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Default Handwriting & Postcard Preferences

Your Postcard Preferences are the account-wide defaults thanks.io uses whenever a mail piece doesn't say otherwise: the handwriting style, ink color, font size and realism, plus your default postcard size and recipient country. Despite the card's name, the handwriting defaults apply to every mail type - postcards, letters, notecards, MagnaCards and gift cards.

Set them once so every new message starts the way you like, and so API and integration sends that don't specify handwriting still look right.

Where to find them​

  1. Click your name in the top right of the dashboard and choose Mail Preferences (Settings → Mail Preferences).
  2. Scroll to the Postcard Preferences card, below Address Checks.
  3. Change what you need and click Save Changes at the bottom of the card.
note

Mail Preferences is a main-account page. If a sub-account is active, switch to your main account first. The defaults you set here also apply to sends made from your sub-accounts.

The settings​

SettingWhat it doesOptions
Hide thanks.io LogoRemoves the thanks.io branding from your postcards.On / off. Requires a paid plan.
Default Postcard SizeThe postcard size used when a send names a postcard without a size, such as an API send with no size or a send link that just says "postcard".4x6, 6x9
Default Recipient CountryUsed when a recipient's country isn't provided and can't be worked out from their address.Any country
Default Handwriting StyleThe handwriting font new messages start with.Realistic and Bold styles, or AI styles (see below)
Handwriting ColorThe default ink color.Blue (the default), Black, Green, Purple, Red. Requires a paid plan.
Font SizeThe default handwriting size. Shown only when an AI style is selected.Auto, Small, Medium, Large
RealismAdds realistic variation, like the occasional cross-out, to AI handwriting. Shown only when an AI style is selected.Off, On

Choosing a handwriting style​

The style picker shows each style as a writing sample. It opens on one of two sets:

  • Realistic and Bold - the classic handwriting fonts.
  • AI Handwriting - styles that vary letter shapes the way real handwriting does. Click Switch to AI Styles to see them, and Switch to Legacy Styles to go back.

Click a sample to select it. When you pick an AI style, the Font Size and Realism settings appear next to Handwriting Color. See AI Fonts and Realism Mode for how AI handwriting works.

tip

For a windowless letter, notecard or gift card, use Analytic Atom in Blue to match the handwriting on the envelope. For type that doesn't look handwritten, use Normal Print.

When your defaults are used​

Your defaults fill in whatever a mail piece doesn't set itself:

  • New messages start with them. When you write a message in Send Mail or in a new creative, the Choose how the handwriting looks section opens with your default style, color, size and realism.
  • Sends that don't specify handwriting use them. An API, Zapier or other integration send that passes a message without a message template or creative, and without handwriting settings, is written in your defaults.
  • A creative's own settings always win. A creative's message (its message template) saves its own handwriting style, color, size and realism, and every send of that creative uses them. If one of those is left blank on the message, your account default fills it in.

Changing a default does not change creatives or message templates you've already saved. To change how an existing creative looks, open it from Creatives and edit its message. See Creating a Creative.

Changing the handwriting for one message​

You don't have to change your account defaults to use a different look once. In the message step of Send Mail or the creative wizard, open Choose how the handwriting looks and pick a different Handwriting style, Color, Size or Realism for that message only.

The message editor also offers White ink, for messages printed over a dark background. White can't be set as an account default.

Plan limits​

On the Free plan, Handwriting Color and Hide thanks.io Logo are locked and show an upgrade badge; your postcards print in the default blue with the thanks.io logo. All other preferences work on every plan. See Plan Comparison.

Background images​

Default background images (the design printed behind the message) aren't set here. Click the Branding page link at the bottom of the card, or go to Branding in the sidebar and open Branded designs. See Branding.