If you are working on doing any online design, it is important to find a website that suits your needs and is easy to work with regardless of skill level. There are so many sites that can be used to create designs for all purposes; however, among the most popular and user friendly are Canva and Placeit which allow creators to make unlimited downloadable designs and mockups.

Placeit vs. Canva. One of the most notable differences between these two sites is that Placeit is mostly known as a mockup site where you can design not only logos and online materials but also apparel and more; whereas Canva is more geared towards users who are creating online posters, social media posts, e-books, and more.

Finding the right medium to design your content and mockups can be challenging when there are so many great options. In this article, we will compare the similarities and differences between Placeit and Canva, how to use each, how user-friendly each one is, the pricing, and the downfalls to each of these websites.

Differences in Pricing

Since this is often a determining factor for many who are looking for a free service, we will first cover the cost differences between using these two sites. One of the huge upsides of using Canva is that there is a free version, whereas Placeit does not have free access. This is often critical for users who prefer to test a platform out for a while before investing in the paid version.

Placeit.net

For those who use Placeit, if you do not pay the membership fee, you will have a watermark on all of your mockups. To use Placeit and have access to unlimited mockups, designs, videos, and logos, you will be charged a fee of $14.95 a month or $99.95 a year. Plus, they are currently offering 15% off any plan!

Keep in mind that all pricing is subject to change and is the most recent reported pricing based on when the article was written. The site has only one pricing option, so there are no pricing tiers to consider, which is often beneficial as you have access to every feature with just one set price point.

» MORE: Does Placeit Have a Free Trial?

Canva.com

Canva offers a free account to users; however, you will not have access to everything you would have access to as a premium user. With a free account, there are certain photos, icons, and template add-ins that are not available.

Some of these elements have pricing on them; for example, as a free user if you wanted to add a photo to your poster that was not included in the free account it may have a $1 on it, and before you download your final document you would pay for the items you used with your credit card. Whereas, other elements are simply unavailable unless you have a Canva Pro account.

Therefore, you can get more done for free on Canva if you are looking for a site for which you do not have to pay anything. The Canva Pro fee is $9.95 a month if billed annually at $119.40, or $12.95 a month when billed monthly (pricing subject to change and is reported as when this article was written). Canva also offers a one-month free trial of Canva Pro before you are billed.

» MORE: Is Canva Really a Free Program? [The Answer Revealed]

Comparisons Between Sites

Both Placeit and Canva offer users the ability to create designs for whatever you may need, including things like social media posts and stories. While the sites do have differences, they have a similar basic structure. There are thousands of templates for users to try for their creating designs for their brands on both sites.

If your primary need for one of these sites is for social media or website content, it is likely that both websites will work well for your design needs. Both sites offer templates that are sized out for Instagram stories, posts, Facebook and LinkedIn header photos, and more. These are ideal, as you will not need to further adjust the image once it is brought into your social networking site.

Both sites are extremely user friendly, highlighting tutorial videos and information to help users get ahead in their design journey. These step by step guides and simple tools make it easy for designers of all levels to still create beautiful and effective designs. Since both sites are so user friendly, you will find everything you need all in one place and be able to troubleshoot with ease.

Unlike certain sites that require users to be experienced in something like photoshop or advanced design skills, these two sites will walk all users through their designs and offer a number of helpful tools so that you can learn as you go and can feel like you are getting better at template design over the time you are using the site.

However, keep in mind that there are a few differences between the sites, namely differences in the kinds of content you can create on each site, and how you can use it. Both sites have their own niche and audience they appeal to based on the templates they offer. The pros and cons of each site will be covered in-depth to help you make an informed decision about which site is right for you.

Pros of Using Canva

One of the nicest things about Canva is that users can create an entire e-book or magazine on the site, without even having to upgrade to Canva Pro. Whether you are creating an entire e-book or a simple logo, you will be able to create a design you are happy with without having to pay for anything.

This is majorly helpful as users can trial the site for as long as they want to before buying Canva Pro or can use the free account without ever upgrading. Even if you are never to upgrade your account, you can still access some of the Pro content by paying for them individually as you use them on your designs.

» MORE: Can You Use Canva Fonts for Commercial Use?

Canva’s Template Library

Canva has over 10,000 templates that you can use to design your media. Among these templates includes:

• Books
• Posters
• Social media posts (including story templates, and post templates)
• Resumes
• Infographics
• Ads
• Presentations
• Videos
• Cards or Invitations

With Canva, nearly any template you could need is available. This site is especially helpful for those who are creating designs to be used on their internet platforms or for print outs. Many users use Canva to create their social media headers and posts because Canva has sized out all their templates to be ideal for different platforms.

Canva is also often used by entrepreneurs or influencers who design and release e-books or guides. There is no page limit to the designs you create, and therefore a template can be used for lengthier book type content. In addition, Canva is a very intuitive site to use and does not take much practice to become well-versed in using.

Cool Bonuses on Canva

Through Canva, there is a “Design School” link that guides users to joining different courses or accessing tutorials to better their design skills. This can allow users who want a more in-depth command of the tools to learn how to create seamless designs and discover more of the tips and tricks that other users may be unaware of.

If you do not want to engage with the design school, it is unlikely you will have problems navigating the site. Once you choose a design, the controls up at the top of the screen are very self-explanatory and easy to use. Since the site is extremely user friendly for all levels, you will likely have success creating designs even if you are a beginner.

Additionally, through Canva, you can curate your “Brand Kit” to make creating your designs even easier. You can paste your brand logo in there, choose your brand colors, and the fonts/styles you like using on your designs. This ensures that all of your designs are uniform, and you are not creating designs that do not look attractive to each other.

You can also link your Canva account with a number of other apps to gain access to even more tools. Luckily, these are linked directly through the Canva website under “Apps” to make it as easy for users as possible to access other helpful tools for their designs. Not only that, but you can upload your own photos to add to your designs for free.

There are endless possibilities on Canva, even if you are a user that is taking advantage of the free offerings on the site. You will be able to create beautiful and successful designs that automatically save as you work if you begin using the site. You can create folders and keep track of all of your designs for free.

Cons of Using Canva

While Canva is an extremely user-friendly site, if you do not have Canva Pro, you may begin to get frustrated while you are making designs. If you are choosing to create designs where you want to use a lot of Canva’s photos or elements, you may not be able to find exactly what you want for free.

This may cause you to spend small amounts of money buying access to individual elements or investing in a Pro membership. This also causes you to use more of your own content or that of the internet to fill the space on your designs. This problem, however, is avoided by those who use Canva Pro.

Another con to the site is that it is geared solely for internet creations, more so than mockups of all variations. If you are hoping to do a mockup of a design, whether it be for a technological device or apparel, this will be challenging on Canva as these designs are not pre-set templates. Instead, you would need to create this from scratch on a blank template.

Therefore, before choosing if Canva is right for you, it is important to think about what kinds of work you need to get done through the application you choose. If you are primarily creating the items that are listed above in the pros section, then Canva will suit your needs very well. If these are not the kinds of designs you will need to make, this may not be the right site for your designs.

An additional con to Canva is that you cannot copyright/trademark designs created on Canva. If you’re a professional graphic designer, creating designs for clients, they are likely going to want to be able to copyright or trademark those designs. If you use Canva, you won’t be able to offer this to your clients. This is a big deal breaker for some users, especially because Placeit gives you full commercial usage rights and allows you to copyright/trademark any design created on their site.

» MORE: Should Graphic Designers Use Canva? 6 Things to Know

Pros of Using Placeit

Placeit gives designers access to over 90,000+ templates, along with tons of social media tools to create posts and ads. In addition, they add roughly 600 new templates per week, and you are able to access:

• Video templates (mockups, intros, overlays, animated templates, etc.)
• Logo Maker
• Apparel design templates
• And overall the largest library of mockups of all design sites

On top of having access to thousands of social media designs, Placeit gives you the ability to create a mockup with any image you have. You can paste images on top of apparel, technological devices, book covers, and so much more. This gives you the ability to visualize your designs before they are fully created.

If this is something that is important to you, Placeit is likely going to be the more helpful website for you as it was started to simply be a mockup site. This is an ability that most other design websites do not offer and can be very helpful for visualizing a launch before you release it or for those who are designing apparel and need to see the finalized product before buying.

Placeit also has specialized gaming templates on the site to create logos for games. This is unique to the site and is a major portion of the designs you are able to make with Placeit. Much like Canva, Placeit is a very easy site to use and is very beginner-friendly. When making mockups, it is as simple as uploading your photo to see it in the template you chose.

When you upload your image for the mockup, Placeit will automatically resize it and paste it into the template of your choosing so that you simply upload, then are able to download your mockup right away. This is a simple and quick process, and there is no limit on the number of mockups you create.

The same goes for video mockups, which can be made in seconds. The process is the same, just simply upload your photos or videos, and Placeit will do the rest of the work for you! With thousands of mockup options and such ease in creating each mockup, Placeit is a simple and easy site for users of all levels to use for their design needs.

The site does offer tutorials and marketing information for their customers, which is helpful to take your skills from basic designing to the next level of being able to produce really quality outputs through the website. These are all found on the Placeit blog, where you can interact with those who are posting tips and tricks for how to better use the site for your needs.

MORE: Is Placeit Worth It? Everything You Need To Know

Cons of Using Placeit

Arguably the biggest con to using Placeit is that there is no free membership. If you use the site without paying, the mockups and designs will have a watermark on them so that you are unable to download a finished version that could be used elsewhere.

For those who want to use the site and download designs and mockups that can be used in their business or for their websites, buying the membership is absolutely necessary. However, this may not be a con for those who are willing and able to pay the membership fee to access all the great material on the website. Plus, the 15% off discount makes it hard to beat.

Placeit is also very specialized to specific media types. There is a focus on gaming logos, video creation, logo creation, and apparel. There are unlimited mockup templates; however, if you are not creating a mockup or any of the items listed above, you may not find your ideal template on the site.

» MORE: Can Placeit Be Used for Commercial Use?

PlaceIt Isn’t the Best for Some Things

If you are hoping to create a longer document such as an e-book or magazine, this site may not be the most ideal for your needs. Although it would be extremely helpful to create a mockup of a book cover to see how it would print, it may be more challenging to create the book contents itself on Placeit.

If you are using this platform to create ads or content for social media, you will find that the offerings are very similar between Canva and Placeit. Both websites have social media-specific templates; however, this is not the main focus of Placeit, and therefore if that is your primary goal, you may find that Placeit does not have as many options for design as it does for mockups.

In addition, when you are using Placeit for design, while there is a huge variety of templates, you are unable to customize the template as much as you can on Canva. This is not a bad thing if you are happy with the template and simply want to paste in a photo and replace the text that is a placeholder.

However, if you are unhappy with the elements on the design or the template basics, you will not be able to change some things. You may find that this is a con to the site if you are used to being able to customize your templates to your liking and replace the stickers that are on the template when you download it.

The interface simply has fewer features when it comes to editing and customizing templates when compared to that of Canva, which is 100% customizable on all of the templates offered to customers. However, again this comes back to your personal needs when it comes to using these online interfaces.

» MORE: The Complete Placeit.net Review [Read Before Buying]

Other Design Sites

Keep in mind that there are hundreds of sites out there where you can create online designs and utilize set templates for your own use, whether it be for work, school, or social networking sites. Often these are free sites that attempt to stand up to the quality and content that can be produced on Canva or Placeit.

While many of the alternative sites offer free services and allow similar content creation capacities to users, Canva and Placeit are known to have more templates and more variety than most other sites. They are also known to have higher quality templates, images, and final products than many other knockoff sites that offer similar services.

However, take a look at all of your options, especially if you are looking to buy a membership with one of these sites. Keep in mind that the majority of web designers and content creators utilize Canva and Placeit due to their high-quality content and reliable service. By using these sites, you have access to unlimited tools and tips for all your design needs.

» MORE: Does Envato Elements Include Placeit?

How to Choose Your Design Site

If you primarily need a platform for your mockups, you will find that the ease of creating mockups on Placeit is worth the cost to make it. Whereas the extra work and time you must put in on Canva to create a mockup is counterintuitive to your goal. Once you have created an account on Placeit, you can make unlimited mockups in the matter of seconds.

However, if you need a platform where you are able to make adjustments to every element on your page and have full control over each template, you will likely prefer the freedom you get from Canva. Simply by knowing what is important for your creative process, you will be able to weigh out the pros and cons of each of these sites to then decide what is best for you.

If, after this article, you are still unsure about which site will better suit your needs right now, give both a try! You can create mockups on Placeit for free; you will just have to deal with the watermark until you upgrade to a premium account. You can also use Canva extensively without ever having to upgrade to Canva Pro.

Once you have used each one of these sites for a little while and have gotten a feel for the offerings and capabilities of each site, you will be able to better make a decision about which site is best for your needs. This also gives you a chance to explore all of the templates each site has and the ways in which you can manipulate them to best fit your vision.

Both sites offer different specialties that can help you, whether you are launching a brand, shaping your business, or simply creating eye-catching graphics for your social media profiles. These are highly intuitive sites that you will be able to easily navigate as you begin making your own designs and creations.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking to create designs or mockups for any of the content you are looking to create, using Canva or Placeit will be hugely helpful in making your content look more professional and eye-catching. By using these professional templates, you will be able to introduce more color and content into your designs while maintaining a sleek and attractive look!

This can not only be beneficial for the marketing and traffic of your business or whatever you are creating, but it also gives you a starting point rather than forcing you to start from scratch on all of your designs. However, for those who are more advanced in their design skills, each of these sites does give you the ability to create from a blank canvas.

Both of these sites give you the ability to create no matter your level or skill and no matter your purpose for the design. However, for those who do not use either site consistently or simply do not want to invest in one of the sites, using Canva free may be the better option.

Remember, the most important thing to consider when deciding which site will be better for you is thinking first about the primary reason you need to site. If you plan to sell the designs you create, and want the ability to copyright/trademark those designs, Placeit is the clear winner.

Both are great graphic design websites, there’s no doubt about that. Personally, I used to use Canva but have switched to Placeit for the commercial usage rights. I sell my designs on print on-demand websites, and need Placeit’s commercial usage rights to do so.

Consider your intended usage, and hopefully this article helps you choose the right tool for you!

If you need to design a certificate and don’t have the time or money to have one created, Google Docs is an amazing tool. Not only is it a free alternative to Microsoft Word, it also allows you to design and create a number of projects.

How do you design a certificate in Google Docs? Here is how to design a certificate in Google Docs:

1. Create & Orient a New Document
2. Create a Border
3. Add Text
4. Add a Signature Line
5. Add a Seal

To help make your life a little easier, I’ve broken these steps down to help you create your own certificate in Google Docs.

» MORE: 8 Best Fonts That Look Like Signatures

5 Steps to Creating a Certificate in Google Docs

Whether you’re a teacher looking to create a simple certificate for their students or a manager needing to create a certificate for your “employee of the month”, Google Docs is the only software you need to get the job done.

I created my own certificate using Google Docs and broke it down into 5 simple steps so you can see how easy it really is.

Gathering Inspiration

Before I started creating my own certificate, I did a quick google image search for generic certificates. I looked through 20 pictures or so before I decided on my top 3.

Once I narrowed down what I liked, I left the images open in a seperate tab so I could easily reference them as I began working. This helped me understand what I did or did not like about each certificate. There is a huge variety in the border options, text placement, and color schemes you can try.

Step 1 – Creating a New Document

To get started you are going to want to open Google Docs and start a new “blank document”. Once open, you can name your file in the upper left-hand corner.

One of the great things about Google Docs is that it auto-saves all your work. The days of forgetting to save your work are long gone.

I wanted to change the orientation of my certificate to landscape to give it the feel of a real certificate. You can do this by selecting “file” and then “page setup” in the upper left-hand corner of the page. By selecting this, it will bring up a page to adjust your page settings. 

I changed the orientation from “portrait” to “landscape” and left all options the same. Feel free to play around with different margins or page colors to suit your needs.

#2 – Creating a Border

While gathering inspiration for my certificate, I noticed that the majority of other certificates had borders on them. I decided my certificate needed a border. Unlike Microsoft Word, there is no option to add in a border in Google Docs.

Just because there is no border option, does not mean it’s impossible to create a border. It just means you need to get creative in creating your own border. I discovered two different methods to create your border.

Using a Table

One simple way to create your own border is to do so using a table. You can add the table in by selecting “Insert” in the menu bar and then “table – 1×1”.

This will create a table in your document. From there adjust the size of the table by dragging the bottom line of the table down to fill the whole page.

Once you have adjusted your table to your liking you can click on it to adjust the size, color and style of it.

Using an Image as a Border

The alternative to using a table border for your certificate would be to find an existing border on the internet and upload it to put on your document.

To add your image you are going to go to “Insert” in the menu bar and then select “Drawing – + New”.

Once the draw tool has opened up, go ahead and upload your border using the image button. Select “Save and Close” once uploaded and this will add your border to your document.

Adjust your border to fill the page for your certificate.

I found my border on Clip-Art Library which has a wide selection of free clip art images for your personal use. When using an image found on the internet, please make sure you have the proper licensing to use it.

#3 – Adding Text

Now comes the fun part, adding text to your certificate. The font you choose is going to set the tone for your certificate. You can choose to use the fonts that Google Docs provides, or you can use an “add-on” to access more fonts. For my certificate, I used the Extensis Fonts add-on for Google Docs.

There are a few ways to do this depending on if you used a table border or an image border. Let me break it down for you.

Adding Text with a Table Border – Option #1

If you choose to use a table border, you have two different options as to how you can add text onto your certificate. The first option would be to write in the document like you would any word document.

I chose to format the text in the center of the document and just down 4 lines so my text wasn’t right at the top of the page.

When I was gathering information for my certificate, I noticed that most generic certificates will use the first line to acknowledge what the certificate is for (i.e. employee of the month, certificate of completion, etc.).

Feel free to use whatever font, color and size you wish for this. I used the Algreya SC font in the size 36. When I was searching for inspiration, one thing I liked on other certificates was when they would use a script style font for the “of”. To get that look, I used the Aquafina Script font.

Your next few lines of your certificate should state that the certificate is being awarded or acknowledge completion of a project or class, and who it is being awarded to. You can use phrases such as “proudly awarded to” or “acknowledging successful completion of”.

I started my certificate by jumping down 2 lines from the “Certificate of Completion”, downsizing the front to 18 and changing the color to black.

Feel free to play around with different fonts, sizes, colors and bolding to make your certificate your own.

Adding Text with a Table Border – Option #2

The second option to adding text for your certificate would be to create a text box using the draw tool. One benefit to using the draw tool rather than just typing the text in, you are able to play around more with the format on the page.

Please note when using the draw tool, any add-on fonts will not be available for use.

To get started, create a new drawing just like previously mentioned for adding an image border. Once the draw tool is open, select the “text box” icon to create a new text box.

Once the text box tool opens, drag the box out to fit your sizing needs. Insert your text here rather than on the document itself . Play around with alignment, sizing, fonts and colors just like you would if you were typing it on the document.

For my certificate, I used the EB Garamond and Pinyon Script fonts.

Once you get your text to your liking, select “Save and Close”. Your text should now be inside your certificate, drag and position to your liking.

Adding Text with an Image Border

Adding text to an image border is similar to adding text with the draw tool with a table border. The only difference between the two is when adding text to a certificate with an image border, you’ll need to modify your existing drawing you created to add your image border.

You will not be able to use add-on fonts with this option. You will only be able to use the fonts that Google Docs provides.

To do this, you’ll need to double click on your image border. This will re-open the draw tool with your image border.

Create a text box to fit the inside of the border and fill with your text. Once finished select “Save and Close”. Your text should now be in your certificate.

#4 – Adding a Signature Line

By now your certificate should be looking like the real deal, only need to add a few more small things until it’s good to go.

A signature is one of the most important aspects of a certificate. Not only does the signature acknowledge the award, it also certifies it.

How do you add a signature line in? The process is very simple and involves using the draw tool.

Creating a Signature Line with a Table Border

To create your signature line, create a new drawing. One the draw tool is open, select the line tool to create a horizontal line.

Once you have adjusted the size of your line to your liking, create a text box positioned underneath the line. You can use this text box to list the title of the person signing it, or use it as a printed version of the name.

You can choose to make a text box on top of the line and use a script font as your “signature” or you can leave it blank and sign once the certificate has been printed.

Creating a Signature Line with an Image Border

If you are using an image border, it is important to note that you will need to edit your existing drawing just like we did for adding a text box.

To get started, double click on your image to re-open the draw tool. Use the line tool to create a horizontal line. Once you size the line to your liking, create a text box underneath the line for the title or name for the signature.

Format the signature line on the certificate and click “Save and Close”

#5 – Adding in a Seal

The final step to creating your certificate is adding the seal of approval. This step is optional by the way, if you like the way your certificate looks without it, feel free to stop here.

Just like every other step, the process is going to differ if you’ve chosen to use a table border or an image border.

Adding a Seal with a Table Border

If you’re adding in a seal with a table border, you have two options. You can choose to pick out your seal before you add it to your certificate, or you can choose to use Google Image Search to select your seal.

If you have a seal picked out or maybe a company logo you want to use, select “Insert” in the top menu bar and select “Image – Upload From Computer”. This will prompt you to select your pre-saved image on your computer.

If you haven’t pre-selected an image, you can use the “Search from web” option to find something from Google Images. Please make sure you have the proper licenses and permission to use any images found on Google Images.

For my certificate I used the “search from web” option and searched for “free certificate seal clip art”.

Find the option you list best and insert into your certificate. Adjust the positioning to your liking and you are finished.

Adding a Seal with an Image Border

Like all previous steps with image borders, you will need to edit your existing drawing. To get started, double click on your certificate to re-open the draw tool.

Once the draw tool re-opens, select the image button in the menu bar. This will give you the option to upload your pre-selected image or search for an image using Google Images.

Adjust your image to fit inside the certificate, click “Save and close”, and you’re all finished.

Once you have successfully created your certificate, feel free to print it on any type of paper. A thicker cardstock will give it a more authentic feel, but printer paper works well also.

Why and How Do I Use Google Docs?

According to Google, “Google Docs brings your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs.” Essentially, Google Docs is a free, web based version of Microsoft Word. All you need to get started is creating a free google account.

Google Docs is accessible on any web browser, and also has apps for iPhone/iPad & Android devices. Check out the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for more info.

Other Methods of Creating a Certificate

Although we now know how easy it is to create your own certificate in Google Docs, there are plenty of other free online tools you can use to create one. Keep reading to find out which one will work best for you.

Google Slides

Google Slides is another free software provided by Google. If Google Docs is the free version of Microsoft Word, Google Slides is the free version of Microsoft Powerpoint.

One easy way to create a certificate using Google Slides, is to use an already made template. Google Slides provides a handful of templates with a few certificate options already created for you.

Simply select the template you would like to use for your certificate and edit it using your Google account. Google makes it very easy to customize the template to make it your own. You can change the color, font and text of the template to fit your needs. Or you can just swap out the text and you have a certificate ready in less than a few minutes.

Certificate Magic

Certificate Magic is a free, certificate creating website that helps you create simple certificates in minutes. They offer dozens of templates to fit all your certificate needs.

To create your certificate using Certificate Magic, select one of the four options in the design categories. The options are formal, sports, kids and fun.

Once you select the proper category, Certificate Magic will pull up a handful of templates for you to choose from. Select the template you would like and then fill in the prompts for the certificate.

Once completed, Certificate Magic will allow for a one time download of your certificate in PDF format.

Placeit

Placeit is a graphic design platform that focuses on pre-made templates that users can customize to their needs. They have over 90,000+ templates to choose from, and it’s overall very user-friendly.

Placeit is a great tool for business owners who want professional looking graphics, that they can create themselves. They offer templates for everything from Instagram stories to business cards and resumes, and of course certificates.

Placeit is free to join, but does have premium options for you to purchase.

Pro Tip: Placeit also offers an additional 15% off any plan with this coupon.

When a potential customer goes onto a business’ Facebook page, the first thing they see is the page’s cover photo (or cover video). So, as the manager of a Facebook page, this is a location where you want to infuse vital information to attract the customer and get them to scroll further. 

How do you upload a GIF as a Facebook cover? To upload a GIF as a Facebook cover, you will need to first convert the file to a video format. Afterward, you will be able to upload the new video file.

Consider using a Facebook cover video template for a quick solution. Choose from templates, customize graphics and text, save video, and upload to Facebook.

If you have tried uploading a GIF to your Facebook cover, you may have already discovered that, although a video or a photo can be uploaded as a Facebook cover, Facebook does not support the GIF file format. If you try to upload a GIF as your cover photo, Facebook will automatically convert the GIF into a JPEG and choose the first still image as the cover photo instead.

» MORE: How to Make a Facebook Cover with Placeit? 8 Easy Steps

What is a GIF?

What exactly is a GIF in the first place? The term GIF is an acronym that stands for “Graphics Interchange Format.” Putting it simply, a GIF (pronounced “jiff” or “gif” depending on your preference) is just an animated image file. They have become very popular recently, but the GIF file format is, in fact, two years older than the internet itself. Since GIFS are neither JPEGs (or a still image) nor are they videos, they can be a little tricky to use on social media posts.

Well, then you are probably wondering why you would want to use a GIF as opposed to a video or just a picture if that is the case? Well, firstly, GIFs are typically shorter than videos and do not require audio to convey a message. So, a viewer can get a large chunk of information in a time-saving way (which also looks good for a brand’s image). Also, a GIF can communicate more than a single still image can.

GIFs are more accessible than videos also. There are thousands of free GIFs available on the web, and thousands more are being created every day. Most of these are available for free without the added worry of copyright. So, someone looking to use a GIF can easily find the right one to download and use.

Also, GIFs play on repetition such that, if you are trying to beat a message into a viewer’s head, they will see it on repeat several times before they have the urge to stop watching it. If a video is on autoplay and you do not want to watch it, you will simply scroll on to the next thing, but with a GIF, you are likely to stare at it three or four times before you have even considered moving on.

GIFs are also cheap, easy to create, and yet, can still be sophisticated. Videos, on the other hand, are not usually on the cheap or easy to create.

» MORE: Why Is Your Instagram Story Blurry After Adding Music?

Where Can You Get GIFs From?

Accessing a GIF file is simple with several open-source sites available where you can readily download or use GIFs. Finding the right GIF can be as simple as typing a phrase into a search engine and adding the word GIF at the end. Keep in mind though, a GIF is not what we need for Facebook, a video is.

Giphy.com is a whole GIF search engine of its own and a great place to find thousands of open source GIFs. These GIFs can also be downloaded directly unto your PC or a phone if you have downloaded the GIPHY app.

There are other GIF search engines available for free as well. There are also several apps where you can easily take several pictures and convert them into your own GIF. Live photos on smartphones operate like GIFs and can be uploaded to GIF-making sites and further edited as well.

However, for a Facebook Cover, you will need a video file. You can either find a GIF and convert it to a video, or just find a video to begin with.

To keep this process simple, we recommend using a Facebook cover video template. They are pre-made templates that can be customized to your needs. Simply pick the layout you like best, and start adding your own images and text.

These will download as a video file, and make uploading to Facebook quick and easy.

» MORE: How to Make a GIF in Affinity Photo [Complete Guide]

Is Uploading a GIF the Same as Uploading a Video?

GIFs and videos are not the same thing. Although you have to convert your GIF to a video file format before being able to use it as your Facebook cover, to the one viewing it, it will still be interpreted in their mind as a GIF. Basically, a viewer will perceive a GIF on your cover as a moving picture as opposed to a video.

It is advisable to use a GIF when you want to invoke a quick emotional response from an audience or when you want to express an emotional response yourself. GIFs can summarize a lot of information into a single action or a single facial expression or a single caption.

However, it is advisable to use a video when the message you want to convey cannot be expressed within seconds. There may be technical facts you wish to communicate or a pitch you would like to make to a group that will take more than just a couple seconds. But, keep in mind that with your Facebook cover, you also cannot go over a minute and a half (or 90 seconds), so you still need to keep your videos short, nonetheless.

Check out this link to see some other cool ways GIFs can be used in marketing for a company.

Converting Your GIF to a Video Format

Even though your GIF will need to be converted to a video file, it is still possible to upload a GIF as a cover photo. The easiest way to do this is to simply convert the file’s format to a video format that meets the requirements laid out by Facebook. After this, upload the converted file instead of the GIF file. There are a few ways to go about this process outlined below:

Option One: Convert Your GIF to a Video File Using a Video Editing Software

As mentioned before, one of the easiest methods to get a GIF uploaded unto your Facebook cover is to convert your GIF to a video file. If you have any form of video editing software on your computer, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Filmora or iMovie, you can do this in four simple steps:

• STEP 1 – Open the video editing software on your computer
• STEP 2 – Import your GIF to a blank project inside your video editing software
• STEP 3 – Most video editing software have similar features, a timeline, a media browser, etc. Once your GIF has uploaded, you can drag it down to the timeline in your video editing software.
• STEP 4 – Go to your export options. Within the export media box that should be open at this point, choose a common video format such as MPEG, MP4, or MOV. The GIF will export as a new video, and you can now upload this new video to Facebook as a cover video.

Option Two: A Different Way to Convert GIFs to Video Files

While the first method works great on a computer, if you have video editing software, there are many circumstances where you may not have one or both things (i.e., the PC and the software). What if you are trying to upload the GIF to your Facebook cover from your mobile device instead? What if you do not have video editing software, and you do not want to download one for this sole purpose? 

Also, not all video editing software can be used on a smartphone. So, if for any reason method one is not ideal for you, another way you can convert a GIF to a compatible video file is to find a software that will convert the file for you:

• STEP 1 – Download the app “GIF to Video”, available for Android here or “GIF Cracker”, available for iPhone here.
• STEP 2 – Make sure your GIF is on your smartphone.
• STEP 3 – On Android, all the GIFs in your gallery appear automatically in the app. Just select the GIF you want to convert and click convert. On an iPhone, if the GIF does not appear automatically in the app, click refresh (it should be a GIF in your image gallery). Select the GIF>Video tab on your options at the bottom of the page and select the GIF you wish to convert. A convert pop up window will show up.
• STEP 4 – Adjust the settings of your video to meet Facebook’s guidelines before exporting.

Facebook Cover Video Specifications

Facebook has laid out the following recommendations for uploading a cover video, outlining the file size, video dimensions, and its time duration:

Dimensions

The cover should have a minimum size of 820 pixels wide x 312 pixels high. But, several third-party video-editing software companies recommend a size of 820 x 462 pixels for best results because of the way it will be viewed on different devices (more on this below). 

The additional height of 75 pixels at the top and bottom of your image is cropped out when someone views your page on the Desktop version of Facebook. But the extra height is good for the aspect ratio of mobile devices.

You can manually adjust the size of the video you will get from converting your GIF file in the process. If you are using method 1, after clicking on export and selecting the file format you want, the width and the height of the resulting video can be adjusted within the same dialogue box. 

If you are using method 2, you can also manually adjust the dimensions of your video within the app you are using. After selecting convert in Gif to Video, the app will give additional instructions on this. On GIF Cracker, the dimensions are in the window that shows up when you select your GIF to convert.

Again, this is where using a template will be handy because it comes pre-formatted to all of Facebook’s requirements.

Duration

The time duration should be between 20 and 90 seconds.

Most GIFs are not up to 20 seconds long. If your GIF is too short to meet the minimum time duration on its own, increase the number of times your converted video loops the footage of the original animation until the video meets the time required.

File Type

Facebook recommends MP4 and MOV file formats. You could use other video file formats in your conversion, but this could cause an extra headache. Also, note that cover videos can have a maximum resolution of 1080 pixels.

File Size

You should not have too much of a problem with the file size, but overall, Facebook accepts files up to a limit of 1.75GB, so make sure to keep your video file under this size.

Additional Requirements

In addition to these things, Facebook requests that:

• Your video cover should not be deceptive or misleading
• Your video should not infringe upon any copyrights                             

How to Upload Your GIF/Video as a Facebook Cover

Now that you have your GIF converted to a video file, it is time to upload the video as a cover on Facebook. This feature is only available on Facebook pages, not on an individual’s profile page. For profile pages, Facebook does have some native animations that you can pick as your cover photo.

1. First, head over to your Facebook Page. Where the cover is shown, you will see a video icon and the words “change cover” next to the icon. Click on this.
2. A dropdown box will appear. Select the option “Upload photo/video.” 
3. A window will appear that will allow you to choose a file from your computer. Select your converted video file. At this point, you will be able to drag to reposition your video. 
4. Your cover will automatically resize to an aspect ratio of 16:9 when you upload it. But it is viewed differently on different devices.

Note: On the Facebook mobile version, the sides of your cover will be cut off, making it 360 pixels tall and 640 pixels wide. So, while you need to have a minimum width of 820 pixels, you must compensate for the sides that will be cut off when viewing your page on mobile. Leave a “safe zone” of 90 pixels on each side and avoid having any vital part of your cover in these margins. The cover templates mentioned earlier take care of this for you.

On the PC version of Facebook, the same cropping applies, but this time it occurs on the top and the bottom. This time, the image will be viewed as if it were 820 pixels x 312 pixels. Again, leave a safe zone of 24 pixels at the top and the bottom where you do not put vital information such as a caption. If you’re using a template, you don’t need to worry about this.

Facebook lets you scroll through up to 10 thumbnail options. But with a GIF, the best option for a thumbnail is most likely to be the first still image in the animation. Granted, this may not always be the case.

When you are satisfied with your upload, select the “Save” option at the bottom left-hand corner of the cover.

Take it for a Test Run

Now that your cover is uploaded, it is important to open your Facebook page on different devices to see if the cover appears the way that you intended it to in uploading it. 

Trouble Uploading? Here Are Some Extra Tips 

If your video is still not uploading unto Facebook, there is most likely an issue with the file size or the file specifications. Go back and double-check that your video meets all the requirements discussed above. If not, convert the file again and make sure those corrections are made. Then try your upload again.

It could also be that there is an issue with your browser speed: if the first does not apply, check on the second to be sure.

Audio

You may have noticed that the audio on your Facebook cover is disabled by default. Since GIFs also do not store sound, it is likely that for your converted video, you will not need to activate the audio at all; this should not pose any serious problems.

Conclusion

In this article, we broke down two of the most straight forward ways to upload a GIF as a Facebook cover photo. While there are some other methods to go about uploading your GIF, these other methods are more complicated and take up a lot of time. All in all, for the easiest way to use a GIF/Video as a Facebook cover photo, we recommend using a Facebook cover video template. They are quick and easy, and pre-formatted with all of Facebook’s requirements in mind.

The way people receive information is constantly changing, with many traditional media outlets experiencing unprecedented changes as consumers adopt convenient ways of accessing content on their phones. Still, one traditional giant of the mass media–the magazine–refuses to go the way of the Dodo bird as publishers find creative ways to keep them relevant.

How do you create a magazine cover mockup? In a series of eight simple steps, a striking magazine cover mockup can be created that will allow you to see your idea in the real world prior to actual publication.

Before making your mockup, you will want to have a rough idea of your cover sketched out on a piece of paper or roughed out in a design program, with any accompanying photos you plan on using saved conveniently on your computer. With these preparations, you will be able to get your magazine cover mockup designed, saved, and ready to share in a matter of minutes.

Step #1 – Visit Placeit

Head over to www.placeit.net to get started.

Placeit is a one-stop-shop for all things related to graphic design and will make your magazine cover mockup a breeze.

Step #2 – Locate the Mockup Tab

On the Placeit homepage, you will find the following five tabs in the top left corner of the page:

• Mockups
• Designs
• Logos
• Videos
• Gaming

The default should have “Mockups” already chosen, but if not, hover your cursor over the “Mockups” tab. This will activate a sub-ribbon that offers mockups for dozens of different items, from apparel to business cards.

As all of the different mockup options do not fit on one page, you will need to scroll to find the tab you need. At the far right of the sub-ribbon, you should see a carrot inviting you to scroll through the mockup options.

The “Magazine” tab is among the last selections on the sub-ribbon, so you may need to click the carrot several times to scroll to it.

Once located, click the “Magazine” tab to explore the various magazine cover mockup options.

Step #3 – Choose the Right Mockup Template

After clicking on the “Magazine” tab, you will be introduced to hundreds of different magazine cover mockup templates. Each page holds about 25 different designs, so make sure you are clicking on the scroll bar at the bottom of the page to cycle through all of the different options to locate the template best suited for your needs.

When choosing a mockup template, it is important to remember that catchy magazine covers on newsstands and grocery store checkout lanes are not the primary driver of sales in this day and age.

Customers are more likely to interact with your magazine cover via social media than they are at a physical point of sale, so you need to design your mockup in a manner that conveys several important points:

1. The image you are posting is that of an actual magazine cover and not a meme or any other creatively designed text layout intended for social media sharing. As such, mockups with a strong 3D view of the magazine cover are preferred
2. The mockup displays some form of human interaction. You want to demonstrate that people value your magazine and that it is in circulation at trendy places
3. Prospective buyers are able to clearly discern all important headlines and main images. After all, while a pretty cover and catchy social media mockup might spark interest and generate likes, the goal is the get people to purchase the edition and read further, and they will not do that if they do not know what the issue is about

Luckily, Placeit has you covered on all of these fronts, as there is no shortage of mockup templates to fit the bill for modern magazine marketing. Some favorite ideas include:

• Man at a coffee shop– the proliferation of coffee shops have made them major hubs for cultural relevance, as many people take their work or study materials there. Not only does this trendy mockup put your magazine cover on full display, but it suggests that it will catch the attention of many passing eyes 
• Woman reading in bed– this mockup gives a casual feel to your magazine, making it seem like a must-read before bed in the evening or some light perusing on a sunny weekend afternoon. This particular design gives an extremely clear view of all of the cover details
• Young woman reading in a waiting room– magazines have long been a favorite form of complementary entertainment in waiting rooms across the country. Not only does this mockup capture your magazine cover in this realistic scenario, but it also provides a clear shot of your cover’s specific information

While all of these mockup templates effectively capture your magazine cover in trendy modern market scenarios, there are still plenty of options to choose from if you are just looking for the nuts and bolts of the cover design, say, for example, if you needed to send a mockup to a manager to get it approved.

Step #4 – Bring Color to Your Magazine

The default mockups on Placeit use a white magazine, but do not feel like you are restricted to this option. You can easily choose from the entire color spectrum to find the right color for your magazine.

After deciding on the magazine template option you want to use, click on the template. This will load a new screen that allows you to make edits to your specified selection.

On the right-hand side of this screen, you will see a dropdown box labeled “Magazine Color.” Click the down arrow on this box to open the color spectrum.

Feel free to cycle through the different color options. Remember, when you click on a color, the entire magazine in the mockup will switch to this color. Therefore, it is a good idea to start with this step when editing your mockup, as this color will be the base of your magazine.

While it is good to experiment with the different color options available, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Make sure you match. As this will provide the base for your magazine, how will it match with the images and fonts you intend to use? Will it clash or be overly distracting? This is why drawing a draft beforehand is important, as these considerations need to be carefully thought out
• Be bold with your colors. Color, even more than striking images and text, is likely to be the main aspect that draws customers’ attention to your magazine cover. Traditionally, red and yellow are good base colors to use, as they are striking colors that are more versatile and less gaudy than other bold hues
• Keep your target audience in mind. You will have a lot more leeway to use fun colors when designing for a children’s magazine than you will when making a mockup for a scientific or medical journal
• Be creative yet consistent. While it is good to explore a variety of different colors for your magazine, you want to try and stay as consistent as possible from issue to issue. This can help build a brand, where a specific color is associated with your magazine, like red is for Time Magazine, and yellow is for National Geographic

Step #5 – Upload Your Image

After the magazine color has been chosen, arguably, the most important aspect of designing an effective magazine cover mockup is choosing the right cover image.

The image on your magazine cover will take up the majority of the cover space, so you need to make sure you get it right.

Fortunately, Placeit makes this process a breeze. A cover image can be added to your mockup using the following steps:

1. Size your image – the Placeit mockup builder will place images of 700 X 1,000px on the cover. While it is likely that the image you plan on using will be usable in this range, if it is not, make sure you resize it locally so that it will not be stretched or blurred once uploaded to Placeit
2. Click the “Upload Image” box – on the same screen you used to edit the magazine color; you will notice a box on the far left of the screen that says “Upload Image.” If you have chosen a mockup template that allows for a view of both the front and back cover, there may be two such boxes, so make sure you do not get them confused
3. Choose the desired image – after clicking on the “Upload Image” box, you will be directed to your local drive. Locate your cover image in the appropriate folder and double click to upload it to the editing software on Placeit
4. Edit your cover image – you will now have your cover image loaded in the photo editing box. There is a scroll bar at the bottom of the screen that allows you to zoom as needed. In addition, by clicking on and dragging the image, you can change where it is located on the magazine cover, allowing part of the image to be cropped off, if necessary
5. Crop the image to the magazine cover – once you have the cover image properly sized and placed, click the “Crop” button at the bottom of the photo editing box to have the image placed on the magazine cover

If you are happy with the cover image, great–you are ready to move on to adding text. If not, the “Upload Image” box at the left of the screen will have changed to accommodate the image. Click the strikethrough box if you want to go back into the editor and make some adjustments to the photo, or click the “X” if you want to remove the image completely and start again.

Step #6 – Add Text to the Cover

While not as important as the color and image of a magazine cover, improper use of text can definitely break a mockup if not applied correctly.

Luckily, Placeit has all of the tools you need to add text to perfection.

At the top left of the cover editing screen for the template you chose, you will find, just above the box for uploading the cover image, a box titled “Add Text.” Click this box to get directed to the text editing wizard.

Once in the wizard, you will notice several items of note:

1. There is a default message that says “Change Me” in both the text box and on the mockup cover. When you click in the text box, you can erase and re-type the message to fit your needs, with anything typed in the text box mirrored on the cover. Text can be up to 50 characters long.
2. There is a checkbox next to the text box. If this is not checked, then you cannot make changes to the text, and the message on the mockup cover disappears, so make sure this box is checked if you are actively trying to edit the text on your cover.
3. There is a dropdown box below the text box to change the font. The default used for Placeit is Avenir Next, but this is easily modified by clicking the down arrow on the dropdown box and scrolling through the many options.
4. To the right of the font dropdown box, there is a color dropdown box. When clicking on the down arrow, a color spectrum is pulled up for you to choose the color of your font. If you want to change the text background color, toggle to the “Text Background” tab at the top of the spectrum to change the color your text is set against.
5. Once you have the text worded and colored appropriately, you can click on the text in the mockup to initiate an editing box. From there, you can resize the text and drag it to the appropriate place on the magazine cover.
6. You can add additional text, as needed, by clicking the “Add Another Text” box located just below the original text box in the upper left of the screen.

Best Practices for the Use of Text

While the cover text alone probably will not attract readers’ eyes quite like the color and image, it can quickly cause them to turn away if not executed correctly. As such, there are a number of important considerations you must make as you play with text in your magazine cover mockup:

• Be careful with text, as the color and font of the text on covers are extremely important. It will affect the tone and overall feeling of the cover
• You may be able to get away with colorful fonts for the major headings, but always use black and white fonts for subheadings and smaller text. If you do choose to use a colorful font for your major headings, make sure it does not clash with the cover’s main color or image
• Do not place very long sentences on the cover. You only have a split second to capture a reader’s attention, and you do not want him or her to get bored reading lengthy text. Phrases of four words are ideal, with ten words being an absolute maximum
• Make sure the text you include on the cover is representative of the content in the magazine. Be sure to talk to the editor to get an idea of keywords and phrases to include on the cover to spark interest and provoke customers to buy an issue and read further
• To get the most out of the text, try to place it against a solid background, as blending against a patterned background or image is a quick way to render your words irrelevant

Step #7 – Include a Graphic

This is more of an optional step but can be an effective means of adding some pizzazz to your mockup.

On the upper right of the mockup editor screen, just below the color dropdown, there is a box labeled “Add Graphic.”

By clicking on this box, you will be introduced to a whole plethora of clipart-type graphics, with a search bar included to help you locate the one you are looking for.

While you may not want to add one of these graphics to your magazine cover itself, it can be a nice touch to include as part of the mockup, as these graphics can be a fun way to add some flavor to the mood that your magazine is trying to create.

Step #8 – Download Your Finalized Mockup

After you have gotten all of the details adjusted to your liking in the mockup editor, it is time to download your finalized version and use it to promote your magazine.

At the top center of the mockup editor screen, there will be a blue “Download” box. If you are a subscriber to Placeit, you will be able to download your mockup for free, or if not, you can easily purchase the download through a one-time fee.

With this step, you have completed the mockup design process, bringing your magazine cover to life without ever having an actual print version in circulation, all thanks to the easy-to-use mockup software brought to you by Placeit.

Are you looking for the best merchandise mockups so that you can more quickly sell your items? If so, then using designs from Placeit.net for Teespring products or other services is one of the best ways to create merchandise mockups. With Placeit.net, you can easily create beautiful designs on your products using the best mockups you’ll find anywhere on the Internet.

What are the best merchandise mockups on Placeit.net? The best merchandise mockups on Placeit.net include:

• Mug mockups
• Travel Mug mockups
• Jersey mockups
• Pillow mockups

Since there isn’t much available on the Internet today covering placeit.net mockups, we created this article to help you. Below we’ll discuss the best merchandise mockups you can find on placeit.net

First, Creating Your Design

If you use Teespring to create products, you may not have known that you can create beautiful designs easily and within seconds by merely using Placeit’s beautiful design templates. Placeit uses what’s known as a smart-template maker, meaning you can easily modify your designs in seconds.

Placeit features a design maker that’s simple to utilize and offers over seven thousand templates to use to create designs. Plus, Placeit is always adding more templates daily. By using one of its design templates, you won’t need to hire a graphic designer or learn how to make excellent designs yourself. Instead, with Placeit you’ll be equipped with the ability to make innovative and quality designs without a degree in design.

If you are using Placeit with Teespring, all you need to do is:

• First, head to Placeit and create your design
• After your design is created, choose a transparent background
• Download your design
• Next, return to Teespring’s Launcher, and choose upload artwork to select the design you downloaded from Placeit

These steps are straightforward and fast to accomplish, and you can have your mockup design completed within minutes. So, if you know you need a mockup design for a product immediately, Placeit can solve that problem for you both quickly and easily.

Placeit’s Mockups

Two of the best things about Placeit’s mockups include:

• The most significant design catalog on the Internet today that offers mockups.
• Features that make the process easy and straightforward to use.

Placeit’s designs work well for product creators and clothing brands alike. That’s because Placeit offers thousands of apparel mockups that can be used with things like:

• Hoodies
• Hats
• T-shirts
• Leggings

And that’s just the start of the list. Placeit can also help you create mockups for other products that aren’t apparel items. Regardless of why you are using Placeit, you’ll wind up using a carefully created mockup. You can craft and edit that mockup so that you’ll have the best designs possible for your customers.

Placeit’s mockups will allow you to attract attention to your brand across several social channels as you promote your new product’s design. With Placeit, you won’t need to worry about paying designers or photographers so that you wind up with high-quality images. Instead, you’ll be able to make excellent mockups with just a few clicks, creating incredible designs. Even better, Placeit also offers a massive library of video mockups, too.

4 Best Merchandise Mockups on Placeit

So, what are some of the best merchandise mockups available on Placeit? We’ll cover that in detail below.

#1 Mug Mockups

If you are already selling t-shirts, one of the best types of products you can sell besides shirts is custom mugs. Making custom mugs allows you to increase the product line you are offering, and you can also promote your designs to a broader audience. Whether you are a custom mug seller or not, using custom mugs to promote your band’s image and your designs will help you attract plenty of attention to your products and your company.

With Placeit’s mug mockups, you can create coffee cup designs that feature professional photographers’ images, which will cost you far less than hiring a photographer for a photoshoot. You can also add some spectacular features to your design by using Placeit’s eleven-ounce mug mockups, or their fifteen-ounce mug mockups.

Mug mockups will allow you to start with a blank canvas where you can then print and create your design. So, once you start looking around on Placeit for your mug mockup, you’ll notice that Placeit offers mug mockups for every niche imaginable. You can select a minimal mockup or a full-scale design mockup, depending on what you need to do with Placeit.

#2 Travel Mug Mockups

Most people have hectic and busy lives. So, more people tend to bring their coffee with them on the road. Placeit also offers travel mug mockups, which will allow you to make beautiful mockups and display your designs and your brand. By browsing through Placeit’s library, you’ll be able to find all you’ll need to know to create your brand’s travel mug, using all types of images.

#3 Jersey Mockups

Placeit also offers professional images that produce quality jerseys that will reflect your brand’s name or your products. It’s easy to use Placeit’s jersey mockups to create quality jerseys with just a few simple clicks of your mouse.

It’s challenging to be your apparel designer because of budgets, deadlines, and finances. That’s why using Placeit to make your jersey designs and promote your brand name is such a useful idea. Placeit offers hundreds of jersey mockup template designs from which you can choose. Jersey mockups are a great way to promote your brand and your team.

With Placeit, you can easily upload your designs and downloads and use as many professional images from Placeit as you’d like. That way, you can more successfully promote your jerseys and your team. To make a jersey mockup with Placeit, all you need to do is:

• Select a jersey template from Placeit’s library.
• Start customizing it.
• Change your jersey’s color, upload your team’s logo, or upload anything else you need.
• Once your image is satisfactory, download it, and you’ll have your jersey mockup image created.

#4 Pillow Mockups

With Placeit, you can make great pillow mockups, too. Making pillow mockups with Placeit is an easy and straightforward process. You can promote your latest pillow designs and easily create new products to reflect your brand’s image with Placeit. Placeit offers different:

• Models
• Settings
• Pillow styles

Because of that, making images for your brand on Placeit is simple. Instead of hiring a photographer or graphic designer for your pillow design, you can now select a pillow mockup on Placeit, customize it, and you’ll have an excellent design that is ready to go in a matter of minutes.

Once you’ve glanced through Placeit’s extensive library of pillow mockups, you can select the one you like the most. Then simply upload your pillow design and choose the color you want your pillow to be. After you’ve done that, you just need to download your new mockup, and you have your image completed.

Pillow mockups allow you to use professional photography images to add to your design. Because of this, you can create a professional-looking pillow design in just a few minutes using Placeit. Placeit offers so many different pillow mockups, and they continue to grow their catalog. So, once you are ready to update your pillow designs again, you’ll still have several options from which to choose.

Keep in mind that when you are making pillow designs, lifestyle designs on pillows tend to sell more. Many print on demand sites allow you to print designs on pillows. If you want to make your pillows stand out as an innovative product, using lifestyle photos can help you promote your brand and products more successfully.

An important part of success on Etsy is having a banner that shouts your marketing in a clear, expressive image. When your banner is blurry, it can influence and can reduce credibility and overall success of your brand.

Blurry Etsy Banner? Here’s what to do: Make sure your Etsy banner size is formatted correctly. For larger banners, the right size is 3360 x 840 pixels. Smaller banner size is 1200 x 300 pixels, which is more ideal. Using these sizes will ensure a higher resolution and best quality image. 

The banner is at the top of your Etsy page, making it one of the first things people will notice. That is why it is equally important as the good themselves because the banner makes for a first impression for your store.

» MORE: Etsy Shop Banner Not Working? Here’s What to Do

Here’s What To Do

If you are struggling to get your banner to be clear when you upload your image, the best thing to do first is check the dimensions. Etsy sets a standard that the banner needs to be a particular size. So any other dimensions could make it appear blurry.

Etsy will adjust your image to the size it requires, and this is when the image can get distorted. If your banner is too large, the image will shrink and be compressed, making the image illegible. In comparison, if your image is too large, when transposed to Etsy, the image will be stretched, giving it a blurry appearance.

The best thing to do is start with the dimensions required, 3360 x 840 for larger banners, 1200 x 300 for small, and 1200 x 160 for mini banners. Then when you upload your file, it should already be in the correct format and adjust smoothly.

For those having trouble formatting their Etsy Banner, consider using a pre-made Etsy Banner template to create your banner. These will be formatted according to Etsy’s size requirements, and will upload clearly and look great.

Large Banners

For a larger banner display, it is suggested to use the dimensions 3360 x 840 pixels. The larger banner provides optimal performance, but there is a smaller size available as well.

Smaller Banners

The minimum dimensions are 1200 x 300 pixels. Although some reviews say they have had issues with this format, others have had success. When in doubt, you can always try the larger dimensions if the smaller banner appears blurry, like it is being stretched to size.

Mini Banners

Etsy even offers a mini banner at 1200 x 160 pixels, but this is primarily for those users that plan on having their shop icon and listings be the main focus. However, when using this dimension, one should keep in mind that it is not mobile-friendly.

In these smaller banners, the width is fixed at 1200 pixels; the bigger decision is the height.

Receipt Banners

The receipt banner is another banner option, but it is specifically for Etsy receipts order. The size of this banner is 760 x 100 pixels. This banner only appears at the top of receipt orders.

Where this banner may not be the first banner the consumer sees or influences their decision to buy from you, it completes the shopping experience marketing your brand even more.

» MORE: How to Fix Blurry Etsy Photos [Easy Guide]

Products That Make Banner Creation Easy

Below are a few products that you can check out to help make your life a little easier.

Placeit.net

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make an Etsy banner, our top recommendation is Placeit.net.

They have thousands of templates to customize and you can sort to browse their Etsy banner templates (look for the thin ones).

Placeit allows you to drag and drop elements, add graphics, add custom images or logos, etc.

Adobe Spark

There are many companies out there that promote free Etsy banner templates, but one of my favorites I have found is Adobe Spark. It has a 4.9 out of 5-star rating and is designed to help those with no design skills.

They have it available for IOS and web to help those enhance their shop banners. There is an easy 5 step process it walks you through to create your perfect banner. There are design features to choose from, and when you are complete, you just need to save, download, and share.

The following steps include:

1. Choose Banner Size
2. Select A Theme
3. Choose A Color Scheme
4. Decide on a Background
5. Option to Add Text

Adobe Spark is known for being user-friendly and features it offers, such as iconic imagery, professional themes, and its incredible topography.

Exploring through this application, right from the beginning, you are able to choose one of their templates or create your own. You can even use pictures from your personal gallery, and then it gives you a series of social media platforms like Estu, Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitch.

The first option is custom that allows you to choose the desired dimensions for your banner. Here you can enter 3360 x 840 for a larger banner, or if you prefer to try small, you can try 1200 pixels. It is quite a nice option, so you know exactly what you are dealing with!

Like most apps, there are in-app purchases you can upgrade to or need to access certain advantages, but for the most part, you are capable of creating and posting your banners straight from this app for free.

Bannersnack

Another free platform for creating Etsy banners is Bannersnack. It is also as easy as 5 steps beginning with creating a free account and secondly creating a banner to your specific dimensions. In this application, the options for banner sizes include the big banner and mini banner.

The following step is to add any images or text into your banner. You can also upload personal photos in this step. Here you can edit size, fonts, and color to the text. Additionally, you can edit the scale in this stage. Once this step is complete, you will want to save and download your banner.

The final step is to save it to your computer! It is as simple as saving a JPG file and downloading it to upload into your Etsy account.

Other Options

There are many companies out there that make it easier to create banners, including those for Etsy. They typically are set up with the correct dimensions each social media branch requires for their platform. Also, they have a customizable option to enter the size you need to create on.

A few other resources for creating banners include Canva, Photoshop, and even Etsy itself allows you to purchase banner templates.

» MORE: Why Won’t Etsy Upload Your Profile Picture?

Tips to Make Your Banner Stand Out

A banner is like a larger canvas to express yourself and company. It is the headline that advances your shop merchandise and captures your sellers attention. That is why it is important to make sure it is at its optimal performance.

The banner is the area that you can display all your items in one large area.

There are tips to make your banner the best it can be:

• Use the least amount of text: Using your shop name is fine, but limit the text, so when the photo is scaled down, it remains legible.
• Be creative: Try out various patterns and designs. There are different colors and textures to choose for your banner.
• Add links: Using a large banner allows more space to be utilized. You can add links to your image to a specific spot in your shop.

Remember, this is going to catch the attention of consumers, so be sure to use the space wisely to show off your shop in one place. Just do not overdo it with changing your graphics to often, like other marketing schemes, consistency is recognizable, which will benefit your brand.

Blurry Images Can Be Resolved.

Having a blurry image can influence the success of your shop, but it does not have to ruin your career, just maybe a moment of your time until it is resolved. But the good news is that adjusting the dimensions can fix the blurry issue and restore your image to how you imagined it!

If you have ever come to the point in your life where you felt that merchandise was needed for your business or your brand, you know it can be frustrating to try and find something that works for you. You want something that is easy but also does not cost a whole lot of money.

Can you make a free t-shirt mockup with Placeit.net? You can make a free t-shirt mockup with Placeit.net by clicking on their “free mockup” tab on their homepage. With your subscription, you also get some other advantages as well.

When you own a business or a group of any kind, you know it can become expensive, especially if you are first starting out. However, there a lot of free resources to help you, especially if you are just starting out. The first place to look is placeit.net.

The Site

Placeit.net has an amazing array of products that can help you achieve whatever direction you are trying to go. From t-shirts to other apparel items like hoodies, to mugs, to totes, to videos, literally nearly everything that you can think of.

Free Mockups Tab

There is a tab on the home page that says, “Free Mockups.” This is where they have every one of their free templates for mockups listed. Scroll down their list and click “T-shirt.” Then, pick the one that you are looking for.

Options

Even with the free mockups, you have plenty to choose from. Do not rush or settle for something that you do not want. Go through every possible option, and see what best suits you. There is no limit to the number of times you can change something on your mockup.

Choose a Shirt

The first step is actually choosing the shirt, whether you are searching for children sizes, adult sizes, for men, women, boys, or girls. You can always choose your “majority” choice and get specifics when you are ready to actually order your product.

Text

You can add text to your shirt. However, be aware of how much text you are putting on your shirt. Too much can distract from your logo, and it defeats the purpose of your message on your t-shirt.

Box

There is a box that states, “Change Me,” this is where you will enter the text you want on your shirt. Remember to keep it simple and to the point.

Font Style

Here you can change the font style to fit your style or brand. Keep in mind that your font also helps in delivering your message as well. Certain fonts, added with everything else, convey emotion and a certain message.

Color

There are so many color options to choose from; however, choose wisely. You do not want the color of the font to blend in into your background image on your shirt, nor do you want your color to be hard to read. Make sure to check out all of your options.

Graphics

Graphics make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting a message across. Between the placement, the graphic itself, and the possible text in it, it can be just as powerful as a billboard. At any rate, your customers are walking advertisements.  

Choose picture

This is your primary focus if you want to put one on a shirt. Remember, some messages do not need pictures, and sometimes, only the picture is needed to convey a message. Choose a clean, clear, but bold picture to get your message out.

Cropping

Cropping allows you to better fit a section of your photo to fit in the template that will later be printed on your shirt properly. If you only need a piece of your photo, this can also help. Make sure that whatever you do, you are staying true to your message. You have no way of “confusing” the viewer.

Color

You have many different color options, as well. This will help give a more blended uniform look to your entire shirt. It can also help your message and image stand out a bit more. You do, however, want to be careful that the color of your shirt does not overpower the primary pieces; this will cause people to miss your message.  

Order Options

Placeit.net has subscriber options that allow you to save time and money if you frequently are facing the need for mockups, logos, videos, and more. They want to make sure that not only are you satisfied with your first product but that you are covered throughout your entire journey of life and business.

Single Mockup Option

If you choose to get only one mockup, it can run you about $8 to download and use their single mockup. However, there are options to get it for a cheaper rate, especially if you are going to be using more of their services for other items or areas of your project.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions offer such an amazing deal sometimes, especially concerning business items, logos, and advertising in general. If you have employees or other individuals that are going in with you, you have to be mindful not to charge them too much.

Monthly

They offer a monthly subscription, which gives you an unlimited amount of mockups with over thirteen thousand templates available and unlimited designs available as well. This ranges from mockups to videos and even logos. They offer this at $14.95 a month for normal website visitors, but now All Free Mockups users get a 15% off discount!

Yearly

The yearly subscription offers the same benefits; however, it does make it cheaper to do the yearly subscription. Where the monthly subscription would be $14.95, the yearly subscription breaks down to $8.33, making about a $6 cut each month. All Free Mockups users get 15% off this plan too!

Advertising Average

There are so many businesses popping everywhere, and there are many aspects of advertising that need to be addressed. Being able to cut costs where needed can be extremely helpful. The average cost for just advertisement for a small business can vary but can cost the average of nine to ten thousand dollars per month strictly on their online advertising campaigns. This does not include promotional outside advertisements and products.

Promotional Products

Promotional products can be used for many types of things. They can be used as giveaway items to simply get the business name out in the world. They can also be used by company employees or volunteers to strike questions from others. The question of where they got a certain product from or who the name on the product is. These are all ways of getting in leads. With shirts, it is like having walking and talking billboards that could also bring in leads. It only takes one person to make one huge difference in one day.

Promotional Product Budget

Promotional products can become expensive, so choosing the right ones can make a difference in the leads that you may (or may not) get with your products. There are billions of dollars spent on promotional products on average for thousands of businesses.

Plan

Plan before buying. When looking at promotional products or anything of that sort to advertise for business, find out what products would work best with your business. Do the research and find out exactly what would be beneficial to your people. If you are starting a clothing store for teens, chances are they are not going to find pens or anything like really useful. However, they may find a shirt or a bag much more useful and may use it more, therefore spreading your name more.

Relationships

When you go out of your way to find out what is best for your customers, you are also trying to build relationships. Relationships are so important in business. If, for some reason, the product you are selling needs to be raised in price, there comes a choice in the customers’ minds. They can either stick with someone they know and trust, or they can find somewhere cheaper. They say, “never go to bed angry,” and in this case, you never want to leave a customer angry. It tends to carry just like a bad break up.

Thank You

Promotional products, or products that are personalized for your client, is a great way to not only show appreciation but really an inexpensive way of showing love and appreciation. This type of appreciation helps concrete your client or customer and also helps keep their business in the future. The more a customer or client feels appreciated and loved, they will not only return to do even more business with you, but they will also bring friends and family along with them. With this, they feel that family connections both in their personal lives but also their family.

Word of Mouth

They say, “a man’s word is his bond.” While it may not fully mean everything that statement says, it does show that word of mouth can make a difference. When one person tells another person about something they experienced, especially if they are a trustworthy person, chances are they will be visiting shortly after. It is a free way of getting leads to your business, so why not build relationships with your clients and spoil them occasionally.

Logos are essentially symbols or designs that portray an organization’s brand. While there are a variety of different types of logos that businesses can choose from, some might wonder if a logo that consists of just words can be enough to represent your brand.

Can a logo be just words? While there are many ways to design a logo, a logo can be just words. A logo that only consists of words is called a “wordmark” logotype and utilizes typography and font to create a brand’s visual identity through text.

While a logo can be just words, a logo that consists of only words will not necessarily look as simple as you might imagine. There are still many ways to make a wordmark logo stand out. The remainder of this article will discuss this further below.

» MORE: The Power Of Symmetry: 13 Lessons From Famous Logos

Can a Logo Consist of Only Words?

While there are many kinds of logos, a logo can absolutely consist of only words. A logo designed out of only words is called a wordmark logo, and it can be a great choice when it comes to branding your business. In fact, more logos than you might realize, consist of only words.

Logos are used to associate your brand with a small image or emblem. Good logos should be simple, scalable, versatile, and relevant (Paper Street). You can meet these requirements by designing a logo consisting of just words.

Just because words on a page appear uniform and dull does not mean that with a little creativity, you can create a unique, smart logo design that consists of just letters. While it is possible that a logo can be too simple or boring to represent your brand, there are still many ways to take mere words and turn them into an icon.

Many successful brands like Volvo, eBay, and Coca-Cola use wordmark logos, but their logos are so effective that we tend to see them as images. So do not think a logo cannot successfully portray your brand just because it consists of only words.

There are many ways to customize a wordmark logo in order to make a brand stand out. Below is a more in-depth look at the wordmark logotype.

» MORE: These Are The Best 67 Fonts To Use For A Logo

Why a Logo Can Consist of Only Words

While there are many kinds of logos and tons of great examples of effective logos out in the world, many of them consist exclusively of words. A wordmark logo is a logo that consists of only words. Using color, typeface, and shapes, you can create a wordmark logo that is still visually memorable.

While you might be tempted to think a wordmark logo is as simple as choosing a font and typing, “good wordmarks are carefully crafted to have a visual rhythm throughout the word, balancing white space, line weights, and the way the letters interact with each other” (Jessica Jones Design).

While it is possible for a logo to be too simple, there are many ways you can alter the appearance of the words in your wordmark logo to make it a memorable representation of your brand. Understanding what kind of variations you can add to a wordmark logo can keep you away from an oversimplified design.

» MORE: The Ultimate List of The Best Online Design Makers

Logos Often Confused with Wordmark Logos

While the difference between a wordmark logo and a pictorial mark logo, a logo that features a pictorial symbol as opposed to words, is rather straight forward, there are a few logotypes that are closely related to the wordmark logo but are considered different logotypes.

Lettermarks Are Not Wordmarks

A lettermark logo is a logotype that utilizes monograms, initials, abbreviations, or acronyms as their design. They are different from wordmark logos because they do not utilize whole words. An example of a lettermark logo is H&M.

Combination Marks Are Not Wordmarks

Combination mark logos feature a mix of characteristics of the pictorial mark logotype, lettermark logotype, and wordmark logotype rather than strictly adhering to one of these categories. An example of this logotype is the Airbnb logo. (Source: Jessica Jones Design)

» MORE: Should Logos Have Taglines?

Can a Logo Be too Simple?

Recently there has been some debate over whether some logos for big companies are too simple. Most logos that people argue are too simple are wordmark logos that consist of a generic-looking or commonly used font and uniform sizing and color.

The reason why these logos are too simple is not that they consist only of words but because the viewer feels like they have seen it before. Good logos make viewers uniquely associate their product with an icon. While it is possible that a logo can be too simple, some people prefer a simpler, more elegant design for a clean, fresh looking logo.

The point of a logo is not to be a stunning piece of art but to make it easier for consumers to identify your brand. You should not be afraid that just because a logo consists of only words, its design is unmemorable and bland. You can change the appearance of words to create something that stands out in people’s minds.

There are many ways to customize wordmark logos in order to make them look interesting and, therefore, more memorable. You can use color, shape, font styles and sizes, or even create your own font for your wordmark logo. A wordmark logo can be memorable and unique to your brand’s aesthetic.

» MORE: A Guide to Choosing the Best Colors for Your Logo

Are Wordmark Logos Right for You?

Want to know if wordmark logos are right for you? Read on for some of the benefits of the wordmark logotype, as well as what kind of companies go for this method of branding in order to determine if it is the right move for your logo designing journey!

Benefits of a Wordmark Logo

Using a wordmark logo has some advantages to your brand’s image in comparison to its pictorial mark and lettermark counterparts. Here are a few reasons why your brand might benefit the most from a wordmark logotype:

• It can turn your brand name into an icon. Wordmark logos can make new brands easier to remember.
• Many pictorial logos look less than spectacular. Nailing a pictorial symbol that conveys your brand’s message is much harder than designing a wordmark logo and can often look confusing or unrelated to the brand it represents.
• Wordmark logos can cost less than pictorial logos. Designers often charge more for pictorial logos than wordmark logos because they require more effort and skill to create. Wordmark logos can be a budget-friendly option for your business.

Who Should Choose a Wordmark Logo?

The advantages of wordmark logotypes align with certain organizations in particular. Organizations where the company offers something that is hard to visualize often go for this kind of logo. For instance, some companies that use the wordmark logotype often are:

• Businesses that offer a wide variety of goods and services. These businesses often have a harder time summarizing their brand in one graphic image.
• Businesses that offer professional services. These businesses, like law offices, tend not to have many logo-friendly graphics associated with their purpose.
• Software and tech companies. It tends to be difficult to represent tech-related work as a simple graphic image.
• Businesses in rapidly changing fields. Businesses in rapidly changing fields, like beauty and fashion, tend to go for a wordmark logotype because they tend to look less dated than a graphic.

(Source: Branding Compass)

Keep in mind that there are some circumstances when more visual options might be more appealing to consumers. For instance, businesses with long names might not be able to come up with logos that look clean and easily recognizable, so a visual might instead be a more accurate summation of a brand.

If it is still hard for you to decide if a wordmark logo can represent your brand, think about what brands are recognizable to you and how their logos represent them. Look at samples for inspiration and to see what route similar businesses take in their logo design endeavors.

Ways to Customize a Wordmark Logo

While wordmark logos might seem plain at first, wordmark logos allow for much more variety in your design than you might realize. You have probably seen many types of wordmark logos throughout your life without even realizing that they’re just letters.

Wordmark logos often utilize different font styles to portray different tones or to represent a defining characteristic of a brand. Logo designers think about how consumers interpret brands based on font variations. By understanding a bit about how each wordmark logo variation is interpreted, you can begin to think about which ones are relevant to your brand.

Below are a few variations of the wordmark logotype and a brief description of what kinds of brands they tend to represent.

Find the Right Font for the Job

You can use size, shape, line, weight, and boldness in the graphic design of your lettering to represent your brand’s message. If you want your brand to portray authority, for instance, you might want to choose the simple, straight forward appearance of a clean, bold, font.

Be careful not to pick a commonly seen typeface or one that is already used in many brands, like Verdana or Times New Roman, as they tend to have a generic appearance even if slightly altered. There are many ways to work with typefaces to make a visual impact on your audience, so do not be afraid to look for inspiration online.

Another option to avoid is a typeface that another brand personally customizes for its logo. The Disney and Coca-Cola logo both use custom typography in their logos. You do not want to make your potential customers think of another brand when they look at your logo, do you?

If you really want to go the extra mile, you can even develop a custom typeface.

Serif Wordmarks

Serif logos are wordmark logos that use serif lettering. Serifs are the lines at the ends of the letter strokes, giving the text a more traditional appeal. An example of a serif logo is Tiffany and Co.

Serif typefaces tend to lend themselves better to traditional, classic, or academic brands, while curvy lettering or cursive can vary greatly in appearance and can emphasize a variety of tones from whimsical to refined, depending on how it is designed.

Sans Serif Wordmarks

Sans serif logos are exactly what they sound like: logos that use types of lettering that does not have serifs. Sans serif logos have a modern, clean look. An example of a sans serif logo is Mobil.

Script Wordmarks

Script wordmarks use fonts that appear more like calligraphy or cursive. The letters in this logo are going to usually be connected and can vary in how they look. Some look elegant, whereas others look more old-school and retro. The Coca-Cola logo is an example of a script wordmark.

Handwriting Wordmarks

Handwriting wordmarks are a kind of script wordmark where the lettering appears to be more handwritten. Because of the unique nature of a person’s handwriting, brands who are well known for their founder will often use this kind of logo. An example of this watermark is the Disney logo.

Add Personality to Letterforms

Creating focal points in your wordmark image can be difficult to come up with at first, but there are many ways you can incorporate points of interest in your wordmark logo. Common focal points usually include variations in:

• Shape: Just because wordmark logos consist of just letters does not mean it cannot reference a graphic through shape. Brands like Subway and FedEx incorporate elements of their brand into the actual shapes of their logos’ letters.
• Colors: Humans psychologically associate colors with emotions. Artists and designers use this to their advantage when they want to convey something. Colors are a great way to enhance the tone in a wordmark design Brands like Flickr, and PayPal use accent colors to make one part of their design stand out.
• Strokes: Brands like Krispy Kreme and HP use unique letter strokes in their logo designs. The lines that a letter consists of are called “strokes” A stroke that extends above or below a letter is called a “tail.” Utilize tails to accentuate the lettering in your logo.

Good logo designs just made from great ideas coming together but through editing. While there are many ways to personalize the letterforms in your logo, having too many competing elements in one design can make your logo appear busy. Sometimes editing the ideas incorporated into your logo can be just as effective as adding another element to it.

Some ways you can tell if there are too many elements in your logo design are if the lettering connects or overlaps in ways that unintentionally add a focal point to your design or if there are too many competing colors in your design. As a rule of thumb, you should not have more than one or two focal points in a logo.

While it is good to try to make your design have a consistent look and theme throughout the logo, if you keep coming up with ideas that appear cluttered, do not take that as a bad sign. It is always better to have to edit a design with too many ideas than to have a hard time getting a design together at all.

Size and Layout of the Lettering in Wordmark Logos

There are many ways to organize the lettering in your wordmark to put a unique spin on your logo design. While your first instinct when experimenting with lettering in your logo is to make them appear as uniform as the words in sentences and books, you can actually add many variations to lettering while still being able to recognize a word.

Take this as a chance to explore creative layouts. For instance, you can play with the spelling and capitalization of the words in your logo. Varying spelling and capitalization is a great way to take ownership of a word.

Even though Apple’s logo is a picture, you know a product is related to apple the second you see a lowercase “i” tacked on to the beginning of any word that begins with a capital letter. Wordmark style branding can strike an image in the mind of a consumer when done well.

You can also change the appearance of your wordmark logo by trying different letter arrangements or even overlapping the letters to create a unique symbol. Do not be afraid to make letters vary in size or spacing. There are so many ways you can add a creative kick to your logo’s layout and make your wordmark logo resonate with viewers. (Source: Logo Maker)

» MORE: 41 Hidden Messages In Famous Logos

Conclusion

Logos do not have to be graphics in order to be visually intriguing. A wordmark logo can grab people’s attention just as much as a logo that relies on pictures. Wordmark logos are just as customizable as other logotypes and can be a great way to brand yourself or your business.

For all other design needs, we highly recommend trying Placeit. It offers a large library of templates for every design project.

One of the most important aspects of being a small business owner is promoting your brand. While social media has changed the game on this front, making it possible to reach millions of potential clients for free with the click of a button, there is still one method that remains tried and true: the business card.

How many business cards fit on a page? For a standard, wallet-size business card (3.5 x 2 inches) printed on a standard 8.5 x 11-inch page, you can fit 10 business cards on a page.

This is an essential piece of information for those attempting to print business cards at home, as it allows business owners to estimate the cost of printing. While the printing cost per card may go down if printed in higher quantities on larger pieces of cardstock, it will likely necessitate a specialized printer or a trip to a commercial printing facility.

» MORE: What’s the Best Aspect Ratio for Business Cards?

How Big Are Business Cards?

Standard business cards, the type handed out when meeting a new business connection and designed to fit in your wallet for future reference, are 3.5 x 2 inches. Business cards can be printed in other sizes, but they are likely to be considered promotional and not necessarily business cards.

What Are Business Cards Printed On?

A typical piece of 8.5 x 11-inch printer paper can print ten business cards, with one of the following three materials likely used for the final product: 100-pound gloss cover, 14-point cardstock, or 16-point cardstock.

100-Pound Gloss Cover

If you are printing your business cards at home, this is likely to be the type of material used, as it is compatible with a wide range of printers.

Typically, a 100-pound gloss cover is used when printing “cheap” business cards, but that does not mean it produces a cheap-looking card when finished. While thinner than other business card options, 100-pound gloss cover is still considered a cardstock that gives a beautiful shine to your business cards.

If you are a small business, are making business cards for the first time, or do not envision exchanging business cards as a significant component of your marketing strategy, then it is highly advisable to print on 100-pound gloss cover.

14-Point Cardstock

This cardstock is noticeably thicker than 100-pound gloss cover. If you decide to have your business cards printed at a professional shop, this is likely the material they will use, as most established organizations use this material for their companies’ business card needs.

The extra thickness makes this material a little more expensive than a 100-pound gloss cover. While these cards may appear more professional, your home printer may not be rated to handle 14-point cardstock, so you need to check and make sure before purchasing this material and jamming and/or damaging your printer.

16-Point Cardstock

This is the thickest material used for business cards and also the rarest. It is used exclusively at select professional print shops and likely needs to be specially requested, as most stores likely only print on 14-point cardstock or use 14-point cardstock as their default option.

While it is a very professional-looking and striking business card, it is also the most expensive material to print on, so it is probably only wise to use this material when you anticipate your business cards being heavily exchanged. Its thick nature makes it a bit cumbersome to carry, making it unlikely that people will hold onto it for a long time.

» MORE: Do You Have to Put Your Address on a Business Card?

How to Print Business Cards at Home

In software such as Microsoft Word, there are several business card templates for you to choose from. Take the following steps to look at all the different options:

1. Open a new Word document.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the upper left-hand corner.
3. Click on “New” from the dropdown menu.
4. Enter “business cards” in the search bar.
5. Scroll through and select the template you prefer.

Once you have decided on a template, it populates in your Word document, and you can fill in your business’ information as necessary.

If the limited templates in Word do not appeal to you, you can have custom business cards designed on Placeit (our favorite online business card maker). Their mockup wizard allows you to insert a variety of images, graphics, and fonts to capture the essence of your business. Once you have decided on the card you prefer, you can download it and save it to your files to be uploaded for printing.

Whether you have decided on one of Word’s default templates or populated your document with a custom design from Placeit, you will want to do a test print on a regular piece of paper first. This will ensure that the cards fit as expected, do not have any information cut off, and are not experiencing any bleeding of colors.

After you are satisfied with your test print, load the appropriate business card paper, likely 100-pound gloss cover, into your printer, and print the desired quantity. When cutting your cards, you will want to avoid using scissors and employ a lined paper cutter to ensure that edges are straight and consistent.

» MORE: Are Square Business Cards Good or Bad?

Best Business Card Mockups on Placeit

As mentioned, social media marketing has been a revelation across all industries. Even if you plan on using business cards to spread the word about your business and build a brand at the point of contact, it can be beneficial to get your card onto social media to help convey customer interaction.

However, merely posting a picture of your business card on Instagram does not convey this sense of interaction and can often be dismissed as a “spammy” sales post. Fortunately, Placeit offers many creative business card mockups that show your card in trendy, business-forward situations that are sure to be hits on social media.

Business Card at the Coffee Shop

Nothing says “trendy” like a visit to the coffee shop.

With the proliferation of these establishments in recent years, coffee shops have become a favorite place to meet and conduct business.

As such, having a mockup of your business card on display in a coffee shop setting shows that your business is with the times and embraces the sense of community and togetherness evoked in people from a wide array of cultures and life situations.

Business Card Next to a Glass of Wine

Similar to meeting for a cup of coffee, meeting for a casual drink is another way to conduct business in a laid back, relaxed atmosphere.

By having your business card mocked up next to a glass of wine, you can make your business a talking point as you kick back and relax.

Business Card Being Tucked into a Front Pocket

This is a favorite mockup because it shows your business card in its “natural atmosphere.”

As people’s busy lives do not always allow for extended interactions at the point of an initial meeting, the business card has long been a bastion of making sure that connections are not lost forever.

While you may not be able to remember all of the details of an interaction later in the day, you can reach into your pocket and find the business card you saved, allowing you to reopen that conversation you may not have had time for earlier.

By showing the mockup of your business card being tucked into a person’s front pocket, you can capture a classic situation in which business cards have found themselves for years and displaying it on social media.

For all other design needs, we highly recommend trying Placeit. It offers a large library of templates for every design project.

» MORE: How Long Does It Take to Design a Business Card?