News:

"The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them." - Dan/Panther

Main Menu

Telephone number cards

Started by BDM, February 21, 2009, 06:08:42 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

BDM

Go here and print your own. All makes & models. If you know of other sites offering number cards, please post it here.
http://www.telephonearchive.com/numbercards/

Look near the center of the page for Dial Centers
http://oldphoneguy.net/
--Brian--

St Clair Shores, MI

bingster

Here are a few pointers for printing out great dial cards:

First, the image resolution is of paramount importance.  Resolution, for the uninitiated, is the number of pixels, in a one inch row of pixels.  The standard resolution for web images is 72ppi (pixels per inch).  When you copy an image from a webpage, such as the number card archive, it will usually download at 72ppi.  This resolution is entirely too low for printing images.  Images printed at this resolution have jagged outlines, which detract greatly from the final printed image.  The standard for printing in professional print shops is 300ppi, and this resolution will give you an ultra-sharp, perfectly smooth printed image.

Since all graphics programs have their resolution settings in different places, it's difficult to explain how to change the resolution in your particular program.  If you cannot figure it out, consult the program's "Help" menu, and it should tell you how to do it.

Additionally, constraining the image size to 1.5 inches (for Western Electric cards), will save you a great deal of fiddling and reprinting.

Below is a demonstration of the differences in resolution.  Both extensions are the same size dimensionally, but the upper one demonstrates low-resolution printing, and the lower one demonstrates high-resolution printing.  What a difference!
= DARRIN =



Dennis Markham

Great post, Bingster.  Thanks.

Dan

I agree thanks, I've used my younger sons to help me with this, but now I will try myself.
"Imagine how weird telephones would look if our ears weren't so close to our mouths." - Steven Wright

Bill

A few months ago (like 2 or 3), there was a short "article" or note in PCWorld magazine about a program (small, free) that will take a low-res image (like your first one above) and attempt to increase the resolution by interpolating adjacent pixels. It included a couple pictures, and although the result was not perfect, it was indeed an improvement.

I intended to download the program, but I threw away the issue of the magazine before I noted the program name. I've done a few searches for it, including the PCWorld website, but can't find it. Does anyone recognize this, and have a link?

Bill

teka-bb

Quote from: Bill on February 12, 2010, 01:06:33 PM
A few months ago (like 2 or 3), there was a short "article" or note in PCWorld magazine about a program (small, free) that will take a low-res image (like your first one above) and attempt to increase the resolution by interpolating adjacent pixels. It included a couple pictures, and although the result was not perfect, it was indeed an improvement.

I intended to download the program, but I threw away the issue of the magazine before I noted the program name. I've done a few searches for it, including the PCWorld website, but can't find it. Does anyone recognize this, and have a link?

Bill

Hi Bill,

Is this what you meant:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/181651/enlarge_your_photos_without_sacrificing_quality.html
=============================================
Regards,

Remco, JKL Museum of Telephony Curator

JKL Museum of Telephony: http://jklmuseum.com/
=============================================
TCI Library: http://www.telephonecollectors.info/
=============================================

teka-bb

=============================================
Regards,

Remco, JKL Museum of Telephony Curator

JKL Museum of Telephony: http://jklmuseum.com/
=============================================
TCI Library: http://www.telephonecollectors.info/
=============================================

Dan/Panther

If you save your photo etc in TIF format they will print out exceptional resolution. JPG always seems to degrade.
D/P

The More People I meet, The More I Love, and MISS My Dog.  Dan Robinson

Bill

THAT'S IT! Thanks, Remco! Obviously I was searching with the wrong terms, as I couldn't find it anywhere.

Thanks also, D/P.

You guys are great.

Bill

teka-bb

=============================================
Regards,

Remco, JKL Museum of Telephony Curator

JKL Museum of Telephony: http://jklmuseum.com/
=============================================
TCI Library: http://www.telephonecollectors.info/
=============================================

jeremylivin

How do you "type" the new numbers on the card if you don't have a type writer?

I'd like it to look as close to authentic as possible...


Thanks!
Jeremy Livingston

Craig T

If you create a blank text box you can type your number in then copy and paste it over the scan of the old one. Not sure which font though.

gpo706

Any image manipulating programme, you can overlay a layer of text on the blank and print.

Even Word.

Look for "freefonts" and "typewriter fonts" for your desired effect.

"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

jeremylivin

Thanks!  Will have to try that.
Jeremy Livingston

Bill

#14
The Western Electric "lightning bolt" font was called Hawthorne. It can be downloaded from the Bell System Memorial site

http://www.porticus.org/bell/westernelectric_history.html

http://www.porticus.org/bell/images/Hawthorn.TTF

This is not the right font for dial cards, but it is still fun.

On my computer, I have 3 fonts labelled Bell that look like they would be appropriate for dial cards. I can't swear they are actual Bell System fonts, since I have no notes regarding where I got them. In fact, they may be standard Microsoft fonts - I just don't know. But if you don't have them, you could download them, install them, and see what you think. Here are the links:

Normal
Bold
Italic

There is more info about Bell System fonts here
http://www.nicksherman.com/articles/bellCentennial.html

Bill