How to Create & Use a LettrLabs Card Template

Creating templates lets you pre-build cards so you can quickly use them later to save you time and effort. You can also use templates over and over again to make creating orders easy too.  Templates are best used to create a card design you’ll want use multiple times.

How to Create a template

· From the home tab, you can either click the orange  “box with the plus sign” or the “new template” button in the top right corner to get started.

· You can also head over to the “My Template” tab and click the orange “box with the plus sign”

Now, let’s name your template. Type the name of your template in the box.  The template name can be whatever you would like it to be.  The click “Create”

Next you get to choose which product you are making a template for.  The most popular is the Handwritten Card + Envelope.  You can choose a Handwritten Card + Envelope, Printed Postcard or a Handwritten Postcard.  You will be able to see the base price before add ons and the Product details such as the dimensions and Handwritten text length.  You can also click the link to see the design specs.  Once you have chosen your product, click next.

Now you get to get creative and design your card. Here are the steps to create an amazing template that you will want to re-use again and again.

1. Pick your handwriting style - We have over 50 different handwriting styles for you to choose from.  Click the drop down to pick the one that looks the most like your own handwriting to make your cards feel more authentic. *When writing your message keep character count in mind.  500 characters are included in the base price of your card.  500 - 650 characters will cost an additional $0.25 per card & 651 - 800 characters will be an additional $0.50 per card.

2. Pick your Font size - You can make your handwriting bigger or smaller.  You just need to make sure it’s within the purple box.

3. Add your logo - Click the purple “UPLOAD LOGO” button to add your logo to your template.  Once your logo is uploaded you can move it around or change it’s size.

4. Add an image - You can add a headshot or another image to your card.   You can also use past images or brand artwork.  Use the different Image placement buttons to move your image around on your template.

5. Add a “Text” box - Click the “Text” box to add printed text to your card.  You can change the color of your text, change the size or put it anywhere on your template you would like. *Text does not count towards your character count.

6. Add QR Code - Type your URL in the “Tracking & Attribution” box to add your custom QR Code. For more information about QR Code Analytics, click here.

7. Add Mail-Merge Fields - Make your card personal to your audience.  For example, You can add the recipients first name in the salutation. or if you want to call out their street name you can do that too.  You can even use the Custom Fields to add whatever you’d like.

Once you are done creating the front of your template, hit the orange “Flip Card” button and add your image for the back of your card.

Use the Image placement buttons to get the perfect size and placement.

Keep an eye on the Errors & Warnings section.  You will not be able to move on to the next step if you have any errors.  The most common errors are:

1. Change Default Text - This means you haven’t added your own text yet.  Update your handwritten text and this will go away.
2. Full Bleed Issue - This means that your image is not properly sized.  You will want to make sure your image goes all the way out to the blue dotted line.  This also could mean that you have a logo or something important that’s outside the green dotted line and will be cut off if not corrected.
3. Low Resolution Image - For your cards to crisp and your imagery to look as good on print as they do on screen they need to be at least 300 dpi

Once your card looks exactly how you want it to, click Next.  Here is where you will enter your Return Address.  You should include either your name or Organization but you don’t need both to proceed.

Click Next again.  Here is where you will see your Template proof and Save your template to be used with your orders.  Use the arrows to see the front page, back image and your envelope.  If you like it, hit “Save Template”.

After you save your Template, you will be directed back your Home screen where your new Template  will be the first one listed.

Now that you have a new Template, there will be 4 options to choose from on what to do with it.

1. Create Order  - When you are ready to create an Order from your saved template.  
2. Edit Template - Make changes to your saved template.
3. Copy Template - You can create a copy of this template if you only want to make a few changes without changing the whole thing.
4. Delete Template  - Click the garbage can to remove an unwanted template.