How to Make a Card in InDesign

Adobe InDesign is Mac- and PC-compatible.

Drug store cards, such as birthday and anniversary cards, are becoming more and more expensive each year. Fortunately, Adobe InDesign users need only money for printer ink and paper because they can create cards for any occasion. InDesign enables users to format page layout, add text, insert graphics and customize color schemes.

Instructions

1. Open Adobe InDesign.

2. Select "New Document" in the opening menu.

3. In the New Document dialog box, select landscape orientation. Then enter "2" into the "Number of Pages" option. Click OK when finished.

4. Pull a ruler guide from the left-hand ruler and divide each landscape page into equal halves with the guide. This will serve as a visual cue to the sides of the card. The right-side of the first landscape page will serve as the front of the card, and the left-side is the back of the card. Meanwhile, the left-side of the second landscape page will serve as the first center page of the card, and the right-side is the second center page of the card.

5. Use the tool window, located by default on the left of InDesign's screen, to select a text tool, brush tool or any other tool preferred to add content onto the card.

6. Change any tool's preferences, such as font type and text size, in the control window. The controls are located at the top of InDesign's screen but under the Menu bar. Additional options for importing images and customizing text or layout can be found in the option's of the menu bar at the top of your InDesign Screen.

7. Save the card, when finished creating the content, by going to "File" in the menu bar then "Save."

8. Print the card by going to "File" in the menu bar then "Print." Make sure to use one sheet of paper when printing. After the first side of the card flips, flip the sheet upside down and over before inserting it back into the printer. After the opposite side prints, be sure to fold the sheet down the middle to create the card's fold.

References

• Guided Computers Tutorials: Creating Greeting Cards
• University of Massachusetts: Application Guide: InDesign Basics
• IT Training: InDesign: Basic Page Layout