Instructions and Templates

Please select your product

• QuarkXPress
• Illustrator
• InDesign
• PageMaker
• Publisher
• Photoshop

QuarkXPress

1. Click on file in the top bar, scroll to new, and click on project. In the box that appears name your document with the name of your image. Under the heading of page click the size tab and choose custom. In the width box type 3.75 in the height box type 2.25. If you would rather that the card were vertical click on the vertical button next to the label orientation. Under margin guides type in 0.125 in all fields to make sure that you have an eighth of an inch of room for the cut off. Under column guides make sure that the number of columns is 1 and that the gutter width is 0.1 Click on OK.
2. On the toolbar on the left click on the rectangle picture box tool, if you hold down the button a menu will appear that will let you choose the shape of the box. Use this tool to draw out a shape that is about the size of the image you want to use. You can reset this size later if you need to. Click on file in the top bar, scroll down to get picture and click on it. From the window that pops up browse to find the file you want to insert. Quark will accept tiff files, eps files, jpgs, and pdf files. tiff and eps files work the best though.
3. Once the picture is inserted use the content tool from the tools palette to move the picture around inside the box. To shrink the image to fit all of it inside the box click on item in the top bar, scroll down to modify and click on it. In the box that appears click on the heading picture in the top bar. To keep the image from getting stretched whatever percentage you enter in the box labeled scale across you should also enter in the box labeled scale down. You can make your image larger by upping the percentage as well if you need to. Click on the apply button to see the change in the picture box. When you are done editing the size of the image click OK.
4. The image that you insert should already be at the least 300 dpi so you shouldn't need to check it in quark. If the image is smaller or larger than the picture box on the page you can adjust the box by clicking on one of the little boxes around the border and dragging them to the size you need.
5. Click on file in the top bar, scroll down to save as and then click on it. In the box that appears put your last name in the box labeled save as, specify where you would like the document to be saved to, and then hit save.
6. Quark files can not be uploaded to this website, so the file will need to be turned into a pdf. To do this click on file and scroll to export, from the menu that pops out choose layout as pdf. Double check your file name, specify where you want it saved to, and make sure the pages box is set to all. Click on the options button. In the window that pops up click on the heading job options. Make sure all the resolutions are 300 dpi and not the default 72. To change this you will have to move the resolution tab to downsample, then type in the resolution you want, and then move it back to keep resolution.
7. In the same box click on the heading output, and make sure that the type is composite and the print colors are CMYK. Click on OK. Then in the remaining window click on save.
8. Upload your image to the website and choose your text template.

Illustrator

Download

• PDF Template
• EPS Template
• AIT Template

Instructions

1. Click on File and scroll down to new, click on it. Set up the document size to 3.75" x 2.25" then click on either portrait or landscape so that the card is set up the way you want it.
2. Click on View in the top bar and scroll down to show rulers and click on it. Set up the area to be cut off so that there are no awkward white edges. To do this you can drag a guideline from the rulers on the top and bottom of the document. Drag these lines until you have one on each side of the document that is an eighth of an inch from each edge.
3. Make sure the document is set up for cmyk color. Click on file and scroll down to document color mode. From the menu that pops out click on cmyk if it's not already checked.
4. Place your image on a new layer not on the background layer that already exists. To do this click on the create new layer button on the layers palette. If this palette isn't already displayed, then click on window in the top bar and make sure the layers option is checked. Place, drag, or paste your image on to the new layer. If you are using a photo be careful to not stretch it too wide. If the image looks dotty on the screen then it will look like that when the cards are printed out. You should either choose a new image or a version of your image with a higher resolution. If your image is a vector image you should be able to stretch it to be as big as you want it.
5. When your image is placed successfully on the document, making sure that part of it is hanging over the guidelines you created in step 2 so that there are no white borders where you do not want them, you should drag all other layers besides the one your image is on to the small trash icon on the bottom right of the layers palette. This includes the background layer. If you have images on more than one layer delete all layers but those. Click on select in the top bar and click all. Then click on object in the top bar and scroll down to group and click on it. Then get rid of the empty layers.
6. Then click on File in the top bar and scroll down to save as and click on it. Title your document with the name of your image and your last name. Click on the where tab to designate where you would like to save your file. Then click on format and select Adobe Pdf. Click on Save. In the window that pops up click on save.
7. Go to the website and upload your image, and choose your text template.

InDesign

Download

• Template

Instructions

1. Click on InDesign in the top bar, scroll to preferences, and then click on units and increments from the smaller menu. Under the heading Ruler units make sure that both the horizontal and vertical options are set to inches. Click on OK.
2. Click on file in the top bar and scroll to new, from the menu that pops out click on document. Under the heading page size set the tab to custom. In the width box type in 3.75, and in the height box type in 2.25. If you would like the card to be vertical then just hit the vertical button next to the label orientation. Under the heading columns make sure that the number of columns is 1 and that the gutter is 0.1667 Under the heading margins change all the fields to 0.125 to leave an eighth of an inch as a cut off area. Click on OK.
3. On the tools palette click on the rectangular frame tool. Draw out a box that is about the same size as the image you would like to use, and using the selection tool (the black arrow) move it to the position you would like the image be in on the page.
4. Click on the direct selection tool in the tools palette (the white arrow) and click on the box that is now on the page. Click on file in the top bar and scroll down to place, click on it. Browse through your files to find the one you want. Tiff files and eps files work the best. Once your image is selected you can resize your image by clicking on it with the direct selection tool. When the box around it is highlighted in orange click on one of the corners and drag it to the size you want while holding down the shift key to prevent the image from only stretching one way. By clicking on the box with the black arrow the original box will be highlighted in blue. You should make sure that this box is the actual size you want and fit the picture to it.
5. Click on file in the top bar and scroll down to save as, click on it. In the box that appears type your last the name of your image and your last name. Specify where you would like your file to be saved, and under format leave it as an InDesign document. Click on save.
6. We are not able to accept InDesign files directly, so click on file in the top bar and scroll down to export and click on it. Check the file name, specify where you want to save the export, and make sure that format says adobe pdf. Click on save. In the next window that pops up under the topic of general make sure that the preset says custom. Under the heading of pages the all option should be selected. Under the topic of compression all of the color options should have a pixels per inch of 300 in the top of both boxes at the least. Under the topic of advanced the color should be CMYK. Everything else should be fine the way it is, click on export.
7. Upload the pdf file to the website and choose your text template.

PageMaker

Download

• Template

Instructions

1. Click on file in the top bar and scroll down to new. Click on it. In the window that appears click on the tab for page size and select custom. In the boxes for dimensions type 2.25 in the first one and 3.75 in the next. If you want the card to be vertical click on tall next to the label orientation and that will switch the measurements for you. Change all the measurements under the margins heading to 0.125 to leave an eighth of an inch all around as a cut off area. The target output resolution should say 300 dpi. Compose to printer should say display / none. Click OK.
2. Click on the rectangular tool with the x through the middle of it and use it to draw a box about the same size as the image you would like to use. In the bar of icons under the top bar click on the place button and select the image file you would like to use. Click on open, and in the window that appears make sure that content area is chosen, that the resolution is 300 dpi, and that the composite printing option is chosen. Click on OK.
3. To readjust the image size within your original picture box click on element in the top menu, scroll down to frame, and from the small menu that pops up click on separate content. Then clicking on one of the top corners and holding down the shift key make your image smaller or larger.
4. Click on file in the top bar, scroll down to save as and click on it. In the window that appears specify where you would like your file to be saved. Name it using the name of your image and your last name. Under format make sure that the publication option is chosen. Under the heading of copy make sure that "no additional files" is selected as well. Click on save.
5. The publication option can not be uploaded to the website. So, click on file in the top bar, scroll down to export, and from that menu choose adobe pdf. Click OK when the small window with the warning pops up.
6. In the next window that pops up make sure that the label "job name" has the high quality option chosen. Also make sure that under the pages heading the "all pages in current publication" option is chosen. The other tabs should be fine and shouldn't need to be adjusted. Click on export. When the printer style warnings comes up just click continue. In the next window check the file name and make sure the save as type says pdf. Click on save.
7. Upload the pdf file to the website and choose your text template.

Publisher

Download

• Template

Instructions

1. Click on file in the top menu, scroll down to new and click on it. Then click on file, scroll down to page set up and click on that. In the window that appears under the layout tab, under publication type click on custom. For width type in 7.5 and for height type in 4.5. This is bigger than the actual card, but when it is saved as a jpeg it will shrink down to the correct resolution size. If you would rather have a vertical card simply click on the portrait option under the heading orientation. Click on OK. You may also just download our template from the website.
2. The margins for the cut off area will need to be re-adjusted. To do this click on arrange in the top menu, scroll down to layout guides and click on it. In all the fields under the heading margin guides type in 0.25 to give a quarter inch of cut off area to the document. Click on OK, if you've downloaded our template the cut off area will already exist in and are marked off in blue lines.
3. Click on insert in the top menu and scroll down to picture. From the small pop out menu click on the from file option. You can insert any clip art here if you would rather, but for your own image use the from file option. Click on any of the corners and drag while holding down the shift key, to prevent the image from being stretched in only one direction, to make the box smaller or larger. Click on the image in the center to move the whole thing to place it where you want it on the page.
4. To fit the image to the page, so that there is no white space on the card you can crop the image. In the top right corner click on the crop button which is the fifth in from the right. Make sure that your image is centered where you want it by clicking in the middle and moving it to where you would like it to appear. Then move the black handles on any of the four sides to crop the image into the area of the card, don't forget to overlap the cut off area so that there is no unnecessary white space.
5. Click on file in the top menu, scroll down to save as and click on it. In the window that appears specify where you want your file to be saved. Name the file using the name of the image and your last name. Save the file as a jpeg file. Click on save.
6. p load the jpeg file to the website and choose your text template.

Photoshop

1. Click on File and scroll to new, click on it. Set up the document size to 3.75" x 2.25" then click on either portrait or landscape so that the card is set up the way you want it.
2. Set up the area to be cut off so that there are no awkward white edges. To do this you can drag a guideline from the rulers on the top and bottom of the document. Drag these lines until you have one on each side of the document that is an eighth of an inch from each edge.
3. Make sure the document is set up for cmyk color. Click on image in the top bar and scroll down to mode. From that menu make sure that the cmyk option is checked if it's not click on it
4. Make sure the image is 300 dpi. To do this click on image in the top bar and scroll down to image size in the menu. Click on it. In the window that comes up under the heading "document size" un-check the box "constrain proportions." Check and make sure that the width and length of your document is still 3.75" x 2.25", or the reverse if you want your card to be in vertical format. Then click in the box labeled resolution and type in 300. The box for "resample image" should be checked and should say bicubic in it's description.
5. Place your image on a new layer not on the background. To do this click on layer in the top bar, and from the menu that appears scroll to new, and click on layer. A new layer will appear in the layers palette on the screen. On this new blank layer place, drag, or paste the image you would like to use. Be careful not to stretch it too large. If it looks dotty on the screen it will come out looking like that on the cards when they are printed out. If this is how your image looks you should find either another image to use or a higher quality version of your image.
6. When your image is placed successfully on the document, making sure that part of it is hanging over the guidelines you created in step 2 so that there are no white borders where you do not want them, you should drag all other layers besides the one your image is on to the small trash icon on the bottom right of the layers palette. This includes the background layer. Then click on layer in the top bar and scroll down to flatten image.
7. Then click on File in the top bar and scroll down to save as and click on it. Title your document with the name of your image and your last name. Click on the where tab to designate where you would like to save your file. Then click on format and choose the Photoshop Pdf option. Click on save. In the second box that pops up make sure you've chosen the jpeg option with a quality of at least 10 and set to at least high. Then click ok.
8. Go to the website and upload your image, and choose your text template.