How to design a greetings card

We design and print every card in our range ourselves, so this series is the working method rather than a theory lesson. It covers the three decisions that make or break a card: how it's laid out, how the words are set, and what photograph or illustration carries it.

Start here for the fundamentals — sizes, bleed, folds and stock — then follow the three deeper guides on layout, typography and photography.

If you'd rather skip the design work altogether, everything we make is printed in the UK and posted first class, usually the same working day.

Card sizes and folds

• A6 (105 × 148mm) is the standard UK small card — cheap to post at letter rate and the safest starting size. Shop this card
• A5 (148 × 210mm) is the go-to for milestone birthdays and anniversaries, where the design needs room to breathe. Shop this card
• Square cards (140 × 140mm or 150 × 150mm) look modern but cost more to post in the UK, so check Royal Mail sizing before you commit. Shop this card
• Portrait folds suit type-led designs; landscape folds suit photography and wide illustrations. Shop this card

Setting up your artwork file

• Work at 300dpi in CMYK — RGB artwork shifts colour on press, and bright RGB blues are the usual casualty. Shop this card
• Add 3mm bleed on every edge so any background colour runs off the trim rather than leaving a white sliver. Shop this card
• Keep text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line; guillotines move by a millimetre or two. Shop this card
• Use rich black (about C40 M30 Y30 K100) for large black areas, and plain K100 for small body text. Shop this card

Choosing stock and finish

• 300–350gsm is the weight people read as 'proper card' when they pick it up. Shop this card
• Uncoated stock takes ink softly and suits illustration and hand-drawn type. Shop this card
• Silk and matt laminate protect photography and keep dark colours deep. Shop this card
• Leave the inside uncoated whatever you choose, or nobody can write in it with a biro. Shop this card

The three decisions that matter most

• Layout: what the eye hits first, and how much empty space you're brave enough to leave. Shop this card
• Typography: one or two typefaces, set at a size that reads at arm's length on a mantelpiece. Shop this card
• Imagery: a photograph, an illustration or nothing at all — the hardest call of the three. Shop this card

Type-led card designs

Big type, one idea, nothing else on the page.

How to write it so it lands

• Print a draft at actual size and stand it up before you sign anything off — screens flatter everything.
• Design the inside at the same time as the outside; a blank inside with no room to write is the most common mistake.
• Check the design still works in greyscale. If it doesn't, it's leaning on colour to do the work.

Where to shop next

• How to design a greetings card (series hub)
• Card layout guide
• Card typography guide
• Photo cards guide
• Shop all cards
• Browse card collections

Frequently asked questions

What size should a greetings card be?

A6 (105 × 148mm) for everyday cards and A5 (148 × 210mm) for milestone occasions. Both post at UK letter rate in a standard envelope.

What resolution do I need to design a card?

300dpi at final size, in CMYK, with 3mm bleed on all four edges. Anything below 300dpi shows as soft edges once it's printed.

What paper weight is best for greetings cards?

300–350gsm. Below 300gsm the card flops when it's stood up; above 400gsm it fights the fold unless it's properly creased.