11. Greeting cards with images and animation

Step 1: Get the text from AI

Ask ChatGPT or Gemini for the words.

Write 3 short greeting messages for a Sankranti card for my college friends. Each under 20 words. Warm and friendly. One can mix a Telugu word.

Pick the one you like. Change a word or two to make it yours.

Step 2: Get the image from AI

Many tools can make images from text. This is called text-to-image.

• Gemini — type "Create an image of ..." in the chat.
• ChatGPT — type "Draw ..." in the chat.
• Canva Magic Media — inside Canva, under Apps.
• Microsoft Designer — designer.microsoft.com, free with a Microsoft account.
• Meta AI in WhatsApp — type "Imagine ..." in the chat.

A good image prompt describes the subject, the style, the colours and the mood.

Create an image for a Sankranti greeting card: colourful kites flying over a village near Visakhapatnam at sunrise, a bowl of pongal in the foreground, bright festive colours, flat illustration style, no text.

Tips for image prompts:

• Say "no text". AI is bad at spelling inside images. You will add text in Canva.
• Say the style: photo, cartoon, watercolour, flat illustration, 3D.
• Say the shape if you can: square, portrait, landscape.
• Did not like it? Change one word and try again. Try 3 or 4 times.

Download the image to your computer.

Step 3: Make the card in Canva

Canva is a free online design tool. Sign up with Gmail. Students can also get Canva for Education free through the college.

1. Click Create a design and choose Instagram Post (square) or Card.
2. Click Uploads on the left and upload your AI image. Drag it onto the page.
3. Click Text and add your greeting message. Choose a nice font and colour.
4. Add a small element: a kite, a star, a border. Use Elements on the left.

Canva also has its own AI: Magic Write for text, Magic Media for images, and Magic Design for a full design from one line.

Step 4: Add animation

Animation makes things move. In Canva:

1. Click on the text box. Click Animate at the top. Choose "Rise", "Pop" or "Typewriter".
2. Click on the image. Click Animate. Choose "Breathe" or "Pan".
3. Click the empty page. Click Animate again to animate the whole page.
4. Press the Play button to preview.

Step 5: Download and share

Click Share then Download. Choose:

• MP4 Video if you have animation. This works on WhatsApp.
• GIF for a short looping animation.
• PNG for a still image.

Other tools for the same job

• Adobe Express — similar to Canva, free plan.
• Google Vids — makes short videos with AI, from Google Workspace.
• Microsoft Designer — makes cards and posts with AI.