Got 12 good pictures of your dog? Then you're ready to make a colourful wall calendar for 2011 for yourself or to give as gifts. You can use simple freeware to design a special month-at-a-time calendar or go with a commercial service to create something really professional-looking. Then print at home, order it online or send it to your local business centre.
Step One: Pick the photos
Grow Calendar 2011
You'll need at least 12 good-quality, horizontal photos. Pix you've taken with your phone won't work; they need to be as large as possible to reproduce well. Kodak for example, suggests that photos that will be printed around 8" x 10" should be at least 1200 by 1500 pixels.
Once you've selected your photos, duplicate them into a separate file. Now you're ready to crop, enhance and resize them. When you're cropping, don't keep the subject dead centre, and come in close. (Remember though, that your final size has to be at least 1200 x 1500 pixels.)
Step Two: Pick the program
There are several routes you can take to make your calendar, from simple to wildly sophisticated. At the 'cheap and cheerful' end of the spectrum you can google "freeware calendar creation" and see what software is available for free download.
One good choice can be found at CalendarHome.com. You don't download the software; but instead you create your calendar online then output it yourself. Either print it directly or "print as" a pdf file and you can print it later or take it to an office supply store like Staples and get them to print it out on good quality, glossy paper.
Another choice is inexpensive software like Broderbund's Calendar Creator. It's around and offers you lots of templates and options. Again, print it out at home, or save as a pdf file and send it out for printing. (This software also offers other formats like large, year-at-a-glance wall calendars, pocket calendars, etc.)
Or, go with an online calendar creator
Instead of working with your own software, you can go with an online calendar creation service like VistaPrint or Smilebox by Hallmark. VistaPrint.com offers you a number of good looking designs and templates; you simply upload your photos and you'll be guided through the process.
You'll even get a heads up if your image won't reproduce well because it's too small or fuzzy. The "catch" with VistaPrint, is that they do the printing. However, the good news is that they do a great job and you'll have a really professional, high quality product in your hands in about a week. A 12 month calendar will run about plus shipping. (The more copies you order, the lower the unit price.)
Hallmark's Smilebox program gets my vote for the best calendar creator around. For 2011, there are 11 very cool designs, and lots of guidance on putting the calendar together. In fact, you just drag 'n' drop, and there's your calendar. In one version, you can even add little colour photos in the empty squares at the end or beginning of the month. Like VistaPrint, Smilebox will print your calendar and deliver a great looking end-product within a few days. BUT, you can also simply print your calendar yourself when it's done, or save it to pdf and have a local office supply store print it out. So high marks for cool designs, ease of use and flexible production.
Step Three: the finishing touches
Before your finalize you calendar, why not add in your local holidays, special events and yes, birthday and anniversaries. (Don't forget your dog's birthday, since this calendar is all-about-him!)
If you're sending your calendar out for printing, ask that it be spiral bound - looks really great, and makes it easy to use. And get a single hole punched in the middle of the top edge, for hanging up your creation.
If you're printing your calendar at home, you can get the same easy-to-use effect by using a 3-hole punch and tiny rings from the dollar store.
A couple of design tips
vary the photos in colour and composition crop in close as you can but don't forget to keep the final photo large (1500 pixels by 1200 or so) try to match each one up with the season - a cute Valentine's photo in February for example don't overdo the fonts - one or two styles is plenty!
Five ways to make your dog photos better and more interesting
take lots get down to your dog's level let your dog sniff out the camera go outside on a shady or overcast day - flash or sunlight makes the picture harsh, with hard shadows and red puppy eyes check the background - no trees "growing" out of your dog's head please!
How To Create Your Own Dog Calendar For 2011 Grow Calendar 2011
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