How to Make a Photo Business Card Using IrfanView and Word
Download IrfanView from www.irfanview.com., Locate the photo or other image(s) that you want to put on your business card., Reduce the image to the correct size of your business card., Start IrfanView, click File > Open and locate the image you want...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Download IrfanView from www.irfanview.com.
It’s a terrific, free imaging program that ought to be on just about every computer.
For example, it allows you to easily take a snapshot of the entire screen or active window, then crop and save the image in any one of more than 20 different file formats. (Several additional columns could be devoted to irfanview uses.) -
Step 2: Locate the photo or other image(s) that you want to put on your business card.
Most photos these days are in jpg format, meaning that the file name will end with “.jpg”, such as my photo.jpg, but you usually don’t need to worry about this.
By default, Windows hides the extension of known file types, so you probably won’t see the jpg extension. , This can be done in Word, but we’re going to do it in IrfanView because it is a generally more useful tool. ,, This is easy with IrfanView.
All that you need do is click and drag the cursor from the upper left to lower right.
When you are satisfied with how the image is cropped, click edit > crop selection, then file > save as, allowing you to rename cropped image (preserving the original) and save it wherever you want. , We’re using Avery 28878 “Clean Edge” business cards, which are 2” x
3.5”. (Avery says “Use Avery Template 8371”.) Still in IrfanView, click Image > Resize/Resample.
In the bottom left of the sub-window which opens you will see a value for DPI:, such as DPI:
96.
This indicates dots per inch for the image.
Higher up in this window is a place to choose “Set new size” and enter Width and Height.
Check “Preserve aspect ratio” and enter a height in pixels that will fit on your card.
For our 2” high card we chose a height of 150 (just over
1.5 inches).
Before you save, hold a business card in front and see if the size looks right.
Change the pixel height if needed.
File > Save as under a different name so that you can more easily redo from the original cropped image. ,, Insert in cropped, resized image in the upper left. , You want to place text close beside.
Right-click on the image, choose Format Picture > Layout > Tight. , You should now be able to type this right beside the image.
Be careful that the combined width of your image and type will fit on a
3.5” wide card. , Unfortunately, the Labels option in Word will copy either an image or a block of text, but not both as the same time.
Not to worry.
We can combine our image and text into a single image. , From the Capture Setup sub window which opens, choose these options:
Foreground Window, Show captured image in main window, Hot Key: ctrl+F11.
Un-check Include Mouse cursor.
Minimize Irfanview.
Now, anytime you click ctrl+F11, the foreground window will be captured and displayed.
You can manipulate, crop, etc. and save this image any way you want.
It’s very handy. , Press Ctrl+F11 to capture your image and text in one image. , At 96 DPI, that will be 192 height x 332 width.
Save cropped image under a new name. , Open a new blank page in Word and Insert the combined image you just made.
Click on the image to highlight it; that is, the combined image and text will be outlined in a light blue box. , Click Options and find the business card size (in this case Avery 8371).
You should see the combined image displayed and ready to print a full page of the same label.
You might want to test on a sheet of plain paper before using your more costly cardstock. -
Step 3: Reduce the image to the correct size of your business card.
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Step 4: Start IrfanView
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Step 5: click File > Open and locate the image you want to use.
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Step 6: In our case
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Step 7: the image
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Step 8: a photo of the two of us
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Step 9: needed to be severely cropped.
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Step 10: Reduce the image to size needed for your business card.
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Step 11: Open a blank page in Microsoft Word.
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Step 12: Click Insert > Insert picture from file.
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Step 13: By default
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Step 14: Word places text in line with images.
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Step 15: Choose the font type and size for your business card.
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Step 16: We’re almost ready to generate a sheet of business cards.
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Step 17: Open IrfanView again
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Step 18: but this time choose Options > Capture Screenshot.
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Step 19: With Irfanview running and minimized
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Step 20: return to your Word business card under construction.
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Step 21: Now you want to crop the combined image to something close to business card size of 2” x 3.5”.
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Step 22: We’re almost done.
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Step 23: Click Mailings > Labels.
Detailed Guide
It’s a terrific, free imaging program that ought to be on just about every computer.
For example, it allows you to easily take a snapshot of the entire screen or active window, then crop and save the image in any one of more than 20 different file formats. (Several additional columns could be devoted to irfanview uses.)
Most photos these days are in jpg format, meaning that the file name will end with “.jpg”, such as my photo.jpg, but you usually don’t need to worry about this.
By default, Windows hides the extension of known file types, so you probably won’t see the jpg extension. , This can be done in Word, but we’re going to do it in IrfanView because it is a generally more useful tool. ,, This is easy with IrfanView.
All that you need do is click and drag the cursor from the upper left to lower right.
When you are satisfied with how the image is cropped, click edit > crop selection, then file > save as, allowing you to rename cropped image (preserving the original) and save it wherever you want. , We’re using Avery 28878 “Clean Edge” business cards, which are 2” x
3.5”. (Avery says “Use Avery Template 8371”.) Still in IrfanView, click Image > Resize/Resample.
In the bottom left of the sub-window which opens you will see a value for DPI:, such as DPI:
96.
This indicates dots per inch for the image.
Higher up in this window is a place to choose “Set new size” and enter Width and Height.
Check “Preserve aspect ratio” and enter a height in pixels that will fit on your card.
For our 2” high card we chose a height of 150 (just over
1.5 inches).
Before you save, hold a business card in front and see if the size looks right.
Change the pixel height if needed.
File > Save as under a different name so that you can more easily redo from the original cropped image. ,, Insert in cropped, resized image in the upper left. , You want to place text close beside.
Right-click on the image, choose Format Picture > Layout > Tight. , You should now be able to type this right beside the image.
Be careful that the combined width of your image and type will fit on a
3.5” wide card. , Unfortunately, the Labels option in Word will copy either an image or a block of text, but not both as the same time.
Not to worry.
We can combine our image and text into a single image. , From the Capture Setup sub window which opens, choose these options:
Foreground Window, Show captured image in main window, Hot Key: ctrl+F11.
Un-check Include Mouse cursor.
Minimize Irfanview.
Now, anytime you click ctrl+F11, the foreground window will be captured and displayed.
You can manipulate, crop, etc. and save this image any way you want.
It’s very handy. , Press Ctrl+F11 to capture your image and text in one image. , At 96 DPI, that will be 192 height x 332 width.
Save cropped image under a new name. , Open a new blank page in Word and Insert the combined image you just made.
Click on the image to highlight it; that is, the combined image and text will be outlined in a light blue box. , Click Options and find the business card size (in this case Avery 8371).
You should see the combined image displayed and ready to print a full page of the same label.
You might want to test on a sheet of plain paper before using your more costly cardstock.
About the Author
Jerry Peterson
Writer and educator with a focus on practical crafts knowledge.
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