Greeting Cards and Invitations Made from Sketch Photos

A handmade card means more than a bought one. A sketch-style photo gives it an artistic look, with no drawing skill required.

Ideas by occasion

Occasion	Idea
Birthday	a sketch portrait of the person, or a favourite place
Anniversary	a sketched photo of the couple
New baby	a sketched baby portrait, or tiny hands and feet
Thank-you	a sketched picture of something you both enjoyed
Moving house	a sketch of the old home as a keepsake
Holiday cards	a sketched family photo or a seasonal scene
Invitations	a sketch of the venue or a themed image

Step-by-step

1. Choose a photo with a clear subject and good light.
2. Apply a sketch effect you like, and check the result.
3. Save the picture at the highest quality.
4. Place it in a card template, using any layout tool you like, leaving space for text.
5. Add a message, in a simple font that matches the style.
6. Print or share digitally.

Layout tips

• Keep it simple. Let the picture be the star.
• Leave a margin so nothing is cut off when printing.
• Choose one or two fonts.
• Use plain backgrounds in white or cream for a paper-like look.
• Check the orientation, portrait or landscape, before printing.

Printing

Card type	Typical approach
Folded card	print on a single sheet and fold, using heavier paper
Postcard	print at a small size, such as 4 × 6 inches
Digital card	share as an image by message or email

For a 4 × 6 inch print, aim for about 1200 × 1800 pixels, and use good-quality paper.

Message ideas

• Birthdays: "Another year of adventures. Happy birthday."
• Anniversaries: "Here's to the moments that made us."
• Thank-you: "Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart."

Handwritten words add warmth, even on a printed card.

Digital sharing

If sending digitally, a modest file size (a few hundred KB up to 1 MB) is easy to send. Save the sketch, then share it straight from the app.

Set a theme

If you're making invitations for an event, keep colours and style consistent across invitations, envelope labels and thank-you notes.

Before printing

Print one test copy. Check the colours, text and cropping.

Make it personal

The joy of a sketch card lies in the choice of photo, and the story behind it.

Try Color Photo Sketch →