I hope my English will be good enough to make it simple to understand.
It has been a while I wanted to find how to make my cards fit perfectly, so the trimming done when printed wouldn’t affect the composition at all.
I know we could avoid adding elements too close from the edges, but when it comes to traditional art, I want my paper to be filled to the edges. And I’m sure I am not the only one having older works from any art media that are full frame/page, and not wanting to lose any details from them either. After a few trials and errors, I have finally found a way that works !
Now, I am able to adjust those works and it only takes a few seconds to make them appropriate for RB print process =)
I thought some might find this useful as well, so here is how I do it (see how to below) and a preview for you to see how it works fine.
- This is how it looks like in our portfolio (preview below). I know it is scary to see those borders! and I know many groups don’t allow borders to works submitted. But keep in mind that they only show up in the portfolio.
When you click the preview to see the card, no borders appear. You see it just as it will look like after RB trimmed the borders in the printing process. I hope hosts will consider it as ‘no border’ works, as it is what it will be when buyers receive their card. - It would recommend to always make a preview of the card in your description, so everybody (buyers, hosts, etc) see the neat final product !
- Now, click the preview image to see the card version, if you didn’t yet =)
how to
- for a standard minimum resolution card 1320×920 pixels at 200 dpihere’s what to do:
add 24 pixels to both sides → (1320+48) total width should now be 1368
add 24 pixels to the bottom → (920+24) total height should now be 944
For this horizontal view, the top of the card will not be trimmed (nothing to add)
- when doubling the size of the card (2640×1840px);
double the number of pixels on those 3 sides too (same ratio),
so you get 48px to both sides (+96px total for width) and 48px to the bottom
Your card will now be 2736×1888 pixels, and ready to be printed ;-)
. - (edit→ Dec 8th) : oh ! and I forgot to say that it is also a good solution if we want borders on a work. That way, there won’t be unproportioned borders anymore
.
So this is it ! as simple as this.
I hope this will benefit to a lot of Bubblers =)
and to all hosts, feel free to give the link to this, if you think it will help to reduce rejection of works that do not fill the card or have borders.
Cheers
Aimelle~
redladyart
I’m going to try your measurements and see. Lately I’ve been setting mine to 1324 × 922 and Red Bubble crops it to 1276 × 910! Zazzle.com doesn’t crop at all. I wonder why Red Bubble does? Thanks for the info.
1001cards:
hum, I might be wrong, but I think all printing process includes trimming the cards. In fact, Zazzle do too, and you can see this by the dotted lines (square) there is on the image while you are customizing your card to submit it for sale. That way, you see if it goes over your design (so cut a part of it) or if it fits perfectly. Then you can adjust with those 2 buttons; fill or fit. =) add borders to your card
1001cards:
oh by the way ! I add information, but only one important if you don’t one to read all again, it is done at 200dpi, as RB suggest
redladyart
Oh I see what you mean about Zazzle’s sizing. At least I can get it just like I want it, “lock the design” and it stays that way and isn’t cropped by anyone.
1001cards:
yep, that’s a good thing ! .
redladyart
I make all of my work at 300dpi and am glad to see good results with what I’ve purchased. :)
eoconnor
i will try this soom LIZ