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3 Ways to Spoil a Good Christmas Card
The holidays are the best time of year because we have more opportunities to spend thoughtful time and connect with each other. Sometimes that isn’t always possible with work, distance, and conflicting schedules. An easy solution to creating connections during this busy time is sending Christmas cards!
We print thousands of holiday cards a year and know what to avoid when designing a Christmas card. We want to help you design and send a fridge-worthy card that stands out from the stack! We’ve compiled these design tips to help you avoid 3 design fails that can spoil your holiday card:
1. Too Much
You have so much to share, but space on a card is limited. Persnickety cards are customizable and you can add or remove elements. Keep in mind that using too many photos can also be overwhelming and create a chaotic card. Remember – less is more. Make an impact by using only one or two focal images and include only the most important, legible text.
If multiple photos are a must, consider a double-sided or folded greeting card. We recommend including an extra 4×6 photo collage insert for grandparents, extended family, or close friends. We’ve been intentional with our designs and have a wide assortment of multi-photo cards to choose from!
2. Photo Fail
Your photo is the best part of the card! One of the most important tips to enhance your card is to lighten your photos! Screens are backlit, prints are not. Additionally, cards are printed on thick textured paper using CMYK color profile. They’ll always look darker than what you see on your screen. We do our best to optimize for you but taking the time to auto-enhance and lighten your photos will improve your outcome!
See the difference – too dark vs just right
Choose a card design that fits the look and feel of your photo. If you’re having a hard time deciding on which photo best fits your favorite card design, then we recommend using a black and white photo. A black and white photo is versatile, timeless, and can blend well with most holiday designs.
Save yourself a headache and use high-resolution images. Do not “stretch” the photo to fill space. While 72 dpi looks great on screen, 300 dpi is needed for print. Don’t worry, our software will notify you if your photo is not high enough resolution.
Bottom Line: use original, high resolution photos & lighten if possible.
3. Text Overload
Keep your text short and sweet. It can be tempting to use a smaller text to fit everything, but that will only make your card hard to read. We recommend that you don’t overload your card with too many words. If you’re sending a yearly update or a lengthy family newsletter, consider using a separate insert. You could even add a small QR code in the corner or on the back of a double-sided card, or host the family yearly news digitally!
When designing your own holiday card, make sure to watch for bleed, especially with text. Text close to the edge like this card below, makes it nearly impossible to print without something being cut off. Stick with the industry standard, .25″ bleed.
Whether you’re single, married, have pets or kids, the holidays are a perfect time to share them with your loved ones. One of the many great things about Persnickety is our cards. Clients love Persnickety’s recycled thick paper quality and customization options. There are so many designs to choose from! Have your own design? Drop it into our blank template. Or, use one of our bestsellers! We’re here to help you design an unforgettable card this year and avoid these holiday card spoils!
Christmas Card Timeline
Not sure when to order Christmas cards? We’ve put together a timeline so you can make sure friends and family will receive their cards.
Early October – Take family photos – typically it takes at least 2 weeks to receive all fully edited photos from the photography session. This is the best time to start gathering addresses for friends and family.
Late October – update your address book, collect addresses from friends and family before they get too busy with the holiday rush.
Early November – Order Christmas cards from Persnickety Prints and take our advice – round up, or order the extra card pack. Trust us, you’ll use it! There are always people you remember at the last minute who would enjoy receiving a sweet card from you.
Mid November – Mail the Christmas cards and feel a sense of accomplishment by crossing this off your holiday “to-do” list.
Early December – Friends and family will receive cards with plenty of time to display and enjoy this holiday season.
Time saver – Add your return address to the envelopes! You can include this additional feature to your card pack at checkout. Be sure to double check your address before submitting your order!
Share your card and holiday memories by tagging us @persnicketyprints