The three frames of every print file
Print data thinks in three nested frames — understand them and you avoid all the classic mistakes:
- Trim size: the finished card, 85 × 55 mm (the European standard; the US standard is 3.5 × 2 in / 89 × 51 mm) — the size it ends up in the hand.
- Bleed: 1–3 mm extra all around. Background colors and images run out to here so no white edge remains after cutting.
- Safety margin: 3–5 mm from the cut edge inward. Everything important — name, logo, phone number — stays inside so the (slightly imprecise) cutter doesn't clip it.
The details of this principle — and why every printer asks for it — are in Bleed and trim explained.
The concrete numbers for 85 × 55 mm
| Frame | Millimeters | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| Trim size | 85 × 55 mm | ~1004 × 650 px |
| With 2 mm bleed | 89 × 59 mm | ~1051 × 697 px |
| Safety zone (inner) | 79 × 49 mm | — |
Important: these are guide values. Every print shop has a spec sheet with its exact requirements (often 1 or 3 mm bleed) — a quick look before you start saves a rejection.
Why 300 dpi is mandatory
On screen, 72–96 dpi is enough; printed it needs 300 dpi, because the eye picks out the finest detail at reading distance. A business card with a 150-dpi logo instantly looks "cheap." The conversion is simple: millimeters ÷ 25.4 × 300 = pixels. The background — including when fewer dpi is forgivable — is in DPI and PPI explained.
Vector beats pixels
The best route for business cards is a vector PDF: text and logo stay mathematically razor-sharp regardless of resolution, and the bleed can be defined cleanly. If you work with pixel images (a photo background, say), they belong in at 300 dpi — bring them to the required pixel count first with the resize tool. Embed logos as SVG where possible, not as a small PNG.
Color: RGB or CMYK?
Print machines work in CMYK, screens in RGB. For professional print the data is therefore expected in CMYK. Many online printers convert from RGB themselves — the catch: strong RGB neon colors can go duller in the process. If the color has to be exact, set it up in CMYK and use the print shop's color profile. The whole relationship is in CMYK vs RGB in print.
The most common rejection reasons
- No bleed set — white edge after cutting.
- Text too close to the edge — gets clipped.
- Resolution too low — blurry print.
- RGB where CMYK is required — color shifts.
- Fonts not embedded — embed fonts in the PDF or convert to outlines.
In short
- 85 × 55 mm (EU) / 3.5 × 2 in (US) + bleed, safety margin inside.
- 300 dpi at final size — non-negotiable for print.
- Vector PDF for sharp text; embed logos as SVG.
- CMYK for exact color; check the spec sheet.