Artwork Specifications

We strongly recommend that you send us a PDF file for printing as this will usually give the best results.

Most software applications have the option to Save As or Export As PDF. Do this direct from the software you have used. It is not usually beneficial to convert from, say, JPEG to PDF.

Microsoft Office files such as Word, Powerpoint and Publisher can sometimes change when opened on a different computer; saving them as a PDF will help avoid this.

If your software has the option to export as spreads, do not use this – export as pages instead. For example, in Adobe InDesign:

If you use Canva, there are instructions here.

This is too complicated for me – any suggestions?

We recommend artwork with a resolution of 300 to 600 pixels per inch (or dpi). PDF files are recommended especially if you have small text on the card as this will help them to be printed as sharp as possible. N.B. If saving as a PDF from Photoshop, do not flatten it and make sure the Save Layers option is ticked.

Top Tip: Don’t make text too small. It will not print clearly and people will have trouble reading it. Remember that the card will be the same size as a bank card and not a computer screen!

If you cannot make a PDF file then you can also supply artwork in many different formats e.g. EPS, PSD, TIFF, JPEG. If JPEG, save with the highest possible quality and resolution settings.

For cards with a white border: For best results, ensure all text/graphics are at least 3mm away from the edge. If artwork is a different size/proportion then we will adjust the white border accordingly. 

For cards printed to the edge: Artwork must be the finished size of the card plus at least a 3mm bleed (see above) on each of the 4 sides This means that the artwork must be 91mm x 61mm.

Ensure all text/graphics are at least 3mm inside the finished edge. If artwork does not conform with the specifications then additional charges may apply or, in some circumstances we might not be able to print the cards at all.

Folded & Stapled Booklets such as Magazines and Programmes always have a multiple of 4 pages. This is because when a sheet of paper is folded in half, it can hold 4 pages. Therefore, 8, 12, 16 pages is good but if you have, for example, 14 pages you would need to add 2 pages to make it up to 16.

You can send your PDF file to us with pages in the normal order that they are to be read: 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. You do not need to worry about which pages get printed onto which sheet of paper as the printer software will do this automatically. Blank pages can be added if your file doesn’t have a multiple of 4 pages. If you prefer to impose the pages yourself for booklet printing, that’s OK but you must do it correctly.

If your software has the option to export as spreads, do not use this – export as pages instead.