Once you finish personalizing your design, instead of printing a card (or other project) onto paper, you can send it as an AVI file (Windows movie file), a GIF file (animated card) or a JPG file (image file) by email to family and friends. The recipient can view the e-card movie in any Windows media player or the animated GIF or image file in most programs.

With the e-card feature, Hallmark Card Studio, automatically opens your default email program and attaches the file.

Note: This feature requires email program that is fully MAPI-compliant, such as Microsoft Outlook. It must be configured as your default email program and work with your email service.  If you use a web-based email service or unsupported applications (such as Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail), you must save the e-card file and attach it manually to an email message.


To create a movie card to send by email:

  1. On the Art Studio screen, click the email button. 
  2. In the E-card screen, select Windows video (AVI). 
  3. Type a title for animated card. (This is optional.) 
  4. To add sound effects to a panel (or page), select a panel (or page) in the Add Sounds area, and then click Add Sound.
    or
    To add background music for the entire card, click Add Music.
    (See the Related topics for details.) 
  5. Click the Play button or drag the slider below the card to preview the card. 
  6. Adjust the playback speed of the movie by selecting a setting from the Adjust Movie Timing list.
    By default, the movie is set to play at Normal Speed. You may specify Faster Speed or Slower Speed. 
  7. Review the card in the Preview area. 
  8. Click Email.
     Your default email program opens with the e-card attached to a message as an AVI file.
  9. Review the size of your e-card.
     Check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for any size limitations on email attachments. If your e-card is too large, you can remove sounds or send an animated GIF.
  10. Address the email message, add text to the body of the message, and send the message. 
  11. To save the information on the History tab, click OK. Indicate the recipient and click OK. 

To create an image or animated GIF from the card to send by email:

  1. On the Art Studio screen, click the email button. 
  2. In the E-card screen, select Image (JPEG) or Animated GIF. 
  3. Click Email.
     Your default email program opens with the e-card attached to a message as a JPG or GIF file.
  4. Address the email message, add text to the body of the message, and send the message. 
  5. To save the information on the History tab, click OK. Indicate the recipient and click OK. 

Recipients can view cards in their email programs. If they receive cards in an email program on their computer, they can double-click the attachment to view it or save the attachment to open it separately. 

Note: If your email program doesn't open automatically when you click Send or if you use a web-based email service, you can save the AVI, GIF, or JPG file to manually attach it to an email message.