost well enough at
2000-4000 prints per month, especially if the person prints a lot of
color images which use a great deal of toner up.

Art
 
Thanks both for your comments. I kinda figured you were looking for a home
solution, JWil, but wasn't sure so I thought I'd throw that out. For
myself, I rarely do such prints on heavy papers, so a third party solution
is more cost effective to me. There is no way I could come close to the
print requirements Xerox asks for on that offer. But it is definately an
interesting business model. I had never seen that before.
 
Art,

You're correct that the Xerox freecolorprinters.com deal is
essentially a consumables contract, but it's still the steal of the
century in printing, so long as you print the volume of >2000 pages a
month and want the color laser quality. You sound pretty negative on
the deal, so I'm not sure you've actually done it. I have, and it's an
awesome program. I'm 2 mo away from owning the equipment free and
clear. Here's a few points you didn't mention:

--It's relatively easy for any small business, even a business of 1,
to print 2000 pages (not 4000) per month. I shifted a lot of my
photocopying to printing duplicates, did my own Xmas cards and
business brochures, etc. If you do fall behind, Xerox is actually
pretty forgiving. If you need to print more, just print a bunch of fax
cover sheets or something to help you stock up. Or print an email a
100 times. It's still a great deal. If you don't print anything in a
given month, you pay the $100 charge for that month only, which is
comparable to a lease contract. This is perfectly reasonable, since
they are expecting to make money in the long run on the consumables
and need to give you an incentive to actually use the printer.

--When I got into the program almost 3 yrs ago, the program gave me
$5,000 worth of equipment and paid the shipping to get it to me. I
didn't have to spend a dime on the printer for 4 months, which is when
I bought new ink. Of course you could go spend this money on buying
the same equipment if you want, but you'd still have to buy ink, pay
for your own onsite support, and pay for the shipping to get it to
you!

--Yes, Xerox wants you to buy your ink directly from them, and why
shouldn't you...they have the cheapest prices anyway! Each month they
have something on sale even. Still, Xerox doesn't physically prevent
you from spending more at a 3rd party retailer if you insist.

--The equipment comes with a 3-yr onsite repair contract. I've had to
use it twice, and I've been impressed with the quality of service each
time. The 2nd time the tech was in my office the same day I called.
The 800-number tech support is top-notch as well and I've never had to
wait on hold.

Overall, I disagree with you entirely that this program is not
anything but an incredible deal. Basically it comes down to whether
you want to pay for a nice color laser printer or not...you're going
to pay for the ink and supplies anyway, so why not get the printer for
free? This deal is a no-brainer for small businesses who have a
reasonable amount of printing to do and want the color laser quality.

However, the printer does not have a straight paper path and can not
print on invitation-quality card stock over 110 lbs. I've done 110 lb
card stock very reliably, however.

--John
 
Color laser printers are selling in Canada for between $600 and $1200
with the first set of consumables included. Some come with regular full
toner cartridges, others with partially full "courtesy" types.

I have not looked at the consumable costs on the specific Xerox model in
question, but I would like to know how it compares to other consumables
for other laser printers. I suspect it is more costly (Xerox needs to
cover the printer costs somehow).

Yes, I can see how one could "beat" the system by running a bunch of
copies through the machine which have hardly any toner coverage so that
consumables could be kept to minimal toner use while still meeting the
2000 prints a month, if one was so inclined. I do agree the service
contract has good value, since most color laser machines do not offer on
site, if any. service when you buy them outright.

I still believe one needs to be careful with this business model. For
someone who uses a color laser for 2000 photo image prints a month, the
cost of consumables through Xerox may prove more costly than buying a
new machine outright and buying consumables as required wherever you wish.

Art
 
USA printing supplies is a leading printing accessories and printing material suppliers throughout USA. We are specialized in supplying advertising materials, screen printing media, SAV, windows film and other electronic support materials along with the print heads for wide format of printers. for more detail please visit us.
 
From: said:
USA printing supplies is a leading printing accessories and printing material suppliers
throughout USA. We are specialized in supplying advertising materials, screen printing
media, SAV, windows film and other electronic support materials along with the print
heads
for wide format of printers. for more detail please visit us.
Click to expand...

USA printing supplies -- spammed from India.

Thank you for letting us know that we should AVOID this company and NOT do business with
them.
 
Back
Top