Competition Tips
| GENERAL TIPS PHOTO DESIGN WRITING STICK WITH THE THEME A FEW WORDS ON FUNNY |
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Ask yourself these 3 things when you are creating your card (or else):
1. Does it stick to the THEME?
If the contest calls for birthday cards, deliver the birthday cards. If it calls for thank-you cards...you get the idea.
2. Is it SENDABLE?
Imagine all the different people that walk into a store to buy a Hallmark card. Will lots of them be able to buy your card to send to friends or family? No? Keep trying until you've got a real crowd-pleaser.
3. Is it COHESIVE?
Sometimes, people enter a card with a great design or photo, or they submit wonderful writing, but those submissions don't become winners because we like only ONE part of the card. We want the TOTAL package. Your visuals and writing should go hand-in-hand.
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If you want to go for the gold and get all technical:
A. Create a new document in your photo program (Photoshop, Illustrator, Paint, Paintshop, etc.).
B. Adjust the document to the right dimensions.
• 1100 x 1500 pixels or 5.5" W. X 7.5" H.
• 200 dpi
C. Copy your photo into your document.
D. Size your photo to the right dimensions using your photo program's tools.
E. Save it as a .jpg.
Hallmark will format all photos to fit a vertical card.
If you're scanning a physical photo:
Make sure to set the scanner to the highest setting you can. (How high is that, you ask? Somewhere around 1200 dpi.)
Note: Use your program's "Help" tool for more information on file formats, file size and image resolution. You might also check your software manual. If you've still got questions, we'd recommend doing a search online. For some good info on digital photography, scanning, pixels and dpi, we like these online resources:
• Flying Sam
• Bright Hub
• Vivid Light Photography
2. Make people want to pick up your card. In most card displays, only the top of the card will be showing, so make sure it's intriguing.
3. Focus on the star. Make sure your subject (the main person, pet or thing in your photo) is the center of attention by hitting ZOOM!
4. If you have copyrighted materials (like brand names, logos, store-bought props or recognizable locations) in your photo, get permission from the copyright owners. It's easier just to leave them out, but if used, get permission!
5. Who took the photo? Make sure you know, 'cause they're gonna have to sign a release form if your card is selected.
6. Who's in the photo? If they're human, they're gonna have to sign a release form, too. If they're someone else's kid or pet, their owners/parents need to sign on their behalf so ask 'em for the okay before you send it our way.
7. Keep it clean. Just say no to the following:
- sexually explicit or inappropriate content
- descriptions or images of people or animals in unsafe conditions
1. Size and save your design correctly.
If you're designing in a computer program:
A. Create a document in your design program (using Photoshop, Illustrator, Paint, Paintshop, or another program)
B. Adjust the document to the right dimensions.
• 1100 x 1500 pixels or 5.5" W. X 7.5" H.
• 200 dpi
C. Save it as a .jpg.
D. Make sure it's saved in RGB color format. Our system will not accept CMYK.
OR
If you're scanning in a physical design or illustration:
Make sure to set the scanner to the highest setting you can. (How high is that, you ask? Somewhere around 1200 dpi.)
Note: Use your program's "Help" tool for more information on file formats, file size and image resolution. You might also check your software manual. If you've still got questions, we'd recommend doing a search online.
Hallmark will format all designs and illustrations to fit a vertical card.
2. Make it yours. Imitation is flattery, but it won't win you any greeting card contests. Make sure your design doesn't look like anybody else's. If you've heard it or seen it somewhere before, chances are that we have, too. Keep it original!
3. Keep it clean. Just say no to the following:
- sexually explicit or inappropriate content
- descriptions or images of people or animals in unsafe conditions
1. Short and sweet's the way to be. (Nobody likes a blabbermouth.)
2. No inside jokes allowed. You want lots of people to "get" your card so they'll want to send it.
3. Make sure the message makes your photo or design even better.
4. Act natural. Make sure your message sounds the way you'd naturally talk. No need to go all flowery on us.
5. Please the masses. Try your card out on a few friends. Maybe even a few strangers.
6. Make it yours. Sometimes the same good ideas come to more than one person. If you've heard it or seen it somewhere before, chances are, we have, too. Keep it new and fresh!
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Don't go sending in cards willy-nilly. If the contest calls for birthday cards, send birthday cards, not baby cards. Have we got a deal? We may ask for: |
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Birthday—could be sent to anybody from anybody for a birthday.
Friend—could be sent to any friend to tell them what a great friend they are.
Hi/Hello—could be sent to anybody, from anybody just to say "hey there."
Thank You—should be general enough to work for any occasion, whether it's "thanks for the gift" or "thanks for doing that nice thing."
Congrats—should be general enough to work for anything from a job promotion to a good grade.
Wedding—could be sent to any couple getting married from anybody to say congratulations or send wedding wishes. It's meant for the couple, not just the bride or groom.
Anniversary—could be sent to any married couple from anybody for a wedding anniversary. (This is not a card spouses send each other. )
Baby—could be sent to anyone having a baby from anybody to say congrats.
Love—could be sent to any romantic interest from anybody to express love.
| Hold it right there. Not every contest requires the funny. Send the funny if the contest calls for it or if you have a piece of comedy gold you can't help but share. |  |
1. Make it snappy! Quick jokes are way funnier than long, rambling ones. Seriously.
2. See funny. Write funny. The cards that get the most laughs are the ones that use the image AND the writing to bring home the joke.
3. Surprise 'em! An unexpected "punch line" on the inside of the card makes for big laughs.
4. Get inspired! Check out the world famous shoeboxblog.com for some funny flavor. Those folks know their funny.
