How To Make Playing Cards

BEFORE YOU START: Please ensure you have a quote. If you don’t have one, please ask as there is nothing worse than pouring hard work onto the wrong size templates.

STEP 1: GETTING YOUR TEMPLATES

Decide which program you are going to use to create your artwork. We have templates in ﬁve formats: Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, PDF & SVG. We recommend using Adobe Illustrator, Indesign & Photoshop. If you are using a program that cannot import any of these ﬁles, then maybe an alternative should be sourced. Programs we recommend are Adobe Illustrator, Indesign & Photoshop. These are programs that you have to pay to use.

A free alternative is Inkscape, an open-source programme that can be downloaded from https://inkscape.org For best results use svg templates. Download the correct templates from our website: https://www.ivory.co.uk/templates

Downloading your templates
First, you will need three pieces of information; these are card size, material type and number of cards per pack. All this will be listed on your quotation. Enter these in the template calculator, it will then list the correct templates for you to download.

STEP 2: USING OUR TEMPLATES CORRECTLY

Now that you have the correct template, decide which style of card you would like: a bordered design or a full bleed design.

BORDERED DESIGN

Bordered designs have coloured borders: traditionally white. Borders must be no smaller than 5mm.

Coloured borders must continue in to the bleed area, (blue area in template).

FULL BLEED DESIGN

A full bleed design allows you freedom to run any colours or image off the edge of the cards. You can have a different image on each side of every card with completely different colours. Text should be within the guide line 5mm from the edge.

TUCK BOXES

Tuck boxes are very similar to cards in that all the same rules apply. There are lots of creases on tuck boxes and these should be treated the same as the cut line of a card on a bordered design.

WHY IS ALL THIS IMPORTANT?

We put a huge emphasis on maintaining a high level of quality. To uphold our standards, we have multiple guidelines and checks in place. Despite this, both printing and cutting are mechanical processes, therefore small variations are likely to occur. The amount of bleed and border space given ensures your artwork is not affected by this slight movement. The only time this becomes an issue is when the templates supplied aren’t correctly followed.

STEP 3: IMAGES AND COLOURS

Images

All images should be in CMYK. For good quality print all images and effects should be a minimum of 300ppi. More than 600ppi is unnecessary.

CMYK and RGB

All print is CMYK, all screens display in RGB.

RGB appears more vibrant than CMYK on screen and this what causes a lot of confusion in print. Because its impossible to print in RGB as its also impossible to display in CMYK on a screen. This is why we offer a test pack service and advise people to take advantage of this service.

Metallics

We also print in Metallic Gold & Silver. These open up very different design options. You can put Silver or Gold under CMYK & the opposite colour on top. This can create unique metallic colours that cannot be achieved with CMYK printing alone.

STEP 4: ORGANISING YOUR FILES

The best way to supply your ﬁles depends on the type of deck you are creating. There are three different types of decks you can order.

Custom common back with Standard faces.
Custom common back with Custom faces.
Different Custom back for each Custom face.

Organise files for type 1:

1 ﬁle in pdf format.

Organise files for type 2. There are two options:

A single back ﬁle as above and a multi-page pdf for the faces.
An individual ﬁle for each of the card faces and back, named in the order you would like your deck.

Organise files for type 3 - You have three option.

A multi page pdf for the backs and one for the faces.
A single multi page pdf containing a face then back repeating for the whole deck.
Two individual files for each card. (Face 1, Back 1, Face 2 etc).

IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE ALL ARTWORK IS SUPPLIED WITH ALL TEMPLATES AND EXPLANATION LAYERS REMOVED

Want to let Ivory help design and bring your ideas to life?
Use this link to see our tier system for design: https://www.ivory.co.uk/graphic-design

Our in-house designer and artwork team are on hand to help advise and guide you through the design process.

STEP 5: ORDERING

The quickest way to order is from your chosen quotation. Just simply click the “Click to buy online” button. This will log you in to our website securely. From here you can add a delivery address, upload your artwork and make a payment.

There are two options: Credit / Debit card or offline payment (either Bacs or Cheque).

Please note: Offline payment option will delay your order while funds are cleared.

Alternatively, you can order via email or phone. Just reply to your chosen quotation email, email info@ivory.co.uk or call 01354 656 430

STEP 6: RECEIVING YOUR PROOFS

Proofs are normally sent within 24 hours of ordering.

You will receive an email to view your digital proofs on our website. Your proofs are secured by your email address and a unique code in the proof email.

Please download your proof and check thoroughly to ensure everything is how you want it to be printed prior to approval. If you require alterations, reject the proofs and tell us why. Then resupply your artwork via the upload page. https://www.ivory.co.uk/upload

Enter your job number and email address and these files will be reproofed asap.

Once you’re happy, hit that approve button and we’ll take it from there!

STEP 7: ORDER CONFIRMATION

Now your artwork has been approved. We will schedule your order to print and send you an order confirmation via email. This will confirm your invoice and delivery address. Plus the expected delivery date. Please check these details thoroughly as errors are hard to change once your order has been dispatched

We hope you enjoy your cards!