How To Print On Tracing Paper [4 Easy Methods]
Printing on tracing paper is not something that you see every day!
Tracing paper is very thin and semi-transparent. You will find many artists using this in their artwork. This type of paper allows you to easily outline or trace any picture. So, you can understand how this might come in handy.
Now, as you want to learn how to print on tracing paper, you should keep in mind that this can be a bit tricky for someone new to this. But, if you read our guide carefully, you will have nothing to be afraid of. And you will see that you are printing on tracing paper in no time!
Let’s not wait anymore and get right to it!
How To Print On Tracing Paper
At first, you need to know that tracing papers are not manufactured for printing. As tracing papers are very thin, these are not as absorbent as you want them to be for printing. It is highly possible that the paper will not absorb the ink, and it will just sit on the paper after trying to print.
By now, you probably have a good idea why this process can be a bit tricky. The fact that there are a lot of unknown options to use while using a printer does not help a bit. As more often than not, we use the default settings and never have to go out of our way.
For that, we have solutions that will help you to overcome any tricky situation you may face while printing. So, we have mentioned several methods for you in a specific order so that it is convenient for any situation. Here are the methods:
Method 01: Replacing the Printer’s Paper Tray
Usually, you will rarely face any problem with the paper tray you get while purchasing a printer. But while trying different papers and options, you will start to face some problems like paper getting jammed or wrinkled.
Here is what you need to know when you come across such a problem. You need to replace your paper tray with one that can feed paper into the printer straight. If that is not possible, then you need to look for one that feeds paper as straight as possible. After that, you can be assured that you will be printing on tracing paper.
Method 02: Testing the Paper Options
Most of the time, when you buy a printer, it comes with an option to choose what paper you are going to use. And generally, it is set to the ‘plain paper’ option. But as you already know, sometimes you need to try different settings for printing on different types of paper.
So, you should try out different options that are available in your printer while trying out different papers. This will help you to know what option is best for what paper and, obviously, be able to print on tracing paper. And guess what, it will not just solve your problem in this case but also save you in the future!
Method 03: Printing in Small Amount
Even if you got to print some number of tracing papers using our previous methods, you should keep in mind that you still might face some problems. Most printers are not made to print on tracing paper, and they get overheated due to prolonged use.
You will find that your paper is getting jammed or coming out wrinkled. This will frustrate you because this is already a tricky process. So, to avoid such a situation, we advise you to print in small numbers and let the printer have a break to cool down.
It is not much, but this step will help you a lot when you are printing in huge numbers.
Method 04: Changing the Feeding Position
Yes, the method title sounds weird but trust us because this is important. At first, you need to know a little about how papers have grains and how their direction matters. The papers end up having grains and also a specific direction because of how they are made.
Now, the grain direction actually has an impact on printing, and this might surprising as one cannot see it with their eyes. So, when your paper is getting jammed or wrinkled, you can turn the paper in the opposite direction, and you will see that the printer is printing smoothly on tracing paper.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as that to solve your problem!
Special Tips for Inkjet Printers
The most likely problem you will face during inkjet print on tracing paper is the color will not sit properly and have a risk of getting smudged. To solve this issue, you can change the settings of your inkjet printer to an option that requires less ink.
Now, just to be cautious, it is always wise to leave your printed paper aside to dry. This will ensure that the color sets on the paper and remove any chance of it getting smudged.
Special Tips for Laser Printers
Laser printers work by using heat to set the colors on the paper. The amount of heat applied depends on the thickness of the paper. If it’s heavy, then it will be slow and will use high heat.
And the opposite when the paper is light. So, to print on tracing paper with a laser printer, you just need to change the setting to one that suits lighter paper.
Thus, you will face no issues while printing on tracing paper using a laser printer!
So far, we have covered all possible methods and tips that one can give on printing on tracing paper. Now, if you have the budget and want to do this regularly, we would suggest buying that is made for this as it is available nowadays. Hence for such scenarios, it is better to have a specific printer to print on tracing paper.
Final Verdict
So, printing on tracing paper doesn’t sound tricky anymore, does it? We do not doubt that you have now learned how to print on tracing paper. If you face any problems while printing, then we suggest you go through this guide again thoroughly. After that, you will see that your problem will be fixed.
What are you waiting for? Go and start printing on tracing paper now!
See How To Fold Laminated Paper: 3 Easy Steps once you have finished your art.
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