Printing Your Own Invitations - It's Easier Than You Think
For the person that has never printed on anything other than standard white 8½ x 11 office paper, the thought of printing your own invitations on different sizes and weights of specialty paper and envelopes can be intimidating. But in most cases, your home inkjet printer or laser printer is perfectly capable of printing our invitations, response cards, programs, menus, envelopes, etc.
We absolutely know you can achieve the same professional results when printing at home. See below for some quick and easy tips & tricks to printing invitations at home. You can do this!
You CAN Print Your Own Invitations Using Your Computer & Printer!
Materials: Blank Invitations, computer with page layout or word processing software (Microsoft Word, OpenOffice.org, etc.), & an inkjet or laser printer
Open the Printing Template, Verify the Dimensions, and Create Your Custom Wording
Open the Printing Template, Verify the Dimensions, and Create Your Custom Wording
1. Locate and open the printing template for your invitation. It is a Microsoft Word document named to correspond with the LCI Paper item code or description. It can be opened and edited with Microsoft Word and other programs that are compatible with the DOC format including OpenOffice.org Writer.
2. The template file is sized to the dimensions and orientation of your invitation. To verify these dimensions within Word, go to File>Page Setup or depending on your software version, Page Layout>Size>More Paper Sizes. Note the Width, Height, and Orientation (Portrait or Landscape). You will need this information in step 6.
3. The template includes sample invitation wording that you can edit. Replace the wording with your own. If you need help with invitation wording, LCI Paper offers additional sample wording on our web site.
Insert the Invitation Into Your Printer
4. Insert the invitation, short edge first, into the printer’s sheet feeder. In an inkjet printer, the right side of the invitation should rest flush against the right side of the sheet feeder. Slide the adjustable edge guide so it meets the left edge of the invitation. In a laser printer, open the manual feed door and place the invitation between the two adjustable guides. Adjust the guides so that they meet the edges of the card.
Tip: Make a test sheet by cutting a piece of copy paper to the dimensions of your invitation.
DO NOT OVERLOOK - Access Your Print Driver and Input a Custom Size
5. In Microsoft Word - Click File>Print (A Print dialog box will appear.) Make sure your printer is selected. Depending on your version of Word, click Properties, Printer Properties or Page Setup. You will enter your printer driver.
6. Click Page Size or Paper Size and select Custom or User Defined
Input the dimensions and orientation that we verified within the template in Step 2
Width = short edge
Height = long edge (If you cannot find this, you may need an updated driver from your printer manufacturer.)
Orientation - Choose Portrait or Landscape
7. Media (Paper) Type, select the setting that best matches your paper stock. This setting is not available in all printers.
8. Click OK and start printing!
Printing 4-Up Place Cards With Microsoft Word
Overview
The easiest way to print your own place cards is by ordering our 4-Up Computer Printable Place Cards and downloading our free Word printing template. Use your computer to type in your guests' names and table numbers, then print these standard size 8 1/2" x 11" sheets with your home printer! Here's how:
Step 1 - Download Our 4-Up Place Card Printing Template
This printing template is also available on each Place Card product page. To learn more about our free Word printing templates, watch our video How To Download & Use LCI Paper's Computer Printing Templates.
Step 2 - Open the file 4Up-Place-Cards.doc in Microsoft Word
This file is located inside your ZIP file download. When you open it, you will see a document with four names and table numbers.
Step 3 - Change the names to those of your guests
Replace the sample names and table numbers with the information for your guests. If you like, you can change your fonts and font sizes, add graphics, and be as creative as you like.
Step 4 - Print
Click File > Print. Because these sheets measure 8 1/2 x 11 inches--the same size as plain copy paper--you won't need to change any settings. Continue to print one 4-Up sheet and make sure you're happy with the results. Alternatively, you can print a test on a sheet of copy paper, then hold it up in front of the 4-Up sheet to make sure everything is lined up to your preference.
Continue to work with your Word template, replacing names and table numbers with another set of four guests, printing that sheet, and repeating.
Step 5 - Fold and tear to complete your place cards
Finish by folding and tearing away the four outer edges:
Separate the four place cards by folding and tearing:
Finally, fold each place card along the score line:
Watch Our Video: Print Invitations With Your Computer & Printer
Video: How To Download & Use LCI Paper's Computer Printing Templates
LCI Paper is now offering computer printing templates right on our invitation product pages. Use our templates and sample wording to personalize your invitation with your own custom details.
Start by downloading the template on a product page.
More templates are being added daily, but if a template download link does not appear on a certain product page, request it by clicking the “Ask us a question” link on a product page. We’ll be happy to create the template and make it available.
Next, open the downloaded file. It’s a zip file that contains your templates and several support files.
Open the Printing Tips file. This PDF file contains step by step instructions on how to use our printing templates, how to customize them for your particular invitation, and finally, how to print your invitation with your printer.
Follow the Printing Tips instructions and you’ll be on your way to making your own custom invitations using your computer, your printer, and your creativity.
