Postcards
A two-sided flat card built to survive the mail stream and still feel like something you made on purpose.
- 4×6
- 5×7
- 6×9
Sizes
Build to the bleed dimension; keep live copy inside the safe area.
| Size | Trim | With bleed | Safe area | Minimum stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4" × 6" | 4" × 6" | 4.25" × 6.25" | 3.75" × 5.75" | 14pt cover |
| 5" × 7" | 5" × 7" | 5.25" × 7.25" | 4.75" × 6.75" | 14pt cover |
| 6" × 9" | 6" × 9" | 6.25" × 9.25" | 5.75" × 8.75" | 14pt cover |
Finishes that suit it
- LetterpressInk pushed deep into cotton. You feel every line.
- Hot foil30 house films. Any Pantone by order.
- Double thick32pt duplex — hides the impression on side two.
- Painted edgesBy hand, in a vise. Matched to the face.
- Die cutAny shape. Rounded corners are the cheap version.
- Spot UVGloss on matte. Coated stock only — cotton won't cure.
How to set the file up
- Build to trim size plus 0.125" bleed on all four sides.
- Keep live copy 0.1875" inside trim — mail-stream handling is not gentle.
- 300dpi minimum on raster art; vector for anything foiled or letterpressed.
- Supply CMYK for offset; supply spot colours as named Pantone swatches.
- Leave the address side clear where the carrier route bar will land.
Postcards — questions we get
- How thick can a mailed postcard be?
- Thicker than most people expect, but thickness is what moves a piece out of the postcard rate and into the letter or flat rate. We confirm the final caliper against the mailing class you are using before the job goes on press, so there is no surprise at the counter.
- Can I print different artwork on each card?
- Yes for digital and offset runs — variable data is handled at imposition. Letterpress and foil cannot vary card to card, because each change means a new plate or die.
- Do you address and mail them for us?
- Not today. We print, proof and ship the finished cards to you or directly to your mail house. Mailing services are on the roadmap, not in production.
- Will a heavy cotton postcard go through a postal sorter?
- Heavy cotton is soft, and soft stock scuffs in automated sorting. For a cotton postcard we recommend hand-cancelling or an envelope; for machine sorting, a coated or duplex stock holds its face far better.
- Can one side be uncoated for writing?
- Yes. A common build is coated face for the image and uncoated back for the message — either as a duplex sheet or by leaving the back side of a coated stock free of aqueous.