Inkjet or Laser? What Printer Works Best for Papercraft

I’ve always assumed that anyone visiting this site probably already has a printer, I mean, doesn’t everyone? But just in case you’re wondering what kind of printer works best for papercraft projects, whether you’re on a low budget or looking to spend a bit more, I’ll go ahead and list my preferred types and explain why they’re good for papercrafting.

There are basically three types of printers when it comes to printing on paper: inkjet, monochrome laser, and color laser.

I’ll just say it straight… if you’re into papercrafting the best option is a color laser printer. And if you’re on a tight budget then an inkjet printer is the way to go.

Monochrome laser is out of the question since it’ll only print black and white.

Why Laser Color Printer

So why go with a color laser printer? If you want high-quality prints that look like they came straight out of a magazine , smooth, clean, and consistent… then that’s your answer. The toner lasts a long time, doesn’t clog like inkjet nozzles, and on average, you can get around 1300 prints before needing to replace it.

Sounds great, right? So why wouldn’t everyone just go for a laser printer? Well… they’re expensive. And the toner isn’t cheap either. That is, unless you manage to find an old refurbished model … something like a 10 year old unit with toner that costs under $10 each new.

Did I mention that you have to buy each color toner cyan, yellow, and magenta separately? Yeah, it’s not exactly ideal if you’re not working with a deep pocket.

Why Inkjet Printer

So that leaves us with the inkjet printer. They’re pretty affordable a brand new one can go for around $60 and a color cartridge usually costs about $20. For most people, this ends up being the go to option.

However, there are definitely some downsides to going with a cheaper printer. First, the print quality tends to look a bit smudgy… it’s just not as clean or smooth as what you’d get from a laser printer. And then there’s the ink issue. If you don’t use the printer for a while… say, about a month in, the cartridges can dry up and you’ll probably have to buy a new one.

But technology has come a long way since then, and maybe my past experience with inkjet printers is outdated. It’s possible that printing papercraft with an inkjet is actually a better choice now.

When it comes to price and decent enough quality, I think it’s a no brainer to go with an inkjet printer. If papercrafting is just a casual hobby for you, then an inkjet is definitely the way to go.

It’s also a plus that many inkjet printers come with a built in scanner, if you’re willing to spend a little more. That can come in handy for a bunch of things beyond just papercrafting.