Business Card Design Guidelines - Print-ready Specifications

Aug 30, 2026

Business Card Design Guidelines define production-ready artwork requirements for Gallery Collection cards, covering available sizes (Standard and Credit Card), orientations, and corner styles. It specifies recommended template usage, full-canvas dimensions, and critical bleed (1/8") to prevent edge white strips. The safe area rules ensure that essential text, logos, and graphics remain protected. The document also enforces CMYK color, font embedding/outline, 300 dpi resolution, front/back file separation, correct export formats (JPEG/TIFF/PSD), and instructions-layer removal to avoid unintended printing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Available Sizes

Standard and Credit Card

Orientation and Corner Styles

Creating Art

Canvas Size and Resolution

Bleed, Trim, and Safe Area

File Preparation

Color Format and Fonts

Front/Back Separation and Layer Rules

Outputting Final Files

Supported File Formats

Final Size with Bleed

Card Measurements

Business Card Design Guidelines Questions? Call 1-800-950-7064 or email [service@gallerycollection.com](service@gallerycollection.com) Available Sizes Gallery Collection Business Cards are available in two sizes, Standard and Credit Card, including two different orientations (vertical and horizontal), with your choice of square or rounded corners. Example images within this guide are shown with square corners. Standard Size Horizontal 3. 5" x 2" (Full Canvas-3.75" x 2.25") Standard Size Vertical 2" x 3. 5" (Full Canvas 2.25" x 3.75") Credit Card Size Horizontal 3.30" x 2.16" (Full Canvas-3.55" x 2.41") Credit Card Size Vertical 2.16" x 3.30" (Full Canvas 2.41" x 3.55") Creating Art Canvas Size: It is recommended to use one of our templates which can be downloaded [at ](at www.gallerycollection.com/templates)[www.gallerycollection.com/templates](at www.gallerycollection.com/templates)[ ](at www.gallerycollection.com/templates)There are files for InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop with the correct dimensions and all measurements labeled. The full canvas size is 3.75" x 2. 25" for Standard size and 3. 55" x 2.41" for Credit Card size. Resolution should be at least 300 dpi. Bleed Trim Safe Area Bleed: Your background color, design or images should extend to fill the 1/8" bleed area, which will be trimmed when cutting your cards down to their final size. This is required to print your design without any white strips showing on the edge. Trim: The size your cards will be after the bleed is cut off. 3. 5" x 2" for Standard and 3.3" x 2.16" for Credit Card Size Safe Area: All important text, logos or other graphics you wouldn’t want to be cut off should stay within the Safe Area, which starts 1/8" in from the Trim. Safe Area dimensions are 3. 25" x 1.75" for Standard size, and 3. 05" x 1.91" for Credit Card size. Correct Incorrect Color: All artwork must be in CMYK format. RGB screen colors will not produce desirable results. Please remove any Pantone or spot colors or convert to them CMYK. Fonts: Be sure to embed or outline all fonts used. File Formats: You may work in any program you wish as long as you follow all template dimensions and adhere to the specs in Outputting Final Files (see page 2) for the final image. Separate files should be created for the front and back. We suggest adding "_front" and "_back" to the filenames to help differentiate them. Outputting Final Files File Format: Must be either JPEG, TIFF or PSD. JPEG must be saved at maximum quality. Color: All artwork should be in CMYK. Sides: Separate files for front and back, named with " front" and " back" to differentiate. Resolution: Save final artwork at 300 dpi. Template: If you use a Gallery Collection template, please remember to turn off or delete the INSTRUCTIONS layer. All artwork should be on its own layer, separate from the instructions layer. Anything visible when saving your image WILL print on your cards. Size: Dimensions below include bleed. Any design elements, background imagery or background color that needs to touch the edge of the card should extend through the bleed area. Standard Size –(Full Canvas) Horizontal: 3.75" x 2.25" (1125 x 675 pixels) Vertical: 2.25" x 3.75" (675 x 1125 pixels) Credit Card Size –(Full Canvas) Horizontal: 3.55" x 2.41" (1065 x 723 pixels) Vertical: 2.41" x 3.55" (723 x 1065 pixels) Card Measurements All important artwork, logos, photos and text should be contained within the Safe Area (outlined in blue), but background imagery or elements that need to touch the edge should extend through the bleed area, which goes from the red outline to the black outline. Standard Size – Horizontal Credit Card Size – Horizontal Standard Size – Vertical Credit Card Size – Vertical

FAQs

What bleed size must be included for business card designs?

Background color, designs, or images should extend into the 1/8" bleed area so the edges are trimmed cleanly without white strips.

Where should important text and logos be placed?

Place all important text, logos, and graphics within the Safe Area, which starts 1/8" in from the Trim.

Which file formats and resolution are required for final printing?

Final files must be exported as JPEG (maximum quality), TIFF, or PSD, with artwork saved at 300 dpi. Separate front and back files are required.

Aug 30, 2026

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