| Let us hereby resolve to never buy a greeting card from a store rack again. Okay, maybe that's a bit strong. But with the greeting card and postcard features in iPhoto, you can definitely curtail your contributions to Hallmark's balance sheet. An iPhoto greeting card measures 5 by 7 inches, and is of the "tent" varietyfolded on its top. (Assuming you use a horizontally oriented photo, that is: if you use a vertically oriented photo, the card's fold is on the left side.) In quantities of 1 to 24, cards cost $1.99 each. Order 25 to 49 cards for $1.79 each; 50 or more cards are $1.59. As for postcards, they measure 4 by 6 inches and cost $1.49 each (124), $1.29 (2549), or $.99 (50 or more). The back of a postcard can contain a full block of text or you can use a standard postcard-mailing format, complete with a "place postage here" box. Greeting cards and postcards are printed on a heavy card stock and include matching envelopes. Even if you order a postcard with a "place postage here" box, you still get an envelopecomplete with an embossed Apple logo on its flap. So forget this era of email and instant messaging, and use iPhoto to create some old-fashioned correspondence. Your recipients will thank you. Creating a Greeting Card Step 1. | Select the photo that you want on the greeting card. | Step 2. | Click the Card button. | Step 3. | Choose Greeting Card from the popup menu, choose a theme, then click Choose Theme.
I'm partial to the Picture Card theme, which prints a borderless photo. | Step 4. | Replace the card's placeholder text with your own and then fine-tune the design, if desired (opposite page). Tip To have the inside of the card appear blank, just leave the placeholder text as isor, if you're nervous about getting a card that contains the heartwarming message Insert Title, delete the placeholder text. | Step 5. | Proofread any text you added, then proofread it again. Then, click Buy Card and pay using your Apple ID (page 15). |
Creating a Postcard Step 1. | Select the photo you want to include on the postcard. | Step 2. | Click the Card button. | Step 3. | Choose Postcard from the popup menu, choose a theme, then click Choose Theme. The themes are similar to their greeting-card counterparts. | Step 4. | Replace the card's placeholder text and then fine-tune the design, if desired. | Step 5. | Do that proofreading thing you do so well, then click Buy Card and pay using your Apple ID. |
Card Design Tips Switching postcard styles. To switch between a self-mailing postcard and one that tucks into an envelope, select the back of the postcard, then use the Design popup menu. Switching designs and backgrounds. All card themes provide more than one design option for the front of the card. Many themes, for example, provide an option that lets you type some text on the front of the card. To access different designs, select the front of the card, then use the Design popup menu. Many theme designs also offer a selection of background colors or textures. You can access them by using the Background popup menu. Fun with fonts. As with books and calendars, you can customize the font formatting of your card in two ways: by using the Settings button, or by bringing up the Fonts panel ( -T). The latter option lets you format text on an individual word (or character, if you want to taunt the design police) basis. And while you're having fun with fonts, note that the textformatting tips outlined on pages 190191 also apply to cards. Print it yourself. As with books, you can print greeting cards and postcards on your own color inkjet printer. Just choose the Print command while the card editor is visible. Note that if you plan to use both sides of the card, you'll need to use inkjet paper designed for double-sided printing. Kill the apple. Ever conscious of brand recognition, Apple prints its logo on the back of a greeting card. If you'd rather not provide the free advertising, click the Settings button and uncheck the box labeled Include Apple logo on back of card. |
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