Until recently, consumers have had very few options for photo greeting cards: hire a professional with access to high-end photo card vendors or take their own pictures to a big-box store or consumer site with cheesy, flimsy, low-quality photo card choices. Millions of computer-savvy middle-income families have been left with no good options -- UNTIL NOW. ENTER MpixPRESS!
I recently ordered a large variety of press printed greeting cards from Mpix using their design/ordering software. I downloaded the software and installed it on my computer. The process was simple, and the software showed exactly how the card would look when printed. The software also gave the option of adding text and graphics, but I prefer doing that myself inside Photoshop, then bringing my finished design into the card software.
The turnaround time on the cards was fabulous -- I had them on my doorstep in days, but that wasn't even the best part. The quality is top notch and exceeded my expectations (and I'm picky)! I know this is sounding like in info-mercial for Mpix, but these cards are so cool, I can't help it. I'm a photographer who gives my clients their images on CD, and I know a lot of families who have nice cameras who take great pictures themselves. I'm so excited to be able to tell my clients and friends about this! Another great aspect is that professional photographers can use this to get their clients high-end press-printed cards using the professional images and designs the photographers have created for their clients.
The papers are types that used to only be available through photographic vendors -- professional glossy card stock, linen texture, and pearl. The linen has a subtle cross-hatch linen texture, but you can still write on it with a standard ball-point pen -- I like that! I can imagine very classy cards being created using this paper. The glossy card stock is slick and beautiful, and it feels a little thicker than the linen. The pearl paper is my favorite. It's thicker than the other two papers, and it has a slight shimmer to it, especially on the lighter colors. My beach & outdoor photographs absolutely shine on those pearl cards!! And, of course, the color is always SPOT ON, just like Mpix always does for me.
Up until this year I would tell my clients to use well-known print/novelty/card providers' websites, and their cards were fine, but they could only get a picture on the front of the card. The inside could have text, and the back cover had the website's logo. These Mpix cards are BRAND FREE -- that's SO NICE!
I didn't even tell you about the books I had made! They're just as cool as the cards!! All three paper types are available in the books, too! I'll talk more about those later, so stay tuned!
Carey Schumacher
San Diego Barefoot Memories
http://www.barefoot-memories.com