Those of you who print & make hybrid stuff - what printer do you have? And what paper do you use? I've never managed to get things look nice when printing. It always look "home printed". My HP is dying on me, and I might have to get a new printer soon. Thanks in advance!
I use this printer: Epson ET-4800 It's an eco tank, I get to refill the color that I need and don't have to replace everything. It is on the pricier side. With that being said, it does a great job at printing photos as well. I've had the printer for almost a year now and been actively doing hybrid projects on it for about 6 months and even with all my "redo" printing, I have yet to replace the ink. I am starting to get low and it will need a refill soon (probably in the next 1-2 months). I've printed on photo paper, vellum and plastic. It does NOT do well with tissue paper. I use this paper: Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte I'm not sure what program you use for scrapping, I have found that if I print from photoshop directly and convert everything to CYMK my printing doesn't look muted/home printed.
I have PSE 11. Hard to get more old-school than that LOL Might look into that CMYK converting. Right now I can only print 1 page at a time. If I print a document with more than one page, I have to print them one at a time, because EVERYTIME the printer tells me there's paper stuck in the machine, and I have to open the paper tray and remove a half-way stuck paper. I'm sure I need to get a new printer soon!
try the whole converting thing and see how that works. I'll be honest, I tend to only print one page at a time anyways since I'm printing from PS. I usually have 500 tabs open, just like my brain and work through the tabs. LOL.
I just purchased the Epson Ecotank 3850 SE. It's the 3850 version but sold at Costco so I got it for $50 less AND two huge bottles of black ink (in addition to the ink that comes with it). I'm set for quite a while. I've used it for all the February cards as well as my planner and it hasn't even made a dent in the ink. My old HP needed ink replaced every 3 cards or so. I love how easy it is to set up and that it handles my thick cardstock well. I use 65#-80# cardstock without a problem. When I use the heavier stuff, I do have to print one page at a time, but since it's right next to my computer, it really doesn't bother me. When I use normal paper, it takes whatever I send it I do print it in CYMK thanks to Esther and Dawn and it has made a difference. Well, not that anyone cared before, but I can see the difference. I haven't tried photos yet, that's next on my list
I also have an Epson - the 3750. I love the Ecotank feature. It prints for months and months and months without needing to add ink. I literally don't remember the last time I added ink -- probably over a year ago. I use the Matte Presentation paper and sometimes the double sided premium presentation paper. Or sometimes just cardstock -- weirdly, I find the Epson sometimes actually OVERsaturates on its presentation paper.
I like the Canon line of printers, but also Epson. Really like the idea of the refillable tanks. Regarding paper -- try a small quantity of a brand first to see how your printer handles it, then buy in bulk. Paper labelled for a specific printer brand may or may not work with a printer of a different brand. Long ago I used HP Photo paper in an Epson and about 6 months later the colors in the photo all changed (some sort of slow chemical reaction took place). Some inkjet prints will smudge even a day later on clear sticker paper. Check the comments for the printer and the paper you intend to use. People will tell you if they had trouble with anything. I use cardstock, heavy paper (28 pound), regular paper, matte sticker paper, and clear sticker paper. I currently use the Online Labels brand of sticker paper from Amazon. I was using the Maco brand but the white of the sticker seemed yellow to me. I am currently using the Avery clear sheet shipping labels, but want to try the Online brand clear stickers. If you are wanting to print glossy stickers for your waterbottle, get a waterproof glossy sticker paper -- or self-laminating sheets to put over the matte sticker paper. Lastly, play with your printer settings. You may find some that work better to give you the look you want.
This is really good to know. I have a bunch of old HP photo paper and was just the other day thinking about trying to use it up with my Epson printer. If I do, I'll be sure to use it on some short-term decorations or something that I don't need to be archival.
I have an OLD Epson printer that still seems to crank out great prints as long as I use good paper. I also use that Epson Presentation Matte paper (double sided) and I LOVE that stuff. It's a little thicker than regular paper, but I love that for hybrid stuff. I don't even use good ink anymore and am using generic refills that I get on Amazon. I am considering a new printer, but only because the scanner portion of the All-in-one printer has died and I need a scanner!
I have an Epson EcoTank-2850. I got the EcoTank because I hate spending loads of money on ink. The EcoTank truly takes a LONG time to go through ink. I have mixed results with printing. In order to avoid lines across the page, I have to print background papers as "photos." I print on matte photo paper (its a good paper weight too...not too thin, not too thick).
Bev this is something I never thought about. I've been printing stickers for my grandson on regular sticker paper and he puts them on everything, but I've never used clear ones. How do you like them? Do you have any examples of what they look like after printed? And where do you get your waterproof glossy sticker paper? That's something that really interests me as my son's troop is fixing to head to Philmont and all their water bottles look the same. For regular cups, can you put them in the dishwasher after using them?
All the cool kids have stickers on their water bottles . That said - no more dishwasher if you do. You can buy the waterproof glossy vinyl stickers on Amazon (just search for that). Or you can use regular sticker paper and cover them in self-laminating sheets (also on Amazon) before cutting them out. Or if you want low level tech - use packing tape. Here is an example of using the clear labels - all the black words. You can rub the sticker to make it "disappear" even more. So it is amazing to use for printing mixed media designs, especially paint. It also lets lower layers shine through. Sorry no examples of waterproof stickers. My daughter has been making those and I don't have a pic. p.s. the regular clear sticker paper is NOT waterproof and the ink will come off it you get it wet or scratch it.
Bev, you have seriously just changed my life. I'm not even joking. I have been trying to cut word art out for my hybrid projects, and never liked how it turned out on the white paper. THIS is exactly the look I love AND to be able to use paints on my hybrid projects??? PRICELESS! So, did you hand cut it once you printed it? I kinda figured it about not being able to use the dishwasher afterwards, but it's better than drinking from someone else's water bottle for sure And if I can make the boys smile after walking 10 miles each day, I consider that a win! I'm off to find waterproof sticker paper for the water bottles, and clear sheet sticker paper for my hybrid projects. THANK YOU!!!
I use waterproof sticker paper from Online Labels and it's really good although you definitely have to hand wash.
Yes, all hand-cut. I do have a Cricut and could have used it, but I also printed some paints on the same page and wanted to hand-cut those. I tend to do both. The printer is downstairs while the Cricut is upstairs so I usually only Cricut if I have pages and pages to do -- and I bring the Cricut downstairs temporarily.
Hej Eva, Jag använder HP Envy 6020e med HP InstantInk. Den fungerar jättebra och med InstantInk så har jag alltid bläck hemma. Jag använder 120 gr papper för mina junk journals, tycker de blir bäst. Älskar Navigators papper, finns på Amazon och på flera andra ställen också.
