How to Design Greeting Card

Advances in computer and Internet technology have allowed individuals to create and print their own greeting cards.

Greeting cards act as a vehicle for friendship, warmth and affection on any number of occasions. The widespread availability of greeting cards is a testament to their popularity in the community. For creative individuals, designing a greeting card can be an appealing alternative to commercial products. In addition to designing and producing a card by hand, several software tools help facilitate and expedite the creative process.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Create the text for the front and interior faces of your card. Select your desired font and font size using your preferred design software. Orient your text with the left-hand or center area of the card depending on your aesthetic preference. When selecting your font size, ensure that your message appears evenly spaced, avoiding lines of text that only contain a single word.

2. Create graphics for the front and interior faces of your card. If you do not wish to design your own images, websites such as iStockPhoto, iClipArt and Clker offer images for purchase that can be used for personal and commercial use.

3. Adjust the size of your selected images to match the dimensions of your card, ensuring that all of the image fits within the page boundaries of the card faces. Place your images in areas of the card that complement the text rather than overpowering it. If your text is centrally aligned, for example, consider placing a small image directly underneath the text.

4. Insert your copyright information on the back face of the greeting card. Include your name and the year your card was created next to the copyright symbol in order to fully protect your card from infringement or theft.

5. Find an envelope that matches the dimensions of your greeting card. Websites such as FineArt World, ClearBags and Desktop Supplies offer envelopes in a variety of sizes for purchase.

Tips & Warnings

• Determine the physical dimensions of your card before creating your text or artwork. If you are using an online resource to design your card such as Zazzle, Cardnotes or Greeting Design Studio, choose from one of the offered templates. If you are using publishing software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator, create a document with physical dimensions matching your ideal card size.

• Uniformity is a powerful element of design. Select a color grouping and font that you wish to use for your card and utilize only those specific design element to craft your product. This consistency will help create an appealing, aesthetically pleasing design.

• Under no circumstances should you attach images whose rights you do not own to your greeting card. Copyright infringement is strictly enforced and can result in a large fine.

References

• Tuscaloose City Schools: The Basics of Graphic Design
• Zazzle: Greeting Cards, Photo Cards, Picture Cards
• Cardnotes: Create A Card
• Greeting Card Studio: Product Information
• PsPrint: Greeting Card Design Essentials

Resources

• Design History: The Rise of Industrialization in Graphic Arts
• Adobe: CS 5.5 Design Premium