photo greeting cards

[usefeet]

I would like to create some greeting cards for posting. Cards such as Chrismas cards, thank you, birthday and the like,
..but I don't wish to contruct these from normal inkjet papers (the first thing I would look at is my lousy creased and un-symmetrical folds!)

Are there any quality kits/cards that are pre-folded with printable surfaces on both sides?
I can't find any around our city.

If any has knowledge of a source, I would be very pleased, thanks.

[DTD]

For small runs it might be worth looking at on-line printing services.
I quite liked photobox.co.uk's

[earleygallery]

I make my own Christmas cards - I print the images in the normal manner and mount them on folded A4 card but it is a lot of work!

You can buy greeting card packs - pre folded (or creased) inkjet paper supplied with envelopes, but I found it very difficult to print accurately within the correct area of the card. I have also seen ready made cards/envelope packs which you can insert a 6X4 photo.

I've not tried any of the printing services like photobox but might do so for next xmas, but for single cards I would try to perfect making your own.

[stumac]

Hi William,

Try the art supply people, my daughter makes cards for sale using preformed cards and standard sized prints. She charges $4 the outlet charges $6.

Regards, Stuart

[usefeet]

Thanks for some of the ideas guys, and I will also keep a good lookout at magazine advertisements in the future.
I am happy to buy via internet shopping from any country, and it's a pity I can't read German as they have some great supplies.

Stuart, the art supply source is one I have not thought of, you Melbournites have some great stores, ..my next stop!

Thanks, William

[rob_x2004]

William they call it scrapbooking. There are plenty of suppliers, with all the paper kits, matt cutters, patterns templates and junk for making cards. As complex or as simple as you like. Avoid it like the plague or get the missus interested and hand her your print to frame.

A good and simple atlernative is to surce a cheap oil painting pad. Like a Reeves A4 250gsm acid free. They are only about ten bucks a pad. Print your image or whatever then fold the bugger in half and cut down to the image or close to leave a border. Nice stuff to write on beneath your printed text on the reverse side...yea sure.

If you are doing a run of twenty thirty sixty cards, and particularly round christmas time or other events, operators like SNAPFISH often have specials, and are fast, with easy interface, huge range of templates and unbeatable prices. It is worth organising ahead and paying for a single or a few cards before doing the big run to see how your image editing sits with their production. BUT THESE ARE SINGLE SIDED ON PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER, and you wont get perfection, but no one will notice. Sometimes the single sided glossy is an advantage, if you are handing them out around hospitals or to kids that are going to hang them up on the wall.

But the best advice is to palm all this off on, well, someone neat and tidy with the patience to do it. Edit your image, then do the sharing thing, hand it over to someone close. Its a family affair .

[johnnyj]

William,

I've produced my own Christmas cards and personal stationary for a number of years. Avery produces cards that are buff colored or white, feathered edge and plain, with different finishes. The Avery card stock is very good. I set up the card print area and size, to include back page copywrite notice, and image description using Microsoft Publisher. Once the card print area is set up in Publisher its easy to drop images in and print the card. You can also put borders around the image (just a simple line border sets the image off well). In Publisher its simple to change the image and border size. Once you have printed the card to your liking you can then save it (the image and card characteristics). You can then recall the card with its image and make any changes that you wish (add greetings, etc.) in Publisher for reprinting. Its fast, repeatable and modifiable. If you need any particulars drop me an email. Hope this helps.

John

[spylaw4]

Why not get a professional service to do it for you? This year I supplied Prontaprint (a UK printing service) with a photograph and the words for the inside - they did a superb job on really good heavy card for somewhat less than the cost of buying commercial blank-inside cards and having them over-printed - about £1 each overall. From order through proofs to result (with envelopes) - about 2 weeks and no effort!

[usefeet]

Rob, Johnny and Brian, thanks. I appreciate the detail in your replies.

I've now got several ways to travel, ..all quite different paths.
(I might try the Avery/Publisher combination first)

I will experiment, and see what works for me.

William

[kdemas]

You should try Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe, located at :

Hallmark Software 2008

You can get the application, which lets you design whatever you like, and heavy, "pre-scored for folding paper" in different sizes. Works quite well if you like to print at home.

Kent

[likea]

it's all built in to iPhoto. You can select from many different formats and design templates; it's easy to use; ordering in direct electronic transmission and, at least in the U.S., they arrive in about 4-5 days.

[usefeet]

There seems to be more options than I ever imagined.

Thanks guys.