A short message that is seen straight away
A postcard has no envelope to open, so the headline, image and offer are visible the moment it lands. That makes it a good fit for an event date, a sale, a reminder or a simple next step, and a poor fit for anything detailed or private. Decide what the reader should do after a few seconds and give that the space. A useful brief includes the finished size, the quantity, whether each card needs a name or code, and whether the cards will be posted, handed out or enclosed in a pack.
A6 and A5
A6 is the familiar pocket size for handouts and short notes. A5 gives a picture and an offer more room while staying easy to post and display.
DL and long formats
A DL postcard fits standard display racks and sits well alongside a DL leaflet in a wider campaign. Check how the card will be stored or displayed before choosing a less common shape.
Mailing postcards
For posted cards, keep the address side clear and plan the space for the address, postage marking and any barcode before the design is finished. The size and thickness also decide which postage format the card falls into.
Paper & finishes
Postcards need a stiff card stock so they survive the post and handling. Silk and gloss coated boards make photographs and strong colour stand out; uncoated board is easier to write on, which matters for reply cards and RSVPs. FSC-certified stocks are available.
Lamination protects the printed face and changes how the card feels, with soft-touch giving a more premium result. Spot UV, foil and embossing can lift a logo or headline. If the reverse needs to be written on or addressed by inkjet, tell us early, as some finishes on the address side can affect this.
Trimming and finishing
Postcards are printed several to a sheet, then guillotined to size in-house. There is no folding or binding, so the most important checks are bleed on every trimmed edge and keeping text clear of the edge.
Rounded corners, perforated tear-off sections or a specific card weight change how the piece is produced. Describe the finished card you have in mind and we can advise on what suits the quantity and stock.
Litho or digital printing?
Digital printing on our Heidelberg Versafire presses suits short runs, several versions and postcards that change from card to card, such as a name, offer, map or unique QR code drawn from your data. There are no plates, so a small run is practical.
For a longer run with the same artwork, B2 litho on our Heidelberg Speedmaster presses is often the better route, and the cards can be personalised afterwards. We recommend a process against the full specification rather than quantity alone.
Mailing & trade print
A posted postcard is one of the simplest direct mail formats, as there is no enclosing. Our data team can clean and prepare the address file, we can print the address and personalised content in-house, and our mailing operation handles Royal Mail Mailmark sortation for qualifying UK mailings.
Postcards can also go inside a letter pack as a reply card or voucher. We produce unbranded postcards for resellers and agencies under NDA, too. Tell us how the cards will reach people so the size and stock suit the route.
Helpful guides
All guides
Letter vs Postcard vs Self-Mailer: Choosing a Format
Which direct mail format suits your message? Letters, postcards and self-mailers compared on response, cost and postage.
Read the guide
Paper Sizes Guide: A, B and SRA Sizes in mm
Every A and B paper size in mm, inches and pixels at 300dpi, the press sheet sizes printers use, and how size affects print cost and postage.
Read the guide
Variable Data Printing and Personalised Direct Mail
How variable data printing works, what can change from record to record, how personalised print is produced and how to get the data and proofs right.
Read the guide
Print Finishes Explained: Spot UV, Foil, Embossing & Lamination
What each print finish does, when to use spot UV, foil, embossing or soft-touch lamination, and how to plan finishes into your artwork.
Read the guideFrequently Asked Questions
Have a print specification in mind?
Tell us about the format, quantity, artwork and how you plan to use the finished piece, and we will come back with a recommendation and a clear quote.
- Print, data and mailing under one roof in Keighley
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and FSC certified
- Royal Mail Mailmark and PostAim (Ireland) mailings
- Family-owned and producing since 1980