The Physics of Feeding: Why the Rear Tray Defines the Canon TS9521C

In the world of digital crafting, the battle isn’t usually fought over megapixels or print speeds; it is fought against gravity and rigidity. For scrap-bookers and greeting card designers, the medium is as important as the image. Heavy cardstock, textured linen papers, and 12x12 inch broadsheets are the standards of the trade.

Yet, most standard office printers are engineered to destroy these materials. They force paper to perform gymnastics—pulled from a bottom drawer, rolled 180 degrees around a tight drum, and ejected out the front. For a 20lb bond invoice, this is fine. For a 100lb piece of cardstock, it is a recipe for permanent curling, jamming, or surface cracking.

The Canon TS9521C differentiates itself not just by marketing itself to crafters, but by prioritizing a specific mechanical feature that respects the physics of heavy media: the Rear Paper Tray.

The Geometry of the Paper Path

To understand why the TS9521C is a staple in craft rooms, one must analyze the “L-path” versus the “U-path.”

The “U-Path” (The Enemy of Cardstock)

Standard front-loading printers utilize a U-path. The pickup rollers grab the paper from a cassette, bend it severely to move it past the print heads, and then flatten it out again. * The Flaw: Heavy cardstock has high flexural rigidity. Forcing it through a tight radius requires immense roller pressure, which can leave “pizza wheel” track marks on glossy finishes. More critically, the paper retains a “memory” of the bend, causing your handmade cards to curl rather than lay flat.

The TS9521C “L-Path” (Gravity-Assisted)

The TS9521C features a dedicated Rear Tray. When used, the paper stands vertically and feeds downward into the printer, passing under the print head and exiting the front with only a gentle, obtuse curve. * The Benefit: This gravity-assisted feed reduces the mechanical stress on the paper fibers. It allows the printer to handle significantly thicker media—safely accommodating cardstock that would choke a standard cassette loader.

12x12: The Scrapbook Standard

The 12x12 inch square is the holy grail of scrapbooking. Historically, digital scrapbookers had to print on 13x19 (Super B) paper and trim the excess—a wasteful and time-consuming process.

The TS9521C is one of the few consumer devices with native 12x12 driver support. * Borderless Engineering: Printing edge-to-edge (borderless) on a square format is technically challenging. The printer must precisely overspray the image onto an absorbent sponge pad (platen) beneath the paper path to ensure no white gaps remain. The TS9521C’s algorithms are tuned specifically for this square aspect ratio, ensuring that digital layouts translate perfectly to physical albums without the need for a paper trimmer.

Managing Media Types

A “Crafter’s” printer must be a chameleon. The TS9521C manages this through its hybrid ink system and media sensing. * Pigment Black (PGBK): This channel is reserved for standard text on plain paper, providing water-resistant, laser-like sharpness for journaling blocks or instructions. * Dye Inks (CMYK): The Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Photo Black inks are dye-based. Dye molecules are smaller than pigment particles, allowing them to absorb into the fiber of photo paper and cardstock rather than sitting on top. This results in the smooth, continuous color transitions essential for photographic backgrounds and patterned papers.

Conclusion: Mechanical Empathy

Choosing a printer for crafting is not about finding the one with the most features; it is about finding one that demonstrates “mechanical empathy” for your materials. The Canon TS9521C’s reliance on a rear feed mechanism is an acknowledgment that cardstock deserves a straighter path. It transforms the act of printing from a stress test of your materials into a seamless part of the creative flow.