Recommendations for At Home Printer

MrsCJordan

I'm currently looking for an printer to purchase for DIY wedding stuff at home. I plan on getting my invites through a printing company, but I would like to use my printer for simple things at home, like place cards, menu cards, address labels on envelopes, etc. 

Any recommendations? I think I would like to stay with an inkjet, and I would like a printer capable of a heavier paperweight.

Thanks!

emmyg65

You're probably better off just taking your jobs to Kinko's or whatever. Printer ink gets expensive really fast. My local FedEx Office/Kinko's had a really easy to use self-serve area.

April192002

If you're wanting to get a home printer I prefer HP. I've owned a Dell, Epson, Lexmark, and HP. All of them have been able to take cardstock (I use 110lb cardstock) but on occasion the very edge of the corner gets slightly bent when it pulls through (not really enough to notice, but I do). There are some photo printers out there that can print to the edge, which can easily take smaller paper sizes (though many printers can take as small as a 4x6 or 5x7), but I don't know what weight of paper they can handle.

I work at a Staples in the printing department and I completely agree with @emmyg65!!! I can't tell you how many frustrated customers have come in with their DIY projects that they, or their printer, have butchered. Call your local printing departments to check prices.

ohannabelle

I have an Epson I love, but I think you need to consider how much printing you do, and what sort, and if you'll be doing a lot of printing in the future.

If this is a one time indulgence, and you won't need anything wider than a standard 8 and 1/2 inches, Kodak is a good choice, because incredible ink prices and good photo print quality, and can handle a decent weight card stock.

I really recommend going to JoAnn's or Michael's (always with a 40% off coupon) and getting a slick little paper cutter, for good crisp edges, just to save yourself grief. Check on Craigslist, as well. Lots of one time buyers sell these after their invites are made. 

(If you're a seriously out of control DIYer, and foresee yourself printing loads of cards, fabrics, holiday decorations, wrapping paper, whatever, you probably want to look for a wide format printer, with an alternate rear load to handle heavy weights, or at the very least 12 wide, so it can easily handle all the gorgeous 12 wide papers available, without having to cut them down first.)

ashleyep

I have a canon pixma printer (wireless printer/scanner) of some sort, but I already owned it. One ink cartridge has held up for my escort cards, programs, and table numbers. All in color, but nothing crazy, just navy text. I think I replaced it for the first time in years just before I started printing all my wedding stuff.

Ideally you'd want a printer that has different color catridges (one for C, M, Y, K I think). So when you empty the yellow  printing everything in yellow if that's your wedding color, you don't have to replace the whole cartridge, just the yellow one. Mine doesn't do that.

I don't know how much printing at Fedex costs, but I still imagine I've saved money by buying the cardstock and printing myself, even if I do use the whole ink cartridge.

Like @ohannabelle said, I bought a paper cutter for something like $20 at Michael's to do straight edges.

theartistformerlyknownas

Honestly, I think even the best inkjet printer produces disappointing quality compared to a laser printer. You're much better off going to Kinkos. It's really inexpensive, especially if you use your own cardstock (that you buy with a coupon, of course). I used their cardstock and still printed all my inserts (4-up to a page, 35 sheets) for like 6 bucks. I think it's less than 10 cents per page if you bring your own paper. Last I checked, home printer ink ran about 6-9 cents per page and that's not including the cost of the printer itself.

ETA plus at Kinkos, if any of the ink looks smeary or a page gets bent they'll reprint for you for free. At home, you'll be eating that cost.

ashleyep

lolo883 said:

Honestly, I think even the best inkjet printer produces disappointing quality compared to a laser printer. You're much better off going to Kinkos. It's really inexpensive, especially if you use your own cardstock (that you buy with a coupon, of course). I used their cardstock and still printed all my inserts (4-up to a page, 35 sheets) for like 6 bucks. I think it's less than 10 cents per page if you bring your own paper. Last I checked, home printer ink ran about 6-9 cents per page and that's not including the cost of the printer itself.

ETA plus at Kinkos, if any of the ink looks smeary or a page gets bent they'll reprint for you for free. At home, you'll be eating that cost.

Definitely agreed if you're printing stuff with lots of color or graphics. Mine were all simple just navy colored text. I might stay late one day at work and print the rest of the programs here though :P