Standard Postcards

For the best results, set up your file to these specifications before uploading. Following them helps ensure accurate cutting, correct color, and a clean, professional print.

Document Size and Bleed

Build your file at your chosen size, then extend the background past the trim so no white edge shows after cutting. The bleed and safe margins depend on the size and whether you choose square or rounded corners:

• Square corners: extend the background 0.0625″ past the trim on every side, and keep all text and logos 0.0625″ inside the trim. (For the 4″ x 9″ size, use 0.05″ on both.)
• Rounded corners (0.25″ radius): keep the same bleed, but pull text and logos further in from the trim so the curve never clips your content — 0.1625″ for 4″ x 6″, 4″ x 9″, and 4.25″ x 5.5″, and 0.225″ for 5″ x 7″ and 5.5″ x 8.5″.

The easiest way to get this exactly right is to start from our templates, which already have the correct bleed, safe area, and corner radius drawn in for each size.

Image Quality

Create or place all images and graphics at a minimum of 350 DPI at final print size. Low-resolution artwork looks soft or pixelated once printed, and enlarging a small image will not add detail back.

Color Mode

Design in CMYK, the standard color format for commercial printing. Files built in RGB will be converted for print, and bright blues, greens, and neons can shift noticeably. Converting them yourself lets you see and correct those shifts before you order.

Color Profile

Use GRACoL2006_Coated1v2.icc. This is the profile our press is calibrated to, and designing in it is the closest you can get to seeing your printed result on screen before it is printed. Set it under Edit > Color Settings > CMYK in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, and keep it assigned when you export.

Blacks

For large solid black areas, use C60 M40 Y40 K100. Black on its own (K100) is semi-transparent and looks washed out across a big fill. For small text, thin lines, and fine details, use plain K100 instead, since rich black on small elements can cause colored fringing. This matters on postcards, where addresses, dates, and fine print are usually small text.

Fonts

Convert all text to outlines before saving, or embed the fonts in your PDF. A font we do not have installed will be substituted, and your layout will change.

Accepted File Formats

We support PDF, AI, EPS, PSD, TIF, TIFF, JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF. Whenever possible, submit a print-ready PDF — it preserves your fonts, layout, and color settings better than any other format.

File Size Limit

Uploaded files must be 75 MB or smaller. If your file is larger, contact us and we will set up an alternative transfer method.

Start From a Template

The easiest path is to skip the setup entirely. The Templates tab above has every size ready to download in AI, INDD, PSD, PDF, and JPG, with the bleed, trim, safe area, and corner radius already drawn in for both square and rounded corners.

File Review and Proof

After you upload, you will see a live proof of your postcard with the bleed, trim, and safe area drawn on top — review it before you pay. Your file also goes through a brief pre-production check to confirm dimensions, bleed, and resolution. If we spot anything that could affect the print, we will reach out before moving forward.

Before You Submit

Files that are not set up to spec can delay production. Double-check your document size, bleed, resolution, and color mode before uploading, and when in doubt, start from a template.