Can you print vinyl from a normal printer?

How can I print colors on my own vinyl then use cricut to print?

• My wife has a cricut and I just found out today by searching around online that you can print and cut vinyl with the cricut. I'm wondering how I go about printing on plain white vinyl. My goal is to print different color gradients on vinyl that'll work on a car or motorcycle, and be able to cut that with the cricut. Are there any websites that give tutorials on how to print to white vinyl with a standard or laserjet printer? Can you print with a standard or laserjet printer? Will the colors hold in the rain/weather? I would hate for the colors to bleed onto the clearcoat of the vehicle.

• Answer:

  In my opinion...A Cricut is not the level of machine that would acomplish a quality product. Printed vinyl at a level of quality for vehicle graphics is acomplished with specialty equipment. THere are special printer/plotters that use special inks, as well as laminators that can protect the surface from UV rays. In other words, if it were that simple, everyone would do it. Look into Roland printer/plotter, etc. The website is very informative on the world of vinyl printing. There is vinyl that can be printed by inkjet printers, however, it would be for simple items, and for indoor use. You wouldnt/couldnt put that on a vehicle, it would never hold up. I hope this helps.