Custom Trading Card Specs

Please use this as a resource for any custom trading cards that you are designing.

Card Dimensions

When you set up your cards, please set your files to 2.75″ x 3.75″ to include the bleed area (.125 on all sides). The bleed area will be cut off.

Overall with bleed

2.75 inches x 3.75 inches

Final trim

Your cards will be cut to 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches

Live area (safe zone)

Please keep all of your important information within this area. The safe zone area is approximately .125 insides the trim line.

If your text gets too close to the edge of the card, it could get cut off during the cutting process.

Colors & Formats

Color mode

All files must be flattened and in CMYK or Grayscale color mode. Please convert all RGB files to CMYK before sending.

Preferred file format

Press ready PDF: create a single Press ready PDF file for each card, front and back.

Other acceptable file formats

Photoshop: .tiff, .jpg, .psd Illustrator: .eps, .pdf, .ai – convert all fonts to outlines and include all placed graphics in CMYK or Grayscale color mode. InDesign: .indd – include all fonts and external linked files. Compress all files into one file and upload to Choice’s Hightail Account.

Unacceptable file formats

Corel Draw, Microsoft Word, Publisher, Powerpoint, Paint, Canva

These programs do not create press ready files and need to be converted to an accepted file format.