Hi folks, I’ve been having an attempt at printing greetings cards using my inkjet printer at home (a mid-level Canon printer) with so-so results. The colours aren’t quite as vibrant as I’d like.
Can I ask if anyone else is doing this with success - and if you are, what type of paper you use, etc? I’m using 300gsm plain A5 card which seemed pretty nice initially, but it seems to soak up the ink more than I’d like. Would I be better using a harder/glossier paper?
I have had my artwork reproduced as greetings cards in the past. I have always used a professional printing service. My own home printer certainly wouldn’t be up to the job. Unless you are prepared to spend a lot on a printer, you may not get the best result.
Professional printing works out at about 80p per card, but could be more or less depending on the total number of the print run.
Having said that, I would be very surprised if there weren’t Folksy sellers who print their own cards on a home printer. Hopefully they can advise you as to the best papers. Good luck.
Thanks! I’ve investigated a few professional printing services but they were very pricy - who have you used in the past?
I use a local print shop near to where I live in Cornwall. They scan in your art work and adjust tones colours with you and normally print while you wait, unless they are very busy. They were recommended by a fellow local artist.
I don’t make a lot on cards, but they are a good intro to my work and I have had card buyers return later on to spend a few more pounds on a painting. So on balance, they are probsbly worth a punt.
Hi Craig,
I print my own cards on a canon inkjet. I have templates set up on Word and when I’m ready to print there are options under, Media and Quality…from Media Type, I choose Inkjet Greeting Card, Quality, I choose, Best. I always use the rear tray with the cards.
The colours are slightly less vibrant, but for my cards, it isn’t an issue, but I can see that for your work you really want to keep the vibrancy of the colours.
I’m no expert, but hopefully it’s a help. I’ve had my fair share of getting it wrong tho.
I use Sixprint for my cards. I set up the artwork on their template and send them the pdfs to print. They have a good pricing structure with a minimum 10 of each design but the whole lot counting towards the quantity discount. So you dont have to have loads of each design done. So far I’ve had excellent service and quality from them so highly recommended.
I use a Cannon T56251 printer. It’s OK but slow. I use ‘high quality’ print settings with high colour saturation and use a very good textured 300 gm card fed through the rear tray. Many of my ‘images’ are put through publisher editing and/or have some manipulation such as image sharpening or colour filters and this does seem to slow the printer down.
The Cannon printer is good for proof work and greetings cards but the colours do not come quite true - in many situations a slightly degraded image and small loss of colour vibrancy will not be very noticeable (fine for greetings cards) and customers will not be aware of it.
I have found standard printer inks sufficient for cards and ‘less permanent’ cheaper art works but I do make it clear to customers that ‘fun art works’ may fade over time in direct or intense light - although I have to say I have some ‘proof’ prints I made 10 years ago and they show little if any deterioration.
If you are just printing a few cards here and there then I would say home printing is fine but for any large quantity and improved quality using a professional printer is probably best. The price you charge for your prints should reflect how they are printed - ‘fun prints’ and cards should cost much less than professionally produced ‘giclée prints’.
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Hope this info helps
Well, I had a bit of an experiment with the big fancy Xerox multi-function printers at my work (I’m an IT guy when I’m not doing art) and managed to print off one of my greetings card designs beautifully. I think I might just take advantage of this! 
I recommend “Love From the Artist”. They are a charity who print cards for you. They are very reasonable, supply the envelopes and cello bags and you can have a minimum order of just ten, which can be mixed designs.
Intriguing. I haven’t heard of them, but looking at their website I note, in bold … " LFTA is a community company, serving an invited community of artist contributors. It is not and does not offer a ‘printing service’ and its creative facilities are solely for the use of its members" which is likely to rule most of us out.
Though I see that if you are a member of the SAA you can register that way.
I’m not sure that that excludes most artists. You do have to set up your own work ready to print, so it’s not a general printing service open to the public and it doesn’t print business cards, fliers, etc. I don’t know - I just applied to join some years ago, sent in my work and was accepted. I’ve recommended them to a lot of people and they’ve always been very helpful.
n the past, I’ve turned my artwork into greeting cards, and I’ve always relied on a professional printing service. Using my home printer wouldn’t have given me the same quality. If you’re not willing to invest a lot in a printer, the results might not be great.
Getting cards professionally printed costs around 80p per card, but the price could vary based on how many you’re printing. However, I think some Folksy sellers might actually print their own cards at home. They might have suggestions on the best paper to use. Best of luck!
I have printed my own to test how new designs sell but you need a good printer and I have found seni pro gloss 320gms cards from Spectrum Paper. They are expensive and you can end up wasting some.
I now order from Printed.com they use good quality card and depending on numbers can work out as cheap as printing your own. They are also quick and customer services is excellent.