canon i560 print cardstock?

[dan]

My canon i560 manual says "do not use excessively thick paper
(non-Canon)
(more than 28 lb)"

I'd like to print onto cardstock (110 lb). I tried, with paper
thickness
lever set to right. Worked fine on single test.

Being careful, I contacted canon. I got somewhat threatening form email

in response, repeating several times that if I used heavy paper or
non-canon
parts, the limited warranty would be void.

Has anyone had success (or failure) printing cardstock on canon i560?
Recommend paper thickness lever to left or right? Any recommendations
on printer settings, such as "media type"?

Dan

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

My canon i560 manual says "do not use excessively thick paper
(non-Canon)
(more than 28 lb)"

I'd like to print onto cardstock (110 lb). I tried, with paper
thickness
lever set to right. Worked fine on single test.

Being careful, I contacted canon. I got somewhat threatening form email

in response, repeating several times that if I used heavy paper or
non-canon
parts, the limited warranty would be void.

Has anyone had success (or failure) printing cardstock on canon i560?
Recommend paper thickness lever to left or right? Any recommendations
on printer settings, such as "media type"?

Dan

I've seen similar warnings on a few printers from different brands.
I've always found it a little bizarre, especially since they all take
'photo paper', which is usually just as thick as, or thicker, than
card stock. I suspect it has something to do with the feed rollers
wearing out, though I saw a review or two when I looked up info on
this printer that said that they had a hard time getting it to feed
heavy card at all.

I would say, as long as it works, and you're willing to risk having
the rollers wear out a little faster (which would probably happen
whether you're using cardstock or thick Canon photo paper), don't
worry about it. It does seem that this particular model wasn't
designed with any kind of thick paper in mind. As far as the e-mail
you got, I've always been curious to know how on earth they'd tell
what kind of paper you've been using. If you're planning on doing
large amounts of printing like this, you may need to find a different
printer eventually.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

 

[Taliesyn]

My canon i560 manual says "do not use excessively thick paper
(non-Canon)
(more than 28 lb)"

I use 68 lb photo paper in my 3 printers. I'm sure it recommends 28 lb
in my Canon manuals too. Probably because that's the thickest Canon
makes . I don't think I own anything thicker than 68 lb.

If it worked fine on a single test then I think it's telling you
something. Notice how I steered away from saying "Go for it!" After all,
it IS your printer. Your call.

-Taliesyn

 

[Burt]

I use 68 lb photo paper in my 3 printers. I'm sure it recommends 28 lb
in my Canon manuals too. Probably because that's the thickest Canon
makes . I don't think I own anything thicker than 68 lb.

If it worked fine on a single test then I think it's telling you
something. Notice how I steered away from saying "Go for it!" After all,
it IS your printer. Your call.

-Taliesyn

I think that Canon plays some number games with paper weight and thickness.
I have a sample of Canon Photo Paper Pro that came with my printer. (just
want you to know that I didn't go out and buy their expensive paper!). They
show weight at 245 g/m2 and thickness at 9.6 ml. in another area on the
package it shows weight at 16.3 #. (????) It is obviously much thicker and
stiffer than 20 to 24# paper used for general purpose printing and copying.

I have Staples photo supreme double sided matte paper that is 9.5 ml thick
and is rated at 61#. If they are anywhere near comparable then the top
rated Canon paper is around 60#. Arthur Entlich went through the method of
determining paper weight some time ago on this NG. It isn't as
straightforward as you would like it to be.

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

I think that Canon plays some number games with paper weight and thickness.
I have a sample of Canon Photo Paper Pro that came with my printer. (just
want you to know that I didn't go out and buy their expensive paper!). They
show weight at 245 g/m2 and thickness at 9.6 ml. in another area on the
package it shows weight at 16.3 #. (????) It is obviously much thicker and
stiffer than 20 to 24# paper used for general purpose printing and copying.

I have Staples photo supreme double sided matte paper that is 9.5 ml thick
and is rated at 61#. If they are anywhere near comparable then the top
rated Canon paper is around 60#. Arthur Entlich went through the method of
determining paper weight some time ago on this NG. It isn't as
straightforward as you would like it to be.

It's a mess, and g/m2 is really the only way to compare paper
thickness. Plus stiffness is a different measurement than thickness.
It's not Canon playing games, it's just how paper weight is measured.

Paper weight is how much a certain amount of sheets of paper (Usually
one ream - 500 sheets) at a certain size weighs. Size, however, is not
standard. Thus it is not practical to compare this way

500 sheets of 11 x 17 paper is going to weigh more than 500 sheets of
4 x 6 paper that's twice as thick, unless the 4 x 6 paper is made with
lead. But the 4 x 6 paper will still get a lower weight number despite
being thicker.

Glossy paper, especially that meant for laser copiers, is often
measured in 'mils'.

g/m2 is how much one square meter of a sheet of paper weighs. A square
meter of standard copy paper will always weigh less than a square
meter of heavy card stock.

Unfortunately, not all manufacturers print this number on the
packaging.

Paper brightness is another insane, 'relative' term that has multiple
measurement systems that's being thrown around lately. I'll leave that
for another thread.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

 

[Burt]

It's a mess, and g/m2 is really the only way to compare paper
thickness. Plus stiffness is a different measurement than thickness.
It's not Canon playing games, it's just how paper weight is measured.

When I say that Canon is playing games I am pointing up the fact the their
documentation may say to use non-canon paper no heavier than 28 #, but their
premium photo paper is probably double that weight. I'm not sure how using
non-canon paper of the same weight as canon paper would cause harm to the
printer.

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

When I say that Canon is playing games I am pointing up the fact the their
documentation may say to use non-canon paper no heavier than 28 #, but their
premium photo paper is probably double that weight. I'm not sure how using
non-canon paper of the same weight as canon paper would cause harm to the
printer.

Yeah, I think it's just a little crazy, though the reviews for this
printer said that it was hard to even get the paper to go into it
anyway.

My other thought was it has to do with the paper stiffness. Having not
had a Canon since my old BJC-4300 and never using it for photos, I
don't know what the Canon photo paper is like. But I know the HP photo
paper, despite being about 280 gsm (very thick) is very flimsy and
bends/curves easily. I suspect this has to do with the 180 degree
paper path that's fine for business printers but not for photo
printers, where using non-HP card or photo stock often makes the paper
curl when you try to run it through the printer. Epson photo paper is
about the same thickness but very hard, it would stay curled/bent if
it were run through a 180 degree path. The resistance of a stiffer,
but not thicker paper may produce unsatisfactory results or even
scrape against the printhead, so Canon won't reccomend it.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I print to card stock and similar types of paper regularly. My only
suggestions are these:

1) Try to find stock that has the paper grain such that it flexes in the
same direction that the paper needs to flex when the paper enters your
printer. Some paper is cut the opposite grain and it will be very rigid
in the wrong direction, which should be avoided.

2) Some paper is heavily "sized" with stiffening agents which may be
hard on the printer's paper transport, either avoid these, or flex them
several times in each direction to slightly "loosen them up" so they are
a tad more flexible. Try to avoid creasing or bending them in such a
manner as to ruin the surface.

3) Stay away from papers that are much thicker than standard photo
papers, because they can distort or bend parts in your printer which are
built to close tolerances.

Art