How do you print note cards?
Jeni Neale:
The first thing you need to do is to check the position of your image:
- Insert the test cards into your printer’s top tray and adjust the slider bar to hold the paper size.
- Set your print quality to ‘grey scale’ so as not to waste coloured ink.
- Print, check image & text position, and adjust accordingly. You may have to do this several times to get the positioning right.
- Checking the Colour – I find that it is easier to alter the colour settings in the print dialogue box (under Preferences) in order to adjust the colour printed. Please note: Computer screens use a different system to printer inks, so the colour you see on your screen will be different to what appears on the printed card. This is where your artistic, interpretive skills come in handy.
- Still using the trial pieces of paper cut from ordinary photocopy paper carry out a test print using the standard print settings.
- Compare the colours with the original painting – no where near?
- Select ‘Manual colour settings’ in the Preferences section of your print dialogue box and adjust the colour settings accordingly (i.e. more red, less blue etc.). Do write a note on each test print which settings were used so you have a reference point when comparing them to your original.
- Try altering the colour saturation or contrast.
- You could also try changing the print quality settings to ‘photograph’ or ‘greetings card’ if you have the option.
- It may take many test prints to achieve the nearest possible colours to your original painting! It all depends on how close you want your colours to appear. My advice is that if the cards are not being sold alongside the original painting (where colours can be compared) a little artistic license with the colour is acceptable.
Now all you have to do is to print the design onto your card blanks. Here are a few tips:
- Delete the template lines before printing.
- Set the paper preference in the print dialogue box to ‘Matte photo paper’
- Cards may need to be fed into the printer one at a time.
- Use the print manufacturers recommended inks for best quality colour rendition.
If you have bought pre-cut cards, don’t use them for the trial prints, you will waste too many! Instead, using the ready-cut card as a template, cut as many as you require from ordinary A4 printer paper.
Sorry I can’t be more specific with my instructions, but I have learnt by trial and many errors and have found a way that works for me and my printer. Do have a go. It is so satisfying to be able to print off as few or as many cards as and when necessary instead of spending a small fortune on large print runs. Happy Printing!
Audrey Richards: My husband prints my cards on a Epson Stylus Photo 1290 A3 six-colour printer and a Brother 6490 A3 printer/scanner using the program Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 on our home computer.
Sue Wilson:
I print my cards using an HP B9180 printer which is a flat bed printer so the card does not go around a roller (and get stuck!) and can take card up to the thickness of mount board! Most paintings reproduce well with purples (clematis), reds (berries and gerberas) and blues (iris and agapanthus) particularly well. Yellow and white (as previously stated) are the least successful. If you haven’t printed your own cards, my advice is to have a go – it is great fun and the possibilities are endless!
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