Printing on Construction Paper: Tips & Considerations

Can You Put Construction Paper in a Printer is a common question asked by many artists. Making flowers, adorning placemats, and creating props are just a few of the many things you can do with construction paper. If you love crafts as much as we do, you likely already know how helpful and entertaining these sheets can be.

Construction paper is better in some ways than regular printer paper, and there are many things to consider.

For example, construction paper is much cheaper than printer paper. The paper can be used in a variety of applications, such as construction projects, interior design, and home decorating.

It’s perfect for making signs, banners, and invitations for your party or wedding. There are numerous other uses for this paper. Construction paper can be used to make all kinds of crafts and decorations. You can also use it to make your own greeting cards and wrapping paper.

Hidden Factors Affecting Print on a Construction Paper

On construction paper, you may print by considering the following 5 criteria before printing on construction paper:

• Size of the Paper
• The thickness of the Paper
• Material of the Paper
• Type of Printer
• Drying time

Size of the Paper

Some printers support bigger paper, but this is not a common feature. Longer and wider pages require printers that can handle them, however, these printers are frequently more expensive and are not practical for many home printers or classrooms.

As a result, you will probably need to trim some material off the sides so that it will fit properly in your printer.

The dimensions of standard printer paper are not followed by most building paper. Construction paper often measures 9×12 inches, which makes it too big for at-home printers that only accept 8.5×11 paper options, when comparing two goods.

The thickness of the Paper

The thickness of the paper is the distance from one side to the other. Paper is typically sold in a range of standard sizes and weights, which are referred to as “gauges”.

The caliper is a small ruler with a marked edge that can be used to measure the thickness of the paper. It can also be used to measure the size of other materials. 

What kind of thickness is building paper? Construction paper is typically sold by the weight, not the thickness, of the paper.

Normally the size of construction paper is measured in terms of width and length. The most common thickness for paper is the standard 80-pound paper, but there are also 80-pound papers made with 140-pound stock or 90-pound stock. This means that the standard 80-pound paper has a thickness of about 0.0081 inches. 

Material of the Paper

Some brands of construction paper will be thicker than others and better suited for passing through a printer, depending on the kind and style you select.

Wood pulp gives construction paper its rough texture and makes it heavier than regular printing paper.

Its texture may make it difficult to slide through rollers efficiently or, after printing, may leave behind fine paper fibers.

If your printer cannot handle this material, construction paper will frequently slide through the printing process or not move at all.

Type of Printer

Using materials like cardstock or construction paper might lead to a paper jam and potentially harm the printer’s internal parts.

You can avoid this problem by using a more durable material like cardboard, plastic, or vinyl. If you have to use a cardstock that’s thicker than 8-10 mils (0.25mm), it might be best to use a thicker printer cartridge to accommodate the thickness.

Don’t use tape on your inkjet printer cartridge. Tape is generally used for paper jams, but it can also make the ink in the cartridge dry up.

Also, you need to identify which type of printer will handle the construction paper i.e laser printer or inkjet printer.

Laser Printer

Laser printers are designed specifically to handle a lot of text printing. Due to this factor, many models do not support changing the paper thickness to accommodate different materials like cardstock or construction paper.

Inkjet Printer

Construction paper and other lightweight materials can be easily printed on with inkjet printers. You should achieve the best results if you carefully handle the paper, trim it to size, and adjust the paper thickness option in your printer’s settings.

Drying time

Construction paper is more fibrous and behaves like a sponge to liquid ink, which is why it is soggy.

Construction paper is available in rolls, and you can also buy smaller packs for projects. You’ll find it most often at office supply stores, but if you’re looking for a specific brand, try checking online retailers.

Some types of construction paper are better for certain types of printing than others, such as water-based ink. The most common type is hot-melt paper, which dries quickly and can be printed with most inkjet printers.

Construction paper is an example of a thicker substance that your printer may be able to handle.

If so, keep in mind that it may need some time to dry after printing. Because the ink can stay wet longer than on regular printer paper, handling it too quickly after printing can cause blurring or streaks.

After printing, you shouldn’t immediately stack several sheets of construction paper together. This can result in ink transferring between pages, giving your documents an unattractive or disorganized appearance.

If you print a lot of construction paper, taking extra care after printing can take some time. Make sure you have enough room to spread out completed documents so they can dry.

Can You Put Construction Paper in a Printer- Detail Procedure

• In an inkjet printer, put a piece of construction paper that is 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size.
• Set your printer to print on thick construction paper after reading the printer’s handbook.
• Choose a file or document to print from your computer. Keep taking mind that colored construction paper will not reproduce colors precisely. If you don’t want to use white construction paper, I advise printing in black.
• To print a design on construction paper, adhere to all the directions displayed on your screen.
• After letting the ink on your personalized construction paper dry for several minutes, remove it from the printer.

Final Words 

Several elements will is taken into consideration when determining if construction paper is appropriate for your purposes when examining its thickness and ability to be utilized in a home printer. You should have no issues using this material with a typical inkjet printer and conventional construction paper.

Use construction paper only after checking your printer’s settings and treat each printed item carefully to prevent touching it until the ink has completely dried. Alternatively, remember to change your paper settings before returning to regular paper thereafter.