Visiting Card Maker

Business card printing — the specs that matter

Most people design a card on screen, print it, and discover too late that the colors look dull, the text is cut off, or the edges look soft. These are not design problems — they are specification problems. Here is what a print shop actually needs.

The three dimensions of a business card

• Trim size — the finished size after cutting. The industry standard in Europe and Asia is 85 × 55 mm. In the US it is 88.9 × 50.8 mm (3.5 × 2.0 inches).
• Bleed — 3 mm (0.125") added on every side so the background color extends past the trim line. Without bleed, a tiny cutting error leaves a white border.
• Safe margin — 4 mm (0.16") inside every edge where no text or important elements should sit. Cutting is never perfect to the millimetre.

300 DPI is the print minimum

Screen previews look fine at 72 DPI. Print shops need 300 DPI at the final trim size. A 85 × 55 mm card at 300 DPI is 1004 × 650 pixels. At 600 DPI it is 2008 × 1300. This tool exports at whatever DPI you choose, matching the exact print size in millimetres.

RGB vs CMYK — the colour trap

Your screen displays colour in RGB. Most professional print shops print in CMYK. These are fundamentally different color spaces, and some RGB colors simply cannot be reproduced in CMYK.

• Very saturated blues and greens (like a bright neon blue) will look noticeably duller in print.
• RGB blacks printed as CMYK often look slightly grey or brown unless the print shop uses a rich-black recipe.
• Gradients in RGB can band in CMYK if the print resolution is low.

The safe workflow: pick colors that already look muted on screen. Pure red (#FF0000) becomes a muddy red in CMYK. A deep maroon (#8B3A4F) prints beautifully. When in doubt, ask your print shop to send you their CMYK conversion of your chosen colors before you place a bulk order.

Paper stock — the physical dimension

A digital file can only do so much. The paper stock has a bigger impact on how a card feels than any design choice. The three options worth knowing:

• 350-400 gsm matte: The industry standard. Feels substantial in the hand, holds fine detail well, and works for almost any design. The safest choice.
• 300 gsm textured or linen: Adds tactile interest. Text can look slightly softer because the paper has surface texture. Best for creative professionals.
• 600 gsm cotton or duplex: Thick and luxurious. Significantly more expensive. Usually chosen for premium or invitation-style cards.

If you are unsure, ask your print shop for a sample pack. Feeling three paper stocks in person will settle the choice immediately.

Standard business card sizes

Bleed, safe zone, and print margins

For professional printing, the source file needs more than just the visible card size:

• Bleed: 3 mm (0.125") beyond every edge — the area that will be trimmed off. Extend background colors into the bleed.
• Safe zone: 4 mm (0.16") inside every edge — keep all text and logos here.
• Trim line: the visible card boundary.

The tool exports at the exact visible size. If your print shop requires a bleed, add it in a design tool before printing.

Resolution and export format

Print resolution standards:

• 150 DPI: quick digital preview, home printing.
• 300 DPI: the print industry standard — professional quality at handheld size.
• 600 DPI: premium print, luxury card stock, foil or embossed finishes.

Export PNG for raster workflows, PDF for print shops, JPG only when file size matters and transparency is not needed.