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Cardstock is a thick, hard printer paper with an 80# cover weight useful for invitation cards, photos, menu cards, etc. This paper type gets through a lot more ink. Using cardstock paper in a regular printer can lead to paper jams. So, you will need to look for a special printer type for printing cardstock paper.
You can design and print your greeting cards with the best printer for cardstock invitations. Moreover, if you have a cardstock-supported printer at your home, you don’t need to rely on professional printing businesses for making invitation and greeting cards. These printers produce premium quality and really beautiful pieces.
This comprehensive guide reviewed some of the best printers for printing invitations on cardstock based on their performance and feature.
Continue reading!
Contents
- Do You Need a Specific Printer for Cardstock?
- 9 Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations Review
- 1. Best Overall: Canon PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Business Printer
- Specifications for Canon PIXMA iX6820
- Final Verdict
- 2. Best for Ultra-HD Photos: EPSON Artisan 1430 Color Inkjet Printer
- Specifications for EPSON Artisan 1430
- Final Verdict
- 3. Best All-in-One Laser Printer: HP M479fdw Multifunction Laser Printer
- Specifications for HP Multifunction M479fdw
- Final Verdict
- 4. Best for Wide-format Printing: Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer
- Specifications for Canon IP7820
- Final Verdict
- 5. Best for Wedding Cards: Epson SureColor P400 Color Photo Printer
- Specifications for Epson SureColor P400
- Final Verdict
- 6. Best for Color Accuracy: HP Envy 7155 All-in-One Printer
- Specifications for HP Envy 7155
- Final Verdict
- 7. Best Reliable: Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300 Printer
- Specifications for Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300
- Final Verdict
- 8. Best for Low CPM: EPSON EcoTank ET-2750 All-in-One Printer
- Specifications for EPSON EcoTank 2750
- Final Verdict
- 9. Best Versatile: Brother VC-500W Versatile Color Label Printer
- Specifications for Brother VC-500W
- Final Verdict
- How to Pick the Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations?
- Frequently Asked Question
- Last Words And Top Pick
Do You Need a Specific Printer for Cardstock?
As we stated earlier, cardstock is quite a thick and heavy paper. For this reason, it becomes challenging to print cardstock paper using a regular printer. Not every printer is built to handle thick and heavy paper printing jobs. If you use a regular printer for cardstock printing, you may face the following troubles:
- Paper jams;
- Wastage of paper;
- Excess usage of ink;
- Unappealing printouts;
So, a special printer type can help you minimize the above inconveniences. Cardstock printers are designed to deliver the following benefits:
- Uses the right amount of ink for beautiful printouts, minimizing ink wastage;
- Prints premium-quality photos;
- Delivers appealing colored printouts;
- Can tackle a wide range of cardstocks such as matte and glossy;
- These printers can handle regular paper sizes;
To avoid frustration due to printer jams and other concerns, one should always need a special printer for cardstock.
Comparison Chart – Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations
If you are in a hurry and don’t have enough time to read the whole article, read the below comparison chart and get quick comparison data of our selected products. It will help you make the best decision for the best printer for cardstock invitations.
Product Name | It’s Best for | Printer Technology | Maximum Resolution | All-in-One Functionality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canon PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Business Printer | Overall | Inkjet | 9600 X 2400 dpi | No |
EPSON Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer | Ultra-HD Photos | Inkjet | 5760 X 1440 dpi | No |
HP Multifunction M479fdw Wireless Laser Printer | All-in-One Laser Printer | Laser | 600 X 600 dpi | Yes |
Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer | Wide-format Printing | Inkjet | 9600 X 2400 dpi | No |
Epson SureColor P400 Color Photo Printer | Wedding Cards | Inkjet | 5760 X 1440 dpi | No |
HP Envy 7155 All-in-One Printer | Color Accuracy | Inkjet | 4800 X 1200 dpi | Yes |
Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Printer | Reliability | Inkjet | 4800 X 2400 dpi | No |
EPSON EcoTank ET-2750 All-in-One Printer | Low CPM | Inkjet | 5760 X 1440 optimized dpi | Yes |
Brother VC-500W Versatile Color Label Printer | Versatility | Inkjet | 313 dpi | No |
9 Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations Review
These enlisted printers will meet your requirements and provide many benefits. An in-depth review of all of them is shared below.
1. Best Overall: Canon PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Business Printer
Are you a professional and handling colored documents printing on cardstock paper regularly? Don’t look further; buy the Canon PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Business Printer. This heavy-duty cardstock printer is suitable for photo professionals and enthusiasts, printing everything between 4”×6” mailers to 11”× 17” excels — even big 13”×19” presentation charts. It delivers exceptional color printing details with a maximum of 9600×400 dpi.
Fine Print Head Technology
The key feature of this printer is full photolithography inkjet nozzle engineering simplifies the preparation process of print head chips and overcomes the limitations of the traditional adhesive bonding process. Thus, you will get smooth and bold graphics, text, or color. More importantly, there will be no uneven ink or noticeable print lines.
Suitable for Cardstock Printing
Impressively, it is designed for cardstock printing. You can print thick and heavy paper, including 140 lbs. of watercolor greeting cards. Moreover, printing wedding invitations, visiting cards, etc., will not be an issue with this printer. The print quality will always be extraordinary as it prints with a resolution of up to 9600×2400 dpi. You will barely find a cardstock printer with such resolution at this price range. If you crave the quality of a high-end inkjet printer, this will be a deal-breaker. Plus, having this printer at home is one of the cheapest ways to make an invitation and greeting cards at home.
High Performance 5 Individual Ink Tank System
Instead of ink cartridges, it uses a high-performance 5 individual ink tank system for printing. The ink system consists of 4 dye-based ink, allowing you to get professional-looking photos. In contrast, it delivers crisp texts with the help of pigment-based black ink. Additionally, this feature lets you print more pages between the refills, helping you save money on replacements. The black cartridge prints 800 pieces of the black and white document before refilling, making it an economical choice.
150 Sheet Auto Feed Tray
It comes with a 150-sheet auto feed tray to facilitate your cardstock printing jobs. With this feature, you don’t need to feed paper whenever printing. Store a stack of 150-sheet cardstock paper on the input tray; when you command for printing, the machine will automatically feed a paper and deliver clean printouts. It has a decent printing speed depending on the print type. A4 size paper with black and white 14.5 ipm. In contrast, for color documents, the printing speed is 10.4 ipm.
Auto Power On/Off
This is an environment-friendly printer with an auto power on/off feature. Set it to turn off when the printer is not used for a certain period. Again, when you need to print, set it to turn on. Both options help you save energy and time.
Wireless and Mobile Printing
Print from anywhere you want using the AirPrint wireless printing capabilities. It is compatible with printing from computers, laptops, and any device running macOS or iOS. This printer is also useful for those photographers who want to print directly from their SD card or camera. An Ethernet port is also available on the back of the printer to connect to a traditional wired network or directly to a computer.
Specifications for Canon PIXMA iX6820
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Wireless, Ethernet, USB |
Compatible Devices | PC |
Recommended Uses for Product | Office, Home |
Sheet Size | 4”×6”, 11”×17”, 13”×19” |
Printer Output | Color |
Weight | 17.9 lbs. |
Dimension | 23”×12.3”×6.3” |
Final Verdict
It has a single functionality for printing documents and photos, performing quite perfectly. You will get high-quality cardstock printing quickly, and connecting to different devices like computers, laptops, or smartphones is also effortless. The printing operation with this printer is pretty quiet, not disturbing the people around you.
2. Best for Ultra-HD Photos: EPSON Artisan 1430 Color Inkjet Printer
Meet the mid-range pro-photo color printer, the EPSON Artisan 1430. It is efficient and powerful enough to deliver ultra-high-definition, brilliant, and as large as 13”×19” wide prints. In fact, this printer focuses on taking your printing experience to the next level. Anybody can take prints on cardstock paper, envelopes, wedding invitations, and other thick or heavy paper with this printer’s convenient wireless networking system.
Brilliant Large Size Photos
Investing in this large format printer allows you to print high-quality photos without visiting a professional vendor. It offers great flexibility and control over your printing jobs. Moreover, it features 13”×19” borderless printing. Thus, it eliminates the extra effort of trimming the edges. Furthermore, the borderless feature makes scrapbooking easier.
Ultra Hi-Definition Cardstock Prints
This printer includes Claria 6-color ink which ensures ultimate photo quality. At the same time, the print quality remains 4X times fresh and new compared to lab prints. With high-definition prints, it can handle your entire wedding card preparation. Additionally, from greeting to invitation cards, lists of guests, and other basics, it tackles every printing requirement like a professional quality printer. Plus, thick and heavy cardstock papers will never get jammed in this printer.
Remarkable Image Quality
The image quality of this cardstock printer will simply amaze you. It combines DX5 MicroPiezo printhead technology, 1.5 picoliters ink droplets, and a maximum resolution of 5760×1440 dpi, ensuring remarkable ink quality. For people who do a lot of printing, there are bulk systems that support this printer and a full black ink system. Also, this is a great printer for a home-based business. You can print gift cards to gift your customers, and its print quality will surely create a positive impression among them. However, you must use good-quality matte paper to get good image quality.
High-yield Ink Cartridge
It is considered an economical and convenient printer for its high-yield cartridge. The printer provides colored prints at a low cost per page. On top of that, you can even complete your wedding printouts without refilling the cartridge. Moreover, the ink creates subtle tones of black and white texts or colored images. Generally, a high-yield ink cartridge holds more ink than regular ink cartridges; you can print much longer before needing cartridge replacement. All in all, it reduces your printing expenses.
Smudge and Fade Resistance Prints
The printed images will not fade, smudge and resist water for many days as it uses Claris Hi-definition ink. Even with glossy paper, its water-resistance performance remains stable. So, your family photos will give a real, fresh, and new expression for several years. Besides, it’s quiet and fast, even on high-quality settings, making it a great printer for the money.
Specifications for EPSON Artisan 1430
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Wireless, Mobile, USB |
Compatible Devices | Smartphones, PC, Laptops |
Weight | 35.3 lbs. |
Dimension | 27.8”×17.3”×12.5” |
Nozzle Configuration | 540 nozzles (90 per color) |
Resolution (Maximum) | 5760×1440 ‘Optimized’ dpi |
Final Verdict
This workhorse is perfect for small business startups or professionals looking to DIY professional-quality prints. Being a wide-format printer, it is surprisingly compact and lightweight, so you will face minimal trouble installing it on your computer desk. It uses a 6 color ink system, providing great color vibrancy for the price.
3. Best All-in-One Laser Printer: HP M479fdw Multifunction Laser Printer
The HP Multifunction M479fdw Wireless Laser Printer will meet all your printing requirements whether you need to print black only or color on cardstock paper. More importantly, it is equipped with a flatbed scanner that scans the document with all details. Plus, the printer has an outstanding design, and its thick plastic construction gives it a robust and rigid look. For bulk printing purposes, it saves costs. Moreover, its wireless connectivity provides convenience, giving you wire-free connectivity options.
Multifunctional Laser Printer
Having a multifunctional printer will surely benefit you in the long run. This printer can print, copy, scan, and fax consistently without compromising quality. Thus, buying individual machines becomes entirely unnecessary. A multifunctional system lets you grow your business easily. It prints at great speed, scans at a high resolution, and photocopies with the required color depth. It is designed to make all your printing tasks easy.
Automatic Duplexing
One of the great features of the printer is auto-duplexing. Usually, auto-duplexing means the printer enables you to print both sides. As a result, it helps you save on paper costs. This feature lets you save 50% on the media cost, which is huge. Moreover, auto-duplexing performs faster, saving time as well. However, auto duplex is a default feature; if you ever want one side of a paper, disable the feature manually.
Flatbed ADF Scanner
The included scanner features a flatbed ADF system, meaning the scanner can perform duplex scanning. It scans at a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. However, the resolution can drop to 300 dpi when performing a scan through ADF or HP smart mobile app. Another biggest benefit of an ADF scanner is it can scan poor-quality or nonstandard-weight paper. The scanned document will be clear and pleasing to read.
Energy-efficient
It is engineered with eco-friendliness in mind, saving 18% more energy than its competitors with auto-duplexing and ADF scanner technology. A high-yield toner cartridge provides the right amount of ink to print black-only documents and color prints. Moreover, while printing cardstock paper, it performs efficiently to avoid reprints. Both black and color toner cartridges let you print many prints before replacing the cartridge.
Makes Complicated Workflow Ease
Most of the automated steps in this printer are auto-duplexing, ADF scanning, auto-feeding, etc. All you need to do is stack 300 sheets in the input tray and the printing command, and the printer itself will handle the work. More importantly, it features a touchscreen control panel that allows you to save your customizable settings. Printing speed also supports you in handling complicated printing jobs conveniently. For black-only text documents, it has 21 ppm, and 29 ppm is for color documents. Overall, handling a complicated workflow becomes much more effortless with this printer.
Specifications for HP Multifunction M479fdw
Printing Technology | Laser |
Connectivity technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB |
Duplex | Automatic |
Scanner | Flatbed with ADF |
Wattage | 550 W |
Weight | 51.6 |
Dimension | 15.7” X 18.6” X 16.4” |
LCD preview Screen | Yes |
Maximum Standard paper Size | Legal |
Final Verdict
With several useful features named ADF scanner, auto duplexing, 1200 dpi maximum resolution, etc., it is an ideal printer for thick and heavy paper. A high-yield toner cartridge provides necessary ink while printing cardstock, saving reprint and paper costs. Build quality is also outstanding, and paper capacity is also high with 300-sheets. An adjustable input tray holds paper of different sizes up to legal paper.
4. Best for Wide-format Printing: Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer
The Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer is an excellent option if you want wide-format printing. It consists of 6 ink tanks offering quality prints, and the price is also reasonable. Impressively, it produces borderless printing of 13”×19”, eliminating additional work like edge trimming. Having this printer means you can print large-sized photos, and cardstock printing is also hassle-free.
High-quality Build and Design
The body has a premium look with a sleek design. Interestingly, it features a quiet mode, allowing you to complete printing tasks quietly without disturbing another person. Thus, the printer becomes ideal for home use, and printing late at night will not create disturbance nearby. It measures 23.3”×13.1”×6.3”, utmost convenient to place on a computer desk. Additionally, it weighs 18.6 lbs., which is pretty lightweight. Besides, a high-speed USB connection guarantees a super-fast transfer of data.
High Speed and Superior Resolution in Cardstock Paper
The maximum supported dpi of this printer is 9600×2400. Such resolution gives appealing printouts in both your photos and business documents. Also, if you need to print on cardstock paper, it lets you do so effortlessly. It delivers great details for both color and black & white images. You will get exceptional black text on cardstock paper using pigment-based black ink. Printing speed is also amazing, with 14.5 ipm and 10.4 ipm for black and color prints, respectively.
6 Individual Ink Tank System
This printer includes 6 individual ink tanks for crystal clear and top-notch printing. Due to the ink tank system, it is an ideal printer for home-office purposes. Also, this feature benefits small printing businesses by allowing them to make greeting cards, gift cards, envelope printing, etc., effortlessly. In addition, an individual ink tank system allows you to print more pages using less ink.
Easy to Use
You need to turn on the printer manually. But when the device is idle, it shuts off automatically, and when it receives a command for printing, it turns on automatically. This is a really praising feature, helping you save energy. Another significant feature is the Full HD quality print. Due to this feature, you can print DSLR or digital camera images. Overall, it is a user-friendly printer, allowing you to do your printing jobs efficiently.
Uninterrupted Connectivity
It features incorporated wireless mode, helping you connect the printer to your PC, laptops, cameras, tablets, etc. It is also compatible with the manufacturer’s software, enabling you to print from DSLR or other digital cameras. Also, printing from a smartphone is possible without hassle. Additionally, you can get wireless air print from your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and get the print done.
Supports Direct Printing from Cloud Storage
Printing photos or documents is not always easy from a smartphone’s memory storage or hard disk. Thanks to the cloud storage feature, you can print any document directly from Google Drive, Dropbox, One Drive, Gmail, Google print, etc.
Specifications for Canon IP7820
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet |
Duplex | No |
Scanner Type | Document |
Resolution | 10000 |
Weight | 18.6 lbs. |
Dimension | 23.3”× 13.1”×6.3” |
Final Verdict
This printer is a semi-professional grade printer helping you build your small business for cardstock printing. It creates quality printouts because of its 9600×2400 dpi resolution. A standard ink tank system saves ink and allows much printing with less ink usage. In addition, operating the printer and printing from devices like PCs, laptops, cameras, and smartphones is simple.
5. Best for Wedding Cards: Epson SureColor P400 Color Photo Printer
The Epson SureColor P400 Wireless Color Photo Printer will cover you in all areas, from business cards to wedding invitation cards. It has appealing printing quality and colors. Printing your family photos with this cardstock printer is easy and effortless, and your family photos printing with this printer will sparkle after hanging them on a wall. The printer can print photos at a relatively fast speed and deliver a real-life-like photo print. Moreover, for its fast speed, you will enjoy printing with it.
Double-sided Printing
Save half of your media cost by using its 2-sided printing. More importantly, you don’t need to stand before the printer for duplex printing. The printer can do auto-duplex printing of its own. By selecting an auto-duplex printer, you are supporting eco-friendliness. This feature uses less energy, half paper than one-sided print. The amount of output your printer can handle is also worth considering in a double-sided printer.
Relatively Fast Photo Printing Speed
It is a dedicated photo printer that prints photos, texts, and graphics. This printer prints photos relatively faster than other printers in its range. Depending on the size of the photo, it takes 2 minutes to print the best large format photos on art paper or photo paper. On the other hand, its speed is 5.5 ppm for printing text documents. This timing is the same for printing PDF, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can run a small business quite conveniently with such printing speed.
High-quality Photographs
You will get good to excellent photo-quality prints from it. Impressively, most prints will be gallery-worth quality. No significant tint will be available in print; it uses the right amount of ink in every printout. Being an inkjet, text quality will also satisfy you. General fonts are of utmost clearness and crispiness and will not give you trouble reading a document unless you use small fonts. Graphics quality is more than good than other printers in its price range. In fact, it performs as a near-dedicated photo printer.
Multiple Individual Paper Feed System
The paper handling process is similar to other standard inkjet printers. The paper feed holds plain paper of 120 sheets or photo paper of 30 sheets. It accommodates a paper length of 13” wide and 19” long. This printer has another paper feed system in the rear panel, supporting a 13” wide paper roll. More importantly, a manual feed tray can also be attached to the rear paper feed panel. The manual paper tray holds heavy fine art papers for convenient feeding. These different paper-feeding panels make it a versatile printer, allowing you to print different paper sizes easily.
8 Pigment-based Ink Tank
It features an archival-quality 8 pigment-based ink tank, delivering professional-grade prints. More importantly, the printer has built-in technology that helps it auto-select black ink. The printer will move between matte black and black ink channels to give you optimum output regardless of different paper types.
Specifications for Epson SureColor P400
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | USB, Wireless, Ethernet |
Duplex | Yes |
Wattage | 20 Watts |
Print Media | Plain (paper) |
Scanner Type | Photo |
Weight | 27.1 lbs. |
Dimension | 20.9” X 25.8” X 13.5” |
Operating Temperature | 50° – 95° F |
Final Verdict
This wide printer comes with extendable input and output trays for handling paper of different sizes. A basic control panel allows its user to work easily, and connecting the printer with a PC, laptop, or camera is pretty convenient with the USB, Ethernet, or Wireless. Its compact and lightweight design fits an independent desk perfectly.
6. Best for Color Accuracy: HP Envy 7155 All-in-One Printer
Looking for an all-in-one solution for your printing jobs? Buy the HP Envy 7155 All-in-One Printer and get all your printing jobs done efficiently. It performs as a printer, scanner, and photocopier simultaneously. For cardstock invitation printing, this is unbeatable with excellent color accuracy. This printer can cover all your office and small business printing needs.
3-in-1: Print, Copy, Scan
Experience premium-quality printing with 4800×1200 dpi resolution. Also, it comes with scanning capability and has an 8.5”×11.7” flatbed scanner with an automatic document feeder, which makes the multi-page scanning process faster and easier. On top of that, scanning color depth and resolution of 1200 dpi optical resolution is also satisfying. Auto-duplexing feature facilitates the printing process, saving a lot of media costs. Photocopying is also effortless and delivers a smooth, clear copy of documents.
2.7” Color Touchscreen
This printer will be a good choice for those who don’t want to use buttons to switch during printing, scanning, or photocopying. Additionally, it consists of a 2.7” color touchscreen for intuitive control. Navigating the menu is easy through the touchscreen. Although the screen can’t swivel or tilt, the viewing angle is more than good, giving you good visibility when standing in front of the printer. Overall, the touchscreen is pretty engaging and interactive.
Optional High-yield Cartridge
It is equipped with an optional high-yield cartridge that can store more ink than standard ink cartridges. As a result, you can get more prints using less ink. Although high-yield ink cartridges are quite expensive, their performance for additional printing makes them worth the price. At the same time, this feature lets you use the ink cartridge for a long time, which means less cartridge replacement is required.
Great Color Accuracy
Exceptional color accuracy and photo print quality are worth-mentioning features of this printer. If you want accurate color reproduction, it would be an ideal choice. Also, for occasional printing purposes, the printer delivers the best result. The color is clear and yellow looks bright. Moreover, the picture quality is particularly superb on gloss paper. For most pictures, you will get good vibrant colors like professional photography. Furthermore, regular documents’ print quality is also very good.
Build and Design Quality
Due to its rigid plastic construction, it feels well-built and sturdy. Moreover, the printer has a decent design to fit in an office. You will find a width slider in the input tray to simplify your printing task. Moreover, accessing the ink cartridges is also convenient by raising the scanner bed. Thus, raise the scanner bed and clear the jam if you face a paper jam. However, you will rarely experience paper jam issues. Significantly, a separate paper tray is available above the prime input tray for loading photo paper.
Specifications for HP Envy 7155
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Duplex | Automatic |
Scanner Type | Photo |
Print Media | Envelopes, Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper |
Wattage | 14 Watts |
Weight | 15.4 lbs. |
Dimension | 17.87” X 6.34” X 16.14” |
Final Verdict
Using this printer, you can print the most common paper sizes, including legal paper. It supports cardstock printing, and the input tray has sliders to hold different paper widths. Excellent color accuracy, vibrant photo look, and good quality black and white text documents give the flexibility to use it for family purposes.
7. Best Reliable: Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300 Printer
The Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300 Wireless Color-Wide Printer is engineered for professional cardstock printing. Producing high-quality photos and accurate-looking colors is the promise of this printer. At the same time, banners and tabloid-size photo printing is a breeze using it. Page yield is pretty perfect. Moreover, inexpensive replacement ink offers a low cost per page. The printer delivers awesome-looking printouts on both matte and glossy media.
Solid Build Quality
Solid-feeling plastic body gives the printer excellent build quality. The output tray is sturdy even when it is fully extended. Moreover, you can access the ink cartridge under the front panel when necessary for replacement. Potential paper jams can also be cleared through the same panel. A manual feeder tray in the rear and a top feeder tray facilitate the paper feeding process. All in all, it comes with a pretty rigid chassis, and the build quality feels excellent throughout. Although it is a little bit large when used, this device becomes compact with a foldable rear feeder, making it easy to store.
Reliable Cartridge System
It featured a reliable cartridge system with perfect black and color page yields. The printer has specialized cartridges for photo paper printing, cardstock printing, etc. These cartridges are not generally used for non-cardstock paper printing and are called “Chroma Optimizers.” They offer an additional coat on the prints and seal efficiently for long-term shine. More importantly, the color remains fresh and new for many days due to the feature.
Outstanding Photo Printing Quality
The printer is one of the best options for color photo printing. Images from the device are well-defined and come with great color accuracy. It can reproduce a variety of gradients and shades without banding. More importantly, its cost per page is outstanding for black-and-white text documents or monochrome prints. With the Lucia Pro pigment ink system, this printer offers an expanded color gamut and accurate color reproduction – both vital elements for creative production.
Built-in Maintenance System
Inkjet printers are prone to clogging, and this printer is also no exception. However, the unique thing is that it features an incorporated maintenance system to let you get rid of clogging issues. The maintenance program features paper head cleaning and paper head deep cleaning, eliminating the risk of clogging. Moreover, an automatic nozzle recovery system automatically continues and compensates for printing when a clog is detected in any nozzles. In addition, roller cleaning, print head alignment, and stain removal from the bottom plate are part of the maintenance program to give you a trouble-free printing experience.
Good Display Screen and App Compatibility
This printer includes a good display screen for easy control of the device. You can conveniently navigate the menu using the button controls placed on the right-hand side. It is compatible with a Canon Print App, permitting you to print from your smartphone without hassle.
Specifications for Canon ImagePROGRAF PRO-300
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, USB |
Scanner Type | Photo |
Print Media | Glossy Photo Paper |
Compatible Devices | Smartphones, PC, Desktops |
Sheet Size | Size 3.5×3.5, 3.5×5, 4×6, 5×5, 5×7, 7×10, 8×10, 8.5×11, 8.5×14, 10×12, 11×17, 12×12, 13×19, 210×594mm, Custom (up to 14” x 39”) |
Weight | 41.1 lbs. |
Dimension | 25.2” X 15” X 7.9” |
Maximum Print Size | 13” X 19” |
Final Verdict
Everyone wants beautifully looked images, and a printer plays a big role in this case. This printer delivers entirely consistent and spectacular print quality. It has many useful feature sets, robust build quality, excellent performance, and great results. To extend your photo printing business, this will be an ideal choice.
8. Best for Low CPM: EPSON EcoTank ET-2750 All-in-One Printer
Want to add good-quality family photos to the wall of your home without visiting a professional photo printing vendor? The EPSON EcoTank ET-2750 Wireless All-in-One Printer will let you print quality family photos that will shine long days on the wall. Also, it allows you to print lots of paper before refilling the ink. In addition, color stays well on cardstock papers, providing an appealing look. The machine is incredibly compact, so you will not experience any trouble fitting it on your computer desk.
Multifunctional Printer
This printer is a jack of all trades with printing, scanning, and photocopying functionality. Due to the multifunctional characteristics, buying an individual machine for different jobs is not required. That means more space in the office and less energy cost. Moreover, your productivity will increase since moving to a different machine is unnecessary. Overall this printer is a space and energy saver, productivity, and efficiency extender.
High-Capacity Ink Tank
The Super ink-tank system of the printer will satisfy you the most. Other printers have removable ink cartridges that need to be replaced when empty. The good news is that the printer has high-capacity ink tanks, requiring refilling by yourself. These ink tanks let you print an extremely high number of pages without frequently refilling the ink tanks. You can complete printing your wedding invitations, and still, you will have some inks left in the bottle.
Low Cost Per Print
You will hardly find a cardstock printer with an incredibly low cost per print. Correspondingly, the cost per print for black, color and photo printing is $0.003, $0.01, and $0.027 per print. Its black ink bottle goes a long time, and many users can print a lot of text documents before it requires refilling. For this reason, the printer becomes extremely economical in the long run.
Automatically Duplex Printing
Automatic duplex printing comes in handy if you run a business and require a lot of printing regularly. It helps you reduce paper costs by up to 50% and prints faster than other printers. Moreover, standing in front of the printer for duplex printing is unnecessary as the printer does both sides’ printing automatically. Less paper usage makes it an eco-friendly printer, assisting you in saving valuable money and time.
Good Text, Graphics, and Photo Quality
The photo quality of the printer highly depends on the paper quality. When printed on good-quality paper, the printed image looks vibrant. The photo glows with natural tones. Every time, the printer delivers smudge-free and bleeding-free images. Text quality is also pleasing, so you will not face difficulty reading them. There will be no ink spots, gray areas, or noticeable lines in the text documents.
Specifications for EPSON EcoTank 2750
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Print Media | Envelopes, Paper (plain), Labels |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
Duplex | Automatic |
Scanner Type | Sheetfed |
Wattage | 13 watts |
Weight | 12.1 lbs. |
Dimension | 22.3” X 14.8” X 10.2” |
Final Verdict
This printer features easy to use and set up and offers good printing speed for home office purposes. It includes a 1.45” color LCD display, allowing you to set up the printer, ink level checking, and cycle cleaning jobs. Because of its compact design, it doesn’t take up much space on a computer desk. If you print a large amount of paper daily, this printer will be worth the price.
9. Best Versatile: Brother VC-500W Versatile Color Label Printer
The Brother VC-500W prints photos and labels between 9 mm and 50 mm, making it the best option for cardstock invitations. It creates personalized labels and photos on your smartphone or tablet with a free color lab editor app. The app features a wide range of elements such as art, fonts, ready-made design, frames, etc., enabling you to print from Air-Print-enabled apps to unleash your creativity.
ZINK Zero Ink Technology
The ZINK zero ink technology lets you print full-color photos without ink cartridges. It is a small and unique printer using colors for printing labels, cardstock paper, etc., that are already available in special tapes. This small printer is suitable for homes, business areas, and schools. You can print small cardstock paper on your kid’s birthday and surprise them.
Free Color Label Editor Application
Bring out your creativity by taking assistance from its free app to print labels and cardstock paper. You will find a variety of backgrounds, icons, built-in filters, fonts, frames, and many more to add a vibe to the label or other thick paper printing. Printing images directly from your camera roll or Instagram is a kid’s play for Air-Print compatible devices.
Print 5 mm (L)×50 mm (W) Labels
Brother features drop-in CZ rolls with numerous size ranges of 9, 12, 19, 25, and 50 mm. These continuous rolls come with both full and half-incorporated cutters. As a result, you can print labels a maximum of 5 meters long. Interestingly, CZ rolls resist water, smudge, and wear & tear effectively. More importantly, these rolls have adhesive on their back, allowing them to stick on different surfaces.
P-touch Editor
To help you in label designing, it features a free professional software named P-touch editor. By installing the software, you can effortlessly create a customized design for label or cardstock paper printing through your Mac or PC. This software can import and install industry-grade 1D or 2D barcodes, graphics, logos, additional fonts, etc., on your computer to simplify your label printing task. Moreover, the software can be connected with Microsoft Excel or .csv files for faster printing results.
Average Printing Speed
The printing speed of this wireless photo printer varies based on standard and vivid modes. In standard mode, it prints at 0.3” per second. On the other hand, it prints half the standard when used in vivid mode. The printer mostly works on monochrome print, supporting your creative jobs. Overall, it offers good printing performance with average speed.
Good Printing Result
This mini printer is accurate and efficient enough to create minimal graininess and vibrant colors on thick and heavy papers. You will surely enjoy the bright colors on the labels. Printing normal photos is acceptable, but if you want quality, this will not fulfill your expectations.
Specifications for Brother VC-500W
Printing Technology | Inkjet |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
Scanner Type | Photo |
Wattage | 500 |
Resolution | 313 |
Weight | 1.45 lbs. |
Dimension | 4.6” X 3.8” X 4.3” |
Maximum Media Size | 3” X 5” |
Final Verdict
With this mini wireless photo printer, your cardstock printing for your kid’s birthday and label printing tasks will be much more convenient. It is a versatile device and easy to use. Print quality is good enough and delivers good results for many printing tasks on labels or cardstock.
How to Pick the Best Printer for Cardstock Invitations?
The market is full of different printers for cardstock invitations. If you are unaware of what considerations play a vital role when selecting the best printer for cardstock invitations, you may end up with the wrong printer.
Consider the below factors when choosing a printer for cardstock.
Cardstock Paper Thickness
When choosing a printer for cardstock, the first thing to consider is how thick paper your selected printer can handle. Double-check the paper thickness compatibility before making a buying decision.
Cardstock can range from anywhere between 135-200g/m2. And every printer is not designed to handle the same thickest cardstock.
In this case, you must check the maximum and minimum paper thickness for each printer model you choose.
Inkjet vs. Laser
Considering what printer technology would go well is an important factor. Both inkjet and laser printers for cardstock are available in the market.
Generally, laser printers are not designed for cardstock papers. However, a few models offer good results when printing on cardstock. Moreover, you will find high-end laser printers for cardstock for large businesses.
On the other hand, inkjet printers are good for cardstock printing. Many inkjet printers are available in the market specifically manufactured for thick and heavy paper printing.
So, I recommend you go with inkjet printers for cardstock.
Connectivity
Make sure to choose a model that is easy to connect with your PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet, iPad or iPhone, etc. Most printers have a USB option, allowing you to connect them to your desktop easily.
Meanwhile, Wi-Fi is an excellent connectivity feature, promoting the wireless connection between your devices and the printer. You can print photos, documents, etc., from anywhere using the Wi-Fi option.
Printing Speed
This is crucial, especially if you need to handle many printing tasks.
Some printers have a printing speed of 25 ppm, while others can print at a 5 ppm rate. The printing speed depends on the frequency of using the printer.
For occasional use, 5 ppm is good enough. But if you are printing several pages a day, look for as much as a high printing speed model.
Ink Configuration
The number of ink cartridges in the printer is referred to as ink configuration. A general misconception is; that more ink cartridges mean more expense to replace them.
It would always be best to buy a printer with more (5+) cartridges. This way, when one cartridge is finished, you can use the other cartridge for printing. Replacing them all at once is not required. Frequent cartridge replacement will be unavoidable if you have fewer cartridges in the printer.
Image Resolution And Quality
Everyone wants to get the highest quality images. The higher the resolution, the more the images will be crisp and clean.
So, select a printer model with the highest possible resolution.
Frequently Asked Question
If there are still many questions that remain in your mind about the best printer for cardstock invitations, have a look at the following FAQ section. Here you will find most of the answers to your queries.
Can You Print on Cardstock with An Inkjet Printer?
Inkjet printers are the best choice for printing on cardstock and other thick papers. These printers will help you achieve great results. They are versatile enough to print professional-quality photos and graphics.
Can a Laser Printer Print on Cardstock?
Laser prints support printing on cardstock but not all models. There are a few specific models available designed for cardstock printing only. For cardstock and thick paper, you can choose the HP Multifunction M479fdw Wireless Laser Printer. It is multifunctional as well, letting you scan and photocopy on the same device.
Can You Use Photo Paper for Invitations?
If you don’t need to cut or trim the invitations out individually, using photo paper for invitations is a faster and easier option than cardstock. You’ll simply print invitations on the photo paper size, and you’re done.
Is Cardstock Paper Good for Photos?
Yes, cardstock or other thick papers are good for photos. Your photos will stand out when you print them on cardstock or other thick & heavy papers.
Is Cardstock Considered Specialty Paper?
Cardstock is a specialty paper used for decorative purposes. Projects like greeting cards, bookmarks, 3D design, business cards, postcards, envelopes, calendars, photo albums, etc., require cardstock paper. Wood pulp or cotton linters are used to manufacture cardstock papers. You will find cardstock with different sizes, colors, designs, and weights.
Last Words And Top Pick
Cardstock is thicker and heavier paper type compared to normal printing papers. Your cardstock printing projects may end up with a mess if you don’t use the best printer for cardstock invitations. Our reviewed printers for cardstock are exclusive in terms of print quality, performance, and wireless connectivity.
We recommend you buy the Canon PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Business Printer for printing on cardstock invitations. It is specifically designed for cardstock, offering excellent print quality with the highest resolution up to 9600 X 2400 dpi. Besides, it is equipped with 5 individual ink tanks, giving you more prints between refills. Also, the wireless connectivity feature lets you print easily from your desktops, laptops, smartphones, etc. You will never regret buying this printer.
Kyle Adam is a printer technician and the founder of this site. After completing his graduation in Computer Science and Engineering, he started work for a renowned printer manufacturing company as a printer technician. Besides his job, he also loves to do research and write about what he is dealing with in his everyday life; Printersguider is the result of that. Kyle created this site to educate those who need a specialized printer but don’t have proper knowledge about it.
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