Help in Creating Templates or Files for Printing Invitations

G

Guest

I ordered some blank invitations for my son's birthday party. I thought
they'd come with instructions or a template regarding printing them from my
home computer. Can anyone help me? How do I set up Word to the size of the
invitations so I can print them at home? I'd rather not have to pay Kinko's
to do these
 
G

Guest

B

Beth Melton

Download one for Word you want to use and add your text and/or replace
their images/text with your own.

Although I'd imagine most of them are intended to be used for folded 8
1/2 x 11 paper so if you have invitation cards, those that are already
the correct size, then you may just want to create your own template.
It would be helpful to know if there is a graphic already on the
invitations you purchased or if you need to add one, or whether the
inside is blank or has lines you need to place text on, etc.

As a start, change the paper size to the unfolded size of the
invitation. If all you need to do is add the inside portion then add a
text box on the lower half of the paper and add your text.

If you've never done this before then it will be a matter of trial and
error so you should cut some paper to the same size as the invitations
and use those for test print outs.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
G

Guest

Thanks...let me just make sure I understand...

I should download one of these templates and then change the paper size?

My paper is 7x5 and does have graphics on it already. I just need to add
text inside the graphics.
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

No, Beth said you should create your own template. That's what she's giving
you instructions for.
 
B

Beth Melton

The additional details you provided in this post is *very* helpful
information. Now we know you have a document, you've modified the page
margins, you have some graphics, and what you really want to do is add
some text to the graphics. In this case you don't need a template -
you actually already have one. :)

I think part of this thread became a little confused because the term
'template' in this context has more than one meaning. A Word Template
is a file you use to base new documents on such as a letterhead
template. But I think you are using the term template to mean a
document that contains placeholders for text/graphics.

In a sense both mean the same thing. If you plan on reusing the
document for other invitations and want the ability to create new
documents based on your template then as Daiya noted, go to File/Save
As and save the document as a Word Template file type. You wouldn't
want to save text and graphics that only applies to the invitation you
are creating - just the overall layout such as the paper size, text
boxes, etc. Then to create a new document based on the template go to
File/New and create your new document.

If you don't plan on reusing the document then just save it as a
regular document - you'll still have the layout you need.

If all you need to do is add some text over your graphics then:
- If using Word 2003 go to Tools/Options/General and turn OFF
"Automatically create drawing canvas..."
- Go to View/Toolbars/Drawing to turn on your Drawing toolbar
- On the Drawing toolbar click the Text Box tool
- Draw a text box

While the text box is still selected, prior to adding text
- On the Drawing toolbar open the Fill Color palette and select "No
Fill" at the top
- On the Drawing toolbar open the Line Color palette and select "No
Line" at the top
- Add your text
- Place your mouse on the edge of the text box and drag it into
position

If you have more than one text box to create then right-click the text
box and select "Set AutoShape Defaults" so you don't have to change
the Fill Color and Line Color each time in the document.

Should you get stuck again let us know. :)

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

Whoops, yes, sorry for confusing the issue with Word's technical definition
of template.
 

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