Good Greeting Card software options? Paper options?

[markm75]

I'm seeking a good greeting card maker tool.. something that would
allow for quarter fold or half fold.. also photo type half folds
(front = photo, inside = mostly text or banners etc)...

Currently i have Print Shop21.. and MS publisher 2007.. PS21 works out
ok, but the graphics are kinda cheesy and cartoonish.. MS Publisher
gets a little better..

Any other good options out there?

Then there is the cost per page, not counting ink..

I believe for a semi-glossy/glossy type print for photo half cards..
the cheapest option is:

Avery 3269 Glossy, 15 cards with envelopes:
http://www.google.com/products?q=av...=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ&um=1

This amounts to about 0.88 cents per card.

I like having the semi-gloss or glossy look to photo style cards (i'm
not sure if satin may be cheaper, or have the same look, i cant recall
what satin feels like, sounds silly but true)...

Has anyone found a cheaper per card cost material for semi-gloss or
glossy style photo half fold style cards?

Any thoughts on the good program to do it all?

(I also use EzCalendar maker for calendars, but there are some
features lacking here as well).

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

Avery 3269 Glossy, 15 cards with envelopes:
http://www.google.com/products?q=av...=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ&um=1

This amounts to about 0.88 cents per card.

Just another case of ripping off the rubes for consumables. Perhaps what
we should do is to make our own paper or form a printer consumables
cooperative.

Richard

 

[Taliesyn]

I'm seeking a good greeting card maker tool.. something that would
allow for quarter fold or half fold.. also photo type half folds
(front = photo, inside = mostly text or banners etc)...

Currently i have Print Shop21.. and MS publisher 2007.. PS21 works out
ok, but the graphics are kinda cheesy and cartoonish.. MS Publisher
gets a little better..

Any other good options out there?

Then there is the cost per page, not counting ink..

I believe for a semi-glossy/glossy type print for photo half cards..
the cheapest option is:

Avery 3269 Glossy, 15 cards with envelopes:
http://www.google.com/products?q=av...=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ&um=1

This amounts to about 0.88 cents per card.

I like having the semi-gloss or glossy look to photo style cards (i'm
not sure if satin may be cheaper, or have the same look, i cant recall
what satin feels like, sounds silly but true)...

Has anyone found a cheaper per card cost material for semi-gloss or
glossy style photo half fold style cards?

This year I used glossy dollar store paper (8.5" x 11"). I get 10 sheets
for $1.00 + tax = 14 cents a sheet (card). Card size when printed,
folded and trimmed was about 5.5" x 5.5", for which I made my own
custom envelopes. I also refill my own cartridges for about a dollar a
cartridge. So a wild guess as to my cost per card was about 20 cents
(including the ink). Postage not included!

The paper I normally used for cards was Epson Glossy Photo. It's
primarily designed for photos. But I find photos don't look like
traditional photos with this paper so instead I use it for booklet
covers, greeting cards and CD/DVD liners. Absolutely perfect for this
kind of use.

Any thoughts on the good program to do it all?

I have used Serif PagePlus exclusively for the last 15 years. PagePlus
is on a par with any top-of-the-line desktop publishing software.
There's nothing it can't do. But it all comes down to how talented you
are and your knowledge of what the software can do. I have never used
their greeting card, CD/DVD printing templates templates, preferring
instead to design all my own templates.

-Taliesyn

 

[measekite]

This year I used glossy dollar store paper (8.5" x 11"). I get 10 sheets
for $1.00 + tax = 14 cents a sheet (card). Card size when printed,
folded and trimmed was about 5.5" x 5.5", for which I made my own
custom envelopes. I also refill my own cartridges

I went for quality and use Canon and HP ink.

 

[measekite]

This year I used glossy dollar store paper (8.5" x 11"). I get 10 sheets
for $1.00 + tax = 14 cents a sheet (card). Card size when printed,
folded and trimmed was about 5.5" x 5.5", for which I made my own
custom envelopes. I also refill my own cartridges for about a dollar a
cartridge. So a wild guess as to my cost per card was about 20 cents
(including the ink). Postage not included!

You think that's good paper. It's not. Only use expensive paper made for
your printer. This cheap paper will damage your printer. Your print
heads will stick to the paper and shred. God has ordained that all
printer users must suffer while they pay the multi-million dollar salary
and buy the stock options for the printer makers' CEOs. Your nose will
dissolve in water.

 

[Burt]

You think that's good paper. It's not. Only use expensive paper made for
your printer. This cheap paper will damage your printer. Your print heads
will stick to the paper and shred. God has ordained that all printer users
must suffer while they pay the multi-million dollar salary and buy the
stock options for the printer makers' CEOs. Your nose will dissolve in
water.

The first post from Measekite that has made any sense. Is he back on his
meds?????

 

[Burt]

This year I used glossy dollar store paper (8.5" x 11"). I get 10 sheets
for $1.00 + tax = 14 cents a sheet (card). Card size when printed, folded
and trimmed was about 5.5" x 5.5", for which I made my own
custom envelopes. I also refill my own cartridges for about a dollar a
cartridge. So a wild guess as to my cost per card was about 20 cents
(including the ink). Postage not included!

The paper I normally used for cards was Epson Glossy Photo. It's primarily
designed for photos. But I find photos don't look like
traditional photos with this paper so instead I use it for booklet
covers, greeting cards and CD/DVD liners. Absolutely perfect for this
kind of use.


I have used Serif PagePlus exclusively for the last 15 years. PagePlus
is on a par with any top-of-the-line desktop publishing software. There's
nothing it can't do. But it all comes down to how talented you
are and your knowledge of what the software can do. I have never used
their greeting card, CD/DVD printing templates templates, preferring
instead to design all my own templates.

-Taliesyn

Photoshop Elements and Staples photo supreme double side matte paper.
Coated especially for inkjet printing, a good weight and feel, and prints
decent photo images. It is frequently on sale as a two for one purchase.
In addition, it sometimes goes on sale for $2 US per package. That is when
I stock up.

If you want glossy or semigloss papers the only one I've used that can be
printed on both sides is the paper that Taliesyn mentioned - Epson glossy
photo paper. The back side is not glossy but it accepts inkjet ink
printing. The back does have a faint repeating Epson logo, but it is hardly
noticeable. Other glossy papers I have used have a coated back that doen't
accept inkjet printing.

 

[Michael Johnson]

The first post from Measekite that has made any sense. Is he back on his
meds?????

It may not be him. This post wasn't kill filed for me so either he
changed his posting name or someone is imitating him.

 

[measekite]

It may not be him. This post wasn't kill filed for me so either he
changed his posting name or someone is imitating him.

 

[markm75]

Has anyone used Hallmark 2008 Studio.. i was considering something
like this.. at least so the wife can more easily do this instead of
putting me to work

I had a new issue with my printer last night (Canon MP380).. it seems
to be "smudging" on photo prints..actually, when printing postage and
envelopes.. it leaves a black streak of a mess at the start of the
envelope...

I'm guessing i have dirty roller or something similar?

 

[Taliesyn]

The first post from Measekite that has made any sense.

Only if one believes printheads - which never actually make contact with
paper - will stick to the paper and shred. Obviously he's just a kid
whose mom told him to go bother some people on the computer.

-Taliesyn

 

[Taliesyn]

Photoshop Elements and Staples photo supreme double side matte paper.
Coated especially for inkjet printing, a good weight and feel, and prints
decent photo images. It is frequently on sale as a two for one purchase.
In addition, it sometimes goes on sale for $2 US per package. That is when
I stock up.

If you want glossy or semigloss papers the only one I've used that can be
printed on both sides is the paper that Taliesyn mentioned - Epson glossy
photo paper. The back side is not glossy but it accepts inkjet ink
printing. The back does have a faint repeating Epson logo, but it is hardly
noticeable. Other glossy papers I have used have a coated back that doen't
accept inkjet printing.

Except that I never print on the back of the Epson Glossy Paper. I
prefer to print a "lovely" insert sheet that I staple through the
folded spine with the Epson Paper.

-Taliesyn

 

[Burt]

It may not be him. This post wasn't kill filed for me so either he
changed his posting name or someone is imitating him.

It is absolutely a different posting origin - either someone spoofing him
(rather well and pretty funny) or it is old moosetripe himself playing a
joke on the rest of us --- but I don't think he is that creative.

 

[Burt]

Except that I never print on the back of the Epson Glossy Paper. I prefer
to print a "lovely" insert sheet that I staple through the
folded spine with the Epson Paper.

-Taliesyn

Taliesyn - Prior to going to my computer today I happened to look at some
cards I had made for my wife for her past birthdays. Although I now use the
double sided matte paper I mentioned above, I did have one that I did on the
Epson glossy paper with printing inside the card on the back side of the
glossy paper. The logos are very faint and hardly noticeable when you have
photos, graphic images, and/or text printed over them. I remember that you
and I had this discussion about three years ago!

 

[Jim Ford]

It is absolutely a different posting origin - either someone spoofing him
(rather well and pretty funny) or it is old moosetripe himself playing a
joke on the rest of us --- but I don't think he is that creative.

No, it couldn't have been mouseshite. It was a far too well constructed
and coherent posting - totally unlike his deranged and disjointed ramblings.

Jim Ford

 

[measekite]

No, it couldn't have been mouseshite. It was a far too well constructed
and coherent posting - totally unlike his deranged and disjointed
ramblings.

Jim Ford

I said your nose would fall off and it has. How does it feel to have no
nose? If you'd followed my advise, you would still have your nose and
good paper.

 

[Frank]

Pay no attention to him. He is short of brains.

 

[Frank]

I said your nose would fall off and it has. How does it feel to have no
nose? If you'd followed my advise, you would still have your nose and
good paper.

why does anybody put up with this graffiti practitioner? hes stupid. if
you read him your nuts

 

[Taliesyn]

Taliesyn - Prior to going to my computer today I happened to look at some
cards I had made for my wife for her past birthdays. Although I now use the
double sided matte paper I mentioned above, I did have one that I did on the
Epson glossy paper with printing inside the card on the back side of the
glossy paper. The logos are very faint and hardly noticeable when you have
photos, graphic images, and/or text printed over them. I remember that you
and I had this discussion about three years ago!

Yes, I remember, Burt. But since I've always inserted a page inside
my cards, my cards would suddenly look "empty". With this extra page
stapled at the spine my recipients think they're getting a more
"expensive" card. Try it once and see what you think. Yes, it's a little
more work, but I find it makes the card more complete. And since our
ink costs nothing, it's just a time concern.

-Taliesyn