How to Make Stationery Templates for Free
Using stationery templates, of which there are hundreds online, you can choose high-quality, pre-designed forms and add your company's information and color scheme in just a few minutes. Even better, many sites offer these templates for no charge. Stationery templates aren't just for business use, either. You can find and use appropriate templates for wedding invitations, personally designed writing paper, party invitations, posters or anything you want to print in bulk with a creative background, outline or corner piece.
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Instructions
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Browse websites that offer free stationery templates under the category that you are interested in until you find one that you like. The Serif website offers many free template downloads, including home and business stationery template packs. The Pierce Clipart website has free stationery templates for standard U.S. letter and envelope sizes that are really attractive and simple to use. Also, the Prissed website has interesting and exclusive free templates available. Some templates you will be able to just download, print and use, but to personalize and get the exact stationery you want, a few easy steps are required to accomplish it.
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Download your chosen template in either PC or Mac format, whichever is compatible with your computer.
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Unzip the downloaded file (they are usually compressed) with Winzip or similar program if you are a Windows user. Use a program such as Stuffit Expander if you are an Apple Macintosh user.
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Open up the unzipped file in your preferred program. You can use programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw or QuarkXPress among others, but if you don't have a particular graphics program you should be able to open it in Microsoft Word or Open Office.
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Create two documents if there is a front and back to the template. The file will be in the appropriate size when it is finished. Depending on what program you used to open it up, it will have helpful pointers such as live areas, guides and fold marks for you to follow.
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Add your own customizations on this layer. When including pictures or information, be sure to take note of guide and live areas to avoid unwanted cropping. Photos should be at least 300 dpi resolution.
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Delete the layer that includes the guides and instructions before saving your file. How you do this will depend upon which program you are using. If you are using Word, for example, click on "View" to see the drop-down box and click on "Header and Footer." The template layer will look darker in the dotted box that appears. Select it and delete it.
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Save your template in the appropriate format for the program you are using. For example .doc for Word or .psd for Photoshop. You now have your template ready to use whenever you want.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your text extends up to the boundary line on the template to print to the paper's edge, but ensure it doesn't go over it or you will lose text. Make several practice runs until you are confident enough to work on your business stationery templates.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit fun design image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com
