DIY 5X7 Card Printing

Printers are wondrous creations that are not always used to their full potential. Although there are several companies, services and specialty printers that are designed to handle your custom printing, your home printer can do the job just fine. So, just check your ink cartridges, create a design and buy the paper. You are ready to print.

Steps

1. Design your project on 5x7 paper. You can do this when asked to choose your project using any print design project. Go with the custom design option and choose the 5x7 size. If you cannot locate this option, you can select the paper size before printing. However, you run the risk of distorting your image.

2. Create the design. Stay within the margins. They are created to ensure that the entire design fits onto the paper and within the area that the printer's ink cartridges can reach. Running over the margins can lead to "cut off" or lost portions of the design as well as misalignment issues.

3. Select "Print Properties" when you are ready to print. Find this selection under "File" at the top of the design program screen. Scroll down the File menu until you reach Print, Print Setup, or Page Layout. On the Page Layout screen, look under File and scroll down to Print Setup. Click it and look for the Properties button at the top right corner of the screen.

4. Click Properties. The next screen will differ depending on the type of printer you use. Just look for the words "Paper Sizes". It may be located under the Advanced or Features tab. You may have to choose Custom, which allows you to input the 5x7 size. Some printers, like the HP Deskjet F4400 Series has subcategories for paper sizes. Look under Photo Sizes and choose 5x7.

5. Click Okay and close on the Properties screen. Click Close on the Print Setup screen. If you are directed back to the Print screen, do nothing until the paper is ready.

6. Take your 5x7 cards and place them against the right side of the paper tray. Slide the paper width guide over to the right until you reach the edge of the paper. This will hold the paper in the tray and guide it into the printer without shifting.

7. Print on copy of your design to test the paper and sizing. Make adjustments as needed to get a centered design. When you have a test page that looks as you expect it to, begin printing your first batch of 5x7 cards.

Tips

These instructions also work for word processing programs and all printing design programs.

Design programs that allow you to preselect paper size automatically adjust the printer specifications. Run a test page to ensure that the printer is adjusted properly.