Business card mockup and print template

Business card: what to know

A business card (visiting card) is still handed over at every meeting, stall and shop counter in India. It needs to be readable, sturdy and clear about how to reach you.

• Keep it to what someone needs: name, role, phone or WhatsApp, email, website and perhaps one QR code.
• Phone numbers and emails should be at least about 7 pt. Test a printout at real size before ordering.
• 350 gsm is a good everyday weight; choose 450 gsm or the 1 mm luxe stock for a premium feel.
• Use 3 mm bleed and keep text 3 mm inside the trim. The downloaded layout shows both lines.

Parts of a card, flyer or ticket

One template for flat, printed-both-sides pieces: business cards, postcards, A5 and A4 flyers, DL rack cards and event tickets with a perforated stub. Pick a standard size, a paper thickness and rounded corners if you want them, put artwork on the front and back, and download the print layout with bleed as PDF or SVG. Flat prints are simple, but small things like bleed and safe margins decide whether the batch comes back clean.

Front

Logo, name, headline or main image.

Back

Contact details, offer, map or a plain brand colour.

Trim line

The finished edge, where the guillotine cuts.

Bleed

Artwork that runs 3 mm past the trim, so no white edge shows if the cut moves slightly.

Safe area

About 3 to 5 mm inside the trim. Keep text and logos within it.

Perforation (tickets)

A line of small holes so the stub tears off cleanly. Turn on Perforated stub in the studio.

How to size it

1. Pick the size in the studio. Most printers and paper stocks are set up for standard sizes, so a custom size often costs more.
2. Extend backgrounds and images 3 mm past every edge (bleed). The downloaded layout shows the bleed and cut lines.
3. Keep text at least 3 mm inside the trim on small cards and 5 mm on flyers.
4. Use images at about 300 dpi at the printed size, and make small text no smaller than about 6 to 7 pt.
5. Upload the front and back designs, then download the PDF or SVG print layout for your printer.

Materials and finishes

Card, about 300 to 400 gsm

Business cards, postcards and tickets. The studio offers 350 gsm, 450 gsm and a 1 mm luxe stock.

Paper, about 130 to 170 gsm

Flyers and leaflets that are handed out in numbers or folded.

Coated (art) paper

Sharp, bright colour and photos.

Uncoated or textured paper

A natural feel, easy to write on. Colours print softer.

Finishes

Matte, gloss or soft-touch lamination

Protects cards from wear; soft-touch adds a velvety feel.

Spot UV or foil

Highlights a logo or one detail. Keep the area simple and bold.

Rounded corners

A softer look that resists dog-ears. Turn on Rounded corners in the studio.

Mistakes to avoid

• No bleed: a thin white line appears on some cards where the cut drifted.
• Text right at the edge: it gets trimmed off. Keep it inside the safe area.
• A thin border around the card: any small shift in cutting makes it uneven. Use a wide border or none.
• Dark, heavy colour on both sides of thin paper: it can show through. Use heavier stock.
• Sending RGB colours and expecting the same on paper: bright greens and blues often print duller. Ask for a CMYK proof.

How to make it in the studio

1. Open it. Press Customise this business card. It opens in the 3D studio at 85 x 55 mm.
2. Set the size. In the Size panel, pick a preset or type your own measurements.
3. Add your design. In the Design panel, upload your logo or artwork: it goes on the front first. Pick other faces to add colours, text or images to each.
4. Check it in 3D. Turn the pack around. Switch to the flat print view to see the artwork on the print file.
5. Download. The Download panel gives you the print template first, then mockup images for your store or social posts.
6. Get it made. If you want a quote, send the design to packitmama from the Download panel, and we will reply personally.

Questions