When you don't have a color printer you may think that everything you do has to be in black and white. Not so. There are some easy ways to get colorful designs even from a black and white laser printer.If you do have a color printer, you can still use these tips to introduce more colors or to conserve ink.Creating a Color Sampler Book, as described below, using papers, stamps, stickers, and foil is also a way to make choosing color ideas for future projects fast and easy.
Use colorful paper to get color into your designs. Do you collect or buy paper samples? Create a Color Sampler Bbook. Design a page that consists of lines of text in several typefaces and sizes and some graphics, both line art and grayscale. Print this specimen sheet on several colors and types of paper (including white). Refer to your Color Sampler book to get an idea how the paper color will affect the text and graphics of your current project
2. Wrap It In Foil: Laser Foil
Use laser foil to add shiny bits of color to your work. Buy a sample pack of laser foils and create a section in your Color Sampler (see #1 above) showing how each color and texture of laser foil looks on text and simple graphics such as circles, squares, and rules. Try out color combinations and overlapping foil. This will also give you a chance to find the best method of using laser foil with your printer. Add a little "spot" color or create custom graphics with stamps and ink. You can buy pre-cut stamps at craft stores, make your own, or have them made for you. And don't overlook those real "homemade" stamps cut from erasers or sponges, or carved from potatoes. Use stamps to "color" your laser printed greeting cards. Don't forget to add pages to your Color Sampler showing how the color inks and stamps look on white and color paper.
4. Stick It On! Stickers and Labels
Use a bright yellow circle or a gold seal to seal your self-mailers. Buy the prettiest most colorful postage stamps for your letters and postcards. Do you specialize in typing student papers? Adopt those little gold and silver stars (remember them from grade school?) to dress up your business card, fliers, and brochures. Add a colorful cartoon sticker to a business letter. Yes, even black and white printers can print in color. Find out if color transfer toner is available for your printer. Use it to create your own custom t-shirts, mugs, and more. Or, how about color toner for your black and white laser printer? Consider all the possibilities -- 2 or 3 color business cards and letterhead, right from your desktop printer.
