Answer first
Holiday card designs fit a few standard trim sizes. The most common are A2 (4.25 by 5.5 inches), A6 (4.5 by 6.25 inches), and A7 (5 by 7 inches). Folded cards, flat cards, photo cards, and pop-up cards each have different panel counts. Print files need 0.125 inches of bleed on all sides and a 0.25 inch safe margin. A folded 5x7 card comes from a 10x7 inch sheet.
Standard sizes
North American card sizes follow the A-series or common retail sizes.
- A2: 4.25 by 5.5 inches. Envelope: A2, 4.375 by 5.75 inches.
- A6: 4.5 by 6.25 inches. Envelope: A6, 4.75 by 6.5 inches.
- A7: 5 by 7 inches. Envelope: A7, 5.25 by 7.25 inches.
- A9: 5.5 by 8.5 inches. Envelope: A9, 5.75 by 8.75 inches.
- Square: 5.5 by 5.5 inches or 6 by 6 inches. Envelope: square, matching size.
Folds and formats
Four formats cover most holiday card designs.
- Folded: one sheet folded in half. Four panels: front, inside left, inside right, back. Common for greeting cards with a message inside.
- Flat: one card, printed on one or two sides. No fold. Common for photo cards.
- Tri-fold: two parallel folds. Six panels. Common for cards with a long message or a tear-off ornament.
- Pop-up: die-cut pieces that stand when the card opens. Common for novelty cards.
Bleed, margins, resolution
Set up holiday card designs with a 0.125 inch bleed. Extend background colors and images into the bleed. Keep text and logos 0.25 inches from the trim edge. Use 300 ppi for photos at final print size. Use vector art for logos and type. A 5x7 card at 300 ppi needs 1500 by 2100 pixels for the image area. Add bleed pixels: 1575 by 2175 pixels.
Paper and envelopes
Card stock weights range from 80 lb text to 120 lb cover. A 100 lb cover stock holds shape in the hand. Uncoated stock takes pen ink. Coated stock shows photo colors with more depth. Envelope sizes match card sizes: A2, A6, A7, A9, and square. Square envelopes cost more to mail.
Mailing rules
USPS First-Class Mail letter rates apply to cards that meet size and weight limits. A letter must be at least 3.5 by 5 inches and no more than 6.125 by 11.5 inches. Thickness must be at least 0.007 inches. Weight must be 3.5 ounces or less. Square envelopes are nonmachinable and cost extra. Rigid mailers cost more than envelopes.
Design elements that repeat
Holiday card designs reuse a small set of motifs: pine branches, stars, snowflakes, ornaments, and winter animals. Color palettes fall into three groups: red and green, blue and silver, and kraft brown with white. Typography mixes a script for the greeting with a serif or sans serif for the address. Pantone Matching System numbers keep solid ink colors consistent across print runs.