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10+ Postcard Templates in PSD
There’s a tradition in the United States where you send a blank card stock with a picture, usually that of a scenery holding a message, through the mail. This tradition goes back to December 1848 when a postmarked card with printed advertising was produced.
However, it wasn’t until the year 1861 when the first commercially made and recognized, thanks to Philadelphia’s John Carlton who patented a postal card and later on sold the rights to Hymen Lipman whose postcards were labeled “Lipman’s postcard.” You can also check out postcard templates in PSD.
Construction Postcard Template Bundle
Elements of A Good Postcard Design
There were no images for postcards until the 1880s when photos of the newly built Eiffel Tower in Paris gave postcards a new edge which leads to the picture postcards’ golden days. Early postcards featured nudity and were commonly known as French card since a large number of them were printed in France. Today, postcards are printed in various designs, usually with the following elements:
1. Backside imagery: images printed on the back either as a feint, background image (often a monochrome mirror or detail of a front image, a thematically related image, or a pattern) or small (often black and white) images on the top left, bottom left or center.
2. Undivided back: people were not allowed to write on the back of postcards circa 1901 to 1907. So postcards backs were not allowed to have a dividing line (as now standard) between the message area and the address area – as the entire back (which would have been deemed the front back then) was to be used exclusively for the recipient’s address.
3. Clear, bold headline: The postcard should have a focal point or one hard-hitting message. You can achieve this best by coming up with a snappy, bold headline that doesn’t mess up with other text. Your headline should let the recipient know immediately what you’re trying to sell him or her.
4. Graphic: It should be something that supports your theme or message and easy to understand. The graphic should also offer an additional message which connects with your headline. For example, if you’re trying to get potential clients to list their properties for real estate, you should consider showing a home with a sign that says “sold” out front. This type of graphic element reinforces the message so much more than just a plain picture of a house’s front porch or a building’s whole facade.
5. Color: A pop of color works every time when trying to advertise or promote something in any print material you use for marketing. Make the headline and the rest of the text stand out by using a color palette that compliments strongly with whatever background color you’re using. When looking at the card, try finding out the first thing that draws you. If that’s not the headline, go ahead and tweak your colors. Experiment if you can, but make sure it works to your advantage.
6. Leading subheads: Having a couple of paragraphs and text which leads to nothing on the back of your postcard will mean there’s also nothing to attract people into reading the copy. Having a subhead, on the other hand, gives the target audience a head start for reading the material. If your text is limited to a hundred words or so, you can still get away with it. Any longer will require an average person or reader some guideposts to avoid confusion.
10+ Postcard Templates in PSD
Restaurant Postcard Template
Beach Wedding Postcard Template
Free Sample Postcard
Free Simple Postcard Template
Standard Postcard Template
Event Postcard Template
Free Marketing Postcard Template
Free Soccer Post Card
Plain Postcard Template
Blank Postcard Template
Steps to Design an Excellent Postcard
Pick out a postcard that represents you or your products or even your travels if it’s a personal postcard. Sending postcards to friends, family, or loved ones during travel can be a great way to show your affection, as well as giving people an idea of where you are. Here are some steps you can follow to get the right postcard design:
1. Choose your image: One of the best parts of postcard writing is picking out the postcard image. Think about the people or person you are sending the postcard to and decide which image they would like best. Make it relevant. If appropriate for your message, display your goods or storefront on your postcards. Photos work to help people establish a real relationship with you and your products or service.
2. Write a message: This should be located at the back of the postcard, on the right-hand side. Try not to write anything on the front of the card because the postal service won’t be looking for information there, and make sure your writing is legible and clear enough to be read. It’s best to use a ballpoint pen instead of a felt tip pen since the latter is more likely to smear the card and the writing if it gets wet.
3. Evaluate your postcard’s quality: Is the type of card used for printing suitable? Is it a heavy weight, high quality, durable card? Is it well finished with gloss or matte? Is the printing quality consistently high? These are important questions – as the postcard must retain appeal upon close inspection.
4. Adding color creates visual value: Be wise about choosing your colors and make sure you use it carefully and strategically all over your design because the postcard design should reflect your main brand elements clearly, especially your organization’s colors, logo and the layout of your website. It’s also important to have a consistent message throughout your print and other marketing materials.
5. Be straight to the point: It is crucial to limit postcard wording to just the important message. Avoid cluttering your card with too many unnecessary details and keep a copy to a minimum because whoever your recipients are, they need to be encouraged to get in touch with you and ask for additional information. Consider adding catchy classic phrases such as “Limited offer” “20% off” or “Free”. Keep your type simple to maintain easy reading.
Tips In Designing A Postcard Template In PSD
It’s not easy to convey a brand message or the rest of your travel story in a limited amount of space. But you can bring value to your brand and evoke curiosity to the target audience by designing your postcard with these additional tips:
- Get the attention you deserve: You need to go out of the box for this to be possible. Include some non-standard elements in your design. For instance, you can add rounded corners or print with a special kind of paper if the budget allows it. Ask for advice from a professional designer for some great print ideas and card stock options.
- Go with a clean composition: A clear, simple, short message is more compelling and easier to communicate than a complex one. Stay away from the pitfalls of a visual mess. Try using professional, conservative language and a commanding corporate layout.
Types of Postcards
Here are the three unique types of postcards used in marketing:
- Offer Postcard: This is the one you’re probably most familiar with. The offer postcard has a headline, an offer, features and benefits rundown, and a time-limited call to action.
- Newsletter Postcard: Overall, writing a couple of stories for newsletter postcards, sometimes called news cards, takes up less time and investment. And to print 1,000 newsletters versus printing postcards is no comparison: You’ll get more bang – and branding – for your buck with postcards every time.
- VIP Invitation Postcard: This is similar to the offer postcard, yes, but you’re not necessarily asking for anything other than attendance. The goal is not to convince the attendee of value so much as it is to make the recipient feel special, like a Very Important Person, so that they attend your event. That’s where you’ll do the selling.
Postcard Sizes
Most commercially-produced postcards measure approximately 4.21″ x 5.47″. Less commonly, smaller postcards are typically 3.5″ x 5.5″, close to the minimum size the USPS allows.
Postcard FAQs
What is a postcard?
postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope. Shapes other than rectangular may also be used.
Are there exceptions in a postcard’s print version?
There are novelty exceptions, such as wood postcards, made of thin wood, and copper postcards sold in the Copper Country of the U.S. state of Michigan, and coconut “postcards” from tropical islands.
For years, postcards haven’t only been a great way to help businessmen promote their business. They also provide a way to keep friends and family updated of your travels, giving them a good glimpse of where you are, how happy you are and what the place looks like. We have seen designs evolve for commercial postcards but the tradition of sending them with photos of your travel story remains the same. You may also like business postcard templates.