<p>After about a week of scouring the web I found a forum that mentions using an HP Photosmart Pro B9180. This is a semi-pro printer. It has an option for a straight paper path and can print on items up to 1.5mm thick which is enough for my 42pt paperboard media stock. </p>

<p>It is no longer made so you have to go to the used market. Refurbished units seem to be about $400. Not cheap but certainly better than the $1000-20,000 pro versions.</p>

<p>Con: this printer is not for amateurs and guzzles expensive ink.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-11T08:26:58.910Z
You may also be able to use a printer designed to print directly onto CD-Rs (again 2nd hand, but cheaper).  My Epson Stylus Photo R300 uses [a tray to carry the CD](https://support.epson-europe.com/onlineguides/en/spr300/ref_g/basic_4.htm) in the straight path.  This tray could be modified, or you might even be able to use board cut to the same shape.
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T21:20:30.320Z
2018-06-21T20:54:25.373Z
2018-06-21T20:54:25.373Z
TheCodeNovice
<p>You've not provided much in the way of your available equipment and skills, and the task you've set for yourself has substantial supporting requirements.</p>

<p>A book press is top of the list. You can build your own, with appropriate research, tools and materials, or you can purchase one to fit your needs. A book press is used to compress paper pages, but can also be used to apply pressure to the book board into the print surface after ink is applied.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0FlZ4.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0FlZ4.jpg" alt="book press"></a></p>

<p>Do you want to print and bind the pages yourself? That's a separate question from the title question.</p>

<p>You would not be able to print a "board" page with a conventional paper printer, which then requires something like old-style letterpress type. If you do a search on eBay, for example, using "wood type" you'll get a lot of (possibly expensive) results.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ilier.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ilier.jpg" alt="wood type"></a></p>

<p>On the less expensive side for this form of printing is <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Linoleum-Block-Printing-1/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">linoleum block printing</a>. This can be fun, as it can be more free-form if you've any talent as an artist. The block surface is cut away where printing is not done (in reverse) and inked, pressed and peeled.</p>

<p>The link above points to an Instructable with some very well done artwork.</p>

<p>To add a touch of high tech, one can laser engrave special rubber in a similar manner. This results in precise, sharp designs of any intricacy and detail, but adds complexity and expense.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5Zh5x.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5Zh5x.gif" alt="laser rubber stamp material"></a></p>

<p>In the process of collecting these images, I was amused to see how many of them are not mirror images. It's important to have them flipped, otherwise the print becomes reversed!</p>

<p>ADDENDUM:</p>

<p>$20K will buy a whole lot of silk screen supplies which can do full color with proper photosensitive screen layout. You can do CMYK separation with almost any graphics editor, even a free one.</p>

<p>If your images aren't too complex, screen printing will work, be less expensive and possible more fun if you're doing it with family members. You print an image on inkjet film, layer it on a photosensitive screen, expose to light, wash away the unexposed areas, then force ink through the mesh onto the board.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://anatol.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-four-color-process-screen-printing" rel="nofollow noreferrer">multicolor aspect</a> does make things more interesting, as you'd have additionally registration marks and photographs would be out of the question, but blocky full color cartoon/comic type images would be easily accomplished.</p>

<p>Quite a project you've presented. I wish you all the best.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T01:09:54.077Z
Thanks for the answer, I tried to provide a bit more detail in my post. I am looking for something a bit more sophisticated than B&W and I do not need more than one or two copies of what I make.
TheCodeNovice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T09:57:54.877Z
After a brief search using "printer for thick material," I've discovered that there's very little to fit your requirements (nothing!). If it's not objectionable, you could print on a normal printer and bond the paper or card stock to the board.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T16:44:41.820Z
Yeah I searched for a while, and I threw myself at the mercy of the exchange community hoping for a miracle.  I want to give this to my younger relatives who will certainly slobber on it. I think I may have a lead in using a flattop printer or UV printer. They seem to be able to print on anything. The downside they run like $20K. I am looking to see if i can find a prosumer version.
TheCodeNovice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-29T18:36:02.787Z
Note for future DIYers expanding on why blocky cartoon images are going to be possible and photos won't be: CMYK separation is fairly straightforward, where you run into problems is color matching your ink and applying it consistently to reproduce what's on screen. If you can, creating or coloring your pages digitally based on the ink you have so you don't have to use dithering will give you much better results. Source: did this professionally for about 6 months between High School and college.
Morgen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T00:54:29.603Z
2018-06-20T18:16:35.113Z
2018-06-20T18:16:35.113Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I am interested in making books myself for my child and for holiday gifts. ; I want to do it all myself and avoid going through a commercial printer. What sort of printer would I need to accomplish this? Would I have to print and then bind the pages afterwards?</p>

<p>I am looking to make colored children's books like Sandra Boynton board books. I have seen numerous third party services offering to do <a href="http://www.pintsizeproductions.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a>  but I would like to attempt something in house. I do not mind spend a few hundred on printer but I cannot find any information on one that could put an image on thick boardstock. </p>

<printing><book-binding><cardboard>
What home printer is capable of printing on board book pages
TheCodeNovice
# What home printer is capable of printing on board book pages

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-19)

I am interested in making books myself for my child and for holiday gifts. ; I want to do it all myself and avoid going through a commercial printer. What sort of printer would I need to accomplish this? Would I have to print and then bind the pages afterwards?

I am looking to make colored children's books like Sandra Boynton board books. I have seen numerous third party services offering to do [this](http://www.pintsizeproductions.com) but I would like to attempt something in house. I do not mind spend a few hundred on printer but I cannot find any information on one that could put an image on thick boardstock.

**Tags:** printing, book-binding, cardboard


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2018-06-20. Score: 4

After about a week of scouring the web I found a forum that mentions using an HP Photosmart Pro B9180. This is a semi-pro printer. It has an option for a straight paper path and can print on items up to 1.5mm thick which is enough for my 42pt paperboard media stock.

It is no longer made so you have to go to the used market. Refurbished units seem to be about $400. Not cheap but certainly better than the $1000-20,000 pro versions.

Con: this printer is not for amateurs and guzzles expensive ink.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You may also be able to use a printer designed to print directly onto CD-Rs (again 2nd hand, but cheaper).  My Epson Stylus Photo R300 uses [a tray to carry the CD](https://support.epson-europe.com/onlineguides/en/spr300/ref_g/basic_4.htm) in the straight path.  This tray could be modified, or you might even be able to use board cut to the same shape.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-20. Score: 4

You've not provided much in the way of your available equipment and skills, and the task you've set for yourself has substantial supporting requirements.

A book press is top of the list. You can build your own, with appropriate research, tools and materials, or you can purchase one to fit your needs. A book press is used to compress paper pages, but can also be used to apply pressure to the book board into the print surface after ink is applied.

[![book press](https://i.sstatic.net/0FlZ4.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/0FlZ4.jpg)

Do you want to print and bind the pages yourself? That's a separate question from the title question.

You would not be able to print a "board" page with a conventional paper printer, which then requires something like old-style letterpress type. If you do a search on eBay, for example, using "wood type" you'll get a lot of (possibly expensive) results.

[![wood type](https://i.sstatic.net/ilier.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ilier.jpg)

On the less expensive side for this form of printing is [linoleum block printing](http://www.instructables.com/id/Linoleum-Block-Printing-1/). This can be fun, as it can be more free-form if you've any talent as an artist. The block surface is cut away where printing is not done (in reverse) and inked, pressed and peeled.

The link above points to an Instructable with some very well done artwork.

To add a touch of high tech, one can laser engrave special rubber in a similar manner. This results in precise, sharp designs of any intricacy and detail, but adds complexity and expense.

[![laser rubber stamp material](https://i.sstatic.net/5Zh5x.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/5Zh5x.gif)

In the process of collecting these images, I was amused to see how many of them are not mirror images. It's important to have them flipped, otherwise the print becomes reversed!

ADDENDUM:

$20K will buy a whole lot of silk screen supplies which can do full color with proper photosensitive screen layout. You can do CMYK separation with almost any graphics editor, even a free one.

If your images aren't too complex, screen printing will work, be less expensive and possible more fun if you're doing it with family members. You print an image on inkjet film, layer it on a photosensitive screen, expose to light, wash away the unexposed areas, then force ink through the mesh onto the board.

The [multicolor aspect](https://anatol.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-four-color-process-screen-printing) does make things more interesting, as you'd have additionally registration marks and photographs would be out of the question, but blocky full color cartoon/comic type images would be easily accomplished.

Quite a project you've presented. I wish you all the best.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the answer, I tried to provide a bit more detail in my post. I am looking for something a bit more sophisticated than B&W and I do not need more than one or two copies of what I make.  
> **username_2**: After a brief search using "printer for thick material," I've discovered that there's very little to fit your requirements (nothing!). If it's not objectionable, you could print on a normal printer and bond the paper or card stock to the board.  
> **username_0**: Yeah I searched for a while, and I threw myself at the mercy of the exchange community hoping for a miracle.  I want to give this to my younger relatives who will certainly slobber on it. I think I may have a lead in using a flattop printer or UV printer. They seem to be able to print on anything. The downside they run like $20K. I am looking to see if i can find a prosumer version.  
> **username_3**: Note for future DIYers expanding on why blocky cartoon images are going to be possible and photos won't be: CMYK separation is fairly straightforward, where you run into problems is color matching your ink and applying it consistently to reproduce what's on screen. If you can, creating or coloring your pages digitally based on the ink you have so you don't have to use dithering will give you much better results. Source: did this professionally for about 6 months between High School and college.  

---

