Getting a bespoke card printed

Norbert666 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:51

You know you get all these cheapo card adverts on telly? Smelly Pigeon or something. I'd like to do something similar, but better.

I want to draw a birthday card and then get it printed properly so it looks like I've bought it.

Does such a service exist? Obviously I only want one card, not loads, so I doubt a normal printer could do it cost effectively.

Thanks

Tomsk · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:55

If your printer can print on card stock, buy some and DIY.
If you have a colour laser it may be able to print onto card with foil.

Norbert666 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:56

Tomsk said:
If your printer can print on card stock, buy some and DIY.
If you have a colour laser it may be able to print onto card with foil.

But I want to draw something by hand... Does that still work? (I have a big lazer printer/copier thingy at work but doubt it take's card?)

Sp00n · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:56

If you have a scanner, yes.

Tomsk · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:03

Why not just draw it straight onto the card?
If it's for a girl, you'll score extra man-points!

Norbert666 · 1 Feb 2011 at 12:25

Tomsk said:
Why not just draw it straight onto the card?
If it's for a girl, you'll score extra man-points!

That's what I want to do, but then have it printed so it looks "real" like bought from a shop and not just a piece of card I've scribbled on!

For my wife

(but man points still count!)

Tefal · 1 Feb 2011 at 12:26

iirc there's somone on here who actually makes cards/something similar to the tv ad one.

might be able to track them down?

Norbert666 · 1 Feb 2011 at 12:27

Tefal said:
iirc there's somone on here who actually makes cards/something similar to the tv ad one.

might be able to track them down?

Following a trail of bits a cut cardboard!

Delvis · 1 Feb 2011 at 12:28

Norbert666 said:
That's what I want to do, but then have it printed so it looks "real" like bought from a shop and not just a piece of card I've scribbled on!

For my wife (but man points still count!)

As said, try and print it yourself...

Otherwise use something like this I guess? http://www.zazzle.co.uk/custom/greetingcards

I know Apple do things like this, such as calenders and the like

EDIT: http://www.apple.com/ilife/print-products.html#letterpress-cards - Although you need the software naturally

It's nice how they do it though

Tefal · 1 Feb 2011 at 12:35

Norbert666 said:
Following a trail of bits a cut cardboard!

I was going to recommend the search function /maybe an FAO thread but sure.

MickeyFinns · 1 Feb 2011 at 13:28

240gsm card will go through a standard printer, use some inkjet fixative spray to give it a bit of sheen.

Get your line drawing and either scan it or photograph it with a decent rez camera in good light. Load the photo in a image editor (paint.NET is good and free) and then high contrast the image to make the black lines crisp and the background white.

If the lines are blocky after this then increase the canvas size, stretching the image, then blur it slightly and then high contrast it again to get smoother crisp lines. Fill with any colours in the image editor then print on card

.