1. Computing & Technology
About.com
Desktop Publishing

Discuss in my forum

Artist Trading Cards from the Computer

By , About.com Guide

See More About:

5 of 5

Mixed Media — Including Computer Artwork
Folded ATC with pop-up features computer-printed artwork.

Folded ATC with pop-up features computer-printed artwork embellished with traditional media and ephemera.

ATC & Photo © J. Bear
Printing photographs to cut out for use in artist trading cards is only one way to create an ATC with a little computer help. Original artwork created in a graphics software program can become a minor element or the focal point of an ATC that also uses more traditional media and methods. Or, you may simply want to use that huge collection of digital fonts to create custom titles, words, and phrases to add to your card. Print onto printer paper, transfer paper, or sticker paper then add the letters to your ATC.

The illustrated card uses three pieces of artwork — "Girl Under Glass" "Girl in a Golden Ball" and "Girl from Saturn" — created entirely on the computer using photographs, photo objects, and graphics software. Originally larger, each image is reduced to ATC size, printed on semi-gloss inkjet photo paper, cut out, then glued to a piece of card stock.

This folded card titled "If You Love Them, Set Them Free" (5 inches across when open, but folds to standard ATC size) has no computer-generated elements on the outside but inside the computer artwork pops out of the card on a die-cut angle pop up. Other materials used include acrylic paint, rubber stamps, metallic ink, black ink, wax paper, and a homemade button & string closure.

  1. What are ATCs?
  2. Software and Size
  3. Showcase Your Computer Artwork
  4. Embellish Your Digital Artwork
  5. Mixed Media — Including Computer Art

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.