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Photo Tips
Combining Photos on Cards
Choosing photos
Shooting Pets (with a camera)
Digital Photos
Combining photos on cards
One of the best things about Card Bard cards is that everyone does not need to be in the same photo. However, there are some guidelines to follow when combining different photos on the same card.
Point of View: On most of our cards, it is necessary for the subjects to be photographed from the same point of view (Exceptions: the Snowflake, Family tree, and Christmas balls cards can have photos from any point of view). For instance, if a child is sitting on the floor with the camera placed up above at adult eye level. then all the photos for that card should also be shot from that camera placement. Usually, the most useful camera position to work with for our cards is eye level, unless otherwise specified.
Lighting: It is helpful for all the photos to be shot under similar light conditions (flash or outdoor cloudy, for example). Outdoor in bright sunlight should be avoided, if possible, as it creates harsh shadows.
Choosing photos
Now you have an assortment of photos and you are trying to choose which ones to use for your photo card. Of course, good quality photos will improve the look of your card. Keep these things in mind:
Focus: Look for clear, sharp focus.
Size of subject: Look for photos where your subject is short distance from the camera and fills the picture (without cutting off any vital parts!). If your card features just a head shot, have your photos also taken from the shoulders up.
Send more than one: If you are not sure which photos will work the best, send more than one. We are more than happy to choose the ones that will work the best for your card.
Uncertain about quality? If you really love a certain photo but are concerned that the quality is not good enough, e-mail us a copy. We'll tell you.
Shooting Pets
Point of View: It is very difficult to get a good photo of more than one pet at a time. Fortunately, we can use separate photos for our cards. However, with pets more than people, you must keep in mind the camera point of view. On most of our cards, it is necessary for the subjects to be photographed from the same point of view (Exceptions: the Snowflake, Family tree, and Christmas balls cards can have photos from any point of view). For instance, if a pet is sitting on the floor with the camera placed up above at adult eye level. then all the photos for that card should also be shot from that camera placement. Usually, the most useful camera position to work with for our cards is eye level, unless otherwise specified.
Have a helper: Pets can be notoriously uncooperative when being photographed. It is often useful to call in a helper to position your dog or cat. If your helper is not one of your household, you may need to allow time for pets to calm down after the arrival of your helper.
Squeaky toy: Having a small squeaky toy hidden away in your hand (or a person standing in back of you with one) can be useful to get your pet's attention. Avoid over use or you may be tackled by your animal.
Zoom lens: If your camera has a zoom lens, it is easier to photograph your animal without him or her being aware of you.
Patience, Patience, Patience: Work in short sessions over a period of days to obtain the best results. If all else fails, several of our cards work well with sleeping pets.
Digital Photos:
Digital photos (3 megapixel or larger) work great with all Card Bard cards. Here are some guidelines to achieve the best results from your digital camera for print photos.
Quality Setting: Set your camera to the highest quality setting allowed (Shq, hq or tiff).
ISO Setting: If your camera allows you to set the ISO, choose 100 or 200 setting. This will give you a clear, sharp picture with less digital noise (a grainy look).
Image Size: Choose the largest image size your camera can record.
Saving the File: Save your images in either .tiff or .jpg form. If you are asked to choose image options for .jpg saving, choose maximum quality or the largest file size.
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