Editor
Metallic cardstock is prized by crafters for its beautiful lustre, adding luxury and uniqueness to greetings cards, scrapbooking projects, journals and more. It can come in thicknesses from very light to cardstock, however, it is also known to be incredibly difficult to print on. With most designs nowadays made on computers, it’s a shame to be limited by the glossy quality of metallic cardstock to analog projects. We’ve looked at printers from across the market, both inkjet and laser, to find you the best machine in the areas that matter for crafters: print quality, media support, efficiency, portability and value. Here are our top picks for the best printer for metallic cardstock in 2022.
Product Comparison Table: Best Printer for Metallic Cardstock
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Brother HLL2390DW Compact Monochrome Laser Printer | $$ | 4.5 stars | Most efficient | Amazon |
 | HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Most versatile | Amazon |
 | Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer | $ | 4 stars | Best portable | Amazon |
 | HP LaserJet Pro M29w Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best laser | Amazon |
 | Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer | $ | 4 stars | Best overall | Amazon |
Brother HLL2390DW Compact Monochrome Printer
The Brother HLL2390DW Compact Monochrome printer is not what you’d expect from a compact printer, delivering huge amounts of output despite its diminutive size. This multifunctional machine can print, scan and copy, with a versatile range of connectivity options including Wifi and Hi-Speed USB 2.0 for laptop and desktop computers, or AirPrint and Brother iPrint for mobile devices. The print speeds are the best in its class; it churns out sheets at 33ppm, with duplex printing available and an input paper capacity of 250 sheets. However, the efficiency doesn’t stop there. The starter toner cartridge included on purchase offers a 700 page yield, driving down cost-per-page. Brother Genuine TN760 high-yield replacement toner delivers two times more prints than market competitors, and produces high-quality prints on up to 3000 pages. You can even sign up to the Amazon Dash Replacement service, which senses when cartridges are low and orders more via your Amazon account.
Pros
- Inks drive down cost-per-page
- Very large input tray capacity
- Fastest print speeds in class
Cons
- Only prints monochrome
- Large and bulky
Verdict
The Brother HLL2390DW Compact Monochrome printer is our top choice for efficiency on metallic cardstock, printing at the same speed as it does on conventional paper. The inks provide a yield beyond the capability of any others, which drives down costs-per-page considerably. The fact that this machine only prints in monochrome could be a limit on your creativity – however, if you use coloured cardstock, this shouldn’t prevent you from creating colourful crafts.
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HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer
The HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer is also a multifunctional machine, canning, printing and copying too. It can even send a fax, if you want to get retro. Connectivity, however, is refreshingly modern, as you can connect with Ethernet. Cloud print and WiFi; the WiFi is self-healing too, meaning it won’t cut out mid crafting session. The key feature of this machine is the colossal range of media sizes it supports. This all-in-one printer can perform all its functions on letter, legal, 4 x 6 inch, 5 x 7 inch, 8 x 10 inch and even envelopes, plus a range of cardstocks up to 110lb. Print speeds reach 10ppm black in A4, or 7ppm in colour. It also supports duplex (double sided printing), with a 125 sheet input tray capacity for long-term non-stop production. The cartridges yield up to 120 pages too, so you won’t be held back by them running out. Plus, at 17 by 14 by 5 inches, this is arguably the most compact desktop printer you’re likely to find.
Pros
- Large range of sizes and stocks supported
- Multifunctional (scans, copies and prints)
- Connectivity options
- Compact and sleek design
Cons
- No auto document feeder
Verdict
The HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer is the most versatile printer for metallic cardstock. This is partly due to its multifunctionality (printing, scanning and copying), which includes an innovative ‘scan from camera’ feature that reduces your need to mess around with clunky flatbeds. The most versatile aspect, however, is its range of sizes and stocks, more than enough to handle your metallic cardstock projects.
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Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer
The Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer is a unique take on the typical Canon formula of high print quality and sleek design. Unlike most desktop computers, the SELPHY is portable, allowing you to carry and use it anywhere. It features a tilting 3.2 inch LCD screen – which takes up most of its 5.4 x 7.1 x 2.5 inch dimensions – that allows choosing, previewing and editing of photos before you print. There’s also an inbuilt battery so you can print without a power connection. The postcard paper cassette can hold up to 18 sheets, and also supports square label papers, L size photo papers, postcards, sticker papers and, crucially, cardstock. The dpi is as small as the unit (300 x 300), however the print head does incorporate Canon’s signature ChromaLife100 ink technology, which promises scratch, fade and water resistant prints for up to 100 years. As you would expect from a portable model, the SELPHY CP1300 has an excellent range of connectivity options: WiFi connection, Cloud printing via AirPrint or the Canon Print app, direct printing from memory cards, or even direct printing from social media.
Pros
- Innovative connectivity options
- ChromaLife100 ink technology
- Portable and compact
- Supports a range of stocks and media
Cons
- Slow print speed (1ppm)
- Limited size capability
- Low resolution
Verdict
The Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer may seem like a novelty for parties or social-media-conscious teens, but it also has great applications in the world of crafting. Being able to support heavy gsm stocks means the SELPHY could allow you to work unimpeded in a studio, taking you away from your desk while still allowing you the capabilities of a conventional desktop crafting printer. This sets the SELPHY apart from other portable models, in our view.
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HP LaserJet Pro M29w Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer
The HP LaserJet Pro M29w Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer is different from others on this list, due to being a laser model. Laser printing differs from inkjet in the method of applying ink to the page: an inkjet printer saturates the paper with ink droplets to produce colour, while laser printers beam and melt toner on top of paper to produce imagery. This means that inkjet printers can be prone to bleeding and smudging – the non-porous nature of metallic cardstock means we had to feature at least one laser in our list. The HP LaserJet is the smallest laser printer available in its class, offering print speeds of 19ppm, copying and scanning. It has an input tray capacity of 250 sheets, and claims to be capable of producing a print volume of 1000 pages a month with ease. Connection is available via Wifi, WiFi Direct, the HP Smart app, and the Cloud It is, however, exclusively monochrome, although cartridges can be ordered directly through the printer itself via an LCD touchscreen.
Pros
- Laser technology prevents smudging or bleeding
- Range of connectivity options
- Fast print speeds
- Large input tray capacity
Cons
- Monochrome only
- No auto document feeder
Verdict
The HP LaserJet Pro M29w Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer is our choice for the best laser printer for metallic cardstock. The glossy, non-porous finish of metallic cardstock emans that inkjet printers can mean smudging, fading and long drying times – using a laser means these problems won’t surface. However, the fact that this printer only offers monochrome – despite the aforementioned mitigating factor of not needing color prints on colored stocks – could still be a limit on your creativity. ‘
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Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
The Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer offers the convenience, simplicity and low costs associated with inkjet printers, and delivers them all with aplomb. Being multifunctional means that it can scan, print and copy, working at speeds of 10ppm for black, and 6ipm (images per minute) in colour. Auto-duplex printing means you can get 50% more out of those costly metallic cardstocks, too. Genuine Canon inks deliver the crisp, smudge-resistant professional quality prints the company is known for, at a superb resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi. This is enough to produce even the most detailed and intricate designs, vividly and true-to-colour, even on challenging media like metallic cardstock. In just a few clicks, the printer will easily connect to your wireless access point or USB, while built-in wireless features allow for easy printing from anywhere in your home. You can even access all the printer’s features using AirPrint, the Canon Print app or Google Cloud Print.
Pros
- High resolution for high quality prints
- Multifunctional (scan, print and copy)
- Range of connectivity options
- Auto duplex feature
- Low price
Cons
- Jams fairly often
- Low-yield cartridges
Verdict
The Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer is the best inkjet printer for metallic cardstock we found. It has excellent multifunctional and duplex features, however it does jam fairly often, and the cartridges don’t last long before needing to be replaced. That said, it has the highest resolution of any machine on this list – easily competitive with a laser printer, at a fraction of the price.
