Publishing Own Greetings Cards

[Ann M]

Does anyone here publish their own greetings cards? At present, I am building a website to sell prints of my own work - all photographs of flowers, plants and gardens. It seems like a good idea to have greetings cards too (they'd be blank inside but have my website details etc. on the back). It would also give me something smaller to sell at other outlets. I'd really appreciate any comments based on experience..... I have a printer nearby who can print in small quantities for me but I need to check out the quality properly (So guess where this year's Christmas cards will come from!) The cards I have seen by them have been good but the originals were paintings, not photographs. So, any thoughts..?

 

[jpeets]

I print 4X6's that I glue to blank cards available from art stores everywhere. Pop them into clear bags (Crystal Clear??) for a great presentation.

It is labour intensive, but it is a real print, I have control over the quality, and I can command a premium price for it. Since it has my web address on the back, in essence, people are paying me for my promotional material. Some folks buy them and frame the little fellows!

It is probably the cheapest way to get started and test the waters. I suspect that any print run will cost a fair bit for setup, and I have seen a lot of "art cards" on sale that leave a lot to be desired in terms of print quality or paper quality.

Have you been selling images? Do you know which ones sell well? You need to be very selective when you are investing time and money upfront.

Whatever you do, good luck!

 

[Ann M]

Thanks, Jaan. I'd been thinking that I might have to do the printing myself to start with. Like you say, I'd have control over the quality.

In the UK we can get quite good aperture cards which help to make the card look like a mini print and better if someone wants to frame it. These should be a bit easier to use - easier to get the print lined up straight

I'm still new to all this- just setting up my website with the hope of selling some prints so I've a fair way to go before I know what may sell. (Even more reason to just print a few myself to start with!) Anyway, at this stage I appreciate getting the benefit of yor experience!

Thanks again, Ann

 

[George Collier]

Ann,
I've done this - I print them on Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight (I don't like glossy), using the Adobe 1998 RGC profile, which does a pretty good job of matching my Apple display to the print. On the Illustrator file, I print thin gray lines that tell me where to score and cut to make the card. I set up the image in Adobe Illustrator, with the title of the image at the bottom center of the back, printed in light gray, with a copywrite notation. I can make small ones, 2 to a sheet of paper, or larger ones. Everything is printed on an Epson R200 printer ($100 consumer printer) using the highest quality settings. It makes a nice looking print at small sizes.
I buy white envelopes from a local paper and office supply, and thin, clear "bags" on line, to hold them all. The top is stapled with a fold-over printed (on the Epson) closure.
On the closure is my contact info, the statement that these are original "giclee" (that great marketing term that means "ink jet") prints
I have sold them in sets of 4 for $12 - $15 US, enough to break even, but not much profit. On the closure is a small thumbnail image of each of the card images, with one card visible from the front (4 separate images).
They sell ok, but the real idea is marketing the images. The closure indicates that silver gel prints are available, with contact info.
As mentioned above, it is labor intensive, enough so that I did one large run of 60 packets, sold at a gallery and framing shop, and an art center. As far as I know, I made no print sales due to the cards, although they were well complimented.
I have investigated commercial digital printing (I am in the printing business), but no available and practical solution has good enough quality, at least for me.
PM me if you want to discuss further (we're kind of getting digital here).
If you post them on your site, be sure to follow up with a link. I'd like to see them.

 

[Ann M]

Hi George!
Thanks for your detailed reply - it's especially helpful to hear what you say about commercial digital printing. I've been starting to think along similar lines but you're in a position to know a lot more than I've so far been able to find out.
I had thought about using the back of the card to promote my (forthcoming) website but I hadn't thought about mentioning that the particular image would also be available as a print. (Duh! Guess I'd have got there eventually!) But if I do use the aperture cards I mentioned before I'll have to somehow write it all on the back neatly...A label would be the simplest answer to that one but might not look great... Something for me to think about.
You've helped me get my ideas a bit more organised. I'll PM you after I've thought about it some more - as you say we are indeed getting digital - since I will probably print them on my HP B9180.

 

[George Collier]

Glad to help. I spent a lot of time on this, I may be able to save you some time.

 

[jgcull]

I enjoy making prints, but then there's "what to do with all these?" so if I've got an image I like working on I do them as either 3 1/2 x 5 or 5x7 (or there-abouts) and do like Jaan said. I fold card stock, often cut a piece of black heavy paper only slightly larger than the print, and glue it on the card. I use them as writing cards, and have given a collection as a thank-you gift on occasion.

Selling them would really be cool! I hope you find a good market.

 

[Tusker]

GREETING CARDS

Well not published as you mean, but my wife makes all out greeting cards. Many time she will use on of my photos and that is what really got me back into photography. We are retired so there is plenty of time for a day trip foray. Of recent we obtained a new little pop-up camper and a truck to pull it with and went on several camping trips. Splitting firewood is a good way to lose a few pounds, by the way.

 

[Ann M]

I think it's good to be able to use your photos for thankyous and personal greeting cards. I've done this myself in the past and it means a lot more than a bought card. It seems especially appropriate in thanks for being allowed to take photographs somewhere. After taking photographs in one particular garden , it was coming up to Christmas so I made a card for the owners from one of the photos. They really liked all the prints I made for them but the novelty of the card delighted them.
Anyway, I am going to try some experiments with different card blanks etc and see how they turn out. I'm convinced now that this will be worthwhile, if only to publicise my prints and website.
(I envy you with that camper & truck, Tusker, though where I am a little boat for the Norfolk Broads would be more appropriate!)

 

[cdhauber]

I laid out my cards so that my image is smaller within the full card size...similar to a matted photograph. I printed on card stock using my home printer (no need to get too expensive on the printer and ink given people are only spending about $5 per card or less) I scored the card using the edge of my desk and bought standard sized envelopes to put them in.

 

[WarEaglemtn]

Recently got a nice batch of pre-scored cards to print on from Red River Paper Company. They have a nice selection in a trial pack. Glossy to art papers. Print well and the pre-scoring makes for very clean folds. They also have the envelopes and boxes with clear lids for sales packaging.