Sharing pictures online is becoming ever more popular. Photography websites like Flickr and Fotki or social media sites like Facebook, Google+ and Tumblr are locales where photographers congregate. It has become so important in social media sites that Google+ has boosted its photo album service into the top ranks – see here And smartphone camaeras are certainly expanding even more the popularity of quick and convenient phototaking as Instagram shows and the fact that Flickr’s most frequently used camera has switched from Nikon D70 to iPhone 4. Picture taking has become a popular form of expression like singing or writing well.
detail: Pearl Surveyer, Water Reflections – rug hooking
This post is about another way to express yourself photographically by creating your own notecards with your favorite images on them. Think of photography like poetry – capturing intimate moments of your times. What better way to express yourself but to add your favorite poetry in images to your letters and notecards. The following slideshow proposes a plan for doing just that – CLICK ANYWHERE ON THE GRAY SLIDE STACK BELOW TO SEE THE PRESENTATION:
The above presentation is part of a series of free lectures I am giving in the Northumberland Ontario Canada libraries – see here for the details. The presentation emphasizes free software like Artweaver or Photo Pos Pro. But if you are Photoshop or Quark Express savvy then more power to you. cardmakers can certainly have a good time with the tools and plugins available in these programs. However, the presentation shies away from fancy techniques like decorative borders, finishings on your envelopes, or specialty boxes if you plan to give away your notecards as gifts or sell them.
The emphasis is on getting used to how easy notecard making is to do. Quite often, I create one or two notecards right on the spot just before writing a note or letter. But of course refinement is the fun part of creating your own notecards. But the reality constraint – is what is your printer capable of doing? For example,my HP Laser printer turns out excellent cards with very true graphics. But it is unsteady with envelopes and outright refuses to handle some of the heavier specialty stock papers. So for these items or situations I go to a local printing outfit. In sum, this post will hopefully get you started do your note and greeting cards – rest assured Mr. Google can help you with all the finer details.