Dinsmore Graphics has put together some guidelines so that it will be possible for us to effectively print your designs! We have put together a brief summary of the best ways to prepare and send your electronic art files to us. If at any time you are not sure about something, contact us and lets us help you!

This information is listed to help those individuals who really, really want to design their own business cards. We do not require you to design your own card - in fact, we'll do it for free. But, if you insist, here's the information you'll need!


Basic Layout Specifications

The actual size of the finished business card will be 3 1/2" by 2" (Horizontal or vertical). However, you will need to create your artwork @ 3.625" by 2.125" @ 300dpi allowing 1/16" to be cut off each side. Your artwork must be in CMYK color format, not RGB to ensure the colors you choose will print the way you intend them to. Although cutting is accurate to 0.03125" (1/32"), Positioning graphics or text closer than 0.0625" (1/16") to any edge may result in inadvertent clipping. Take the trim into account when determining how far from the edges of your card to position text. We recommend 0.125" (1/8") and a minimum distance of 0.0625" (1/16") inside the trimming edge. Position text and graphics far enough away from the edge to allow a cutting tolerance. If elements are too close to an edge, the slightest cutting misalignment will be noticeable. Cutting is very accurate, not "PERFECT". Above is an example of how the artwork should look with a bleed. If color or a graphic image will go to edge of the card, bleed the color of graphic into the trim area. (As shown above) The white outline and crop marks are only present in this image to illustrate the actual edge of the card. (DO NOT include an outline or crop marks in your artwork.) Also, if any graphics or images are scanned into the artwork, you must scan them @ 300 dpi. or you risk having the final output not looking the way you want. All files must be less than 4.0 Mb per side or there will be a $10 per Mb processing fee! (Files must be less than 3.0Mb if being e-mailed to us...Each side should be a seperate file) If you are not sure, contact us and let us help you!

Recap

  • Actual artwork dimensions = 3.625” by 2.125” @ 300 dpi.
  • All images scanned @ 300 dpi.
  • Artwork must be created in CMYK color format.
  • Actual printed & cut card = 3.5” by 2”. (horizontal or vertical)
  • All non-bleed text or graphics must be minimum of 0.0625 (1/16”) inside the trimming edge. (Recommend .0125” (1/8”)
  • All graphics intended to be printed to the edge must be carried over into the trim area.
  • All files need to be less than 4.0Mb. (Under 3.0Mb if being e-mailed to us) (Create a seperate file for each side)
  • DO NOT INCLUDE OUTLINE OR CROP MARKS IN ARTWORK!

    Contact us if you have any questions...We are here to help!

Dinsmore Graphics has the ability to work with most major graphic file formats used by both PC and MAC.  The artwork must be in CMYK format.

In order of preference:

Acceptable PC file formats:

  • TIFF (.tif) RECOMMENDED (LZW Compression can be on)
  • Photoshop (.psd) RECOMMENDED
  • Encapsulated Postscript (.eps) RECOMMENDED
  • Bitmap (.bmp)
  • Illustrator (.ai)
  • Corel Photo Paint (.cpt)
  • Corel Draw (.cdr)

Acceptable MAC file formats:

  • TIFF (.tif) (LZW Compression can be on)
  • Encapsulated Postscript (.eps)
  • Photoshop (.psd)

If you are submitting artwork in Photoshop, Illustrator, or Corel Draw formats... Please submit artwork in layers just in case any minor adjustments need to be made to have your cards turn out exactly the way you designed them to. Also include all fonts used to design your artwork if submitting in layers unless you have rendered all your layers in PhotoShop or converted all the text to curves in Corel Draw. *If you are familiar with these programs...you’ll understand layers, rendering, and converting to curves! If you don’t understand, contact us and we will help you!

If you are using something other than what you see on these lists, contact us and let us know. We will be able to let you know what needs to be done to process your request.