1-877-822-8659
Log in
When many of us decide to purchase a printer, we usually buy it with the intent to print off simple and mundane documents. Some of us might use our printer to print boarding passes, concert tickets or recipes. Others might use it for school assignments or work documents. If you work in an office environment, then you are no stranger to the surface workings of an industrial printer.
What would you do if I told you that your printer is capable of doing so much more than the average print job? You can use your printer to create an assortment of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and even build custom parts for various objects. Why let your printer continue to do mundane print jobs when it can do so much more?
Traditional Uses of Printers
People use their printers to print documents off their devices for an assortment of reasons. Some people use color printers to print artwork and other images. While most printers effectively perform the most basic of printing tasks, different classifications of printers have different capabilities. We buy ones that best perform the tasks we need accomplishing.
Printers come in a variety of different styles, functions and printing types. Depending on the printer you buy, the printing tasks it can perform will vary. As a result, the traditional uses of printers will vary from printer to printer. The average household typically has either a multi-function printer (MFP), inkjet printer or laser printer.
Multi-Function Printers
MFPs are all-in-one printers. They print, fax, scan and photocopy whatever you need. These printers are perfect for those of us who work from home and need a printer that is capable of performing a wide variety of tasks. They can print almost anything and offer the best price for having the photocopier, scanner, fax machine and printer in one.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers work by spraying a material, usually paper, with ink. These printers are ideal for printing smaller images and documents. While they do have faster print speeds, they are not ideal for high volume usage. If you need a printer but don't expect to use it for extended periods, then these are ideal. They work well in office environments for printing forms and other documents.
Laser Printers
Laser printers use toner or powder rather than ink to create documents. As a result, they are the best printers for situations that demand high-volume printing. If you need to print out 100 copies of a flyer as quickly as possible, laser printers work best for those types of jobs.
15 Unconventional Uses for Printers
The main consensus with printers is that we mostly use them to print off documents and maybe some photos. We print these documents on traditional 8.5"x11" paper, but printers are capable of printing on so much more than paper. Let's take a look at some of these unconventional but fun ways to use your printer.
- Pinhole camera
- Print camera lens hood
- Poster-sized prints
- Customized bags
- Kids' games and masks
- Stickers
- Temporary Tattoos
- Greeting cards
- Create stationary
- Enlarge old photos
- Paint chips
- Permanent decals
- T-shirt designs
- Printing art
- Printed burlap
Make Your Own Pinhole Camera
I'm not going to lie to you. This DIY project surprised me at first, but you can use your printer to create a pinhole camera. Follow this guide and the instructions with it to create a working pinhole camera just by using a printer. Impress your friends or children with this fun and easy printable.
Create Your Own Camera Lens Hood
Keeping with the camera theme, you can also create a camera lens hood. Rather than wait around for an expensive plastic mold to arrive, you can quickly and easily print off a portable lens hood to take with you when you need it. This guide offers everything you'll need.
Create Poster-sized Prints
Instead of forcing images onto the confines of an 8.5"x11" piece of paper, why not try multi-page printing? Take your image or banner and print it out on several separate pieces. Then, all you have to do is put it together like your very own puzzle. Multi-page printing also offers a great artistic aesthetic with separated imagery.
Customize Different Bags
Do you have a party coming up and you want to personalize cute bags for your guests? Measure the length and width of your bag, create your design, place the bag in the printer and print as normal. You'll the envy of the party with your personalized bags. For a complete guide, check out Damask Love's blog.
Print Fun Kids' Games and Masks
Do you have children who need immediate attention or require something to do? Why not find coloring pages, activities, games or masks for them to play with? Doing a quick search can lead you to countless sites that offer free pages to print and entertain your children with for hours.
Print Fun Stickers for Everyone
Stickers are a fun and creative way for children to express their interests. Using A4 sticker paper or label sheets, you can print out stickers for your children to enjoy and watch as they appear in random places around your home. The sticker possibilities are endless.
Design Your Own Temporary Tattoos
Before deciding on a permeant tattoo, why not use your printer to create a temporary one first. Using temporary tattoo paper, you can try on any tattoo ideas you have and find one that works best for you. This DIY is perfect for people of all ages.
Create Your Own Greeting Cards
Rather than spending the money to buy a $4 generic greeting card, you can create a more personalized and meaningful message. You can find templates online and use traditional paper, or you can purchase greeting card paper, which gives more of a greeting card aesthetic and feel.
Print Customized Stationery for Any Occasion
If you own a small business, charity, club or just want it for yourself, use your printer to create customized stationery. Create templates in a word processor and either print off multiple copies for later use or save the template and write your document inside it. Stationary is a great way to add that extra touch to a document.
Enlarge Smaller Photos
If you have a printer with a built-in scanning function, you can take an old printed photo and make it larger. Most prints come with the function preinstalled, so be sure to check the settings. If not, you can easily take a photo of the photo using a DSLR camera and print it off large that way. Greeting Island is a great place to start.
Use Paint Chips for Custom Greetings
Following in the footsteps of photographer Ann Lang, you can use paint chips that you find at paint shops and create personalized cards for any occasion. Whether you're moving or inviting people over for a party, printing on paint chips is a fun and unique method to try.
Add Permanent Decals to Objects
Using Waterslide decal paper, you can add printed decals to almost anything! Print your design on the special paper, cut as close as you can, apply to the object, wet with lukewarm water and wipe away the residue. You can make customized plates, bowls, vases and so much more.
Design Your Own T-Shirts
Have you ever seen something and I thought, "I would wear that as a shirt?" By using iron-on transfer paper, or heat transfer paper, you can easily create your shirt designs. Print on the paper as you normally would and iron on the design. The heat will transfer the image onto your shirt, and now you can sport that new t-shirt design you've always wanted.
Print Art Patterns
Some people prefer to print off art that they find online or even their own images. Once printed, people tend to reject the glossy finish. Instead, try printing on canvas paper and give your images a different aesthetic. Keep in mind that this method works best with inkjet printers.
Create Custom Burlap Prints
As you may have guessed by now, you can use almost anything in a printer and get something amazing, but have you tried running burlap or other fabrics through your printer? Using burlap and freezer paper, you can create beautiful home decorations using mainly your printer.
Different Printers and Their Perks
With all the different types of printers and their functions, it can be confusing how to know which printer to buy.
Multi-Function Printer
MFPs work best for home offices, small businesses or individual use. They combine a handful of useful functions at a more affordable price than purchasing everything individually. Most MFPs come with a built-in printer, scanner, fax machine and copier. Although, you may be able to find ones with other features too. If you need an individual printer for a job, MFPs are your best bet.
Laser Printer
For offices that have more than one person printing or need prints that come out quickly, laser printers work well. Laser printers work by taking toner and applying it to large sections of the paper at a time. Laser printers are more costly initially, but toners are a much cheaper alternative to ink cartridges.
Inkjet Printer
If you only need a printer that prints, then inkjet printers are perfect for you. These simple and affordable printers offer decent print quality and can handle some more complex color print jobs. They are now much faster than before. While inkjet printers are the most affordable option, they do tend to have higher costs over time as premium ink can become expensive compared to toner.
Solid-Ink Printer
Solid-ink printers are a new technology that has recently become popular. Unlike most printers that use ink in a liquid form, solid-ink printers use solid chunks of ink that melts when in use. This technique allows for higher quality prints, giving much brighter and more brilliant colors. Even your basic black and white print will come out better than expected. For the eco-centric-minded person, the "ink sticks" tend to be made with non-toxic vegetable oils.
While these printers are great to have, they do have their downsides. Since the ink is melted and resolidified, you can not laminate the pages or expose them to high heat. The heat will re-melt the ink. Also, the printer will take time to warm up, so expect some delays when printing.
Photo Printer
For those photographers who want a printer that can do their work justice, you will by far want a photo printer. As the name suggests, these printers provide the best quality image for your photos.
Also called snapshot printers, photo printers provide the most brilliant, crystal-clear and high-definition prints. Most can connect wirelessly to your camera or other photographing device and let you print from them directly.
Many photo printers use similar printing methods to inkjet printers. The slower, methodological approach gives the printer more control of each pixel. To get the best quality image, photo printers use more ink than normal.
A3 Size Printer
If you own a bigger business, the A3 size printers are a must-have. They print larger format sizes and can print at faster speeds. Because of their larger sizes, the A3 printer is the most expensive option, but if you need larger document printing at faster speeds, the investment is well worth it.
Choosing Supplies Outlet
Going to a nearby supply store might seem like the best option for obtaining all your office and printing supplies, but these big-box office stores don't always offer the lowest price. Ink cartridges, printers and your basic office supplies can be expensive. Rather than spend more, try looking online for your printing needs.
Supplies Outlet is an online retailer that offers the highest quality printer products at an affordable price. From Dell and HP to Canon and Epson, Supplies Outlet has all the brands you want and need.
If you need supplies or a printer to test out some of these DIY crafts, check out our office supplies section. If your current printer is not performing its basic tasks effectively, browse our selection of high-quality printers from the brands you know and love.
Learn More About Supplies Outlet
Printers are more than just your average print and go. While we all love their traditional uses, printers are capable of so much more. Take the time and experiment. These 15 unconventional printer hacks are a sure-fire way to impress your friends, families and children. Create a printable camera, or make your own customized bags, tattoos and stickers. The possibilities are endless.
If you are actively searching for a printer or just need a place to buy affordable supplies from to test out some of these methods, Supplies Outlet has you covered. Shop online today and find the items you need.