Postcards are a fun way to deliver a quick message. They are also easy to do at home. All you need is a printer and paper!
Many printer apps offer postcard printing as a feature. Most allow you to create your own or select from several pre-designed sets.
This is a great way to experiment with design and learn some new printing techniques. Some of the most popular companies that offer this service are Adobe, Google, and Microsoft Office Suite applications included.
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Choose your favorite photo
When you send postcards, you want to make sure to select the right card for the photo. Some photos look better on cardstock than others.
If your photo is very colorful, choose a card that is neutral in color and texture to convey your image. If your photo is dramatic, choose a soft and romantic style.
It is also important to pick the right size for your photo. Postcards can be mailed as a bulk package, so be aware of how many cards you need on the next shipment.
If you want to print at home, first find a way to save the postcard image electronically.
Edit the photo
When printing postcards, some pictures look better than others. There are some rules for how to edit pictures on a computer or phone.
Many digital devices have features that allow you to digitally remove shadows, add contrast, and/or add texture to photos. These features are found on computer and smartphone apps, available web-based applications, and in software for photo editors such as Adobe Photoshop or Windows Picture Manager (WinPM).
When doing this on the computer, many times the color balance or color space is changed so that the photo looks more like it does in real life.
Some people find this easier than trying to do it by hand. Some people find doing it by hand less reliable because they are digital-negative stans who always take a bad picture.
Adjust the color balance
If you are printing postcards at home, make sure to set the color balance of your card correctly. Some cards look white and others look yellow.
If your card looks white, try setting it as a soft warm light or a warm flesh tone. If it looks warmer, try setting it as a light tan or a warm flesh tone.
If the card looks white, try changing the temperature of the ink used to print the card. If it is warm-looking, like a flesh tone, change the temp to thermal-paper quality ink. These types of ink retain their heat better and will result in a warmer card.
Set the print size
When printing postcards, it is important to set the printer cartridge size. Most printer models have a setting that allows you to change the print size.
If not, you can use the rulers at the top of the device to determine how much paper you need!
If you are going to be sending postcards in bulk, having enough paper for all of the cards is a good idea. You can pick one of two sizes: half-inch or inch thick paper. If you are sending six thousand cards, use six hundred sheets of paper per batch!
When printing, make sure not to use too much ink because that will cause the card to break.
Set the page layout
Now, if you’re doing postcards in landscape mode, you must set your page layout to landscape mode. Otherwise, your postcard will be square in shape.
If you are doing cards in portrait mode, then you must set the page layout to one of those modes to have a card that looks like a book or notebook. If you are making cards with multiple images, make sure to put them together correctly so that they fit properly on the card.
Card manufacturing is all about knowing your tools and setting up your settings properly. Many software programs have poor settings that do not print out cards well.
Print the postcards
Once you have received your postcard, the next step is to print the postcard. Postcards are typically printed on a printer using either a Post-It® note or standard paper.
If you do not have a post-it, you can also write your card on both sides with a pencil and then cut out the outline of the card and mail it. You could also print the card on computer software or printer software, depending on which type of device you use to create the postcard.
Allow them to dry
When postcards are dry, they can be printed. This means they will not change color or be water damaged when inserted into a card machine.
Most printer software has features that create a collage or stack of cards, allowing you to insert several in a line or stack. This is useful if you want to send multiple people the same card, or if you want to add information on the card such as business hours or an invitation.
If your card does not look like the one in the software, try changing the angle of view and/or raising the font size. All of these adjust how the cards look on your screen and how long they take to print.
Once they are printed, let them dry before folding them up.
Put the address on them
Most postcard companies allow you to create your own postcards at home. If not, then you can put an extra step into place to do so.
If you send your card to the postcard company, they will likely ask for your email address when creating the card. This is to ensure that they can contact you if there are problems with the card.
Many times problem cards are those with wrong information included, wrong addresses included, or ones that are incomplete. If you feel comfortable with this, then go for it.
If not, then make sure that all of the details included are correct! If there is a error in there, the card company will need to fix it before sending out the card.