How to Create Calendars on Free Software
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a calendar as a "tabular register of days according to a system usually covering one year and referring the days of each month to the days of the week." Calendars are tools designed to create a past in the life of the person in possession of them. Once a calendar is finished it creates nostalgia for the year and can be stored away to be viewed later by the jotter with reflective emotions. Create calendars to give note to events of importance. Combined with a creative touch they can become intimate presents for people who journal and note occurrences in their lives.
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Things You'll Need
- Internet with high speed connection
- Calendar software
- Pictures
- Scanner
- Cardstock (heavy)
- Printer (color preferred)
- Laminator with lamination sheets
Instructions
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Coordinate the pictures that you want to include before starting with the software. Use pictures with a general theme for a recipient or event, or randomize them into a mixed theme calendar. You will need at least 12 different pictures if you are creating a 12-month calendar. This will include one picture for each month. Have a few extra to see which pictures look better on the calendar.
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Scan each picture onto your desktop or add them to a specific folder for easy reference. Edit these pictures on your computer's graphics editing program or on any other editing software you may have downloaded or purchased. Take out the red eye, crop the photos to eliminate unwanted items, change the color values or fix any other flaws that may make the photo undesirable for the calendar. Once you have all the pictures scanned and edited you can save them onto a jump drive or a folder on your desktop to keep them organized.
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Choose a free software program to make your calendar. Free Photo Calendar, for example, is a simple program that grabs your choices, distributes the results of a few questions it asks you to complete and displays the months one by one in PDF form to be printed out and placed together. More advanced programs such as Keep and Share can store your information and share your creations.
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Place the cardstock paper into your printer. The cardstock can be any color and weight. Heavier weight means the less color bleeds through in the printing process, giving your calendar a more professional look.
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Print each copy month by month, checking for discrepancies in the ink, picture or paper. After you have printed each month, laminate your copies. Lamination protects the pages from spills and stains with an added option to use dry erase markers to write in appointments or other items that can be erased later, thus preserving the calendar for years. If you don't have access to a laminator, take the calendar to any office supply store or graphics printing company and have them laminate the pages for you. Lamination is worth the extra money.
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Bind the calendar. Twine makes a homey statement if you are going for a country theme. Plastic comb bindings will hold together for a long time if the plastic combs do not get bent, and you can do them yourself with a store bought machine or have them bound at the same store you used for lamination. You can use just about anything to bind your calendar---use your imagination to create a one of a kind piece, making it special and distinct.
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Tips & Warnings
If making a calendar for someone else, think about what they love in life and create a calendar that solely relates to their experiences.
