Invitations set the tone of your party long before the day it actually occurs, but having them printed by an outside source can be expensive unless you are making a large batch. For smaller parties, it is more cost effective to do it yourself. If you want to avoid cutting lines or perforations, print your invitations on the size paper you intend to send them on, in this case 5-by-7 inches. This makes your invitations look professional while letting you avoid the expense of professional printing.
Step 1
Set your page size to 5-by-7 inches. All word processing programs allow you to control the size of the page you wish to use. For example, in Word, locate "Page Layout," which will lead you to "Page Setup." One of the selections inside "Page Setup" is "Size." Clicking on "Size" will give you the most commonly used options for paper size in Word. After you have chosen "5x7 in." click "OK" and the paper size choice will be carried over to the entire document. OpenOffice Writer is distinctly different. The path to change paper size in OpenOffice is "Format," "Page," "Paper Format." These are two of the most commonly used word processing programs; if you are using another program, your directions will be different. Keep in mind that directions may change based on software version, so consult your "Help" menu if you cannot find what you are looking for.
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Step 2
Design your invitation, adding all necessary graphics and text until it looks the way you would like it to.
Step 3
Use Print Preview to verify how your invitation should print. Open "Print Preview" by clicking on the Office symbol in the upper-left corner of the screen, scrolling down to the "Print" tab and then selecting "Print Preview" from the resulting menu. This will allow you to see what your invitation will look like printed on 5-by-7 paper. It can save you from wasting time and money. OpenOffice allows "Print Preview" through "File," then "Print Preview." This only works when you are in Print Layout for your regular view, however.
Step 4
Load your printer with 5-by-7-inch paper. The specifics differ from printer to printer; however, all printers have the capacity to change paper sizes depending on the needs of the user. Generally, there is a sliding bar within the paper tray to allow adjusting for paper size. For instructions specific to your printer, consult your owner's manual.
Step 5
Print a sample copy. Although Print Preview is a good tool, sometimes what you see on the computer screen does not come out exactly as expected. Rather than running all your invitations immediately, print one or two so to inspect them. This way you can be certain your colors, fonts, pictures and other pieces to your invitation come out exactly as you intended. When the invitations are as desired, you can print the rest.
Tip
Check your print cartridges prior to printing important documents to ensure colors come out consistently.
Read the use instructions on your paper; certain kinds only come out correctly if you print on a specific side.
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