Waxfinch / Guides
Which paper to print coloring pages on
Short answer: ordinary copy paper for crayons and colored pencils, card stock for markers and paint. For toddlers, cheap paper and plenty of it beats one precious sheet.
Match the paper to what they color with
| Coloring with | Paper | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wax crayons | Plain copy paper | Crayon sits on top of the paper. Nothing soaks through. |
| Colored pencils | Plain copy paper | A slightly rough sheet takes pencil well. Glossy paper does not. |
| Washable markers | Card stock, or two sheets of plain paper | Marker ink soaks in. Thin paper lets it through to the table. |
| Paint, dot markers, glue and glitter | Card stock | Wet paper wrinkles. A stiffer sheet stays flat. |
Before you buy card stock
- Check the printer's manual for the heaviest paper it takes. Many home printers feed light card stock from the rear or manual tray only.
- Feed a few sheets at a time. Thick paper jams when the tray is full.
- Tell the printer what is loaded (the paper type setting), so it slows down and the black lines stay sharp.
Small things that help
- One side only. Coloring pages with one picture per sheet are meant to be printed single-sided, so nothing shows through onto another picture.
- Black only. Line art needs no color ink. Choose black or grayscale to save the color cartridges.
- Laser or inkjet? Both work. Wet markers and paint can smear inkjet lines a little if the print is fresh; give the sheet a minute to dry first.
- A mat underneath. A sheet of scrap paper or a wipe-clean mat saves the table whatever paper you use.
Our own packs say the same in their instructions: print at 100%, and card stock works best for markers and paint.
Questions
Can you print coloring pages on card stock?
Yes, if your printer takes it. Check the manual for the heaviest paper allowed, use the rear or manual tray if there is one, and set the paper type to match.
Is normal printer paper OK for coloring?
Yes, for crayons and colored pencils. For markers, put a second sheet underneath or use card stock.
Pages to try it with
Two free full-size pages, Letter and A4, no sign-up: a pair of Christmas mittens and Ladybug, Ladybug. The full packs are Cute Christmas Coloring Pages and My First Nursery Rhymes Coloring Book (Printable), $7 each.