Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Ok, here's what I'd like to do.  I'm printing a number of images on a sheet of A3+, when these are cut out they are going to be mounted in a cut out window in a card that folds in half to A5 size.  My theory is that this will make a nice, quality postcard or something that can be immediately framed if required.  It would be really handy if I could just print out the image frame onto said card to give me a guideline to cut out the window to take the little print.  I'm using my shiny new copy of QImage to print on to the A3 sheet and also as a guideline to help me position the print 'nicely' on the A5 card.  So many measurements though, I've got quite a few of these to produce and a printed image guideline would save me a lot of time not to mention cash for the swear box !

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum.
I would think you need to use a graphic/drawing program to do this. To it in Qimage an image is required, you could make one in a graphic/drawing program but then you might as well print from there.
Terry

Maybe something like this where Qimage prints the picture with or inside of the frame; ready to go?
See screen snaps.
Fred

Sounds to me like he wants to sell the card/postcard with the frame, but a cut out so people can insert their own pic.  Or, a print in a cutout, thereby making a pseudo-mat.

In any case, Terry is correct about a graphics program and print it there.  BTW--there are tons of plugins for PS Elements, Lightroom, etc.

I didn't see SELL anywhere.
Of course, Terry is correct. I would do what he wants, (and have done) in Coreldraw.
On the other hand, if a person is making 50 cards and has 5 different images to insert, he could do it with printing with the frame and adding text.

Fred

Actually Seth I'd much rather people kept my picture and threw the card away . ;)
What I figured out in the end was to make a duplicate of the image in Photoshop and fill it with solid white. Then in QImage I print this with a black border and voila - a cut out line on my greetings card.  I created a Photoshop action to create the duplicate and save it and the whole process sort of works - not what you'd describe as a workflow by any means though.
The whole idea is pretty much a non starter though as the greetings card blanks I bought are quite flimsy (about half the weight of the paper the image is going to be printed on), so by the time you cut a window in the card, carefully tape the image to the back so it lines up with the window ... it actually looks like a really floppy piece of crap  >:( I wouldn't buy one !
Back to spray mount I guess (unless anybody has any better ideas for sticking an image to a piece of card).  The 'concept' was to provide something cheap and cheerful at an upcoming exhibition as an alternative to the more expensive framed work, I suppose I could (try to) sell mounted A5's beautifully presented in cellophane bags ....
Either way back to the drawing board.
Thanks for the quick responses though.  Must admit I'm happy with QImage so far, placing multiple images on a sheet is a breeze, trying to do the same in Photoshop was a nightmare so the cost is justified already for me.  Havn't tried a large print yet but I've got a couple to do for said exhibition - I'm waiting to be impressed.

Cheers
Paul

paulca-
Now that I see your need/use an idea kicked in.  Look to those "rubber stampers"  (NO, FRED, don't go there!) and scrapbookers.  They normally put the picture or paper on TOP of the larger card.  I have seen some done behind.

If you are doing a lot, get a 3M ATG gun and double stick transfer.  Totally acid free, archival, used in conservation.  Small batches get those adhesive dots in a plastic applicator.
Both these systems have permanent and removeable versions.

Try Red River paper for printable cards.  Not cheaper than the cheapy store bought but better quality.

For future reference, you could have done this in Qimage (sorry I did not say this before) using the Print to File Feature. Make the page size the same proportions (not essential) as the aperture in the PTF dialogue, choose a suitable resolution and print to file. You'll finish with a plain white (or whatever paper colour selected) image that you can use with a border, the size/crop set in Qimage, similar to what you described.

That's what everybody discovers when they buy Qimage. I just hope you are getting good value for $$$$ with PS too  ;D [couldn't resist saying that  ;) ]

Regarding a drawing program, you can have Open Office for free and use OO Draw. You can export a drawing or selection as an image file if required.

Terry

And, promoting more Qimage features, make a template so it's simple to do next time.
I've printed cards with something on every section using a template that produces a back & front on one sheet; duplex print 2 sheets to make 2 cards ... nice!
Terry.

Actually, to give credit where credit is due.... The frames used in my post #2 above, were made by Terry.
Just thought you should know.

Fred

3M ATG gun and double stick transfer huh ?  Have to look in to that one especially if it's archival so big thanks for pointing that out.

Paul

Maybe pricier than DIY options, but another way to create "framed cards" using your photos is here -
http://www.photographersedge.com/

No glue gun, double sided tape, etc. needed - just $$$

Ed