Creating a Custom Design


Follow the design guidelines to ensure your PNG file is properly formatted.

Step 1 - Create a New File or Editing an Existing One

We understand, to a regular person that doesn't have multiple degrees in graphic design, our submission criteria may be a little confusing. We wanted to let you know that the process of submitting your own custom business card doesn't have to be confusing, but can actually be a rather quick and painless process. Also remember that if you're still having trouble at the end of this tutorial, you can always create a business card on our custom card creators.

Before you get started, we highly recommend using Photoshop create your card and a free tool that we use called IRFANVIEW if you need to manipulate an existing image. However the purpose of this specific guide is to give you the information you need to create a design compatable with our system in whichever design program suits you best.

To start, download our PNG template file or create a new PNG file following the design guide below.

How-to   Graphic Representation
1. Create a new PNG with the following crieria:
  • Width: 2100 pixels
  • Height: 1200 pixels
  • Resoltuion: 300 pixels / inch (DPI)
  • Background color: White or Transparent
  • Color mode set to RGB and 8 bit if applicable
Note: if you are concerned about file size, you can create your design at 72 pixels / inch which is the minimum resolution that we accept for raised ink designs. If you are editing an existing design, in IRFANVIEW press "CNTRL + R" to resize your image or "ALT + C" to adjust your canvas size to the correct dimensions.

  
Creating a new design in IRFANVIEW

2. If you already have an existing file you'd like to change the DPI on, you can easily change the resolution of your image in Photoshop by clicking Image > Image Size and looking at the "Resolution" box. This should be a minimum of "72".

In IRFANVIEW, you can change the DPI of an image by clicking Image > Information and changing the "Resolution" boxes to a minimum of "72" and clicking the "Change" button.


  


Setting your resolution

Step 2 - Creating or Editing Your Design

Now that you've got your canvas setup and ready to go, you can start working on your design. While designing, you need to keep the following things in mind:

How-to   Graphic Representation
1. Your design must be at least .25" away from the edges of the canvas. The only exception to this rule is a horizontal full bleed (explained in step #3).

  
WRONG!
2. When working with text or graphics, use full solid colors. Gradients will not work with the raised-ink printing process.

    

3. We do accept full bleeds, but only if the bleed is 100% of the width (or height) of the card and of a consistent height.

We cannot except a full bleed if it does not stay consistent across the x-axis or y-axis of the card in terms of width and height OR if it only touches one edge of the canvas but not the other.

  
CORRECT BLEED!
4. Please make sure that you own the license to any non-free or non open-license fonts that are used in your design.

    


Step 3 - Notes for Two Color Designs

When designing a two-color card, keep the following items in mind:

How-to   Graphic Representation
1. Colors may not touch. When designing, please leave a 2 to 3 pixel border minimum between colors. This is due to the slight shift that occurs when printing via the thermography process.

  


WRONG!


CORRECT!
2. The use of gradients in a design causes ink to be laid on to the card stock incorrectly when printed. So please remember not to use gradients... full colors only!

    
3. Keep in mind that your design will be saved as two PNG files when you are done, one for each color. Design your file in a way that will make it easy to hide each colored layer when it comes time to save and export.

  


   
Step 4 - Saving & Uploading Your Design

Our printing process requires you send us a PNG file. To save your file as a PNG, follow these steps.

How-to   Graphic Representation
1. In your editing softare generally saving a PNG file is as simple as File > Save and selecting the "PNG (*.PNG)" under the "Format" drop-down. In some design softare you may need to do a File > Export in order to save as a PNG file. Additionally, some software requires you to be in "RGB" color mode in order to save to PNG file formats.

  

2. If you need to convert your existing file to a PNG, you can do so using IRFANVIEW. Simply open your file in the program and click File > Save As and select the PNG option from the file formats drop down menu. Your card will then be saved in the proper format.

 
Saving your design as a PNG
3. Create two PNG files if your design is a two color design, one PNG for each color.

    
4. Navigate to our Custom Upload page and select the type of file (1 color or 2 color) that you'd like to submit.

    
5. Click "Choose File" to select your PNG design on your hard-drive, then select your paper type and ink color in the appropriate drop-down menus. For 2 color designs you will follow this process twice.