As a collectible card game, Magic The Gathering (MTG) requires a lot of printing. Making your own MTG cards, also known as proxies, can be a real pain if your printer isn’t up to par.
Editor’s Choice
HP OfficeJet 250 Printer
- Print Area: 8.3 x 13.8
- Input Capacity: 50 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 19 ppm
Budget Pick
Canon Pixma MG3620 Printer
- Print Area: 8.5 x 11
- Input Capacity: 100 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 16 ppm
Overall Best
Brother MFC-J995DW Printer
- Print Area: 13 x 20
- Input Capacity: 150 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 10 ppm
Consider this scenario: you have a rare card and wish to make a proxy of it for your friends, but the paper is curling up, the color is off, and the text is blurry. What a bummer!
That’s why you need the best printer for MTG proxies, one that can bring your card creations to life in vibrant color and crisp detail.
So, what makes a printer the best for MTG proxies? The answer lies in its ability to produce high-quality prints with vivid color and crisp text, as well as its durability, reliability, and affordability. A printer that meets these criteria will not only make your MTG experience more enjoyable but also help you to create better cards that can withstand the wear and tear of gameplay.
Best Printer For MTG Proxies – Our Top 5 Picks!
We’ve researched everything from the resolution to ink quality to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. We also considered ease of use, cost, and reliability. No matter your budget, we have options to help you get the most out of your printing needs.
1. HP OfficeJet 250 Printer – Editor’s Choice
Key Features:
- Print Area: 8.3 x 13.8
- Input Capacity: 50 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 19 ppm
- Resolution: 4800 x 1200
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Duplex Printing: No
- Display: Touchscreen
- Print technology: Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
The advanced features make it a preferred option for MTG Proxies. High-resolution prints ensure your cards look sharp and professional. Its fast printing speeds and low cost of operation make it a wise choice for anyone who wants to save time and money.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are compatible with this device, making printing convenient on the go. Furthermore, it supports various printing protocols such as AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and HP ePrint, so users can easily print from any compatible device. Moreover, this also supports Wi-Fi, so users can print from almost anywhere.
A 2.65-inch color touchscreen makes navigation and controlling the device easy. You can also scan and copy multi-page documents hands-free with the automatic document feeder. HP OfficeJet 250 is also portable and easy to take with you wherever you go thanks to its compact design.
With the printer’s long-lasting battery, you can print whenever and wherever you want. Print after print, using HP Original 62 ink and HP 62XL cartridges will ensure high-quality results.
It supports letter, legal, statement, executive, envelope, card, and photo sizes. Moreover, HP offers a one-year limited hardware warranty and technical phone support to ensure that you can get help if you encounter any problems.
2. Brother MFC-J995DW Printer – Overall Best
Key Features:
- Print Area: 13 x 20
- Input Capacity: 150 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 10 ppm
- Resolution: 1200 × 2400
- Duplex Printing: Yes
- Display: Touchscreen
- Print technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: USB
You can easily and quickly print two-sided cards with the built-in automatic duplexing feature. With the MFC-J995DW, you’ll be able to make your MTG Proxies look like the real thing.
The Ink-vestment Tank System reduces printer waste and costs by eliminating cartridges. By using refillable ink tanks instead of ink cartridges, the system eliminates the need to dispose of ink cartridges. As a result, you’ll save money per page and have fewer maintenance hassles.
A unique “ink-vestment” feature identifies when ink levels are low and triggers an alert. Instead of replacing cartridges, users can simply refill the tanks.
It prints up to 12 pages per minute in black and white, and 10 pages per minute in color. This also provides fast and efficient printing with its high-speed print capabilities.
You can use AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Brother, and Wi-Fi Direct to print from your desktop or mobile device wirelessly. AirPrint allows iOS users to print wirelessly from their iOS devices over their existing Wi-Fi network.
Google Cloud Print allows users to print from any device connected to the internet without installing any drivers or software.
A Brother iPrint&Scan app enables users to print from their iOS and Android devices using Brother’s mobile printing technology. Wi-Fi Direct also makes it possible to print from mobile devices without having to be connected to a Wi-Fi network.
The compatibility of this device with multiple operating systems makes it an excellent choice for this purpose. No matter what device setup users have, they can connect to the printer using macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android devices.
3. Canon Pixma MG3620 Printer – Budget Pick
Key Features:
- Print Area: 8.5 x 11
- Input Capacity: 100 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 16 ppm
- Resolution: 4800 x 1200
- Ink Type: Pigment-Based, Dye-Based
- Duplex Printing: Yes
- Display: Touchscreen
- Print technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Aside from its impressive print speed of 16 pages per minute in color and 9.9 pages per minute in monochrome, it also offers mobile device printing, powerful printing options (AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, NFC, Mopria, and Canon Print), Wi-Fi connectivity, and 2-sided printing in your car.
Canon Pixma MG3620 offers a maximum print speed of 16 ppm for color and 9.9 ppm for monochrome. This is fast enough to print multiple proxies in a short period of time. Furthermore, auto 2-sided printing makes the printing process even faster and more efficient.
The Proxies can easily be printed from mobile devices. When you don’t have access to a computer or laptop, this feature allows you to print directly from your mobile device.
Besides AirPrint and Google Cloud Print, the Canon Pixma MG3620 also has NFC, Mopria, and Canon Print capabilities.
You can connect to various devices and print directly from them with these options. This device also has Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can print from a variety of devices across the home or office network.
MTG Proxies benefit from its fast print speed, powerful printing options, and wifi connectivity.
4. Canon TR8520 Printer
Key Features:
- Print Area: 8×10
- Input Capacity: 100 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 1 ppm
- Resolution: 4800 x 1200
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Duplex Printing: No
- Display: LCD
- Print technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: USB
A 5-color individual ink system and a FINE printhead provide vivid colors and crisp text. It can also handle thicker cardstock, so you can create professional-looking MTG proxies quickly. Furthermore, you can print from anywhere in the house with wireless printing.
The Canon TR8520 is equipped with a 5-color individual ink system. With individual ink tanks for cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and photo black, this system ensures vivid, accurate colors and smooth gradations. Individual inks reduce waste and costs by replacing only the colors used.
MTG players will appreciate the TR8520’s high-resolution, detailed images, which can reach up to 4800 x 1200 dpi.
With its high-resolution capability, the TR8520 can print intricate details on your proxies without losing detail. Crisp, clear images make your proxies look professional and authentic. It gives your opponents the impression that you are using the real thing.
With its 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen display and 20-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF), you can quickly scan and print multiple pages. For printing proxies, its 250-page memory capacity is suitable, and the modem’s speed of up to 33.6 Kbps (Super G3 color fax) and 18,000 bps (Super G3) make faxing easy.
Another advantage of the TR8520 is its wide range of connectivity options, including memory card slots, Bluetooth, and cloud access. You can print your proxies directly from your camera’s memory card, or your smartphone or tablet.
5. HP DeskJet 2755e Printer
Key Features:
- Print Area: 8.5 x 11.69
- Input Capacity: 60 Sheets
- Print Speed (color): 5.5 ppm
- Resolution: 1200X 1200
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Duplex Printing: No
- Print technology: Thermal Inkjet
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB
HP Instant Ink technology provides quick, efficient printing. Moreover, It provides high-quality printing for even the most intricate card designs. MTG players will also appreciate how easy it is to use and set up.
Many devices and operating systems are compatible with the HP DeskJet 2755e. Users can connect their printers to computers, tablets, smartphones, and other smart devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. This ensures maximum compatibility and flexibility, making it easy to print proxies from any device.
It now comes with a 6-month Instant Ink Subscription. The subscription allows users to enjoy unlimited ink refills, ensuring that all cards are printed with the highest quality.
With its compatibility with several operating systems, including Windows 10, macOS 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.15 Catalina, macOS 11 Big Sur, and Chrome OS, the HP DeskJet 2755e is versatile and convenient.
As a result, it is an excellent choice for printing cards, as users can use their preferred operating system to control the printer and produce high-quality prints.
The DeskJet prints up to 7.5 pages per minute, which is fast enough for you. A resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi ensures that your proxies look sharp and professional. MTG proxies can also be printed on Envelopes, Glossy photo paper, Paper (plain), Labels, and Glossy film.
Features To Look For When Buying Best Printer For MTG Proxies!
With the latest technological advances, you can now print your high-quality proxies for Magic: The Gathering cards. Here are the best printers for your needs, narrowed down by our experts.
You will find all the information you need in our comprehensive buying guide to make an informed decision. To help you choose the right device, we’ll examine its features, materials, and capabilities. Don’t wait any longer – get the best printer today and start playing with your new cards.
1. Print Resolution
High print resolution is necessary to print MTG Proxies accurately. High-resolution prints produce sharper, more precise images of cards, while low-resolution prints create blurry, unclear images.
For the highest quality prints, you should use a print resolution of at least 300 dpi. You will ensure that your card images are sharp, high-quality, and pixel-free. A lower resolution may result in a loss of detail in your card’s finer details.
According to r/mpcproxies, an online community dedicated to the creation of proxy trading cards, the size of an image in pixels can be calculated using the size in inches multiplied by the DPI resolution.
As an example, a Magic card measuring 2.48 x 3.45 inches at 300 DPI would require a resolution of 744 pixels by 1038 pixels
2. Connectivity technology
When printing game cards, connectivity technology plays an influential role.
Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi are the most commonly used connectivity technologies.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is the most common technology for connecting. It provides a reliable connection for data transfer between a computer and a printer by connecting them directly. To establish a reliable connection, make sure it is compatible with the computer’s USB version.
Ethernet is a local area network technology used to connect devices to networks. Often, it is used in larger offices because of its reliable connection. Network routers or switches are required to connect Ethernet printers.
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that makes it possible to connect to wireless networks. Wireless technology allows printers to be connected to wireless networks without cables.
Using Bluetooth technology, printers can connect to other devices via a short-range wireless network. Ensure that the printer’s Bluetooth version is compatible with the device’s Bluetooth version for a reliable connection.
MTG cards must be printed from a device that’s compatible with both the computer and the other device. Incompatible technologies can lead to unreliable connections and poor print quality.
3. Print Speed
Print speed is a measure of how quickly a printer can output a document. PPM stands for pages per minute. It is essential to consider the printing speed. MTG Proxies can be printed on a variety of materials and types of paper. The faster the printer can print, the faster the job can be completed. It is especially necessary for jobs with high volumes.
Print speed can also affect print quality. Often, faster speeds can result in lower-quality prints due to reduced resolution and the printer’s inability to handle the workload. Especially when printing large graphics or complex designs, this can be a problem. This should have a print speed that meets or exceeds the demands of the job.
Speed can also significantly affect its cost. A faster printer usually costs more than a slower one, but it can also save time and money by reducing the time spent on the job. Thus, choosing a printer for printing should take into account the cost of printing.
4. Ink Type
A variety of inks are available that produce high-quality proxies. Types of ink can affect the aesthetic appeal and longevity of cards.
Card printing applications that require vibrant colors and a glossy finish typically use dye-derived inks. Lightfast and water resistant, these inks produce deep, rich colors that are highly saturated. Furthermore, dye-based inks are more cost-effective than pigment-based inks. Inks based on dye, however, can fade over time.
Applications that require longer-lasting results use pigment-containing inks. As a result, these inks can produce sharper, higher-quality results, and they are lightfast than dye-derived inks. Moreover, pigment-based inks offer a wider range of colors.
The inks are more expensive than dye-based inks, but they have a longer lifespan, making them a more cost-effective option
It is advisable to use high-quality ink and paper for MTG proxy images to achieve accurate color and sharpness.
One Reddit user recommended using colorful proxies made with high-quality ink and paper to enhance the playing experience.
5. Paper sizes Support
Support for multiple paper sizes is an imperative consideration when printing MTG proxy files. 8.5 x 11 inches is the most popular paper size for MTG proxies. There are a variety of paper sizes such as A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches) and Tabloid (11 x 17 inches) that are popular.
Printers that do not support the correct paper size will not be able to print the cards. Further, the printer should be able to handle printing large amounts of print files.
6. OS Compatibility
Compatibility with an operating system plays an influential role. There are different printing methods for different operating systems, and some may not be suitable for printing MTG proxies. As a result, it is essential to ensure that the operating system you are using is compatible with the printing software.
As an example, if you are using a Mac OS operating system, you need to make sure that the printer driver and software you are using are compatible with the OS. It is also crucial to ensure that printing software can produce the game cards. Before printing, you should always make sure your printing software can handle the complexity of printing the cards.
Moreover, you should ensure that your printer driver and software are compatible with a Windows operating system. Also, ensure your printing software can print MTGproxies.
8. Tray Capacity
The larger the tray capacity, the more cards the printer can hold at once and the faster the printer can print multiple cards. If the tray capacity is too small, it will take longer to print each card, as it has to expel each page individually.
This can lead to long print times and slow down production. Moreover, some printers have adjustable tray capacities to accommodate different paper sizes and card types. An adjustable tray capacity can help maximize efficiency when printing MTG.
Over To You!
A reliable printer not only enables you to make quality proxies but also simplifies the process of printing the cards you require.
After researching the various printers for MTG proxies, we highly recommend the HP OfficeJet 250 Printer as the most effective. This features a high print resolution that produces stunning and vibrant colors, making it ideal for producing top-quality proxies. Moreover, it offers a wide range of features, including wireless printing and scanning, making it a suitable choice for printing MTG proxies.
The Canon Pixma MG3620 Inkjet Printer is an excellent option for those on a budget. This offers excellent value for money and produces amazing results, making it a smart choice for those who don’t want to break the bank. Whichever printer you choose, ensure it meets your needs and produces results that you’re happy with!
FAQs
A regular printer can print on cardstock. Most standard inkjet or laser printers can print on cardstock, although the thickness of the cardstock may limit the type of printer or require adjustments to the printer settings to ensure a successful print.
The answer to this question depends on the quality of the proxies one wishes to make. Inkjet printers generally produce higher-quality prints, but color laser printers are faster and more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, the decision will depend on the budget and the intended use of the proxies.
Nathan is a professional printer writer which is a part of TechnofyTrends. I have done my master’s in Printing Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. I have written several articles on printers, and I am always looking to provide the latest information on printers. Meet our team