How Do You Get a Black Matalan Card

November 28, 2021

How to Print Custom Cards?

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No more dragging out to the store to purchase overpriced greeting cards when you can produce high-quality cards from the comfort of your home. And not just any cards, but cards with the Wow factor. Printing custom cards is easy. Design them yourself with your computer's publishing software or use professional online templates. Utilizing special color paper for printing and printing double-sided are all available to you and will enhance your piece.

There is also software to produce labels for printing and check printing software. And what could be better than a custom card? How about one with a gift check tucked inside. Read on for more detail on these options.

Using Templates

A wide array of professionally designed templates awaits you.

Ensure your internet connection is available and open Word on your own computer.
In the File section click "New" and then click in the bar "Search for online templates."
Here simply type the type of card templates you wish to use – birthday cards, get well cards, even business cards. Your screen will fill with choices. Click on one and proceed to customize and print from your computer.

Using Online Design Firms

Your options increase exponentially when you up your card search to include online firms. Shutterfly is an online firm that specializes in custom card production. Upload your photo and they will include it in all of their design templates for you to see "final" options before making the final decision. Shutterfly prints the cards for you and ships them to you for mailing. They print labels as well. A great solution for custom holiday cards, they regularly run 40 to 50% off sales. Have your design selected and saved. Then watch their site and pull the trigger on a sale day for big savings.

American Greetings Card company is a leader in both in-store and online card production. They produce online card templates and animated eCards. Their free seven-day eCard trial will give you a chance to try them out with no obligation.

There is even a completely free online card design firm. Greetings Island produces a wide variety of card templates. Design a card on their site and print it on your printer. Or save it to a file and email your custom creation to the lucky birthday gal or guy.

Print Checks, Labels and Business Cards

Complete your custom card package with a custom check, label and even a business card. All of these custom printing items are available to you through your basic computer software and through online sources. Try ezCheck printing, available online for business and personal purposes, and never order another book of overpriced checks again. With a one-time software purchase in the $25-$30 range, you're set.

Print labels and business cards from your own computer. Special card stock for the business cards and label sheets are available at your office supply store. Access these functions through the same search bar in your document opening screen described in the "Using Templates" section. Any of the custom card firms will also print business cards and labels from their own printers and ship them to you.

Paper Choices for the Home Printer

Enhance custom production with special paper choices. A greeting card will require a heavier paper weight than is typically used for basic computer printing needs, while a business card should be printed on card stock. Business card and label stock is available at your office supply store, as well as a variety of different weights and color paper for greeting card printing. Do prep design and practice on your printer/copier paper. Then insert the good stuff for the final run.

Ink Options for the Home Printer

You can go through a lot of ink when you begin doing custom card work on your home computer. There are several workarounds to help you manage this expense. When you print your proof copy, have your printer properties set to "Draft" and even print in simple black and white the first time. Of course, doing all the proofing on your computer screen will minimize any repetitive print needs.

You may want to consider a printer upgrade. Take a look at the reservoir printer. These printers are a bit more expensive to purchase – closer to $200 than some of the inexpensive inkjet printers in sub $100 range – but the cost of ink is far less. This is because you fill the color reservoirs with bottles of ink – all four bottles available for the price of ONE replacement inkjet cartridge. And manufacturers report that they last for one to two years.

But for the current needs of the inkjet user, give recycled "compatible" ink cartridges a try. These refurbished cartridges typically work just as well as the name brands. They are available at major office supply stores for 40-50% less than manufacturer ink cartridges.

Keith Anho1952