Postcard artwork prints cleanly when you send a print-ready PDF or vector file, run backgrounds past the trim, keep text inside the safe zone, build color in CMYK and leave the address side plain. Get Custom Postcards checks every file on a free mockup within 24 hours, so problems surface before your postcards go to press.
- Print-ready PDF or vector files print best; PNG, JPG and Canva PDFs are accepted
- Free mockup within 24 hours shows trim, bleed and safe lines
- Unlimited free revisions; pay nothing until you approve the design
- Minimum order 12 postcards; standard turnaround about 2 weeks
What artwork files do you need to print custom postcards?
Custom postcards print best from a print-ready PDF or a vector file such as AI or EPS, with every photo embedded at full resolution and every font included. Get Custom Postcards also accepts high-quality PNG and JPG files, and the design team can rebuild a rough layout into a print-ready file as part of the free mockup.
A postcard has two sides, so think in two files or one two-page PDF: the front, which carries the image, headline and offer, and the back, which carries the message, the call to action and, for mailed cards, the address area. Sending both sides together lets the team check that they belong to the same campaign and that the back is laid out for the size you ordered.
- Best: a print-ready PDF with fonts embedded and images placed at full size.
- Very good: the original design file from Illustrator, InDesign or Affinity, with linked images and fonts packaged.
- Workable: a large PNG or JPG export, or a Canva design shared as a PDF for print.
- Starting point only: a screenshot, a phone photo of a printed flyer or a logo pulled from a website.
If you only have a starting-point file, you can still order. The mockup simply shows what can be recovered and what needs replacing before anything prints.
What are bleed and the safe zone on a postcard, and why do they matter?
Bleed is extra artwork that runs past the trim line of a postcard, and the safe zone is the inner area where text and logos stay clear of the cut. Postcards are printed on large sheets and trimmed to size, and the blade can shift very slightly from card to card, so both margins protect the design from white slivers and clipped words.
Any photo, color block or background that should touch the edge of the finished postcard needs to extend beyond the trim. Anything that must be read, such as a phone number, a website or the fine print on an offer, belongs comfortably inside the safe zone. Borders are the riskiest choice: a thin frame running close to the edge makes any trim variation visible, so either drop the border or make it generous.
You do not need to know the exact measurements for each size. Get Custom Postcards sets the bleed and safe zone for the standard, jumbo or EDDM size you order and shows them on the mockup, so you can see exactly what will be trimmed before you approve. If your file has no bleed, the team can usually extend a background or rescale a photo to add it.
How should you set up colors for printed postcards?
Postcard artwork should be built in CMYK, the four-ink color model presses use, rather than the RGB model screens use. Bright screen colors such as electric blue, neon green and vivid orange sit outside what ink can reproduce, so they shift duller on press. Converting early, and judging the result on the mockup, avoids surprises when the box arrives.
Black deserves its own attention. Large black backgrounds look richer when built from a blend of inks, often called rich black, while small black text should stay plain black so the letters stay crisp and do not show colored halos. Brand colors are best supplied as the CMYK or Pantone values from your brand guide, not sampled from a web page.
Full-color printing on both sides is standard at Get Custom Postcards, so color photography on the front and a colored back cost you nothing in legibility as long as the contrast holds. Keep body text dark on light, avoid placing small text over busy parts of a photo, and remember that foil postcards add a metallic layer that is set up as a separate element in the file.
What has to go on the address side of a mailed postcard?
The address side of a mailed postcard needs a clear area for the delivery address, a postage or indicia block in the top corner and a clean strip along the bottom for postal barcodes. Your message, return address and call to action fill the remaining space, usually the left portion of the card.
Most layout problems happen when the design tries to use every inch of the back. Busy patterns, photos or dark backgrounds behind the address area can stop postal equipment from reading it, so keep that zone light and plain. Postal rules for postcard dimensions and placement are covered in the site’s USPS size and postage guide, and the mailing panel is checked on every mockup before printing.
- Address block: plain, light background, nothing printed underneath.
- Indicia or stamp area: upper right corner, left empty for EDDM or permit printing.
- Return address: upper left, small but legible.
- Message area: left side, one offer and one clear next step.
For EDDM postcards the address area carries a simple carrier-route indicia instead of individual names, so the back layout is a little different. Get Custom Postcards sets that panel up for you when you order EDDM postcards.
How do fonts, QR codes and fine details hold up on a postcard?
Fonts, QR codes and fine lines print cleanly on postcards when they are sized for reading at arm’s length and placed on solid, contrasting backgrounds. Postcards are read in seconds between the mailbox and the kitchen counter, so artwork that only works when someone squints at it fails twice: it looks crowded and it does not get read.
Embed or outline every font so the press does not substitute a default typeface. Thin script fonts and hairline rules can break up on uncoated or textured stock, so pair a decorative headline with a sturdy, simple font for phone numbers and web addresses. Reversed text, light letters on a dark background, needs to be heavier than you would use on white.
QR codes need a quiet margin of plain background around them, dark modules on a light field and a short, tested link. Scan the code from the mockup with two different phones before approving, and point it to a page that still exists months from now, since postcards stay on fridges and desks long after the campaign ends.
How does the mockup and proof process work at Get Custom Postcards?
Get Custom Postcards turns your files into a free digital mockup within 24 hours, shows both sides with trim and safe lines marked, and keeps revising until you approve. Revisions are unlimited and free, and you pay nothing until you sign off on the design, so the proof stage is where every artwork question gets settled.
- Send files and details: artwork for both sides, the size and quantity you need (minimum 12), and your in-hand date through the quote form.
- Receive the mockup: within 24 hours, with notes on resolution, bleed, color or mailing-panel issues the team found.
- Request changes: fix typos, swap photos or adjust layout as many times as needed.
- Approve and pay: production starts only after approval, and standard turnaround is about 2 weeks, with faster delivery available through express shipping.
Read the proof the way a stranger would. Check names, phone numbers, web addresses, dates and offer terms out loud, and ask a second person to read the back. A typo caught on the mockup costs nothing; a typo caught after printing means a reprint.
Postcard artwork checklist before you approve
Use this checklist on every postcard mockup before you approve it. Each item maps to a common reason a print run disappoints, and each one is easy to fix at the proof stage.
| Check | What good looks like | What to fix if not |
|---|---|---|
| File quality | Photos and logos sharp at full size | Supply originals or ask the team to rebuild the logo |
| Bleed | Backgrounds run past the trim line | Extend the background or rescale the photo |
| Safe zone | All text well inside the cut | Pull phone numbers and URLs inward |
| Color | Built in CMYK, brand values supplied | Convert from RGB and review the mockup |
| Mailing panel | Plain address area, clear indicia corner | Remove artwork behind the address block |
| Readability | Sturdy fonts, strong contrast | Enlarge or thicken small and reversed text |
| Links and codes | QR code scans, URL loads | Retest or shorten the link |
If several of these need work, that is normal for a first order. Send what you have and let the mockup do the sorting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send postcard artwork made in Canva?
Postcard artwork made in Canva works well when you download it as a PDF for print with crop marks and bleed turned on. Get Custom Postcards checks the export on the free mockup within 24 hours and flags anything that needs attention, such as a background that stops short of the edge or text sitting too close to the trim line.
Should fonts be outlined or embedded in postcard files?
Postcard files should have every font either embedded in the PDF or converted to outlines, so the press never swaps in a default typeface. Missing fonts are one of the most common reasons a printed card looks different from the design. If you are unsure whether your export includes them, send the original design file as well and the mockup will confirm.
What is rich black and when should a postcard use it?
Rich black on a postcard is a black built from several inks, used for large dark backgrounds so they print deep instead of slightly gray. Small text should stay plain single-ink black to remain crisp. Get Custom Postcards adjusts black settings during the mockup stage, so you can simply tell the team which areas should look solid and dramatic.
How do I stop text being trimmed off the edge of my postcards?
Postcard text stays safe when every word, logo and phone number sits inside the safe zone, well away from the trim line. Only backgrounds and photos should run to the edge. The mockup from Get Custom Postcards marks the trim and safe lines on both sides, so you can see exactly which elements need to move before anything prints.
Can a phone photo be used on the front of a custom postcard?
Custom postcards can use phone photos when the original full-size file is sent, not a version compressed by a messaging app or social network. Modern phones capture plenty of detail for a postcard front in good light. Email or upload the original image, and the mockup will show whether it holds up at the size you ordered.
What should I check on a postcard proof before approving it?
A postcard proof should be checked for spelling, phone numbers, web addresses, dates, offer terms and names, then for trim, contrast and the mailing panel. Read every line out loud and have a second person review the back. Get Custom Postcards offers unlimited free revisions, so request changes until the proof is exactly right.
Can postcard artwork be changed after the proof is approved?
Postcard artwork can usually be changed only before production begins, because approval releases the job to print. If you spot an error right after approving, contact Get Custom Postcards immediately and the team will check whether the run has started. The safest habit is a slow, careful final read before you approve the mockup.
Do thin lines and small type print clearly on postcards?
Postcards reproduce fine detail well on smooth stock, but hairline rules, delicate script fonts and small reversed text are the first elements to break up or fill in. Keep contact details in a sturdy font with strong contrast against the background. The mockup will flag any line work or type that looks too light to print reliably.
How do I show which parts of a design should be foil on postcards?
Foil postcards need the metallic areas supplied as a separate layer or spot color in the artwork, usually in solid black, so the printer knows exactly where foil goes. Foil suits logos, headlines and borders more than fine text. Get Custom Postcards can set up the foil layer for you and shows its placement on the mockup.
Can I reuse postcard artwork when switching from standard to jumbo size?
Postcard artwork from a standard size can be adapted for jumbo postcards, but it needs re-layout rather than simple stretching, since the proportions and mailing panel change. Photos must also hold up at the larger size. Get Custom Postcards resizes approved designs as part of a new free mockup, so a reorder in a different size is straightforward.
Does the address side of a postcard need a white background?
The address side of a postcard does not have to be pure white, but the address block itself should sit on a plain, light area with nothing printed behind it. Light tints elsewhere on the back are fine. Dark or patterned backgrounds under the address can confuse postal scanners, so the mockup keeps that panel clear.
Can Get Custom Postcards fix a postcard file that has no bleed?
Postcard files without bleed can usually be fixed by extending a background color, mirroring the photo edge or slightly enlarging the image so it runs past the trim. Get Custom Postcards handles this during the free mockup and points out anything that cannot be extended cleanly, such as a photo with important detail right at its edge.
Get a free mockup for your postcards
Send your logo or idea and the quantity you have in mind. Get Custom Postcards returns a free mockup within 24 hours, you approve the design before anything is produced, and standard turnaround is about two weeks with faster options available. Get a custom quote.