Using Red River's Lightroom card templates is the easiest way to set up and print a card. Follow the steps in the below order and you will have a card completed in no time!
Get Started - Template Download
Red River Paper offers free blank templates for Lightroom here. The templates are required to setup and print folded cards from Lightroom. Install intructions are included with the download.
STEP 1a - Pick an Image for Your Card
Start in the Library or Develop module and choose an image for your card. Complete any editing and cropping before moving onto the next steps.
STEP 1b - Print Module - Define Custom Paper Size
Insiders hint - You define the paper size first so that Lightroom knows your card size and will display it properly in the Print module.
Once you have picked an image for your card, go to the Print Module.
Click on the Page Setup button at lower left.
At the Print Setup dialog, choose your printer and click the PROPERTIES button.
Click the Page Setup tab and then click on the Page Size drop down
Scroll to the bottom of the Page Size (paper size) listing and click on CUSTOM.
The Custom Paper Size dialog will appear. Set Width and Height using the chart below.
| Card Size | Width | Height |
| 7 x 10 (A7) | 7" | 10" |
| 6.25 x 9 (A6) | 6.25" | 9" |
| 5.5 x 8.5 (A2) | 5.5" | 8.5" |
| 5.25 x 5.25 (Square) | 5.25" | 5.25" |
| 8 x 9 Pano | 8" | 9" |
The custom paper set up is complete.
Click OK and the OK again to return to the Print Module.
STEP 2a - Template Introduction
Still in the Print Module, look on the left side of your screen for the Template Browser. If you installed your print templates according to the instructions, you will see a sub-category of templates labeled "Red River Paper Templates". If necessary, click on the triangle to the left of the label to open the full template selection.
Once the template selection is open, you will see all of the available templates.
All of the templates start with "RR".
After "RR", you will see the card size - this is the unfolded card size.
After the card size you will see (P) or (L), which refers to the orientation of your image on the card.
P = Portrait - vertical image orientation on the front of the card
L = Landscape - horizontal image orientation on the front of the card
Stroke - Choosing a stroke template will put a line around the outside of your image. You can control the color and size of the image using the "Inner Stroke" panel on the right of your screen.
STEP 2b - Template Selection, Card Creation.
Referring back to Step 1a, your image orientation will determine the template orientation, P or L. Choose a template by clicking the name once.
When you choose an orientation, see below, the Print Module preview will update and show a complete card.
Notice the light gray areas around the border. These represent unprintable margins. The template will make your image as large as possible for the printable area. You can resize any part of the template by clicking and dragging a corner.
STEP 2c - Identity Plate (the back of your card)
The templates use Lightroom's Identity Plate (IP) to place text on the outside back of your card. The IP is editable in a few ways.
1. A single line of text
2. A JPEG (image) file that you import as the Identity Plate.
Start by locating the Identity Plate control on the right of your screen. Click anywhere on the IP and a menu will appear. Click "Edit".
Identity Plate as Text
Setting the IP for text is easy. Type your text into the editor. You can chage the font, font format, font size, and color. You can then save it as a IP template for later use (see below).
Identity Plate as Image
Click the "Use a graphic identity plate" radio button as shown below. Then click the Locate File drop down and find the image you would like to use.
This feature supports JPEG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF image format.
At this point you are, more or less, on your own to experiment with how the image looks as an Identity Plate. You can resize it and move it around the back of the card. The great part is you can easily change the IP in a few clicks or return to a text IP.
Saving the Identity Plate
When you are ready to use the text or image IP, click "Save As" as shown below and follow the on-screen instructions. The IP will be available for use in future projects.
STEP 3 - Print
Start by setting color management options in the Lightroom Print Module. A full discussion of color management and Lightroom is in our profile library help section.
Click the Printer button on the bottom left.
This will launch the Print Setup dialog. Verfiy your printer is chosen and click the Properties button.
On the Main tab, set the following.
1 - Media Type - recommendations are in each box of Red River Paper or in the ICC profile instruction PDF
2 - Paper Source
3 - Print quality
4 - Color management. If you are NOT using an ICC profile, choose Auto
When you have double checked the settings click Print.
Congratulations! You have set up and printed a Red River Paper greeting card.
Top Tip - Cut plain copy paper to your card size for printing practice before using the good stuff.
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Last updated: December 01, 2023
