Card sizes, bleed and safe area

Ninety percent of rejected card files come down to three things: no bleed, resolution too low, fonts not outlined. This page settles all three numbers at once.

Size comparison

Pixels assume 300dpi: mm ÷ 25.4 × 300.

11 checks before printing

The 8 rules marked “checkable from a file” are read when you drag the exported PDF or image intoFile preflight; the other 3 marked “live while designing” are caught in the editor as you lay out (the preflight badge in the toolbar) and leave no signal in the finished file.

1. 1Bleed3mm on all four sidesVerifiable from an uploaded fileTrimming carries a ±0.2mm mechanical tolerance; without bleed you get a white edge.
2. 2Trim size90×54 / 90×50 / 85×55 mmVerifiable from an uploaded fileGang-run printing uses standard-size ganging; odd shapes need their own die and their own price.
3. 3ResolutionBitmaps ≥300dpiVerifiable from an uploaded fileA card is small — 120dpi artwork looks soft to the naked eye.
4. 4ColourCMYK, or vector the shop’s RIP can separateVerifiable from an uploaded fileBright blues and neons in sRGB simply cannot print in four-colour ink. Export here can tick CMYK separation: the vector part is written straight as DeviceCMYK and total ink is held under 250%.
5. 5Black textSingle black K100, not four-colour blackVerifiable from an uploaded fileFour-colour black has to register four plates; a slight shift smudges the edges.
6. 6FontOutlines or full embeddingVerifiable from an uploaded fileThe shop does not have the fonts on your machine, and a missing glyph is silently substituted.
7. 7Safe areaText ≥3mm from the trim lineVerifiable from an uploaded fileWhen the blade drifts, edge-hugging text is the first thing cut.
8. 8Hairlines, minimum type size and iconsLine width ≥0.1mm, body ≥6pt, icons ≥3.2mmChecked live while you designBelow these values an 80-lpi screen breaks the line; an icon smaller than 3.2mm is a blob of ink.
9. 9Total ink limitFour-colour overprint ≤250%Verifiable from an uploaded fileBeyond that the paper cannot absorb it and the verso set-offs.
10. 10QR code≥15mm, single module ≥0.4mm, quiet zone on all sidesChecked live while you designCard QR codes are often squeezed to 12mm and older phones cannot focus on them — this one is really enforced now (codes placed by a layout are raised to the floor, a code you dragged smaller is reported too, and tidy-up can push it back up); the other side, easier to miss, is too much content — the code holds the whole vCard, and with bilingual name plus a full address the module count can multiply several times. Same box, smaller modules, no focus. This site reports both ends and, when generating, first sheds content (full card → name · phone · company → web address only), then lowers the error-correction level from H — scannability first.
11. 11Text contrastText against what it sits on ≥3:1Checked live while you designDark text on a dark block still reads on screen thanks to antialiasing; on paper it is one blurred patch. The preflight check reports every instance and can swap in a compliant colour in one click.

FAQ

How much bleed exactly?

Chinese work-and-run printing uses 3mm on every side, so a 90×54mm card becomes a 96×60mm file. Some shops write “2mm bleed” meaning per edge — always confirm theirs before ordering.

Why keep text 3mm from the trim line?

Die-cutting and guillotines carry ±0.2mm mechanical error and paper moves. Edge-hugging type gets cut first; 3mm is the industry floor.

Where does 300dpi come from?

Divide pixels by inches. 90×54mm (3.54×2.13in) at 300dpi needs about 1063×638px; with bleed, 96×60mm needs about 1134×709px. So don't trust a stated pixel count — 1125×675 on 90×54mm is 317dpi and fine, but many card PSDs have a 9.6×5.8in canvas laid out at 120dpi, and the detail still prints soft. Ask about the original canvas size.

Why use single black K100 for text?

Four-colour black (C60 M60 Y60 K100) needs all four plates in perfect register or small type edges blur; K100 runs one plate.

How do CMYK and RGB differ, and which do your files use?

Screens mix light (RGB); printing mixes absorbing inks (CMYK). Four inks cover less than a screen: pure blues, neons and bright oranges have no ink equivalent and just go dark. Our PDFs default to screen colour (vector, separated by the printer's RIP), or you can tick CMYK separation: vector colours convert to CMYK on the spot, neutrals run on black only, total ink stays under 250%, and the canvas previews the resulting dulling. Neither mode embeds an ICC output intent, so exact colour still needs a proof; photo bitmaps stay RGB either way. Screens mix light (RGB); printing mixes absorbing inks (CMYK). Four inks cover less than a screen: pure blues, neons and bright oranges have no ink equivalent and just go dark. Our PDFs default to screen colour (vector, separated by the printer's RIP), or you can tick CMYK separation: vector colours convert to CMYK on the spot, neutrals run on black only, total ink stays under 250%, and the canvas previews the resulting dulling. Neither mode embeds an ICC output intent, so exact colour still needs a proof; photo bitmaps stay RGB either way.

How big does a QR need to be?

15mm or more on a card, and at least 0.4mm per module — the second one is what people miss: a full bilingual vCard can exceed 130 modules, leaving 0.1mm each inside a 15mm box, and phones can't focus. So this site picks the payload from the box size (full card → name, phone and company → URL only) and lowers error correction as needed (from H down to L), with print-grade quiet zones. Below 12mm, older phones and bright light fail noticeably.