If you've just wrapped up filming on your first movie masterpiece, announce it to the film community with a title card. Title cards were popular in the beginning of the 20th century, where they were first just a textual representation of the movie title, and then gradually began incorporating artwork and colors. Title cards were displayed in movie theater lobbies to draw viewers into the theaters. Decorate your home or personal media room with custom title cards by making them in a graphics software program.
Using Photoshop
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Step 1
Open Photoshop, pull down the "File" menu and click "New." Name the file "TitleCard" and set dimensions of 14-by-11 inches. Pull down the "Mode" menu and select "RGB Color." Click "White" under the Contents section and click the "OK" button to open the Photoshop workspace.
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Step 2
Pull down the "File" menu again and select "Open." Browse to the movie image, such as a still or sketch of one of the characters. Double-click the file. When it appears on the Photoshop workspace, press and hold down the "Ctrl" key on the keyboard and drag and drop the picture onto the "TitleCard" box. Resize it, if necessary, by clicking "Edit," then "Transform," then "Scale" and shrinking the image.
Step 3
Click the "Type" tool, which looks like a "T" on the Tools palette and select a font, size and color from the toolbar at the top of the page. Type the name of the movie, reduce the font and type the names of the lead actors. Reduce the font again and type a snippet from a movie review or a short description of the film.
Step 4
Double-click the top-left square of the Color Picker, which is the two overlapping colored squares on the Tools palette. Select a vibrant background color and click "OK." Click the "Paint Bucket" tool and click the white space of the "TitleCard" box, which fills with color behind the text and graphic.
Step 5
Click the three lines icon or triangle in a circle icon on the top right of the Layers palette. Select "Flatten Image." Pull down the "File" menu and click "Save As." Save the title card to the computer.
Using Publisher
Step 1
Open Publisher and click "Blank Print Publication." This opens an 8.5-by-11-inch page on the screen. Change it to title card size by clicking "File," selecting "Page Setup" and scrolling to "Custom." Type in new dimensions of 14-by-11 inches and click "OK." Publisher automatically resizes the screen.
Step 2
Pull down the "Insert" menu, click "Picture" and select "From File." Browse to the movie picture to go on the title card and double-click the file. When the picture opens on the title card, drag it into place.
Step 3
Click the "Text Box" tool, which looks like an "A" on an index card on the left side of the screen. Draw a text box at the top of the card and type the movie's name. Highlight the words and use the text toolbar at the top of the page to change the words' font, size and color.
Step 4
Add a new text box to the bottom of the card and type the names of the cast, crew and movie personnel. Add any additional information, such as the movie studio name, release date and a quote from the film.
Step 5
Pull down the "Format" menu and click "Background." Click a colored square to instantly change the background color of the title card. Pull down the "File" menu, click "Save As," give the card a name and save it to your computer.
Using Paint
Step 1
Open Paint, click the "Paint" button in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Open." Browse to a picture to use for the title card and double-click it. It opens on the Paint screen. Click the "Paint" button again and select "Properties." Change the page dimensions to 14-by-11 inches and click "OK." The Paint workspace adjusts. Drag the picture into the center of the card.
Step 2
Click the "Text" tool, which looks like an "A" on the toolbar. Select a font and size, then click the top of the title card. Type the movie's title.
Step 3
Move the cursor lower on the card and click again. Reduce the font and type additional details about the movie, actors and crew.
Step 4
Click the "Fill With Color" tool, which looks like a can of paint. Click the "Color 1" button and select a background color. Click the white space of the card, which fills with color behind the text and picture.
Step 5
Click the "Paint" button and select "Save As." Type a name for the title card and select a place to save it to on your computer.