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During the Chinese/Lunar New Year, gifting red envelopes is a wonderful tradition as it symbolizes good luck and prosperity. In this digital age, the trend has evolved into creating digital red envelopes, adding a modern twist to this age-old custom.
Read on to see how you can make creative Chinese New Year photo cards using the best Chinese New Year photo editor YouCam Perfect and its digital red envelope templates!
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What Are Red Envelopes?
Red envelopes, also known as “red packets” or “hongbao”, are traditional Chinese envelopes given as gifts during special occasions, especially Lunar New Year. These envelopes typically contain money and symbolize good wishes and blessings.
Nowadays, digital red envelopes are used as a convenient and eco-friendly way to give money, allowing people to send blessings along with their monetary gifts through messaging apps or online platforms.
Virtual Red Envelope Ideas & Designs
Traditional Red Envelope Design
Traditional red envelopes often feature intricate patterns painted with foil to create a luxurious and eye-catching effect. These patterns can include decorations like golden coins and ingots for "prosperity," the image of a snake, or traditional Chinese knots.
Cute Red Packet Design
Try out our cute "Year of the Snake" red envelope design to add playful and vibrantness when gifting your Lunar New Year wishes!
For kids, you can add the faces of their favorite cartoon/animated characters. If you're sending a digital red packet to a friend or someone new to this tradition, use pet pictures or adorable illustrations that share their interests.
Personal Digital Hong Bao
In addition to using snake images to celebrate the "Year of the Snake," you can add your own images to create unique and personal red envelope designs!
For family members, you can add pictures of children. For friends or parents, you can include your selfie shots. You can even add your own doodles to bring a smile to your recipients and make their Lunar New Year a happy one.
How to Make Your Own Digital Red Envelope
- Step 1: Get the best digital red envelope maker.
- Step 2: Tap Photo Edit to upload your photo.
- Step 3: Find the Template feature and tap on the Holidays section.
- Step 4: Select your preferred red envelope template and adjust your image.
- Step 5: Save and share your digital red envelope.
Step 1: Get the Best Digital Red Envelope Maker
To get the red envelope templates, you must first get the best free digital envelope maker app.
It’s available for both iOS and Android devices; moreover, it is easy to navigate to popular photo editing features on the app’s homepage!
Step 2: Tap Photo Edit
Open the app and tap "Photo Edit" to upload a photo from your phone's gallery. Choose pictures of your family members, pets, kids, or your selfie to make this digital red packet photo card even more special.
Step 3: Go to Templates & then Holidays
YouCam Perfect currently has 2 red packet templates incorporating snake patterns with foil stamping, as well as 4 neutral ones that can be used in any year.
To find YouCam Perfect's red envelope templates, navigating to Templates to find the Chinese New Year category under the Holidays tab.
Step 4: Select your Prefered Red Envelope Template
Select your favorite red envelope design.
As soon as the app adds your image to the template, you can adjust its size and position. You can also tap on some designs to resize them or press the "plus" button to add more images as photo decorations!
Step 5: Save and Share Your Digital Red Envelope
As you finish customizing, save it, print it out*, or send it to your friend as a Chinese New Year photo card to wish your friends a happy Lunar New Year!
*Will suggest using pictures over 1,200 pixels for good-quality print
YouCam Perfect: Best Chinese New Year App to Make Virtual Red Envelopes
YouCam Perfect is the best app for users to create digital red envelopes with various Chinese New Year templates, picture frames, and animated stickers with red envelopes featuring "Happy New Year" text.
You can easily turn these custom designs into Chinese New Year photo cards to wish people a Happy Lunar New Year in 2025!
More CNY Photo Editing Ideas
- Free Chinese New Year Backgrounds, Frames & Filters for CNY 2025
- 3 Best Online Chinese New Year Photo Editors in 2025
- 18 Lunar New Year Makeup Looks To Try in 2025
Digital Red Envelope FAQs
Can You Send a Virtual Red Envelope?
You can send a virtual red envelope even without the money. Instead, you can turn them into Lunar New Year photo cards as delightful and creative digital surprises. To make your original digital red envelope:
- Get YouCam Perfect, the best app for red envelope templates
- Tap the Store button on the app's homepage
- Locate Template and scroll to find "Chinese New Year"
- Press on the red envelope design you like
- Tap the image section to replace it with your picture
- Save and share it with people who celebrate the festival around you
How Do I Use My Photos to Make Red Envelopes?
You can easily turn a photo into a digital red envelope using the YouCam Perfect app. Simply select a red envelope template, and then add your desired photo to personalize it. The app's editing tools allow you to adjust the photo's position, size, and other effects to create a stunning digital red envelope.
What Do You Write on a Red Envelope for Chinese New Year?
When giving a red envelope, it is customary to write auspicious phrases or blessings on the lucky money envelopes. Common phrases include "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (Wishing you prosperity), "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year), or simply "Wishing you a prosperous year ahead."
These phrases convey good wishes and blessings for the recipient's prosperity and happiness in the coming year!
