First, you\u2019ll want to decide whether you want a photo holiday card or graphic based holiday card.\u00a0 <\/em>Both are great options and with so many free card templates available, you don\u2019t need to be an expert in Adobe\u00ae<\/sup> Photoshop\u00ae <\/sup>to create a memorable card.\u00a0 Photo holiday cards are by far the most common type of holiday card, it\u2019s always nice to receive an updated photo from an out of state friend or family member each year! Graphic based cards are far easier to send out (no annual holiday photo shoot!) and just as cherished, especially if you include a personal message in each card.<\/p>\r\n Microsoft Templates<\/a><\/p>\r\n Microsoft\u00ae<\/sup> offers dozens of card templates for holidays, birthdays, invitations and special occasions.\u00a0 Some of the designs can look a little dated but they are easy to use if you are comfortable with Microsoft Word.\u00a0 Just add a fun font and a photo and you are on your way.<\/p>\r\n HP Photo Creations<\/a><\/p>\r\n HP\u00ae<\/sup> Photo Creations is free for all to download, even if you don\u2019t own an HP printer!\u00a0 All of the holidays covered and if you\u2019re feeling creative, you can design your own card with the help of HP\u2019s design ideas. You can also adjust the card size, change the layout and choose between flat and folded cards.\u00a0 Designs are on par with the card template options you\u2019ll find at your drugstore photo kiosk, and best of all, you can skip the trip to the drugstore.<\/p>\r\n Brother Creative Center<\/a><\/p>\r\n The Brother\u00ae<\/sup> Creative Center has a variety ready to print and customizable card templates for every occasion and they provide instructions on how to download, edit and print each design.\u00a0 Some great free printable holiday party kits are also available for download, including place cards, napkin rings, and table decorations\u2026perfect for adding a dash of festive flair to your next holiday party.<\/p>\r\n Adobe Express<\/a><\/p>\r\n With Adobe\u00ae<\/sup> Express, you don’t need to be a graphic designer to make a great looking card.\u00a0 \u00a0Adobe provides everything you need to create your card in minutes with a selection of pre-made templates and tons of fonts and images you can use to make your card design truly unique.<\/p>\r\n How many cards will I be printing?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n If you have dozens of family and friends on your send list, printing costs can add up fast.\u00a0 Consumers with high volume printing needs should pay attention to the page yield<\/em> and price<\/em> of the printer cartridges that go with your prospective printer to keep costs down.<\/p>\r\n Page yield<\/strong><\/a> is the approximate number of pages you can print with one cartridge.\u00a0 The yield that is quoted on the box should be considered a rough estimate as many different factors can affect the actual number of prints you get from a cartridge. In order to hold printer manufacturers accountable to the same standards, every cartridge is subjected to page yield testing based on ISO\/IEC 24711 specifications. This test helps determine what the page yield of an ink cartridge will be, giving customers a reliable way to compare competing products. The manufacturer\u2019s cited page yield for ink cartridges is given at 5% coverage, which means that the quoted page yield is based upon printed pages where only 5% of the page has been imprinted with ink.<\/p>\r\n Most cartridges are sold in a standard yield and high yield size.\u00a0 High yield, or XL cartridges are filled with more ink and are a better value for consumers with frequent printing needs, but they tend be more expensive if you buy the original brand.\u00a0 The yield and price varies significantly across printer cartridges and depending on the printer, can really make or break your printing budget. To make a smart buy, you need to consider the cost per page of each cartridge. Determining the cost per page is relatively easy; just divide the printer\u2019s page yield by the cost of the ink cartridge.\u00a0 An original HP 952XL black cartridge, for example, prints 2,000 pages and sells for $46.99, giving you a cost of 2.3 cents per page. High quality compatible cartridges are cost effective alternative and perform just as well at a far cheaper cost per page.\u00a0 An LD brand compatible HP 952XL high yield cartridge also prints 2,000 pages for just $13.99, giving you a cost per page of .69 cents.\u00a0 LD Products offers thousands of affordably priced compatible cartridges for almost every printer model.<\/p>\r\n What paper should I use?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Before you buy a particular paper type in bulk, check to make sure that the paper size is compatible with your printer model.\u00a0 Most printers can handle standard 4\u201dx 6\u201d and 5\u201dx 7\u201d photo sizes, but it\u2019s never a sure bet!\u00a0 Consider buying a smaller sample pack size to test print quality and printer compatibility.\u00a0 Results can vary depending on your printer model and its capabilities, so it\u2019s best to do a couple of test runs before making a major investment. Holiday photo cards are typically printed on a glossy photo paper but other paper types are available, it\u2019s all up to preference.\u00a0 Matte paper offers a smooth look with very little glare, making it a good choice for cards with a lot of text or graphics.\u00a0 Every printer manufacturer sell their own paper for their printers, but don\u2019t feel obligated to buy name brand paper.\u00a0 We\u2019ve included a few solid paper options below:<\/p>\r\n LD Products\u00ae <\/sup><\/strong>Glossy Photo Paper, 4\u201d x 6″ \/ 20 sheets – $3.99*<\/a><\/p>\r\n LD Products\u00ae<\/sup> Heavy Coated Matte Photo Paper, 8.5\u201d x 11\u201d \/ 100 sheets – $9.99<\/a><\/p>\r\n Do I need to print on envelopes too?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Don\u2019t forget the envelopes!\u00a0 Check the printer specifications on the printer manufacturer\u2019s website to confirm whether your printer is capable of printing directly on an envelope.\u00a0 If configuring your printer\u2019s envelope settings gets frustrating, it may be easier print addresses on a set of blank labels.\u00a0 Avery\u00ae<\/sup> has some great holiday themed label templates<\/a> available online.\u00a0 Just create a free account, search for your label product number and browse their library of designs.<\/p>\r\n Which printer should I buy?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Searching for a new printer can be overwhelming.\u00a0 To help, we\u2019ve selected a few highly rated printer models that are sure to give your holiday cards a sharp, professional look!<\/p>\r\n Canon<\/strong>\u00ae<\/sup> PIXMA<\/strong>\u00ae <\/sup><\/a>TR8620 <\/span>– Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n If you are looking for a versatile, compact printer that can handle a range of print jobs, the Canon PIXMA TR8620<\/a> is a smart choice.\u00a0 Six individual ink cartridges offer vibrant color prints and a built-in memory card slot lets you access photos straight from your camera.\u00a0 The printer is compatible with a variety of paper types, including glossy, semi-gloss and matte photo paper.\u00a0 Wondering which paper is best for spreading holiday cheer? Canon\u2019s matte photo paper has a heavyweight texture that is similar to card stock, giving your cards a smooth and sophisticated appearance.\u00a0 Ink cartridges are offered in a standard yield and high yield cartridge size.\u00a0 An original Canon PGI-280 XXL cartridge black cartridge prints 600 pages for $34.99 and each CL-281 XL color cartridge prints approximately 500 pages for $28.09. Cut down printing costs when you purchase LD brand compatible PGI-280XXL<\/a> and CLI-281XXL cartridges<\/a>.\u00a0 At just $9.99<\/a> for the black cartridge and $9.99<\/a> for each color cartridge, you can save up to 70%!<\/p>\r\n Key Features:<\/em><\/p>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/ld_banr_txt_photography_2019_728x90_v2.jpg\")
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