Holiday card designs use five print sizes in most shops. A2 measures 4.25 x 5.5 in. A6 measures 4.625 x 6.25 in. A7 measures 5 x 7 in. A9 measures 5.5 x 8.5 in. Photo cards measure 4 x 6 in or 5 x 7 in. Print files carry 300 ppi images, a 0.125 in bleed on all four sides, and a 0.125 in safe margin for text and logos.
Standard card sizes and envelopes
- A2 card 4.25 x 5.5 in, envelope 4.375 x 5.75 in.
- A6 card 4.625 x 6.25 in, envelope 4.75 x 6.5 in.
- A7 card 5 x 7 in, envelope 5.25 x 7.25 in.
- A9 card 5.5 x 8.5 in, envelope 5.75 x 8.75 in.
- Photo card 4 x 6 in or 5 x 7 in, flat, one or two printed sides.
A7 is the most common fold-over holiday size. A2 works for short messages and for cards mailed in a batch. Photo cards skip the fold and ship as a single sheet.
File setup
Build the document at final trim size, then add 0.125 in of bleed. Keep type and faces 0.125 in inside the trim line. Set the color mode to CMYK for offset and digital presses. Convert RGB photos before export. Embed fonts or outline them. Export at 300 ppi at 100 percent scale. A 5 x 7 in photo needs 1500 x 2100 pixels.
Folds and panels
Flat cards have one or two panels. A bi-fold has four panels: front, two inside faces, and back. A tri-fold has six panels and two fold lines. A gate fold opens from the center and gives a wide inside spread. A Z-fold alternates the fold direction panel by panel. Panel widths on a tri-fold differ; the panel that tucks inside runs about 0.0625 in narrower.
Paper and finish
Common stocks are 100 lb cover (270 gsm), 110 lb cover (300 gsm), and 14 pt cardstock. Uncoated stock takes pen ink and rubber stamp ink. Coated stock holds photo detail. Foil stamping, letterpress, embossing, and spot color add cost. Spot colors come from the Pantone Matching System and are ordered by number.
Mailing rules
USPS First-Class Mail letters measure between 5 x 3.5 in and 6.125 x 11.5 in, weigh no more than 3.5 oz, and run no thicker than 0.25 in. Square envelopes fall under the nonmachinable surcharge because the length-to-height ratio sits at 1.0. Cards over 3.5 oz go as First-Class Mail parcels. Postage rates change, so confirm the current rate before a large mail merge.