Card software applications allow anyone to design and print creative cards for any occasion. These software packages include templates, clip art, fonts, and imaging editing software, and use wizard tools to make the design process easy. They may include functionality for other specialty printing projects such as banners, labels, fliers, etc., but specialize in the design of cards including invitations, holiday cards, announcements, gift cards, etc.
Some of these products are web based, while others are installed directly on your PC. Some are stand alone solutions and others offer a suite of tools designed to meet other desktop publishing software needs (party planner, banner printing, stationary printing, advanced image editing tools, etc).
These products vary greatly in price and functionality from free, online card design services and basic, card only products to full desktop publishing packages. Most products are very affordable
Features of greeting card software may include:
- Templates
- Clip art and graphics
- Online access to additional clip art, graphics, etc.
- Image import
- Text effects
- Fonts
- Photo editor
- Spell check
- Web projects
- Envelope
- Sentiments (humorous, religious, holiday)
- Theme based cards (Holly Hobbie, National Geographic, etc)
Major Vendors:
- MS Word
- National Geographic (and many other specialty card design products)
- DVO Enterprises
- PrintMaster
- Hallmark
- Print Shop
- Freecards.com
Selection Criteria:
- Interaction with existing mailing lists / databases
- Flexibility for special needs
- Printer Capability. Your products will only be as good as your printer.