“Create what surrounds you – to inspire you. Beauty in form invites the formless to appear… clutter around you… clutter inside… so simple.” – Marlise Karlin

Make Your Own Postcards.

I love postcards! Getting them, making them, sending them, even holding them.  

I don’t like the postcards you get at the typical tourist store though.  I have decided to create my own postcards and have been doing so, as I travel along.  It is easy, fun, and unique.  All the instructions are below, if you like the article make sure to comment and pass it along to other folks in need of some postcard making skills.

What you need for your Postcard:

**A Digital Camera.

**Access to a computer & internet.

**15-30 minutes.

**A Free Picnik Account.

**30 cents for the photograph & 44 cents for the stamp (I think that is how much stamps are now).

Here’s How to Make Your Own Postcards (follow along as I show you how I made my photograph of my friend, Nai from Austin, Texas):

1. Take a Photograph with your digital camera and Upload it to a computer.

If you are reading this you probably know how to do this.  Upload that shot.  I like shots of people I am with, but it just matters what you are into.  What do you want to remember?  Or what do you want to show other people?  I don’t really care what the “things to see” in the town are.  I photograph what I think will be interesting.  Then, upload it.

 2.  Edit it on Your Computer. (optional)

I am particular and have been editing photographs for years.  I know what I am doing and know what I want.  But I just use iPhoto or when I had a PC, I used Picasa by Google which is a free download.  For the beginner, my recommendations are to amp up the contrast of the photograph.  It makes the darks darker and the lights lighter.  The photograph will be more pleasing to the eye.  

If you want to know what I do: I amp up the contrast and the saturation of the colors, without making it look artificial.  Just vibrant!

3. Upload to Picnik.  

Iphoto or Picasa do not have the ability to add a border to make photograph.  You can sign up and use Picnik for free and it has lots of fun effects.

 4. Create the Postcard in Picnik.

I do these same steps everytime after I upload my photograph to Picnick:

A.  Go to the CREATE tab along the top border.

B. Use the LOMO-ish filter in EFFECTS.  

It adds more saturation to the photograph, a slight vignetting (or a hazy dark shadow around the outside), and a blur around the other edge.  I tweak it till I like it, adding more or less effect.

C.  Add the Border in Frames.

 I usually try to chose a color that I think goes with the photograph, adding and not distracting.  It is always learn as I go.  I play till I find something I like.  Also, I increase the thickness of the OUTER COLOR but usually leave the INNER COLOR the same.  In this photograph I chose a dark orange, because Orange to me represent Austin (University of Texas Longhorn colors) but anything lighter than the darkest version distracts from Nai.  The inner color I go with Black.  I like to increase the Corner Radius too.  

D. Back to EFFECTS, I add the 1960′s filter.

I like the curved edges and slight red tinge.  I am sucker for old film photographs.

E. Now, I finish by adding TEXT.  Go to the TEXT Tab.  

Add any message you like.  I like the postcard series, GREETINGS FROM… so that is normally what I go with.  Then, I vary the text fonts to fit the place or what looks good.  Since it is Austin, I got with the Western looking theme, PANHEAD, for Austin, Texas and for GREETINGS FROM… I chose a more reserved, yet bold font, IMPACT.  I choose the bright orange color for Austin to draw attention there, again with the theme of the Texas Longhorns.

F. SAVE & SHARE.  Picnik allows you to share it to any internet sharing or social networking site or save it too your computer. I save it too my computer.

5.  Save in on a Zip Drive & head to your local Photograph Printing Kiosk.  

You know those big yellow things at Walmart, CVS, or your store of chose.  Normally for about 30 cents you can print a photograph instantly.  Print off your new postcard, slap a stamp on it, and send it too your Mom.  She will appreciate it.

 What do you think?  Do you have another way that you like to do it?  The combinations are endless and the result is something that is personal and unique for those that might not be able to travel or see you as much as they would like.

If you make one, send it too me!  Maybe we could add it to the website for others to appreciate.

Also, if you enjoyed the article, then GIVE!  Comment or Share it with your friends whom would enjoy it (Click the Big Share/Save button below).  

Contact me!  Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or through Email and receive more than just the daily posts.  I tweet and post photographs from the cars that I hitchhike with or where I am camping for the night.  I photograph and post interesting things I see throughout the day.

Let’s Create Our World.

Ben

“The primary purpose of living is to know who you are in order to create the life you want.” – Dharma RD

Tags: adventure travel blog, Benjamin Jenks, create our world, hitchhiking, make your own postcards, picnik, roadtrip around the USA
Categories: Art., Photographs.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am and is filed under Art., Photographs.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.