Learning To Add That Professional Postcard Look

By: Lynne Saarte
Submitted: 2009-11-02 16:40:05
Print this article | For publisher |

Rating:

 

Want your postcard templates to look professional? Want to be competitive with your rivals in postcard printing and marketing? Well in this article, I have a few essential tips that you can use to improve postcard templates and designs to make them look like a professional work. Even if you are just starting out in postcard design, these tips should be easy to implement. So without further ado, here are a few tips that should be of use for postcard printing.

Using templates for the dimensions.

Your templates of course are your main starting point. Use them to your advantage since this will make a nice and professional foundation for your designs. Try to download postcard templates that use standard dimensions from the postal service. This should make things easier for you since you will not have to set any kind of new canvass that you need to use and you will be sure that the professional postcard printing services use this particular dimension and template for printing.

Placing textures in elements.

Now, in the design itself, I recommend placing textures in some of your design elements. This makes your designs for postcard printing more three dimensional and alive.

For example, you can use a satin or canvass background to make your postcard cover look like a painting. The background of your logo can be made of stone or brick to add a special graffiti like effect in your designs. Or if you want a simpler approach, you can just add blurring elements to your design to make them look soft and poignant. There are lots of texture effects you can actually use and they have a great effect on the impact of your postcards. So make sure you try them out.

Using color gradients to your advantage.

Now, if you find yourself using simple colors for your background or for your design elements, you might want to rethink that in favor of using color gradients. Gradients are great at adding a sense of space and shadow to an otherwise boring area in your postcards. Just choose two good matching colors and use the gradient effect in editing software to add a seamless transition between the two at a set area. This should make that design element look more complete and professional.

Using lighting effects.

Of course, what design will not be good without some lighting effects? You can add in shadows, lens flares and even simple rays of light using filters and special effects in your design application. These lighting effects add another dimension in your postcards that make things more real. Do not get too carried away though. It is best to add these things as a compliment to your color postcard design and not its main attraction.

Using professional materials.

Finally, to add that true professional look to postcards you should use professional materials in its printing. Simple postcard paper just won't have that professional finish. You should use coated material that looks glossy and feels smooth. This might make your postcard printing more expensive but it will more than pay for itself in terms of its impact on your design.

So that is how you add that professional look to your color postcards. With today’s technology, you do not have to train too much to get the best results. You just need the right ideas and imagination.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit: Postcard Templates, Postcard Printing

Article source: Expert Articles