Color Core postcards are printed on 37 point thick triple layered stock with a stripe of color in the center. These extraordinarily thick, eye-catching postcards evoke a distinctive level of sophistication ordinary postcards can't dream of achieving.
Upgrade your color core postcards with extra finishes like foil stamping, debossing, embossing and custom shape die-cutting and create postcards that elevate your message and reflect your brand's premium quality.
Color Core cards are printed in full color on offset printing presses to ensure the best quality reproduction of your photographs, designs and branding. Choose a middle layer color that coordinates with your full color artwork, in red, orange, yellow, green, blue or black. This slice of color won't go unnoticed since we make this middle layer extra thick.
If you are looking for a postcard trimmed to a unique size or need some assistance setting up your Color Core Postcards, just click on the custom quote button and we'll get right back to you.
TIPS ON EMBOSSING / DEBOSSING
Elements that are embossed will appear as a debossed effect on the reverse of the card. Elements that are debossed may show a slight impression on the reverse. We are not able to to offer gilded foil edges on cards with embossed elements.
This product has an estimated production time that will vary based on a variety of factors including additional custom finishes and current production schedules and is not meant for projects with critical deadlines. We cannot change, speed up or cancel orders that are in production. Contact us BEFORE placing an order if you have a critical deadline.
Please supply your die line file in Vector format. If you need help preparing your die line, watch the tutorial video or select the option to have us create your die line for you.
The prices listed are for cards cut to simple custom shapes. If your cards require intricate cutting, we will need to provide a custom estimate. We will let you know if your die line requires a custom estimate during the file check process.
Foil is based on an estimated foil size of around 1" x 2". Full foil coverage, or borders that go around the edge of the card require a larger die and would need to be custom quoted for the additional die size.
With the foil stamping, you can expect some slight shifting throughout the print run between the CMYK and foil layers -- there may be up to 1/16" shift on the placement of the foil. Keep this in mind if you are trying to align foil with other printed artwork on the card. The areas where there is tight registration between the CMYK elements and foil elements may not turn out as expected.
Fine detail in foil stamped elements can fill in (the centre of an "e" or "a" in small type, or fine detail in an image or complex logo).
During the die-cutting process, there will be a degree of shifting of the cut. A good design leaves a 1/8" critical margin inside the trim line to compensate for this shifting. Art that extends to the edge of the card requires a 1/8" bleed.
Any hole or interior shape that will die cut needs to be at least 1/8" in diameter. Say you were die cutting a letter U shape, the aperture in the U (the space between the two stems) must be at least 1/8". Small cut like this may not be strip away during cutting but a gentle tap will knock it out!
Uncoated stocks produce subdued, muted colors that may appear dull compared to coated stocks with low lustre aqueous or high gloss UV coatings.
Write up a storm! Unlike our coated options, these cards work perfect as stamp cards, appointment cards, or a business card that you can scrawl a note across the back. You've found a match.
Uncoated stocks are more grainy and fibrous than other stocks, so if you are looking for really sharp lines or micro text a coated stock will be up to that challenge.
The upside of club-run printing is the shared savings, the downside is that we adjust color globally to get the best overall color for shared jobs. This means the color of club-run printed items will vary through the run and will not match exactly on re-prints. Our Indigo printing service is better suited to color critical work.
CMYK Process colors in the grey range and de-saturated images can shift in color throughout the print run and may cause the greys to appear either cooler or warmer. For a neutral grey, we recommend converting all grey values and de-saturated images to true greyscale consisting of K (black) only values.
Due to the nature of club-run printing, you may experience color variation in solid fills of blue. For great blue results, we recommend a 30% difference between your Cyan and Magenta levels to ensure a nice rich dark blue, rather than purple.
The die-line must fit within the size ordered; for example if you order a 4" x 6" die cut card, your shape must fit within a 4" x 6" boundary.
Die Line: Supply a file that includes a vector path outline indicating the shape and size of your die cut card. Pricing is based on simple shape, so your dieline should be as simple as possible or the order may be placed on hold to quote the complex die.
Foil Stamping: Include a separate file/artboard with these elements colored with Pantone Black to denote the foil stamping. Alternatively, if you would like to include these elements in the same file, place these elements on a separate layer and colored with a Pantone color (typically Pantone Black) that denotes the Foil Stamping.
Embossing / Debossing: Include a separate file/artboard with these elements colored with Pantone Black to denote the debossing or embossing. Alternatively, if you would like to include these elements in the same file, place these elements on a separate layer and colored with a Pantone color (typically Pantone Black) that denotes the Foil Stamping.
Bleeds: all files must have a 1/8" bleed on each side
Live Area: keep all critical text and artwork 1/8" inside the trim
Colors: supply your files in CMYK color (Pantone/RGB colors will be converted or rejected)
Resolution: 300 dpi minimum (400 dpi preferred)
Fonts: fonts must converted to curves/outlines (we do not accept fonts).
Transparencies: flatten all transparencies
Types Of Files We Accept: MAC & PC files from Photoshop (PSD), Illustrator (EPS or AI), CorelDraw (CDR or EPS), Adobe Acrobat PDF, TIFF or JPEG.
Offset Printed using AM Screens
A colored core fixed between two layers of 14pt uncoated card stock
Full Color Both Sides (4/4) or Full Color One Side (4/0), using UV Inks
Foil Stamping Available (Both Sides)
Custom Shape Die-Cutting Available
Embossing and Debossing available (One Side Only)
