Spent $40 on fancy paper for a zine and it totally backfired

Honestly, I bought this expensive handmade paper from an art store for my latest poetry zine. I thought the texture would make it feel special, but my printer just jammed and smeared ink all over it. Wasted the whole pack, which was like 20 sheets. Has anyone found a good, reliable paper that still looks nice but won't wreck your printer?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy_bailey862mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst! Did you try printing a test page on regular paper first to check the ink flow? Sometimes old printers just hate anything new.

johnson.adam2mo ago

That's such a classic struggle lol. Something people don't talk about enough is checking the paper weight before you buy. Those fancy sheets are often way too thick for a normal home printer to pull through properly. Maybe try a lighter cardstock next time, it still feels nice but won't jam as easy. I had good luck with the stuff labeled "laser paper" even on an inkjet, it's just smoother and less fussy.