K3Y QSL Card Design Contest
We are inviting SKCC members to create QSL card designs for the 2026 Straight Key Month event. Submitted designs will be displayed here so that members can vote for their favorites starting in mid December. The most popular design will become the official K3Y QSL card of the January Straight Key Month event. Others will be featured in the SKCC 2026 print calendar.
*** IMPORTANT! Please follow the design guidelines below. ***
Required image design specifications:
- JPEG high quality format
- Image size 1650 x 1050 pixels (or 5.5" x 3.5" at 300 pixels per inch)
- Horizontal layout only
- No text within 1/4" (75 pixels) of edges
Include at least the following text items in your design:
- "K3Y"
- "Straight Key Month"
- "Straight Key Century Club" and/or "SKCC"
- "20th Anniversary"
- "2026"
You can combine text elements, for example: "SKCC Straight Key Month & 20th Anniv.", etc. Also use different font sizes. You can include additional text if desired.
The callsign, K3Y, should probably be largest text element on the card.
It is suggested that one or more straight keys, bugs, or sideswiper keys appear in the card design.
The back side of the card, including the QSO space, will be provided by us.
If you don't understand the image size requirements please ask. Setting your workspace/canvas to 1650 x 1050 pixels (or 5.5" x 3.5" at 300 ppi) is the first step in designing a card image with the proper dimensions and sharpness for a postcard.
Designs can be submitted now through Dec. 14th. They will be displayed on the webpage in the order received. You can revise a submitted design any time until Dec. 14th.
You can submit several different designs. However, please avoid multiple images having minor variations. For example: the same basic design with differently colored backgrounds. Similar designs will compete with each other for votes.
If you include graphics or photos that are not your own they must either be public domain or you must have permission from the original owner. Please advise us if you are using graphics or photos that are not your own.
By providing a card design you agree that SKCC has the right to use it for the K3Y QSL card, webpages, anniversary logo, mug graphic and calendar. Also, a variant of your design may be used on SKM DX QSL cards.
Please send any questions or comments to me at af2z[at]skccgroup.com, or post a follow-up on Groups.io, and I will get back to you. Also send your card images to me. I will confirm receipt and upload them to the webpage for display.
Drew - AF2Z
SKM/K3Y Planning Group
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