formatting to print greeting cards or posters

[hiscopilot]

Hi! I have some questions.

They are 2 separate but related (kind of?) questions.

1 is I am printing some high quality prints on strathmore greeting cards. I have a canon pixma pro9000 mark II. What is the best/ easiest way to format the photo to print centered on the card without wasting ink or cards in the setup or trial and error process?

2 is I am working on a poster project for historical stuff around the area to be sold at a local landmark restaurant. What is the best program to set it up in? I know I sound like atotal amateur (and I AM) but would I use photoshop or something more like publisher?

Thank you for your help! I really enjoy this site!

[hiscopilot]

OH! and for the said poster, when formatting, I would like to use a background for it... where do I find it and how do I use it (something like parchment paper look, etc.)

[hiscopilot]

wow, really? no one? Bummer.

[teaking]

To print onto cards your going to have to create a template bearing in mind which way the card will be fed into your printer, and reflecting this in the template or setting it in the print setup when printing eg. Landscape or Portrait.

As to what program you use a graphics or illustration software will enable you to do this.
I would advise you find out if your printer has margins and what they are and marking these in your template so you know what area you cant print on.

Then using your template place the picture in the position on the card you wish it to be. And then print if your template is correct it will be printed in the same place on the card.
As for the poster project your going to have to give more details… what is it… what kind of editing… what are you trying to achieve… etc so we can try to give you the best advice.

Hope that may help a little