Print Your Own Postcard

For those who like to print their own postcards.

Regional: Canada/USA .

Search the internet for a high-quality image. Choose an image that you really like or check your partner's profile to find an image you think your partner will enjoy.

Send the traditional way, naked. Stamped and a note on the back. Tell your partner why you chose the image and what you like about it.

If you're a newbie and would like to trade privately (it counts towards your ratings), private message me and I'll set up a private swap page.

Technical stuff about making your postcard:

The results should look sharp, not pixelated or fuzzy. If you do a google image search you can filter for large image sizes, example. Use postcard weight cardstock, 100lb weight works well. Most printers have settings for image quality. There's usually a "photograph" image quality option. You will need a printer that doesn't bend the paper since you will be using heavy cardstock. The image will need to be waterproof--laser printers do the best job. If you use an inkjet printer test it for smearing. Use a fixative or clearcoat if needed.

You don't need a traditional postcard back. I print mine with a blank back and write the address and note on the back. It gives me more flexibility with regards to layout. Sometimes the address goes in the traditional spot, sometimes at the top, sometimes at the bottom.

If you want to edit the image feel free to use an image editing tool, for example Pixlr (which is my favourite free online image editing tool).

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Important administration stuff:

Nudge

Rate quickly so it doesn't end up forgotten in a pile of postcards. I send out nudge 'please rate' messages around the one month mark after everyone has mailed their cards. Nudging makes my hosting job harder, so please rate soon after you receive your postcard.

If you haven't received a postcard around the one month mark, let me know.

Blank comments

When rating please comment on the card received. Let's make our partners feel like their postcard matters. So please, no blank comments. Describe what you received. Example of what you could write: Thank you for {describe the item}. It brightened my day...Thank you for the Van Gogh sunflower postcard. It brightened my day.

Finished

I check to see that everyone is rated and will add a "Finished" stamp to the Discussion section when all postcards are sent, received and rated.