PS/CS3 Design a Post Card Business Card

[redhalton]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum or a really stupid question(s) :D

I want to design in PS CS3 a postcard size business card.

Do I design it and when I'm finished, resize to 4 x 6 inches and send off to the printer?

Are there templates I can use so my artwork is printed on front and the back has textual information?

Do I design to the edge or do I leave a cushion around the PC?

You see, I'm exposing myself...I really have no clue!

Thanks
Bob

[Nikolai]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum or a really stupid question(s) :D

I want to design in PS CS3 a postcard size business card.

Do I design it and when I'm finished, resize to 4 x 6 inches and send off to the printer?

Are there templates I can use so my artwork is printed on front and the back has textual information?

Do I design to the edge or do I leave a cushion around the PC?

You see, I'm exposing myself...I really have no clue!

Thanks
Bob

Bob,
1) if you know for a fact that 4"x6" at 300 dpi is your target I suggest you start exactly with that.
2) samples of buiness cards are abundant on the web. Use any of the business card pritning sites for basic designs, google for buiness card templates, etc.
3) Ususally there is a certain "bleeding" area, so I'd suggest to not up any important info closer than 1/4" to the edge.
HTH

[bham]

Usually the printer you choose to go with can and will provide a file to use that have bleed areas and exact dimensions. (ie Mpix.com)

[CWSkopec]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum or a really stupid question(s) :D

I want to design in PS CS3 a postcard size business card.

Do I design it and when I'm finished, resize to 4 x 6 inches and send off to the printer?

Are there templates I can use so my artwork is printed on front and the back has textual information?

Do I design to the edge or do I leave a cushion around the PC?

You see, I'm exposing myself...I really have no clue!

Thanks
Bob

Bob,
The best way to go about it (that is if the printer you choose doesn't have a decent template to give) is to start a new file at 300 dpi, measuring 4.5x6.5 inches. The extra half inch is the bleed area Nikolai was refering to. It's the ensure that if the cutter your printer uses is off you won't get a white line at the edge of your card.

Place a guide an eigth of an inch in on each side. This will be your actual 4x6 card. As Nikolai said, try to keep important text about a quarter of an inch away from any of these guides. That way if the cutter is indeed off, it won't crowd your text too much to the edge. For an image, make sure it "bleeds" all the way to the outer bounds of the document not just the guides. If you don't want it to bleed, be sure to keep the image a quarter of an inch from the guides as well.

If the printer doesn't have a front and back template to give you, simply do a second file with the same dimensions and guides as the first. Label them something simple (ie. front and back) when you send them and your printer should be able to figure it out (if not don't use them!! :rofl).

These are of course generalities... If you can it's best to choose a printer and ask them for a template/what their technical specifications are. But if you just can't choose, or you're like me and just want to start without figuring that part out yet, a file like this should give you a great start and be easily modified once you do choose a printer.

Hope this helps!!

[redhalton]

Thanks for the great input...I think I'm well on my way now.

Cheers
Bob