How to Create a Custom E-Card
Magix Xtreme Photo Designer 6.6

1. Create a new document.

Click File then New. Type 400 for the width and 300 for the height in pixels. Make sure the DPI for both horizontal and vertical is 72.

2. Filling the background

Gradient Background- Click this image on your left in the toolbar. Holding down the left mouse button drag in any direction for any length within your document to create a gradient background.

Solid Background- Click the color tile at the bottom of the toolbar then select the color of your choice and click OK. Click the Fill Tool on the toolbar then click once with the Fill Tool anywhere in your document.

Image Background- Click File then Open to browse to an image. If your image is larger than 400 x 300 pixels you can resize the image. Click Tasks in the top navigation. The task assistant window will appear on the left. Click the bottom option, "Change Image Format." A list of options will tip down. Click Scale image. Change the width to be 400 pixels and the height to be 300 pixels. Click "Apply" when you are finished.

Try to pick a background that works well with your overall design, and is not too busy.

3. Paste in your logo

Add Logo Image- Click "File" then "Open". Browse to your logo image. Your logo will open in another window. Select the rectangle mask in the toolbar. Position the cursor at any corner then click and drag the rectangle mask completely over the logo image. If you did this correctly the logo image will be highlighted with dashed lines. Click "Edit" in the top navigation and click "Copy". At the bottom of your screen you will see a thumbnail of the background image. Click on the thumbnail of the background image to revert back to this window. Click "Edit" in the top navigation then click "Paste" and select "As Object."

Layers- Notice on the right panel you have a logo image layer and a background layer.

Reposition Logo- You can reposition your logo image by hoovering the cursor over the logo image until it turns into four perpindicular arrows. Click and drag the logo image to reposition.

Transparency- You can adjust the transparency of the logo on the right panel underneath your object layers. Drag the slider to the right.

Rearrange Layers- If you would like to rearrange your layers on the right panel right highlight the layer you want to move. Click and select Arrange. Here you can choose "To Front" (Sends highlighted layer to beginning of layers), "To Back" (Sends highlighted layer to end of layers), "One to Front" (Sends highlighted layer to the layer above), "One to Back" (Sends highlighted layer to the layer below).

4. Add text

Adjust Text Appearence- Click the Insert Text tool in the toolbar. Click in the area you want to insert text. You are able to change the:

Font:

Font Size:

Format:

Color:

Alignment:

Shadow: To change the shadow click the "Other" button . A window will appear with Shadow and 3D Highlighting options.

Adjust your text as you like then click "OK." When you are finished click the green check mark at the top right of your screen to finalized the text layer. Notice this creates a new layer.

Reposition Text- You can reposition your text object by hoovering the cursor over the text object until it turns into four perpindicular arrows. Click and drag the text object to reposition.

5. Save it at the proper size and image quality

Save as .psd file for future editing:

Click "File" at the top navigation then select "Save AS." Browse to the location where you want to save the .psd card design file. Make sure you save your e-card designs to a place on your computer where you can easily find them! Enter the file name of your choice and click on the "Save as type:" drop down and select "Adobe Photoshop (*.psd)." This saves your layers and objects so you will be able to edit in the future.

Save as .jpeg or .gif file for upload:

Click "File" at the top navigation then select "Save for Internet..."

A warning window will pop up and ask, "Objects and masks are not saved when saving into this format! Do you wish to continue?" Select the "Yes" button. Since you already saved your card design file as a .psd file, objects and masks are saved. This means you are still able to edit objects and masks in the .psd file.

The Save for Internet window will pop up. You will see two sections labeled, "Original" and "Compressed." The compressed version of your card design file is the same file as a smaller file size. In the "Compression" settings just below, set the quality slider to about 75, unless you want the quality to be higher. In order to upload your card design your file must be less than 80kb per image. Keep this in mind when you are setting the quality. The quality amount effects the overall file size. Keep the rest of the settings at their default and click "OK."

Browse to the location where you want to save your card design file. Make sure you save your e-card designs to a place on your computer where you can easily find them! Enter the file name of your choice and click on the "Save as type:" drop down and select "JPEG Image (*.jpg,* jpe,* jpeg,* jfif)" or "CompuServe GIF (*.gif)." In the image example, we chose the JPEG file format, since the image contains smooth gradients. GIF files work best with solid colors.

6. Upload your files

When your e-cards designs are ready, sign into your account. At the top of the screen click "My Account" then select "Manage Custom Cards." Click the "Upload Custom Cards" button. This will launch the upload window. You can upload up to 36 Custom e-cards — the upload tool will tell you how many e-card designs you are able to upload. You can delete e-cards you no longer use.

Click "Browse..." and locate the files for each e-card design. After you've located all the card design files you want to upload click the "Upload" button. (Click the button just once...upload times will vary with your connection speed and the number & size of images.) You will see your e-card images in your account when the upload is complete and you will be able to send them right away! When you go to "E-cards" at the top of the screen click, "Create a Card." You will be able to see your custom e-card designs here.

7. Share your Custom E-cards

You can give anyone who is a CorpNote member access to your e-cards. Go to My Account then click Share Cards and select "Share your Custom Cards with others" on the left. Enter an email address in the Share Custom Cards box and click the "Share My Custom Cards", and that member will be able to see and send your Custom E-cards the next time they sign in.

If you need additional help, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions or complete our Priority Email Support Form.