Cards

[Janet1949]

I Loved all of the magnificent cards made for the AnnaLift challenge... hoto:

I would love to be able to make my own cards, but I cannot print them on my printer, I cant seem to be able to print up to the edge..

I have a couple of questions:

1) Do you print on photographic paper or cardstock..
2) How do you get the printer to print up to the edge..
3) Do you print through Photoshop (or in my case PSE) or through your printer settings..

I would love to hear how you guys would print your cards..

Janet :frusty:

 

[ViVre]

My printer doesn't print the edges either. I've 3 options.
* You can let your layout print at print-office or shop (just as photo/picture) and glue them on a cardstock.
* You can print them by yourself on a larger (cardstock)paper (in the midst) and cut out.
* There are 'make your own card' - sites online. You can upload your flattened jpg-files.

I hope this helpes?

XoXo, ViVre

 

[CookingMyLife]

Janet, I happen to know (ask me how I know!!! lol) you are on a Mac with your PSE9. Maybe one of Anna's CT members has that setup since Anna herself is on a PC.

Sorry I can't help you here since I almost never make cards and don't have those items. When I DO make cards, I print the face image a bit smaller than the front of a premade blank card. Our craft stores in the US have lots of those blanks for sale.

 

[KathyJ]

I do not have the option to do borderless printing either.

If I print at home, I use 8 1/2 by 11 inch cardstock. Most photo paper has the manufacturer's label printed on the back and cardstock is blank both sides.

I set up the document in PSE. The number of cards per sheet depends on the size. For example, you could print 3 - 3 by 3 inch fold-over gift cards per sheet. I usually print through the printer settings.

I trim the cards using a straight edge and an Exacto knife or a rotary cutter using an old blade that is no longer sharp enough for fabric. Score the fold.

 

[SharLamb]

Although my printer will print to the edge, I never do so because it would make a card too big to go through the mail without paying extra. The cards you buy in the store are seldom that big.

I use white card stock or photo paper, depending on the card.

I made an action (I use CS5) that sets up a new document with guide lines in the correct places so that I can create a card that will fit one of the standard envelopes I have. I have both top and side-fold versions of three different sizes. (One of the things I learned when I used to make cards by hand with rubber stamps and scissors and glue, is that you always pick your envelope FIRST, and make the card so it will fit.)

In addition to the front and back of the card (I always stamp a logo of one kind or another on the "back," remembering to flip it so it is readable if the card is a top-fold version), I include the inside sentiment on its own layer. When I'm printing the card, I shut off the eye/s of the layers I'm not printing.

Sometimes I print the interior on its own separate paper (always, if using photo paper), but most times I print it directly on the card. It took me awhile to memorize how to do that with my printer so everything turned out facing the correct direction!

After the card is made, I score the fold, then use my paper cutter to trim.

Hope this is clear and helps.

 

[annaaspnes]

Great questions and answers so far!
One of the great things about making your own cards at home is that you have the option to print your card at any size you want much like your digital scrapbooking pages. You can make them smaller and adhere to cardstock as advised by Viv, you can also increase the size of your card a little without losing resolution to make up for the lack in borderless printing. You may not be able to get 2 cards from one sheet of paper in the latter but there are always trade offs.

Regards to paper... As a general rule it's a good idea go with paper that is designed for use with your printer. Use Epson paper with Epson printer for example. The type of paper you use, such as matte or glossy, will depend on your preference. There are many other varieties such as watercolor or metallic also. There have a great variety at good prices at Atlex.com.

Hopefully some of the AnnaTeamers will also chime in here, especially those with hybrid experience.

 

[JanaO]

I print 8.5 x 11 and click the option full size, I have a HP photosmart, I use photo paper is I want the colors bright but usually I print card stock so I have some texture and I always end up cutting some edge of the base because I do a mat of another color . In my example here I printed and with edge so I cut and put in a brown card to have a extra layer
HERe

 

[BHo]

I'm with Anna on this. I don't make cards often, but I have in the past and I have done a ton of hybrid scrapping as well. I have an Epson large format, photo quality printer and I use Epson Ultra Premium papers. For cards, I would use the Presentation Matte paper. I also buy all of my paper and ink from Atlex.com. I have used them for years and get great service.

 

[casbury]

Hi Janet:

All the tips above are great. Your printer does have to have the borderless feature in order to print to the edge. Otherwise set it up to fit your desired size and trim. I set up in PSE and usually print on matte cardstock. if I want a postcard photo type I use semi gloss. To print both sides you just have to send it back through the printer for the other side (making sure it's going through in the right direction. Takes some figuring out sometimes. I do test runs). I always choose my envelope size first and then prepare the card to fit. Office stores sell sets of envelopes and cards to be printed at home. Those might work, too.

 

[Deb Rymer]

Kard Printing

Tons of good responses, and I thought I would share a little about my process with you. I have an Epson large format photo printer - the R1800 (a little bit old now, but still works well).

Janet, re: your questions:

1) Do you print on photographic paper or cardstock.

I print on all - it just depends on the look I'm trying to achieve and how fine I want the image to be. If you look at the "You Are Loved" hybrid KardPrintz just released this week, I used 2 different types of paper. I printed the card background on textured cardstock. It was a muted background and looked fine on regular cardstock, and I liked the texture it provided. However, the focal image did not pop enough - so I printed it on Epson's Lustre Photo Paper. Now, take a look at the photo of the digital version's card for this week. Since it was a flat card with no embellishments, and I needed a nice crisp image, I printed that on matte presentation paper that is supported by my printer.

2) How do you get the printer to print up to the edge.

Borderless printing is a feature. Some printers have it and some don't. To print to the edge, you really do need the borderless capability. There are ways to get around it, though. You can always resize the image, print it, and then trim it and mount it on a contrasting paper mat, then attach to a normal size notecard. I posted a bit about card sizes on the AnnaLift thread last week (not sure how to link it in here).

3) Do you print through Photoshop (or in my case PSE) or through your printer settings.

I print through Photoshop because I can specify more parameters for my Epson printer through that interface.

Janet, I learned most of this the hard way - through trial and error. Hope this helps to save you some paper and ink!

 

[petey111]

I am sooo bookmarking this for Christmas cards. I can't process it at the moment, but I'm saving this for later!!

 

[Janet1949]

OMGoodness, so many different ways of doing it, thank you sooo much everyone for taking the time to tell me how 'you' do it..

I was thinking of the lazy way, ie: just print, fold and DONE! no sticking, glueing etc..
I really dont want to get out my paper digi stuff...

I have a Canon IP4500 pixma, so will have to check out the settings, AGAIN!

Thanks again .....

 

[SharLamb]

Janet, that's all I EVER do any more...no more sticking, gluing, etc. And I make EVERY card I send out (& there are quite a few every year).