Content

• Steps

Want to send a unique, creative card to someone on their birthday, holidays, or just like that? Use this easy tutorial to make a postcard in Adobe Illustrator!

Steps

1. 1 Use the Rectangle tool (rectangle) to create an artboard for the postcard. Postcards are typically 5 "by 7" (shown here as rectangle # 1), so you should keep your text / photo elements within this "Safety line". Rectangle # 2 is the "Cutting line" or tolerance around your card, and should be larger than your Safety line, about 0.25 inches.
2. 2 Make your rectangle # 2 as a guide. Click on line # 2 and choose View> Guides> Make Guides. Create another line. This line is the print line, expanding the background color all the way to the edges of your card. Set it wider than your notch line, about 0.25 inches, so it serves as another guideline.
3. 3 Your work area should look like the following figure. Remember, # 1 is the "Safety line", # 2 is the "Cutting line" and # 3 is the "Bleeding line".
4. 4 Draw any picture you like. The overall look will, of course, depend on the type of postcard you want to send. This card is an example of a greeting card, so the picture will be made of balloons. To create an image of a balloon or any other circular object, use the ellipse tool as shown here.
5. 5 Use the direct selection tool to customize the shape. In this example, the sides of the circle taper downward, so it begins to resemble a balloon.
6. 6 To add other elements to your original shape, use any of the shape tools, or even a freehand drawing tool. Here is a small triangle drawn and positioned at the bottom of the ball as shown, then smoothly connected using Pathfinder> Add to shape area> Expand.
7. 7 Color in your image using the gradient tool. For a red chameleon with a little glitter, set the first color: C = 1, M = 90, Y = 50, K = 0 and the second color to white, with a stroke border = none. Use "Radial mode" to complete this step.
8. 8 If you want several of these shapes, you can duplicate your image. Create a new circle and make it look like a shadow. Then select the circle and copy the original balloon and go to Pathfinder> click on Minus Front> Expand. Drag a shadow over the original balloon and select Multiply for transparency. You might want to change the color.
9. 9 You can also make your shapes in different colors or you can add shadows with the "Pen tool". Use a pencil to draw fine lines or other details, like the strings on the balloons.
10. 10 If you want to write over part or all of your image, place them in the work area. Select the part you want to write on and set its Transparency = 30, or more if you want the background to be paler.
11. 11 Use the Type tool to write your text. If you want some kind of effect for the text that you entered, you can go to the Effect menu and select it from there.
12. 12 Print a copy of a sample of your postcard. This will tell you if your text is too small or too large, or if your images look odd the way you positioned them. If you are satisfied with the look of the postcard, go ahead and print, however, as much as you need. Congratulations - you've successfully created your own postcard in Adobe Illustrator!