Postcard Templates
These free press-ready printing templates define proper document size, bleeds, and trim marks marks to ensure your postcard is correctly set up. The following document sizes are available with bleeds set to an eighth of an inch (0.125″):
- 5.5″ × 4.25″
- 6.0″ × 4.0″
- 8.5″ × 5.5″
- 9.0″ × 6.0″
Please see our postcard printing page for pricing and product information.
Instructions
In Illustrator, simply open the .eps files and begin building your postcard, using the guides and layers as a reference point.
In Photoshop, open either the .eps or .pdf files and click 'OK' in the Rasterize dialogue you will see upon opening the files. This will create a rasterized layer from which you can use as a reference as you build your document.
In InDesign, you will need to create a document as follows: Go to File > New > Document. Your document size will vary based on the template you are using:
- 5.5″ × 4.25″ – Set the Width to '5.5 in' and Height to '4.25 in' (without the quotes)
- 6.0″ × 4.0″ – Set the Width to '6 in' and Height to '4 in' (without the quotes)
- 8.5″ × 5.5″ – Set the Width to '8.5 in' and Height to '5.5 in' (without the quotes)
- 9.0″ × 6.0″ – Set the Width to '9 in' and Height to '6 in' (without the quotes)
After you specified your document size in InDesign, set all margins to .125 in, and set all bleeds to .125 in. Then click 'Ok' to create the document. Now you may go to File > Place and place our template as your reference point, lining up the red area (the bleed) with the red bleed line in InDesign.
Guidance
On the postcard templates, you will see distinct areas:
- Red denotes the bleed area. If you need graphics that touch edge of your postcard, you will need to extend your artwork into the bleed area. The bleed area will be trimmed from your final product and ensures a proper, final appearance.
- Green denotes the safety zone. We do not recommend placing any text inside this area as it is directly adjacent to the trim line.
- Purple is reserved for addressing and postal markings – the lower ½″ remaining blank for postal service barcodes (applied by the post office).
- Blue denotes the stamp area, which must remain blank for stamping and other markings.
The Postal Service provides several guides online that detail information on mailing your postcards, including what classifies for postcard mailing rates versus letter mailing rates and physical requirements for your postcards.
As of September 2011, the 5.5″ × 4.25″ and 6.0″ × 4.0″ templates qualify for the cheaper postcard mailing rate, whereas the larger-sized templates will be classified as letters.
Download
You may download the templates as EPS, PDF, or as a Zip file containing all versions.
Sized to 5.5″ × 4.25″
- Postcard Template: Front side – 5.5″ × 4.25″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 5.5″ × 4.25″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Front side – 5.5″ × 4.25″ (PDF)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 5.5″ × 4.25″ (PDF)
- All 5.5″ × 4.25″ Postcard Templates (Zipped)
Sized to 6.0″ × 4.0″
- Postcard Template: Front side – 6.0″ × 4.0″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 6.0″ × 4.0″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Front side – 6.0″ × 4.0″ (PDF)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 6.0″ × 4.0″ (PDF)
- All 6.0″ × 4.0″ Postcard Templates (Zipped)
Sized to 8.5″ × 5.5″
- Postcard Template: Front side – 8.5″ × 5.5″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 8.5″ × 5.5″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Front side – 8.5″ × 5.5″ (PDF)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 8.5″ × 5.5″ (PDF)
- All 8.5″ × 5.5″ Postcard Templates (Zipped)
Sized to 9.0″ × 6.0″
- Postcard Template: Front side – 9.0″ × 6.0″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 9.0″ × 6.0″ (EPS)
- Postcard Template: Front side – 9.0″ × 6.0″ (PDF)
- Postcard Template: Back side – 9.0″ × 6.0″ (PDF)
- All 9.0″ × 6.0″ Postcard Templates (Zipped)
