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Author Topic: Christmas Cards  (Read 16109 times)
canons900
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« on: December 02, 2009, 08:35:23 PM »

My wife is thinking about having me do our Christmas cards and I have a few questions.

I will be using Red River paper 7*10, (folded to make a 5*7 card), and printing with a Canon IP 6700d. Images will be exported from LR into CS4 using the Red River templates. We will be putting some type of text for holiday wishes on the front and on the inside of the card.

I am reviewing the instructions on the Red River site, but I wanted to get some feedback from others that have used Qimage to do this type of thing.

My first question is, is this going to be difficult feeding the paper back through the printer after I print images or text in the proper sections of the card? Will there be ink issues with bleeding from the previous run through the printer?

In looking at the instructions, how will I need to setup Qimage in order to have the images and the text print in the proper places? I will be reading the instructions on the RR site extensively to make sure I get it right the first time.

Can I simply save the pdf file and create a custom paper size in Q, and print it, saving multiple copies with text in one area? This is where it gets confusing, how do print this baby out?

Any feedback and or help is greatly appreciated. I have included a link to the RR site and their cards for reference.

template link: http://www.redrivercatalog.com/cardshop/help/templates.htm

http://www.redrivercatalog.com/cardshop/tuts1/index.htm

Thanks

Scott

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Terry-M
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« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2009, 09:20:17 PM »

I was involved in a discussion about making cards some time ago, see here for samples:
http://ddisoftware.com/tech/qimage/qimage-challenges/msg1627/#msg1627
and here for a Qimage template
http://ddisoftware.com/tech/qimage/qimage-challenges/msg1648/#msg1648
That should give you clue as how to get the text in the right place, some has to be upside-down. You need to get a piece of paper, sketch on it and fold; you'll soon see what is required.
The example shown makes 2 cards on 1 double sided A4 sheet. It has one image loaded. Blank templates help to align text.

Quote
My first question is, is this going to be difficult feeding the paper back through the printer after I print images or text in the proper sections of the card? Will there be ink issues with bleeding from the previous run through the printer?
Should not be a problem, most printers allow for duplex printing now. Use double sided photo paper, as heavy as possible that will go through your printer.

Qimage does not accept pdf files.

Terry
« Last Edit: December 02, 2009, 09:22:18 PM by Terry-M » Logged
Owen Glendower
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« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2009, 03:52:08 AM »

Terry, earlier today I was thinking about looking up that earlier thread you mention above just so I could say thanks.  I'm making folded notecards, not Christmas cards, but the information you supplied--not to mention the templates--was invaluable.  I'm printing on  "Inkjet Photomatte" pre-scored cardstock from Desktop Publishing Supplies and the results are outstanding.  And once a set is formatted (thanks again for your templates) and saved as a job in Qimage, calling up the job and printing a few more sets is child's play.

I've used Qimage for years, but simply hadn't realized that its capabilities could make jobs like this so simple & easy.
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tonygamble
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« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2009, 08:33:05 AM »

Thanks for reviving this topic.

I tried the idea when it was first raised a few months ago, but faltered in folding the paper.

I had no idea that one could buy pre-scored paper. Even in the UK!

Brits can do their own Google - but for the lazy:-

http://www.consumablemad.co.uk/shop.asp?catid=123&cat='Greetings+Cards'

Tony
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BrianPrice
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« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2009, 09:03:43 AM »

We print our cards on plain card - Mellotex card is the smoothest and takes the printing very well. We score them using a wooden guide, but there are cheaper ones available - see

http://www.diamondcardcraft.co.uk/Shop/EaziScore/tabid/585/Default.aspx

Brian
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mburke
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« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2009, 12:34:31 PM »

Thanks to Terry's patience and help I was able to adjust his templates to 8-1/2 x11 and use double sided Epson matte ($17/100 and they gave m4e another pack free at Office Max) This will make 400 cards @ 4-1/4 x 5-1/2. I made about 50 cards and they came out great. I also made some of my wife's painting and put them on some plain 10x7 cardstock. Made a template (one for each side of the card), ran thru the printer twice and they came out great. I did have to feed one at a time because of the thickness of the card. Just take your time, try out on plain paper and it should work great. The template thing is a great time saver once you work your way thru it.

Mike
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tonygamble
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« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2009, 06:29:51 PM »

Brian,

What weight Mellotex do you use?

I'd never realised that there were devices to aid scoring. That bit of kit you suggest looks good. Presumably the fact that it has its own template system must help. Do you have any suggestions about better versions (before I blow my tenner and regret not having bought something a little better)?

I also never realised that pre-scored card would run through a printer like the Epson 2400.

Tony
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Owen Glendower
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« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2009, 05:03:16 AM »

Quote
Thanks to Terry's patience and help I was able to adjust his templates to 8-1/2 x11 and use double sided Epson matte ($17/100 and they gave m4e another pack free at Office Max) This will make 400 cards @ 4-1/4 x 5-1/2.

That's a great price on the paper.  I'm making the same size cards, but the single pre-scored cards I'm printing on are much more expensive...$8.95 for 50.  I'm happy with the print quality, but you're getting material for 200 cards for $17.

I tried printing on 8½x11, then cutting & folding, but got frustrated with the difficulty of doing it quickly & accurately.  Any tips/advice you could share?
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BrianPrice
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« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2009, 11:18:57 AM »

Quote
What weight Mellotex do you use?

I'd never realised that there were devices to aid scoring. That bit of kit you suggest looks good. Presumably the fact that it has its own template system must help. Do you have any suggestions about better versions (before I blow my tenner and regret not having bought something a little better)?

Tony

I use 200gsm or 250gsm - Epson or Canon printers will handle them easily, although Canon printers seem to do better quality at the plain paper setting. It's difficult to get hold of Mellotex in small quantities, but if you are friendly with a local printer they should have off-cuts you can use. If you contact paper sellers they will always say they have an equivalent, but its never as good. I did come across this which looks interesting, I haven't tried it, but you can buy small quantities:
http://www.papercard.co.uk/a4_advocate_xtreme_smooth_white_card_250gsm?category_id=222
The scoring templates are so simple that I can't see a problem with cheap ones. If you want to see one before you buy it they are stocked in most crafting shops.

Brian
« Last Edit: December 04, 2009, 11:20:55 AM by BrianPrice » Logged
Dierk
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« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2009, 09:40:48 AM »

Two things, one practical, one hint.

a) Print the text first, the image later to avoid damage to it.
b) Did you consider making a folding card with the image on page 1 and the text on a separate piece of tracing paper, which can be printed via a laser printer?
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Dierk

D2x, D200, IDimager, Nikon Capture NX2, QImage Studio, Mission Cyrus
tonygamble
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« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2009, 11:29:03 AM »

Dierk,

How would you fix the tracing paper to the outer card?

Tony
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Owen Glendower
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« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2009, 03:12:05 AM »

Just a quick add about Christmas-card print media...

In addition to the cardstock from Desktop Publishing Supplies I mention above, I recently printed some cards on matte (but coated) greeting-card stock from Avery.  Great results, but retail at the local Staples is nearly $24 for 60 cards & envelopes.
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