1) If your Business card has background, or uses image(s) go beyond the end of your card, 0.125" total bleed all around (0.0625" for each side) is required (see PDF template with bleeds, PDF file with samples, CorelDraw 12 template with bleeds , Photoshop CS2 template with bleeds /high resolution-600ppi/). Printing size of file has to be 3.625'' x 2.125''.
Bleed is a printing term that refers to printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming. The bleed is the part on the side of your document that gives the printer that small amount of space to move around paper and design inconsistencies. Failing to provide bleed information can result in finished pieces showing an area of white on the edge. Minimum 0.125" - 1/8” total bleed (1/16” - 0.0625" for each side) is required / some printers require 0.25” - 1/4” total bleed (1/8” - 0.125” for each side), please confirm bleed requirements before you sent your files. Opposite is true for no bleed orders, leave a min of 0.125” - 1/8” white space / area all around. Some print orders require up to 5/16” - 0.3125 of NO PRINT area / white space for printing press fingers that pull the sheet through the machine.

If your Business card has no background, printing size of your file has to be 3.5'' x 2'' (see PDF template without bleeds, PDF file with samples, CorelDraw 12 template, Photoshop CS2 template).

2) 0.125" Safe Margin all around is required.
The area marked by the green line in template is called the safe margin. Please remember to keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin (at least 1/8" (0.125") from the cut line) to ensure that they aren't cut off when your document is trimmed.

3) All images must be CMYK (not RGB!) at 300 dpi resolution.
The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. The name of the model comes from the initials of the three additive primary colors, red, green, and blue. This color model is usually used for WEB images, not for printing. Ensure all your images are converted to CMYK.
CMYK (short for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black), and often referred to as process color or four color) is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, also used to describe the printing process itself. The CMYK color model is a subtractive color model in which uses white as the natural color of the paper or other background, while black results from a full combination of colored inks. Ensure all your images are CMYK.
Image resolution describes the detail an image holds. The term applies equally to digital images, film images, and other types of images. Higher resolution means more image detail. Images need to be 300 dpi.
DPI (dots per inch) is a measurement of printer resolution. The more dots per inch, the higher the resolution.

4) Embed or outline all fonts.
If you are creating your file in CorelDraw, please convert all text areas into curves.
If you are creating your file in Adobe Photoshop, please rasterize all text layers.

5) Acceptable file formats for Business cards Ready to Print format:

- PDF (preferable),

- JPG (2175 x 1275 pixels for card with bleeds and 2100 x 1200 pixels without bleeds).

PDF is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout 2-D document that includes the text, fonts, images, and 2-D vector graphics which compose the documents. In order to save your file to print from Adobe Photoshop, first please make sure that your colour mode is CMYK. Save as PDF with: selected 'disregard layers' under 'layers compression' settings or (for Photoshop CS2) with: selected 'JPG' under 'Compression' settings.

In order to prepare your file as PDF for print from Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and QuarkXpress, please save as high resolution PDF/X-4 or PDF/X-1 file directly from the program.

6) Acceptable file formats for Corrections:

- PDF,

- JPG (only for logos and images) + PDF(if possible),

- PSD (Photoshop CS3 or less) + PDF or JPG,

- AI (Adobe Illustrator CS3 or less) + PDF,

- CDR (CorelDraw X4 or less) + PDF.

Templates for Business Card without BLEEDS (without background):

Templates for Business Card with BLEEDS:

7) General Printing Information >>