In business or at the home mailbox, postcards are one of the easiest and cost effective methods of getting a message across. Christmas postcards are perhaps the most obvious example of people sending wishes and joy around the world. Business, at the same time, is trying to get your attention to say Hi! we're over here with postcards. Whatever the intended message, postcards are the best way to go.

Customized postcards

There are two ways to go about making a custom postcard. The first involves a postcard printer and the image you would like to send. The second involves your time, your effort and a software program. Both are valid ways to get your postcard produced but only the second method shows that you put your time into the process and cared enough to do it yourself.

The printer

Rounding up all the pictures to choose from is perhaps the most time consuming process before heading to the ink jet printer. One way or another it will need to be done unless a new snapshot is to be taken. Next, some copy will need to be written. This is not all that difficult as Halloween postcards or birthday postcards are about as simple as it gets, ?Happy birthday? and you are done. So, the question appears'if you have to do it anyway, why would a printer be needed if you can do it all yourself with a computer and printer?

Do it yourself

The only reason you wouldn't do it yourself would be ?time.? This is really the only reason and it is not a very good one since once a template is made changing it around a little only takes seconds. To begin; you just need a computer and printer. Most computers come with a standard greeting card software package so you can use that. There are, however, specifically designed software packages made to design postcards. If you plan to send allot of cards or are in business these may offer a better product.

The entire process of creating a postcard is based upon a postcard template. With this template you are going to be laying layer upon layer until the desired effects are arrived at. For instance, Christmas postcards have a favorite template that can be modified to any situation once the basics are laid out. Simply choose the size you would like, paying attention to the mailing restrictions. Saving pennies can ad up if your list is long.

Take an oval and lay it over the black background and highlight both black and oval. Make sure your boards have about an 1/8 inch buffer to the edge of the paper so nothing gets cut off. With the text option, lay out your message and click go or publish or whatever button shows you what you have. The fun part comes now. Fiddle here and there with images of holly or snowmen to get just the right look. But first, do a ?save as? so that you have an original to go back to if you goof. There fun, there easy to do and you did it yourself.