What Is Cardstock Printing and What Is It Good for?

When you’re planning a big event, like a wedding or gala or anything else, you need to send out invitations. The type of material typically used for invitations is cardstock, but your choices in cardstock will seem unlimited. There is no easy answer to “what type of cardstock should I use for so-and-so?”. What you want will vary, ultimately, depending on your situation and preferences.

When choosing which cardstock to use, you want to keep in mind that one material may make your invitation or project look washed or splotchy. If you’re willing to play with the process, risk a little trial and error, and trust in advice from experts, then you’ll find the perfect piece of cardstock for your needs. Here’s all the information you need to know on cardstock and what it’s suitable for.

How Do You Plan on Printing?

How you plan on cardstock printing can significantly affect how your project comes out. You can use an at-home printer to meet your needs. It’s quicker, reasonably straightforward, and affordable, but you have a higher risk of messing up the print job. If you do enough research and consult a local print shop, it can be done. If you choose to have a professional print what you need, then it will be costlier, but you know that they’ll turn out perfect.

Cardstock Types

Cardstock comes in a variety of materials, feels, texture, and prices. To best understand how to print on this medium, you need to understand the most prominent of these materials, here’s a rundown.

1. Cotton Cardstock

Cotton cardstock is a favorite for those who want to laser print. The material has a smooth feel but still is very absorbent. It gives your project a modern and clean look. It’s also a material that is considered “photo safe,” meaning that it’s suitable for picture printing.

Cotton cardstock only comes in three colors: grey, white, and ivory. Cotton is more expensive than other materials, but the price is justified by the weight, which starts at 92#, and the overall quality of the paper.

Pros

• It’s photo safe.
• It’s absorbent.
• It has a modern and clean look.

Cons

• It only comes in three colors.
• The price is higher than the other materials available.

1. Linen Cardstock

Linen cardstock, unsurprisingly, is made to look like a linen fabric. It has the same finish and texture as the woven fabric. It’s visually exciting but straightforward as well. It’s also a material that can hide imperfections, but imperfections only arise if you choose to print yourself. Colors are more varied than cotton but still limited. It’s a more affordable option than cotton cardstock, but still of good quality.

Pros

• It is affordable.
• It’s more visually appealing than many other materials.
• It can hide imperfections.

Cons

• It has a limited color range.

1. Canvas Cardstock

Canvas cardstock has a texture like linen cardstock. The feel and texture are a bit more noticeable than linen. It’s substantial and thick, usually weighing in at 80#. The basketweave feel is particularly prominent, which works well with other lighter materials.  Canvas cardstock can be found in a rather large variety of colors. It is on the higher price end on par with cotton cardstock.

Pros

• It has a great texture.
• It comes in a variety of colors.
• It’s thick.

Cons

• It’s a tad expensive.

1. Parchment

Parchment is a cardstock material that looks very vintage, which is what a lot of people want for their wedding invitation or other projects. The material is semi-translucent and thin with a slightly marbled look. It only comes in 65# but can pair nicely with cotton cardstock. The feel of parchment is soft and subtle. Parchment usually comes in various shades of brown, but you can find a few pastel colors if you try. Parchment is one of the cheaper options, coming in around or a little less expensive than linin cardstock.

Pros

• It can be paired with thicker materials.
• It gives you a very specific feel.
• It’s subtle and soft.
• It’s a more affordable option.

Cons

• It’s pretty thin.
• It doesn’t come in a vast range of colors.

What Is Cardstock Used For?

Cardstock can be used for a variety of projects. The most popular use for cardstock is for wedding invitations. You can also use cardstock for origami projects, scrapbooks, holiday cards, bookmarks, cartography, posters, and more. You can use cardstock to do so much.

Cardstock Photo Prints

Photos render great on cardstock. The thick paper makes pictures stand out and helps deliver effective messages. Photo printing on cardstock is easy with us, and you can send us your custom designs to help you here. Printing on card stock isn’t tricky, but you have to make sure you have the right printer for your type of cardstock since some cardstocks are too thick for some printers.

cardstock thickness options:

12pt. thickness 

24pt. thickness

Test Print

When you’ve decided on the cardstock you want, you should ensure it’s what you want by doing a test print. See if you can arrange a test print from the company that you’ve chosen. You could be surprised by how your opinion changes once you’ve seen it.

Where to Get Cardstock Printing

Now that you’ve chosen the cardstock you want, you have to decide where you want to get cardstock printing. Doing it on your own can seem easy, but it can get complicated fast. There are printing companies that have experts that can help you, like ours, at Foam Core Print. We’re equipped to give you the best product possible through cardstock printing at the most affordable prices.