Designing my new QSL card

Design of my cards has finished and my new QSL card is going to be printed. I’ve been working on this card since last month, and I’ve asked some offers all around the world for printing prices. I’ve used my Apple PowerMac G4 with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe (Macromedia) Freehand to produce the final layout, that you can see here. Picture has been taken with a Canon G5 Digital Camera.

About the subject, I’ve had a large choice od themes, considering that my city host so many famous monuments and panoramas but I’ve decided to use the Ponte Vecchio, since is one of the most representative monuments in Florence, and because is not so used by local hams for their QSL cards.
As said before I’ve been asking prices to almost all world wide famous ham radio qsl printers, and finally I’ve decided for IT9EJW service, mainly for clear information contained on his web site and for his competitive prices.
A complete list of links to QSL Printers has driven me for the choice of printing service.

About the back of the card, I’ve designed my own layout, using Freehand, and I’ve choosen a report-area size that will allow me also to place stickers.
If you want to make your own QSL, please keep in mind some simple rules:

• Resolution of pictures should be 300dpi
• dimension of card should be always a couple of mm higher than the final size, (142×92)
• if you use non standard fonts, remember to convert them into path, or check with the printer the availability of the fonts you have used. (otherwise fonts will be substituted),
• do not use JPEG pictures use always TIFF files for your main subject, JPEG use a lossy algorithm that make final layout blurry, even if on screen looks good.
• Always use CMYK as image palette not RGB
• Using greys, (for back) always stay on 10-15% black on backhrounds, not less.

I will post more informations and a final review on IT9EJW Alfio, work when I will receive my cards.
If you want to design your card, by your own, feel free to ask me any question, I will be pleased to drive you in correct direction, but keep in mind that I’m a system engineer and not a graphic designer

[tags] ham radio, qsl, dx, amateur radio, printer, photoshop, freehand[/tags]