Printable cards

Printable Cards

Create high-quality printable foldable greeting cards rendered as 2-page PDFs via HTML/CSS + WeasyPrint.

Card Layout

US Letter landscape (11 x 8.5 in), 2 pages, designed for double-sided printing (flip on short edge), fold in half.

Page	Left Half	Right Half
1 (outside)	Back cover (accent bg, border, symbol, label)	Front cover (full-bleed image)
2 (inside)	Open space for handwriting	Header + message + closing

Workflow

1. Gather info: recipient name(s), relationship/context, occasion, gender/style preference, any personal details for the message
2. Generate front cover image: use generate_image at 3:4 aspect ratio. See references/cover-prompts.md for prompt templates. Feminine = floral/botanical wreath. Masculine = textured background with gold calligraphy.
3. Clean cover image: run scripts/clean_cover_image.py <raw.png> <clean.png> to remove AI artifacts (shadows, table surfaces, grey borders). Verify visually.
4. Choose color palette: see references/color-palettes.md for tested palettes. Match palette to the front cover style. Parameters: accent, accent_dark, light_bg, dark_text.
5. Write the message: write in HTML using <p> tags. Save to a .html file. Key principles:
   • Write from the correct perspective (who is giving the card)
   • Include specific personal details, not generic compliments
   • Sound human, not like a greeting card company
   • High emotional intelligence: loving, positive, honest
   • 3 paragraphs is the sweet spot
6. Generate the PDF: run scripts/generate_card.py with all parameters. Use --masculine flag for bold sans-serif styling.
7. Verify: view both pages of the PDF. Check front cover fills the right half with no gaps, inside text is centered and readable, colors are cohesive between outside and inside.
8. Deliver: attach the PDF. Include printing instructions: double-sided, flip on short edge, fold in half.

Script Usage

python scripts/generate_card.py \
  --name "Chloe" \
  --front-image /path/to/clean_cover.png \
  --message-file /path/to/message.html \
  --closing "All my love, your little brother" \
  --accent "#C4889B" \
  --accent-dark "#9E6B7E" \
  --light-bg "#FDF2F5" \
  --dark-text "#5A2D45" \
  --output /path/to/Card.pdf \
  [--masculine]

Message Writing Guidelines

The message is the hardest part. Follow these rules:

• Ask for context first. Who is giving the card? What is their relationship? What do they love about this person? Any inside jokes or specific things to mention?
• Write from the giver's voice, not a generic third person.
• Be specific. "The way you always sit with me and really talk" beats "you are always there for me."
• Stay honest. Do not over-idealize. If siblings tease each other, acknowledge it warmly.
• 3 paragraphs: (1) opening with personal connection, (2) what you admire/appreciate with specifics, (3) birthday wish + love.
• Closing line: short, warm, identifies the relationship (e.g. "Your favorite brother", "Love always, Mom").

Dependencies

Ensure weasyprint is installed: pip install weasyprint

Common Issues

Issue	Fix
Front cover has grey edges/shadows	Run clean_cover_image.py more aggressively, or regenerate with "no shadows, no borders, no 3D effects" in prompt
Inside background doesn't match outside	Ensure light_bg color complements the front cover palette
Text looks generic/AI	Rewrite with specific personal details from the user
Card looks too feminine/masculine	Adjust palette and toggle --masculine flag