How to Create and Print Postcards
Though they are generally very cheap, you don't have to spend money on mass produced postcards at the stationery store. You can print them right at home if you have a good printer, desktop publishing or image layout software, and the right paper. The quality of your postcards depends mostly on the type of printer you are using. To get a crisp finish as you would find at a store, you should consider getting a laser color printer. If these postcards are just going to a few friends and family members, a decent InkJet printer should be fine.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- High quality large format color printer
- Cardboard stock paper (8 1/2 x 14 or 11 x 17)
- Image layout software
- Exacto knife
Instructions
-
-
1
First, set up your postcard file. Since the United States Postal Service defines the standard acceptable size of a postcard at a maximum of 4 1/4 x 6 inches, and a minimum of 3 1/2 x 5 inches, we'll work with a standard 4 x 6 inch postcard. Create two separate files in your image editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator) sized at 8 1/2 x 14 inches. Then create another two files sized at 4 x 6 inches each-these will be where you design the actual postcards (front and back).
-
2
Choose an image to add to the front of your postcard. (You can find royalty free images on Dreamstime or iStockPhoto--see link below under "Resources").
-
-
3
In the other file (the back of the postcard where people will write) place a vertical line in the middle to separate the address and note section. You can also add horizontal lines to the right side for people to write in the recipient address. Add a square to the right top of the postcard to designate where the stamp should be placed.
-
4
When completed, copy and paste your finished postcard design into the larger 8 1/2 x 14 file (in Photoshop you will need to select "Copy Merged" to get every element of your design) four times and center them so that they are all flush, touching in the middle. When completed, one file should contain four copies of the front image and the other file will have four copies of the back postcard image. There should be a white border around the edges of the file. Save each file.
-
5
Purchase 8 1/2 x 14 cardboard stock paper, preferably with one glossy side and one matte (dull) side. You can also used 11 x 17 paper if you want to play it safe to assure that all of your postcard is printed without being cut off. Be sure that you have a printer that can handle paper sized at 8 1/2 x 14 or larger.
-
6
Load your paper into your printer so that the front photo side of your postcard will print on the glossy side. Check your printer settings to make sure that it will print each side dead center in the middle of the page, or else your back and front may not match up. Print the front side first, then reload it into the printer again and print the back side.
-
7
When printed, you can then use an Exacto knife to trim the printout into four individual postcards.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do a couple of draft test prints to make sure that you are placing your paper in the printer correctly. You can also purchase 4 x 6 glossy photo cards and a corresponding photo printer to make your photo cards. Just skip the step where you paste your finished 4 x 6 images into the larger 8 1/2 x 14 file.
