Save the Date Postcard – Final Design

The committee chose front A, the gold seal. Here is the final design, with files ready for the print shop. Click any picture to see it larger.

Final front

The Lowell77.com QR code opens the Update Your Contact Information page. The Facebook code opens the class group.

The same back with guide marks showing where things go. The guides are only for planning and are not printed.

Blue dashed box: where the Avery 5960 address label goes (2⅝ × 1 in). The sample address is fictional.
Green striped strip: the USPS barcode clear zone, the bottom ⅝ inch, where the Post Office prints its sorting barcode. It must stay blank.
Green dashed line: the safe area. Text stays inside it so nothing is trimmed off at the print shop.
Stamp box: top right, where the stamp goes.

Print PDF with ⅛-inch bleed: send this one to print shops. Page 1 is the front, page 2 the back. Pages are 4.5 × 5.85 in and trim to 4.25 × 5.6 in.
PDF at finished size (4.25 × 5.6 in, no bleed), for printers or online services that don’t want bleed.
PNG images at 300 DPI, finished size: front · back
PNG images at 300 DPI with ⅛-inch bleed: front · back

Finished size: 4.25 × 5.6 in, printed on both sides.
Bleed: ⅛ inch on every side (print PDF and bleed PNGs).
Resolution: 300 DPI. Text in the PDFs is sharp at any size.
Orientation: the front is portrait and the back is landscape. Ask the printer to confirm on the proof.
Paper: 14–16 pt postcard stock. A matte or uncoated back helps address labels stick and keeps postmarks from smearing.
Mailing: the size qualifies for the USPS postcard rate (between 3½ × 5 and 4¼ × 6 inches).

Labels blend in. The white address label doesn’t look like a sticker on black.
Postmarks show. The Post Office cancels stamps in black ink, which disappears on a black card.
Barcode strip stays clear. The sparkles stay at the top edge and one corner, away from the barcode.
Easier reading. The small print is easiest to read as dark text on white.