Printing at home with DIY

vdubdesign · June 14, 2008

It depends on what kind of paper your are printing on. Nonporous papers (like vellums, iridescent, or metallic papers) will not "accept" the inkjet ink-- it will just stay on the surface of the paper. Even if it dries it might scratch off easily or smudge from a holder's fingers.

If you paper is porous like regular typing paper or a non shiny cover stock, then it would be fine to print on an inkjet.

If you do decide to go to a printshop (which can be nice just to let them deal with all the details and legwork) be sure to ask for a color proof if possible to ensure that the colors will look like you think they will (the colors on your computer screen are often different from the exact same file coming out of a printer). A printshop will be much more likely to give you a better quality print with less hassle than buying a low end laser or inkjet printer to do it yourself.

Mel · June 15, 2008

I printed all of my paper stuff on a inkjet, except for my wedding update newsletter because it was a 8x14 size. The inkjet worked fine, but you go through ink very quickly if you want to have any kind of good quality.

I don't know how cost effective it would be but for my newsletters I took my file to Kinkos printed it off on their computer then went to their copy machines and printed the rest on their color copier. It worked out really good. They have very good color copiers. The copiers will do cardstock as well. Just an option, like I said I did everything myself and I figured out that with as much money as I spent in ink I could have easily just ordered them from someone instead of doing them and been money ahead.