With the convenience of digital photography and advances in offset printing, this year many families plan to digitally print family photos directly on their annual holiday card. What could be easier? Simply upload your photograph to an online printing company, select a template, crop your photo, click the print button and your printed holiday cards will be sent to your home.
This sounds like an idyllic situation, but photography purists insist that digitally-printed holiday cards are not nearly as attractive as photographs mounted on the card. One experienced stationer and amateur photographer remarked, “Digitally reproduced holiday cards simply lack the quality and print resolution of photographs developed at a commercial printer. Some digital photo cards are quite attractive, but if you compare them side-by-side, the difference is apparent: Photomount holiday cards win hands-down.â€
Not every person would go along with this appraisal, but certainly after you consider the “efficiency factor†and reduced price tag, it's no big surprise that buyers have moved in the direction of digital holiday photo cards. “Let’s be realistic,†said this seasoned stationery store owner, “you receive an attractive quality holiday photo card - perhaps not the best quality - however, you avoid the need for mounting the photos with adhesive tape.â€
Given this difference in consumer buying tendencies, the leading printing firms have shifted rapidly to boost their digital printing abilities. In reality, market leaders, Crane & Co. and William Arthur now provide its buyers the choice of imprinting their photo upon the Christmas photo card or placing their photos on beautifully-crafted greeting cards - often embossed - with pre-applied adhesive tape.
To appreciate the differences in both printing processes, it is wise to visit a qualified stationery store in your neighborhood and see printed samples in person. Whatever option works for you, a number of printing companies are in the midst of their holiday card sale. Save anywhere for 20% to 50% by purchasing your holiday photo cards before the end of September.
This sounds like an idyllic situation, but photography purists insist that digitally-printed holiday cards are not nearly as attractive as photographs mounted on the card. One experienced stationer and amateur photographer remarked, “Digitally reproduced holiday cards simply lack the quality and print resolution of photographs developed at a commercial printer. Some digital photo cards are quite attractive, but if you compare them side-by-side, the difference is apparent: Photomount holiday cards win hands-down.â€
Not every person would go along with this appraisal, but certainly after you consider the “efficiency factor†and reduced price tag, it's no big surprise that buyers have moved in the direction of digital holiday photo cards. “Let’s be realistic,†said this seasoned stationery store owner, “you receive an attractive quality holiday photo card - perhaps not the best quality - however, you avoid the need for mounting the photos with adhesive tape.â€
Given this difference in consumer buying tendencies, the leading printing firms have shifted rapidly to boost their digital printing abilities. In reality, market leaders, Crane & Co. and William Arthur now provide its buyers the choice of imprinting their photo upon the Christmas photo card or placing their photos on beautifully-crafted greeting cards - often embossed - with pre-applied adhesive tape.
To appreciate the differences in both printing processes, it is wise to visit a qualified stationery store in your neighborhood and see printed samples in person. Whatever option works for you, a number of printing companies are in the midst of their holiday card sale. Save anywhere for 20% to 50% by purchasing your holiday photo cards before the end of September.
About the Author:
Sheila May is the owner of Therese Saint Clair, a leading stationery store located in Greenwich, CT. She writes frequently about photo greeting cards and Christmas photo cards.
