Creating Custom Postcards

Postcards have been around for decades. They are a means for friends and family to communicate by sending pictures and greetings from wherever they might be in the world. People love receiving postcards, especially ones that have been custom made and have a special touch from the sender. Postcards can brighten someone's day and show how much you care for them, too.

There are several different ways to create custom made postcards and doing so doesn't have to be a difficult task. You can create custom postcards with word-processing software now, including such programs as Word, WordPerfect and Apple Pages. You can also get templates online that work with these and other word processors, as well ones for Photoshop, InDesign, Quark and other art and layout programs. Using these is good for people with no design sense, who are all thumbs with this sort of thing. Design-savvy people can use almost anything while others need templates, clip art, instructions, and such. Depending on the experience you've had with using software, you can determine the method that you should use to create your postcard. Usually, the software will come with complete instructions on how to use it and some even have step-by-step guides that you can follow.

Online Cards
One of the easiest ways to create a postcard is by doing it online. This method allows you to save time and is almost effortless in comparison to other methods. Programs such as Photoworks, Kodak Easy Share Gallery and Snapfish are very popular and also easy to use. You are able to select a favorite photo of your choice and then upload it to any one of these programs. Snapfish seems to be the most popular for the creation of postcards. You can begin the process of creating the postcard with Snapfish by selecting the "Store" section off the Snapfish website. You can then select the "cards and stationery" option and then select "postcards." The website is designed to walk you through the process of completing the postcard from start to finish. With online programs, you can choose to have your photo on the entire front side of the postcard or you can add any number of personal touches or attractive borders. You can also choose from two different sizes for your postcard, either the standard size is of 4.25 x 6 inches or the larger 5 x 7 inch postcard.

The traditional method of making postcards is to leave the back of the card blank in order to write your personal message. These days you're not limited in the way in which you create the message on the back of the postcard. You can choose to handwrite the message which is the traditional way, or you can use your computer to write the message which will also give you an option to incorporate different font styles and colors into your postcard. You can even use special stickers, stamps and other creative methods when designing your card.

Cards for Busy People
If you're a very busy person who is constantly on the go, then Snapfish also gives you the option to e-mail your personalized postcards as opposed to printing and mailing them. This is also a great way to send postcards more often, featuring your best pictures of the day or special messages, as well. However, if you prefer to mail them the old-fashioned way, it won't require much effort on your part either. Printing your personalized cards from home requires basic equipment such as a inkjet or laser printer, software, and thick and durable photo paper. The thicker the paper, the better. Since you are trying to imitate a real postcard, it will need to be a durable paper that is not easily bent.

If you do print your cards, then remember when you finally have the finished product in hand to be sure to handle it with care. Bending the newly made postcard can cause a permanent crease in the paper. If you decide to handwrite a message on the postcard, be sure to use a felt tip pen so you don't cause any damage to the picture on the front. Postcards are a great way to send a message to friends and loved ones. Giving it that extra time and special touch can make all the difference, too!Go Green! At ThinkWithInk.com we help the environment by offering options for green printing. For all your business card printing needs, visit online today for more information.