The technologies for delivering the ink to the paper are so different that the "dpi" (dots per inch) numbers can no longer be the basis for judging which is the best inkjet printer.
Today, quality doesn't have to be an issue. Each of the top 3 manufacturers, Epson, HP and Canon, makes printers that are capable of producing outstanding pictures....no dots. Oh yes, they're there but you can't see them!
When I first started this business, the best color printer in the inkjet family couldn't produce a picture without "the dots showing". The laser printers couldn't and still can't produce the colors.
The good news is that you can buy a color inkjet printer that will do a good job for you for under $100.
First, why ink jet printers? Only inkjet printers will give you the color quality that you want for your printable greeting cards. Laser printers are OK for business graphics but not for printing pictures.
Deciding which is the best inkjet printer for you can be a daunting task. Periodically, I have to revisit this question and it takes many hours of research and phone calls. I am passing on my experience here to make the process of finding the best inkjet printer for you a little easier.
So how do you choose which is the best color printer for you?
First, because of aggressive pricing, I don't look beyond the big three. Check out the main review sites, the other manufacturers don't feature when it comes to color printers.
Second, I don't consider commercial grade printers. As long as I can get the quality of print that I need, it makes more sense for me to replace my home grade inkjet printer more frequently. Commercial grade printers are very expensive, more complex to maintain and also subject to obsolescence with the rapid changes in technology.
Here are some other factors which might affect your choice.....
· Number of colors. If you want to print art cards, don't consider a printer with less than 5 colors. The actual colors they use are not important, they all have different ways of mixing them during the printing process so that the colors come out right. But more colors give better tonal variations.
· Individual cartridges.This is a must to keep your ink cost under control. With a multicolor cartridge, you have to replace it when the first color runs out. That means that you're throwing away the remaining ink of the other colors. I think it's a pretty safe bet to say that all the best inkjet printers have individual cartridges now.
· Media size and type. Unless you have decided that you will only print on paper (more about that in the Paper section), you must be very careful to make sure your printer can handle card stock.
If you intend to print greeting cards regularly...and why not?... it's fun, you also need to be sure that you can put the cards in the auto tray. Feeding the printer one sheet at a time gets old very quickly!
If you have a photographer in the house, you might want to consider a wide format printer.
Remember that some of the best inkjet printers are photo dedicated and only handle 4"x 6" paper.
· Space. How much room do you have? Remember that some of these inkjet printers fold down to a neat package, which is good because it keeps the dust out, but when they are in use, they take up a lot more room.
· Weight. Do you have to set it up and put it away after each session?
· Wireless. Can you connect to the computer where you are working or is the printer remote?
Reviews
It's not my place to give technical reviews. There are many experts out there who have already reviewed the best printers. Just be aware that they're not all impartial so it's a good idea to read several reviews about any particular printer. Also read a few buyers' reviews. No printer is perfect but you might pick up a good or bad feature that keeps getting mentioned.
Is installation easy?
Are the drivers compatible with the new OS that you want to install?
Pricing
Shop for prices. Don't forget the manufacturers' sites. They sometimes have the best sales with free shipping.
You can often get Epson printers on
a great deal either new or factory refurbished. The latter comes with a full
warranty. When they discontinued the Stylus Photo R2000 I scrambled to get one
and ended up with a refurbished unit. It was every bit as good as the previous 3
new ones that I had owned so I still always check to see if refurbished units are available.
Because of the constant flow of new models, there is no point in suggesting specific printers here. The best inkjet printer for you will depend on your individual needs. If you're only going to print a few cards for the holidays and birthdays, your needs will be different from the person who wants to start a home business. The main difference will be in the need for auto features and paper handling, you can still get a high quality print from a printer with less of those features.
What you should know about paper
What you should know about ink
We are often asked which card stock or paper type should be used for greeting cards. The weight range for greeting card printing is between 10pt to 18pt paper. Usually, 16pt card stock is considered the best paper weight for printing greeting cards to sell.
This guide to choosing the correct greeting card paper explains why there are different types and weights. For example, 18pt paper is a heavyweight card that is best for folded, foiled invitations or handmade greeting cards. This heavier card stock ensures that your 3D cardmaking or similar craft project doesn’t tip over. Ideal if you are going to be adding bows or die-cutting foiled stickers to stick to your cards.
Choosing the paper type is the most important decision you will make when creating greeting cards. Having some paper knowledge helps you to pick from our enormous selection of unique paper types. After all, the paper stock can influence the finished look of your product just as much as the design itself. Want to see (and feel) our paper stocks and finishes for yourself? Why not browse our amazing sample pack range for peace of mind!
There are three paper features to think about when selecting a type of card for your project. There is the weight value, the paper type and the finish. These three different paper features affect the look and feel of your greeting card. Before we look at the various paper types and laminate finishes, let’s get a better understanding of paper weight.
Paper weight is measured in PT which stands for Point and refers to the measurement of paper weight as a point, with one pt equalling .001 inch. Most of the time, the higher this value, the heavier and thicker the cardstock will be. There are some exceptions to the rule because some paper types have fibres that are more compact than others.
The weight of card and paper varies dramatically depending on its use. To give you an idea of what to choose, here is a quick summary of the different paper weight ranges and their best uses:
Copier paper, compliment slips and printer paper all fall within this weight range. Letterhead printing is usually within this weight range too. Sometimes compliment slips can be 7.3pt if they are being used as part of a direct mailing campaign.
This weight range is best used for printed flyer campaigns and double sided leaflets such as takeaway menus.
This range is the most common choice for cover stock in brochure printing.
Paper over 16pt is often referred to as a heavyweight card. Card inserts and business card printing should be at least 16pt. In fact, we usually recommend 18pt for metallic business cards, foiled flyers, and metallic swing tags. This is because high-quality paper makes a better impression. For more of an impact, opt for double thickness (32pt) or colour core paper which is 38pt.
10 and 14pt paper types allow printed greeting cards to stand on their edge. However, 16pt is heavier which feels much higher quality. The extra thickness means that the greeting card is more rigid. Ideal if you are going to be posting cards in the mail. This sturdy paper is less likely to be blown over from a draught from an open window.
If you want an impressive card which feels luxurious, we recommend 18pt heavier weight paper. If you are selling greeting cards, 18pt paper makes a high-quality impression. This allows you to position your card designing business as premium quality, which makes your brand more valuable.
To save you time, we can finish the cards with a fold and crease line. That way, your cards are professionally folded, ready for you to ship to customers.
We have over 40 different paper types for you to choose from. The most popular choices are silk, uncoated and recycled paper types.
Silk paper is between a gloss and a matt finish. It has a slight sheen and feels smoother and softer than uncoated paper stock. It is a popular choice for adding a little vibrancy to your artwork. In fact, most of our flyers, leaflets, business cards and brochures are printed using our high-quality silk paper.
Uncoated paper is often considered the best paper for greeting cards because it is the easiest to write on. It’s the same paper type that is used for writing pads, notepads and books. It has a modern matt finish and does not reflect the light unlike silk paper. To discover more differences paper types, see our blog article Gloss Silk or Uncoated Paper.
Our recycled paper looks and feels very similar to our uncoated paperstock. It’s a high-quality paper which makes your greeting cards sustainable without reducing the print quality. You can order a paper sample pack to see if you can tell the difference between these two types.
You can print on the back of your cards to tell customers that the card is printed in the UK using recycled paper from sustainable sources. This adds value to your brand and helps to position your greeting card business as an environmentally friendly alternative to your competitors.
Kraft card printing is the most eco-friendly choice because it is made from 100% recycled kraft paper. It has a warm earthy texture and a rustic look, which is perfect for nature inspired designs. It also works well with bold black artwork. Often simple card designs are the most striking ones when it comes to printing on kraft material.
Our customization options means that you can choose to have your greeting cards printed on special paper types. If you are looking for something different, our pearlescent paper gives a pearl shine to your greeting card. The shimmer adds a beautiful touch to your design, making it stand out when it catches the light.
Our selection of over 20 colours in our GF Smith Colorplan range, means you can make your cards more colourful. It is a great way to add colour to the back and inside of your greeting cards. Ideal if you are printing corporate greeting cards. It can be used to boldly add your brand colour to corporate Christmas cards or thank you notes.
Conqueror textured paper is available in contour, wove and laid patterns. The slight texture on the card can help to make your design stand out. The cream contour paper is popular for wedding invitation printing because it adds an elegant and natural texture. It has a slightly hammered look and feel to the paper texture.
Our selection of luxury laminates includes matt, gloss and a soft touch laminate. These paper finishes are used on the outer pages of greeting cards to add a protective coating. The protective laminate increases scratch resistance and protects your greeting card from dirt, damage and discolouration.
You do not need to select a laminate for your inner pages. It is recommended that you leave the inside of your card uncoated so that it is easy to write on.
Matt laminated greeting cards produce a lower contrast with dark-coloured designs. This gives your artwork a softer look. It is popular if you want a modern matt look that does not reflect the light.
Soft touch laminate is the best choice for your design if you want the outer pages to feel like velvet. It adds a luxurious velvety feel which often catches people by surprise. It feels like a short nap velvet or the skin of a soft peach. It has a matt finish that does not reflect the light.
Adding a gloss finish to your design makes the colours more vivid and enhances your artwork. It’s the best choice if you have a colourful image based greeting card. The reflection of the light captures attention and makes your artwork stand out. It is also the most protective laminate finish with better scratch resistance than matt. For more information about our laminate finishes, read our article Laminated Business Cards : The Different Types And Benefits.
There is a huge selection of customization options for printing greeting card designs. The most popular paper choice is 16pt uncoated paper with a soft touch laminate on the outer pages. However, there are many customizable options that you will see on our custom greeting card printing page.
On that page, the online calculator lets you pick from the many different sizes, folds, card stock and laminate finishes. We also offer a design service if you need help creating the artwork. Simply select ‘supply brief and we design’ when you place your order online.
If you've perfected the art of greeting card sales, why not add bookmarks, stickers, and tags to your Etsy store by learning how to design bookmarks, how to create your own custom stickers, and how to use swing tags to communicate your brand values.