How to Create Banners, Business Cards & Greetings Cards From Software

There's no need to spend money on expensive printing services for paper goods such as cards and banners when you can create them at home for free by taking advantage of a variety of computer programs. You'll be able to completely personalize your designs to your preferences while saving both money and the time required by companies to print your items. Instead, use software products to create your own banners, business cards and greeting cards with just a few minutes' time on each.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Paint
• Microsoft Publisher
• Adobe Photoshop

Instructions

Banners in Microsoft Paint

1. Open Paint and click "Image," then "Attributes." Set the dimensions for your banner, such as 11 inches wide and 60 inches long.

2. Click the "Text" tool, which looks like an "A," then choose a font and size. Click your cursor onto the banner, then start typing the banner words, such as "Happy Birthday" or "Welcome Home."

3. Click the "Spray Can," which looks like an aerosol can, then click a paint color from the "Color Picker" at the bottom of the screen. Choose the largest spray whirl, then click your mouse around the outside of the letters you just typed, adding a bit of sparkle/glitter. Change paint colors and continue clicking for a rainbow effect, or use just one or two colors to keep with a theme, such as pink for a baby shower.

Cards in Microsoft Publisher

1. Open Publisher and select "Publications for Print." Scroll down to "Greeting Cards," then double-click one of the preset card themes, which opens as a four-page document in your workspace.

2. Click through the pages of the card and replace placeholder text with your own messages, names and other greetings.

3. Add new text by clicking the "Text" tool, which looks like an index card with an "A" on it on the left side of the screen. Draw a rectangle on the card, then start typing. Highlight the text and choose a font, size and color from the text toolbar at the top of the screen.

4. Change the card color scheme by clicking the "Color Schemes" link on the left side of the screen in the "Greeting Card Options" panel. Scroll through the color families and double-click one; your card automatically updates.

Business Cards in Adobe Photoshop

1. Open Photoshop and click "File," then click "New." Name the file "BusinessCard" and set the width to 3.5 inches and the height to 2.5 inches. Change the "Mode" to "CMYK Color" and the "Contents" option to "White." Click the "OK" button. Click "View" and "Fit on Screen," which just gives you more room to work on the card.

2. Click the "Text" tool, which looks like a "T," on the "Tools" palette on the left side of the screen. A new toolbar opens at the top of the screen. Choose a font, size and color, then click inside the "BusinessCard" box and type your contact name, address, phone and email, plus any other information such as a website.

3. Click the "Paint Bucket" tool and notice the new toolbar at the top of the screen. Pull down the "Fill" menu and select "Pattern." Click the arrow on the "Pattern" box, then choose a background design for the business card. Click an option, then slide the "Opacity" slider bar down to 25 percent.

4. Hover your cursor over the "BusinessCard" Box and notice that it changes into the paint bucket. Click once and the card fills with a lighter version of the pattern.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint, Publisher and Photoshop can each create banners, business cards and greeting cards; all that's required is for you to set the page size in the "Page Setup" fields for each one. Publisher is the only one that offers preset designs (for all three options). You'll need special paper if you're going to print out your banners at home; some home printers won't print on something bigger than an 11-by-17-size page, so you may need to bring it to a custom print shop.

References

• Microsoft: Using Paint