Postcard Templates Made Easy
The prospect of making your own postcard can sound like a big headache, but thankfully, postcard templates are here to help make it easy.
They're a way for even the biggest of novices to easily put together a professional looking postcard for business, invitations or whatever you have in mind.
Some templates have a ready made front cover, complete with image and headline, and only require you to specify what info to be printed on the back.
While others offer complete control and everything from the size of the postcard to the border colour can be changed.
Templates are fully customizable and can have as little or as much input by you.
With so many out there available, you can find just what you want and create exactly what you had in mind.
What you enter into the template greatly depends on what the postcard is being used for, but almost always you'll need to specify your name or your company's name, and perhaps a contact number or address.
Common postcard templates also allow a space to type in a headline and several sub-headings, too.
Getting Your Postcard Template Looking Right
Below outlines how a simple template would be set up, in this case, for company usage:
Depending on the template, the text can be changed right on the site in a WYSIWYG format. Different fonts, colours and formatting can be used, additional text and images can be added, even the entire postcard can be zoomed in, cropped, and rotated.
Paid postcard template from StockLayouts.com
This is a fool proof way to make custom postcards, but some templates can be downloaded blank and only indicate guidelines that should be followed.
These postcard templates require much more attention and skill, but the level of creative control is far greater. Below is an example of such a template, which is a lot less pretty and a lot more intimidating than the first one:
There are a number of places to get great templates for postcards.
www.Postcards.com has an impressive selection, with categories ranging from real estate to weddings, and each category has a wide range of gorgeous, full colour postcards to choose from.
There's even a template available to make your own postcards and upload your own photos. (Which allows you to be even more creative!)
www.Postcards.com is probably one of the best sites for postcard newbies, with their simple fill-in-the-blank process and choice of postcard type (to be mailed out, or shipped to you). What else could you expect with a name like that?!
www.Zazzle.ca also has a wealth of different varieties, some available with customization that can be done on the site.
More professional-looking, business-use templates can be found at stocklayouts.com (see image below and above) and brochuremonster.com.
There are hundreds of postcard designs to choose from, although some skill with a layout editor (Adobe InDesign, for example) is needed for customizing your postcards.
A free template from StockLayouts.com
The specific free card template from StockLayouts.com above looks like it has its fair share of advertising plastered over it. But hey - I guess you'd expect something in return for free, right?
On the other hand, the paid templates look fantastic. The prices for the paid template was $69.00. All file formats are covered for PC and Mac including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Microsoft Publisher and Apple iWork etc. They also have easy-to-customize layout, graphic files and high resolution stock photos and artwork according to what I read from their site.
Other Tempting Template Options
For more casual use, such as a party invitation or just to say hello, free printable postcards are an option.
These ready-to-print cards have an unalterable front design, and sometimes will have a general, super exciting message like "Happy Mother's Day!"
The back side is completely blank, and will have to be filled in by hand or by printer if the measurements are accurate.
www.LettersnStuff.com and www.PrintFreeCards.net are good sites to find some spare templates hanging around.
The downside of course to these free printable postcards is yep - you get what you paid for (or didn't) and that there's virtually no room for any creativity and customization, and the selection is usually disappointing.
Still, they're a time-saving and inexpensive way to let someone know you're thinking of them!
Keep an open mind, incorporate the above tips, and I'm sure you'll come up with an outstanding postcard creation that will be appreciated by ALL who receive it!
Click here to read about our free postcard-templates
Explore our site further for more inspiring postcard know-how!
