Printing & Designing Corporate Greeting Cards

Personal Business Christmas Card Ideas for Businesses & Corporations

Oct 7, 2009

Creating and printing personalized Christmas cards gives more control over the corporate image if what is on offer does not quite fit the requirement.

Some corporate Christmas card pictures are mass-produced and could result in a rather commercial or impersonal feel to the corporate business image. The Christmas card image is the first thing the client sees before reading the message inside and could create a lasting first impression. Creating corporate Christmas cards from one’s own oil painting or watercolour is a great way of breaking the mould.

A Personalized Christmas Card

A Christmas card is really a simple piece of card folded in half. One half of the front will show an image, one half of the other will contain a simple message. The most important part of the Christmas card is the image on the front, for this will say a lot about the business sending it. Creating an image for printing cards is quite simple but consideration must be given to the image.

Traditional Greetings Card Images With a Personal Touch

A familiar scene, such as London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament (fig 1 and fig 2), or other such scenes in other large cities like Toronto or New York can be given a new slant with a few touches. Using a limited palette of mostly neutrals, creams and pale blues, will result in a restful and evocative image for clients to enjoy. Creating a dreamlike atmosphere via a snow blizzard or an ice fair will give a familiar scene a surreal quality. This can also be practiced for an alternative landscape or rural setting (fig 3). Other art techniques for designing Christmas cards can be used.

Preparing a Corporate Christmas Card for Print

Designers who wish to try something more adventurous for a Christmas card image, will need to execute it months before Christmas. Using different oil painting art techniques and experimentation will require time and thought. Such a design (fig 4 and fig 5) will require feedback, but could pay off and create a lasting impression for the business.

Arranging for Greeting Card Printing

A simple image can be printed quite cheaply at a reputable greeting card printer’s. It is worth noting that the larger the quantity of cards required, the cheaper each card will work out to be. If one continues to patronise a particular card printers, one could negotiate for a good price. It has not been unknown for some printers (with a big enough commission) to throw in the envelopes for free. The following must be borne in mind prior to arrangement:

Ordering the corporate cards must occur with time to spare in case any adjustments need to be made. Card printers will often print one card for approval prior to printing the entire run.

Printing Christmas Greeting Cards for Businesses

Corporate Christmas cards can be given a new slant by creating an image from one’s own paintings. It is a good idea to conceive the image months in advance for feedback and approval. However, doing so will give the business or corporation a more personal feel and make their image stand out. One could easily create simple Christmas card designs by using a well-known scene and using a limited palette or by creating a surreal atmosphere. Experimentation is fun and could reward with unusual designs, but it is always wise to seek approval before printing the Christmas cards.

The copyright of the article Printing & Designing Corporate Greeting Cards in Illustration is owned by Rachel Wills. Permission to republish Printing & Designing Corporate Greeting Cards in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.