Paper, Ink, and Printing for Button Making
What to print on and how to get the best results
You Do Not Need Fancy Paper
Button inserts get sandwiched between a metal shell and a clear mylar cover. The paper is not structural. It does not need to be thick or rigid. Standard 20 lb printer paper works perfectly well and costs a fraction of specialty cardstock.
What actually matters is print quality. Sharp colors, clean lines, and properly scaled designs make the difference between a button that looks professional and one that looks homemade. Spend your money on good ink and the right print settings before you worry about paper weight.
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What Paper Works
Standard paper is fine, heavier is optional
Start with whatever paper you already have. Standard printer paper produces great buttons. The mylar cover adds its own sheen, so heavyweight stock is not necessary.
Our Paper Pick
The only paper most button makers need
Amazon Basics Multipurpose Printer Paper, 500 Sheets
Standard 20 lb paper that works perfectly for button inserts. It feeds cleanly through any inkjet or laser printer, folds smoothly around button shells, and produces sharp prints when you use your printer's highest quality setting.
At 500 sheets for under $7, this is the most cost-effective option for button making. A single ream will produce hundreds of buttons depending on your layout. The paper goes under mylar anyway, so the lightweight stock looks just as good as heavier alternatives once the button is pressed.
This is what we recommend for most button makers. Save your money for ink.
Budget Printer
You do not need anything expensive
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
You do not need an expensive printer to make good buttons. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a budget all-in-one that handles button printing just fine. It prints, scans, and copies, and it connects over Wi-Fi so you can print from your phone or laptop without plugging in.
Color reproduction is solid for the price. Set it to "High Quality" in your print settings and you will get clean, vibrant button inserts. It also supports mobile printing through the Canon PRINT app, which is handy if you design buttons on your phone.
The main thing to watch is ink cost. The standard cartridges run out faster than you would like if you are printing a lot of buttons. Pairing this printer with XL cartridges (see below) cuts the cost per page significantly.
Ink That Lasts
XL cartridges save money on every print
Canon PG-275XL / CL-276XL Ink Value Pack
If you are printing buttons regularly, XL cartridges pay for themselves fast. This value pack includes one black (PG-275XL) and one color (CL-276XL) cartridge, each with roughly 3 times the ink of standard Canon cartridges.
Button designs tend to use a lot of color ink, especially for photo-based or full-bleed designs. Running out of color mid-print is frustrating. The XL cartridges give you a much longer run before you need to swap, and the cost per page drops considerably compared to buying standard cartridges more often.
These work with the Canon PIXMA TR4720 listed above and most other recent Canon PIXMA models. Check your printer's compatibility before ordering.
Print Settings That Matter
Small settings make a big difference in your buttons
Printer Tips
Getting the most out of whatever printer you have
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Standard 20 lb printer paper works well for button inserts. The paper gets pressed between the metal shell and the mylar cover, so it does not need to be thick or rigid. What matters more is print quality. Use your printer's highest quality setting and let the ink dry before cutting.
Yes. Heavier cardstock in the 65 to 80 lb range works fine and gives a slightly more solid feel inside the button shell. Just avoid anything above 110 lb, which can be too thick to fold cleanly around the shell edge. Standard printer paper is the most common and cheapest option, and it works perfectly well.
Any inkjet printer that produces good color will work. You do not need anything fancy. Budget all-in-one printers like the Canon PIXMA TR4720 handle button inserts just fine. The key is using the highest quality print setting and printing at 100% scale so your designs match the cut guides.
Set your print size to 100% or actual size. Never use "fit to page" or "scale to fit." Use the highest quality print setting your printer offers. Let the ink dry fully before cutting, at least 30 seconds for inkjet printers. ButtonMaker PDFs include cut guides, so print those too.
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