Cedarburg, Wisconsin: Vintage Postcard

This vintage-style postcard celebrates Cedarburg, Wisconsin my hometown by recreating a classic "Greetings from" postcard format using original photographs integrated into the letters. Each letter of "CEDARBURG" is constructed from images I captured of local landmarks, events, and street scenes, evoking nostalgia while highlighting the town's charm.

The design draws from mid-20th-century postcard aesthetics with aged paper textures, curved edges, bold 3D typography, and a warm color palette of oranges, blues, and faded greens. Photographs within the letters include festival tents, historic buildings, vehicles, and community gatherings, carefully cropped and layered to form legible letter shapes that blend seamlessly with the retro styling. Subtle shadows, bevels, and vignettes enhance the embossed, three-dimensional effect, while the "Greetings from Cedarburg, Wisconsin" banner frames the composition.

The project started with photographing quintessential Cedarburg scenes during local events and daily life, selecting images for their shapes and relevance to town identity. Digital compositing in graphic design software allowed precise masking, color grading to match vintage tones, and textural overlays for authenticity. Iterative refinements ensured photographic details remained sharp within letters, balancing readability with immersive storytelling.

The final postcard serves as a personal tribute to Cedarburg's vibrant community spirit and historic appeal. It demonstrates skills in photographic curation, collage techniques, historical design research, and layered digital manipulation to create a sentimental, location-specific memento.