Printing can be complicated, especially so if it is not your profession. Canon, being a user-friendly printer, has made it possible to own a printer.
The thing is that printing on card stock is different from printing on bond paper.
In this article, we will show you several steps to follow on how to print on a cardstock canon printer. We will also show you several things you may not have known about.
How do I get my Canon Printer to Print on Cardstock?
1. Choose the Right Size
There are many card stock sizes for printing. You must choose the right paper size if you want to print properly. If the paper does not match what is on the document, you will get a bad printout.
You also have to make adjustments on how you position the card stock on the Canon printer. If you do not do this, the text will misalign, and your card will not look good.
2. Set the Print Driver
Before you print card stock, you must enter the right paper size into the printer’s driver. If you do not do this, the printer will not recognize the print areas of the card. As such, you will have a bad output.
To enter a custom paper size, go to the Windows search bar at the bottom left, and then look for Manage Devices. From here, you will see a menu to the left. Scroll to the bottom of this menu bar, and then look for your installed printer.
Choose the printer that you want to use, and then view the properties. In most cases, the paper tray has a default of A4 or letter-sized options. Toggle the settings and then choose the right card stock from the list.
3. Update the Driver
Make it a habit to update your printer drivers. As technology improves, so should your drivers. A driver is a piece of software program that tells the hardware what to do.
It is the driver that communicates between the computer and the printer hardware. If you do not update your printer driver, some features may stop working.
Printers today, including Canon, have a software program that automatically checks for driver updates. Make sure you activate this feature. Download and install them if there is an update.
4. Select the Right Page Orientation
Typically, people want to print in portrait mode than in landscape mode. It is easier for the eye and the brain because the portrait mode is vertical.
However, the portrait mode is not always the best option. Sometimes, it is better to use the landscape mode. In our experience, it all depends on the type of paper you use.
For glossy paper, orientation is not important. For plain paper, the landscape mode is much better because the image will also print better.
To change the orientation of the paper, you must also change the orientation of the source. If you are using MS Word, then you must turn it into landscape mode.
5. Print on the Right Type of Paper
To print in card stock on Canon, the type of paper you selected on the printer must match the actual paper on the tray. It is important because the printer will control the amount of ink it releases.
There are many types of card stock. Some have a matte finish, and some have gloss. To help you understand their differences, read the list below.
- Matte Finish – these are papers that do not have gloss. They are not bright, and they are best for drawings and artwork. They maintain a high level of detail, but they are not suitable for handling because they pick up fingerprints.
- Glossy Finish – this is the kind f paper you use for photographs. Use it for printing black and white images to get a vibrant finish. They are also excellent for menus. The thing with a glossy finish is that they do not hold a lot of ink. As such, the quality can easily degrade.
- Translucent Finish – this paper allows light to pass through the paper. Even so, the quality does not degrade. You will still get a high-level finish. Use this paper for business cards and posters.
- Waterproof Finish – it is an expensive paper that is water-resistant. Use this paper if you are printing a poster that you plan to post outdoors.
You can use all these papers for printing cards on your Canon printer. What we recommend is get a sample for each and print the card on them. Once done, choose the type of paper that you like the most.
Common Canon Cardstock Printing Problems
Now, you may experience some problems as you print, such as the cardstock getting stuck, or the print quality is bad. Below are some of the most common issues and how to fix them.
Problem 1: Not Printing
Solution: If this is the issue, the solution is to check the printer drivers. It is likely that the drivers are outdated, or they are corrupted.
Go to Canon’s website and look for your printer’s specific model. On that page, you will find the updated driver. Download and install the driver, and this should fix the issue.
Problem 2: Low Ink Warning
Solution: Replace the ink cartridge. If the cartridge is new and you are getting this warning, remove the print cartridge and re-install it.
The low ink warning happens because the chip on the cartridge is reporting its old ink status. The chip cannot reset this report, even after you have refilled the cartridge. To fix this, just press and hold the reset button on the printer for five seconds.
If you have the budget, I recommend that you buy new continuous ink systems from Canon. This way, you just need to pour ink into the tank and not replace cartridges anymore.
Problem 3: Low Print Quality
Solution: Low print quality is often the result of clogged nozzles. It happens if you do not perform printer maintenance. It can also happen if the cartridge is already old.
If this is the issue, launch your Canon printer window and perform maintenance. There are options to clear the nozzles for both black and colored cartridges.
Printer maintenance is a must. If the nozzles get dry, the ink will not penetrate. Ideally, you must print at least one image a day. This should keep your printer in working condition.
By the way, print quality also has something to do with the ink you are using. If you refill your cartridge with fake ink, or if you use fake Canon cartridges, do not expect the same print quality as the original one. Never use fake cartridges as they can also damage your printer.
Problem 4: Printer is Jamming
Solution: This only happens if your paper is the wrong size. It can only happen if the paper is folded. To fix it, just make sure that the paper is properly aligned with the tray’s settings.
FAQ
Can cardstock go in a Canon printer?
To print on cardstock paper, make sure that the paper is put in the multi-purpose tray correctly. The quality and quantity of the cardstock paper should also be considered before printing.
If you have multiple printers set up on your network, select the Canon printer option prior to printing.
Can Canon printer print on thick paper?
Using heavier or lighter paper than what is recommended could cause a printer jam.
Can you print on cardstock with an inkjet printer?
An inkjet printer is a great tool to have at home because it can print high-quality text, photos, and graphics. Inkjet printers are versatile and can handle most printing projects including printing on cardstock.
Can I print on thick paper?
Both laser printers and inkjet printers can print on thick paper. Before printing, make sure the paper type is set to the right option in the printer’s settings.
Can you print on 110 lb cardstock?
Printers like the Canon Pixma Pro 100 printer can print on heavy cardstock, including 80 lb and 110 lb cards in both letter-size and A4 format. This makes it a great choice for printing high-quality materials.
Can the Canon Pixma iX6820 print on cardstock?
The Canon Pixma iX6820 printer prints high-resolution images on cardstock. It has a sophisticated FINE print head system with 4096 nozzles. The printer has five ink cartridges, two of which have special black ink for crisper lines and deeper shading.
Can the Canon Pixma tr4520 print on cardstock?
The Canon Pixma tr4520 won’t be able to print on cardstock. The printer supports the following paper sizes: 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, Letter, Legal, U.S. #10 Envelopes.
What is a Hagaki paper?
Hagaki paper is a specific size of paper that is designed for inkjet printers. The paper is 4″ x 4″ in size. You can also use 4″ x 6″ postcards or photo prints, but you will need to cut the paper down to the correct size in order to create a hagaki print. There are also larger versions of hagaki prints that are designed for sending through the mail. These postcards measure an irregular 3.94″ x 5.83″.
Can Canon mg5750 print on card?
Yes, the Canon mg5750 can print on card.
Can Canon iP8720 print on cardstock?
If you need to print greeting cards, the Canon iP8720 is a good option. It feeds card stock through the standard paper tray consistently, which most Canon printers do.
How do you tell if a printer can print on cardstock?
When choosing a printer for printing cardstock, the first thing to look at is the thickness of the paper it can handle. Cardstock can range from 135-200g/m2 in weight, so not every printer can handle the thick cardstock.
Can all printers print on cardstock?
Most home printers can handle 80-pound or 10-point cardstock without any problems. If the paper is any thicker, it may jam the printer. Some types of cardstock have a glossy finish that makes it look polished.
How do you print on cardstock without smearing?
To avoid smudging the ink, hold printed pages by the edges and don’t touch them. Do not stack printed pages on top of each other, because this can cause the ink to smear. If you need to refill your ink cartridges, be careful not to smudge the ink.
Does printing on cardstock use more ink?
Generally, when you print something on a whole sheet of paper, you will use more ink than if you just printed text. High-quality printing uses more, smaller droplets, so it doesn’t really use more ink.
Summary: How to Print on Cardstock Canon Printer
Now that you know how to print on cardstock on a Canon printer, the next step is to get the papers and print on them. Do not forget to update your drivers and match the print quality with the paper you are actually using. If you come across any problem, use our troubleshooting guide.