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Retro styles are definitely back in fashion, from interiors and clothes to poster and postcard printing. Just a quick browse of Pinterest will demonstrate that vintage colours, patterns and quirky text are back! When promoting an event or a business, using a postcard to hand out to potential customers can be a great way to get your product into their hands, in a convenient and eye-catching format.
Design Tips for postcard printing: going retro
Nostalgic designs can really help to grab people’s attention and make them associate your business with positive times. Here are our top tips for achieving a retro style when designing a postcard for printing:
- Vivid graphics and images
Retro designs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s tend to feature vivid and bold graphics, such as drawings of old cars, planes, record players or people; depending of course on the purpose of the postcard printing.
Images and graphics are of course a key way of making a postcard printing design look retro. The images you use will depend on the era you want your audience to relate to, and of course the product or event you are promoting. For example, a restaurant or café promoting themselves using a retro postcard may choose to use a retro image or vector of a 1950s pin-up girl holding a milkshake and burger, channelling a retro American diner style. Stock photo websites such as Shutterstock or Thinkstock are packed with retro image designs, vectors and templates for you to use, all at reasonable prices.
- Pale Colours
Colour schemes in retro designs tend to be not too pale, but not too dull either. Try to limit the number of colours you use as full colour postcard printing would have been expensive in the past, unlike today’s more cost effective digital printing processes. Two toned colouring was particularly popular for retro designs, although modern day designers can of course be more creative with colour, instead combining other elements such as typography, imagery and shapes to create a retro feel.
- Shapes and Illustrations
Shapes should be kept simple when creating a retro postcard for printing. Circles of varying sizes tend to be used to draw the eye and make an impact, with text contained inside each circle. Some vintage postcard printing styles also favour quirky floral or striped backgrounds.
- Typography
Retro typography varies according to which decade the designer is trying to channel in postcard printing. For example, a 1920s theme may follow font reminiscent of art-deco, whereas a 1960s style theme may incorporate pop-art style themes. Typeface is particularly important as it creates a sense of recognition, so is a key element when designing a retro postcard.
- Use a web designing template
There are many web templates available to help you when creating a postcard for printing, in order to advertise an event or promotion. These include sites like Canva, which has several free retro-looking templates to choose from. Your design can then be uploaded to our postcard printing order service.
At A Local Printer we also offer a bespoke design service for postcard printing. Contact us for more information.
