Contest: Swingers Business Card

[JustMrJ]

JustAskJulie,

So, after a bit of work, I was able to make an automated form that you simply fill out and the cards are done. Ten to a sheet.

Card 01 is the one with both SwingersBoard and SLS user info. Card 02 is SwingersBoard only.

If you want you can change the layout, but you'll have to do it ten times.

If you want some specific changes, let me know.

NOTE: You will need to make sure that Microsoft word (2003 or 2007) will prompt you to run macros. If macros are disabled, then the form will not start.

*HUGS*

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by JustMrJ

JustAskJulie,

So, after a bit of work, I was able to make an automated form that you simply fill out and the cards are done. Ten to a sheet.

Card 01 is the one with both SwingersBoard and SLS user info. Card 02 is SwingersBoard only.

That is just REALLY cool. I know notta about Word so it's just cool that you were able to set that up with a form to fill in the blanks!

I didn't play with the one that included SLS as it made SLS a bit more prominent than the Board - I don't own SLS I just promote it, so obviously I'd prefer something that while it may include SLS highlighted Swingers Board. My only suggestion on that one would be to maybe swap out the "tag line" and the names... The tag line I put in was pretty long to begin with so it knocked the username & swingersboard.com right off the page altogether. But when I shortened it, it still seemed to be the MAIN thing on the page.


I really need to go take a class in Office 2007

[TNT]

I don't have Word on any of the computers in the house but...I couldn't resist playing around with Print Shop...

I know it won't do you any good, but I enjoyed playing around...



Teresa

[JustAskJulie]

I like that one too... maybe we can get JustMrJ to help us out a bit more and see what he can do to convert some of these other ideas?

[sereneiders]

Originally Posted by intuition897

Ooh, this sounds like fun! I love this kind of stuff. Does it need to be done in Word format? Because I have a really great free program that I use at home and at work whenever I need to design posters, flyers, or other graphics. You can download Serif DrawPlus at freeserifsoftware.com It's got a few bugs that I wish it didn't, but overall it's a pretty good program for this sort of thing. You'll be hearing from me...

Word allows us to embed images in a document, even in such a way that it works as a background for the text to write over it. So all we have to do is to design the card with our favorite software, export the final image in a format suitable for Word to embed it, and finally build the template (wich could be done even later on, i.e. if you don't have Word and your image is chosen, I may embeed it a Word template for you... just PM me).

Word supports many image formats, however for the sake of saving space, I'd recommend you to use JPEG (.JPG) when exporting the file. Notice that printers have way more resolution than the screen, what may look about the size of a business card in your screen could end up pixelated once printed, so, ensure either to set up at least 75 dpi (dots per inch), or export the image at, at least a VGA resolution (adjusted to the business card aspect ratio of 9:4, it'd be 640 x 284 pixels).

Once done, create a new Word document, import the image (Insert->Picture->From file), and adjust it to the business card size (it's easier if you use a business card template for mail merging since it will set up the page to make several business card fit, like a table where each cell will be one card... you reach this with the "Tools" menu). Then, right click on the picture and pick "Image format" and then the "Design" tab and choose the "behind the text" adjustment (the menu options may vary since I am translating them from the Spanish version). This will allow you to write text over the image. Finally, save the document "as template" (.DOT)... or just as a .DOC document and rename it later as .DOT

I hope this helps

[JustMrJ]

JustAskJulie,

I'll make the tag line a bit smaller in size then and make the names bigger if you like. How about the user name and the URL? are they too small?

Again, specifics are helpful. I can reproduce the card that TNT posted in Word if you like. Just let me know.

I'm always happy to help out... *HUGS*

[JustAskJulie]

Sereneiders thanks for all that info.

So now we all know. Build the background (base) image and design a basic template in whatever program you want. Do a screen capture (or save as .jpg) and upload it to here then later we can take the ones we like and get these Word Gurus to help us convert them to a (re)usable format! (at least I think that's what they said)

[Malachista]

Do they need to have special messurments to fit the general business card standarts? (Whatever they are?)

[good times]

2" X 3.5" is standard business card size.

[TNT]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

So now we all know. Build the background (base) image and design a basic template in whatever program you want. Do a screen capture (or save as .jpg) and upload it to here then later we can take the ones we like and get these Word Gurus to help us convert them to a (re)usable format! (at least I think that's what they said)

In that case...I can really do some playing around...cool!


Teresa

[velbuzz]

Just hope I don't accidently put the wrong ones in my wallet before attending a conference.

[Chris&Amelia]

Really depends on what sort of conference you're attending, right?

[intuition897]

Thanks sereneiders, I do have Word. I'm just thinking I might try to devise a background image for the business card template table cells. Then the users can just choose their font to customize their cards right over top. Cut and paste to all the cells and voila! I tried downloading the program again, but my damned dial-up keeps choking up on me. I should have something soon, though.

[JustMrJ]

The base of my templates is just that... a ten card table. I just made the first one and copied and pasted it into all the rest.

The bookmarks to put the names and other data where they needed to go was another matter.

I'll be posting a few more variations soon.

*HUGS*

[intuition897]

Okay here's a sample of what the finished card would look like after it had been edited in the template. I just grabbed the lips image off the internet so that one might not be usable. And I couldn't find any transparent graphics on the site, Julie. You know, logos and such. If you have any ideas for what I could use from the site itself, other than the makeshift 'SB' thing on the left side of the card, let me know.