How to send a postcard online

Choose the front artwork

Start with your own JPEG, PNG, or WebP image up to 15 MB, choose an IRIS illustration, or upload a finished front design. The editor crops the image to the selected postcard proportion, so keep faces, buildings, and other important details away from the edges and check the preview after changing size.

Choose artwork around the person and occasion: a thank-you after a real interaction, a new-address announcement, a friendly Halloween greeting, or a winter note. Uploading your own photograph replaces the illustration. Add the title and optional greeting in the editor, then use the back for the personal message and practical details.

What to prepare

• One photo, illustration, or finished front design that you own or have permission to use
• A short front title and optional greeting
• A back message and signature
• A current US recipient address and a US return address
• The preferred 4 × 6 or 6 × 9 size
• A message and image that do not contain confidential information

The original customer photo stays in the browser while you edit. IRIS receives the generated front and back print PDFs only after you continue to checkout.

Each postcard order has one recipient and its own payment. Prepare the card for that person, enter the address yourself, and review it before placing the order.

Complete the postcard

1. Pick the artwork and size.

   Choose an illustration, a customer image, or a finished front design, then select 4 × 6 or 6 × 9.

2. Adjust the crop.

   Move the horizontal and vertical focal controls until the important subject remains safely inside the preview.

3. Add the front text.

   Choose the title layout and font, then keep the title and optional greeting readable over the image.

4. Write the back.

   Add the message and signature, and review names, spelling, and dates.

5. Enter both addresses.

   Add the US return and recipient addresses, checking the suggestions against the source you trust.

6. Review both sides.

   On a phone, switch between the front and back previews and check the crop, text, addresses, and total before payment.

7. Pay through Stripe Checkout.

   IRIS generates the print files, then prints and submits the postcard through USPS First-Class Mail.

What the service handles

Current postcard prices

The order page can show production information and any carrier events IRIS receives, but ordinary postcard delivery has no guaranteed date.

• Postcard stamp price and size limits
• Postcard sizes and dimensions

Announce a new address clearly

For a household move, send a new-address card to someone you want to stay in touch with. Include your names, the full new mailing address, and the date it takes effect. Check the return address separately, especially if you are ordering before the move. A short note might begin: “We have moved! Please use our new address below from October 5. We would love to hear from you. — Maya and Lee” Add your actual address and replace the example date.

For a business move, write to an existing client with the business name, full address, opening or effective date, and a public contact method. A storefront photo can help them recognize the location. If you are sharing a property announcement, use the actual property photograph and verified facts, and leave room for the address and any event details.

Send the announcement once the new details are confirmed and allow time before the change. A postcard lets that recipient know where to reach you; it does not arrange USPS forwarding or update an agency, account, or other official record.

Make a seasonal card sound like you

Start with an illustration that suits the occasion, then edit the title, greeting, message, and signature for one known recipient. These short examples can be adapted to a friend, family member, or an existing customer.

Plan autumn and year-end 2026 cards early

These are editorial planning suggestions for preparing a greeting, not USPS holiday cutoffs or promised arrival windows. Invitations and appointment reminders need additional lead time so the recipient can act on them.

USPS describes First-Class Mail delivery as 1–5 business days after the mail enters its network. Printing and preparation come before that period; checkout does not start a delivery countdown. IRIS does not promise a fixed preparation, handoff, or arrival date. Holidays, weather, seasonal conditions, and address issues can add time.

For a manually written appointment postcard, a planning allowance of roughly two to three weeks makes it a supplementary reminder. Use a faster contact method for urgent confirmations, schedule changes, or event details the recipient needs immediately.

Keep the message public-safe

A postcard is visible during printing, handling, and delivery. Keep passwords, payment credentials, government identifiers, medical details, and other confidential material out of the image and message. Use an enclosed letter when the contents should be shielded, after checking that the service and recipient requirements fit.

For an ordinary service appointment, include only non-sensitive details such as the confirmed date, time, location, and a public contact method. Anyone handling the card may read it, and the type of appointment itself can be private. Keep medical information, account numbers, private case details, and sensitive appointments on an appropriate protected channel.