So you have just downloaded a PaperCrane
printable and can’t wait to use it! But where do you start? Here we have put together 5 hot tips for your
DIY printing to ensure you get the best result, and to show you just how easily
you can create your own stationery.
Choosing the paper stock you would like to print onto
plays a vital role in the overall look and feel of your stationery. The colour, weight, and texture of the paper or card you choose are all important factors to consider, and here we
will tell you why:
- Colour: The colour of the card or paper
you print on will affect the appearance of the ink on your stationery. Print
colours may appear slightly darker on coloured stocks, and light colours
printed onto a dark paper may disappear entirely. For this reason, we choose to print on a bright white card for colours that pop, or a cream if we
want a slightly softer look…(but it is always fun to experiment with colour too)
- Weight: For stationery and postcards that will be a single flat card we recommend using a card stock that is 200-280gsm for a nice solid feel (we use 280gsm). Keep in mind that each printer has different requirements and may only accept certain thicknesses of paper, some will not feed any thicker than 300gsm, and some may crumple trace papers as they feed through the printer. (80lb = 216gsm in American conversion)
- Texture: Textured vs Smooth finishes affect not only the feel of the stationery, it also plays a role in the print quality. Here at PaperCrane we love linen textured card (Royal Linen, Bazzill Basics, and White Knight are favourites) as they have a feeling of quality and style and print beautifully on home inkjet printers. Smooth card or paper may be chosen for a more contemporary appearance, or to use with a laser printer (some lasers get cranky and print unevenly on textured stocks)
Which leads us onto our next hot tip…
It's always a good idea to do a test print first to check both your layout, and your print quality...(the ye old "measure twice, cut once" rule). Print one copy onto plain paper first to test the layout, and one copy onto your chosen stock to test the print quality before sending multiple copies to print.
If you are unsure of how your laser printer will print trace or translucent paper, or how your inkjet will print on textured card, test one sheet first before sending multiple pages to print.
This is where you can get creative! After completing your test print, you will know which way your paper feeds through your printer and can setup text to add your own invitation wording, your name and address for personal stationery, or words like “with thanks” or “congratulations” for special occasion notecards...the options really are endless, and the beauty of our printables is you only pay one small fee, to print as many custom cards as you like!
To ensure each card prints the same it's a good idea to first print your A4 PDF (which will have 4 notecards on it), and cut them to their A6 size...it is then that you can setup your own file in illustrator, photoshop, word, paint...measure up your card, add your own wording and test print on a blank A6 piece of paper before printing onto your own notecards. Voila! Your own gorgeous stationery, or custom made gift is ready to use.
Finish off your beautiful stationery set or invitations with coloured or textured envelopes for that extra special touch. C6 envelopes come in such a wide range of colours (and even in metallic or translucent paper) so this is one final touch that will really make your stationery something memorable to receive. It is so lovely to check the mailbox and find that amongst the bills and junk mail hides a beautiful pop of colour!
We always love to hear feedback and are more than happy to help with advice. So contact us via our contact page or jump onto our facebook page where you can tag us or post your PaperCrane creations (i.e. brag about how clever you are)...we cannot wait to see what you have made!
