Business cards are printed at a small, fixed size, so artwork mistakes that would barely show on a poster become obvious on a card held in someone's hand. Use this checklist before sending your file for a business card order.
Resolution and File Format
Logos and images should be high resolution or, ideally, vector files (AI, EPS or PDF) rather than low-resolution images pulled from a website or presentation. A vector logo scales cleanly to the small size of a business card; a low-resolution raster image often blurs or pixelates once printed.
Bleed and Safe Margins
If your design includes a background colour or image that runs to the edge of the card, it needs to extend slightly beyond the final cut line (bleed) so there's no thin white edge after trimming. Keep important text and logos away from the very edge of the card so nothing is accidentally cut off during trimming.
Text Size and Legibility
Fine print — job titles, secondary contact details, taglines — can become hard to read once shrunk to business card size. Test your smallest text at actual size before finalising the design, rather than judging legibility from a zoomed-in screen view.
Finish-Specific Requirements
If you're ordering Spot UV, gold foil or letterpress, the areas that should carry the effect usually need to be marked separately in the artwork file, since these finishes apply to specific elements rather than the whole card. See Spot UV vs Foil vs Letterpress for how each finish behaves.
Colour Accuracy
Printed colour (CMYK) can look slightly different from the same colour on a screen (RGB), so if your brand colours need to match exactly across your business cards and other stationery, flag this before your file is sent to print.
Consistency Across a Team
If you're ordering cards for more than one person, use a single template and only change the name, title and direct contact details, so every card in the set looks consistent. See Reordering Business Cards for a Growing Team for more on keeping a set consistent as your company grows.
Quick Checklist
- Logo supplied as vector or high-resolution file, not a low-resolution screenshot.
- Background colours or images extend into the bleed area.
- No text or logos sitting too close to the trim edge.
- Smallest text checked for legibility at actual print size.
- Finish-specific elements (Spot UV, foil, letterpress) clearly marked if applicable.
- Brand colours flagged if they need to match existing stationery exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file formats are accepted?
Vector formats such as AI, EPS or print-ready PDF are preferred for logos and text; high-resolution image files can also work for photo-based designs.
What happens if my logo is low resolution?
It may appear blurred or pixelated once printed at business card size — our team can advise whether a redesign or higher-resolution source file is needed.
Do I need to prepare the file myself?
Contact our team if you need help preparing or checking your artwork before your order goes to print.
