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Technical and Customization Options for Letterpress Edge Painted Business Cards
Specification	Available Options
Quantity	250, 500, 1000
Print Size	3.5" x 2"
Card Stock	30pt Smooth White Uncoated
Edge Paint	Edge Paint
Letterpress	none, 1 color, 2 colors, 3 colors

Compliance & Technical Standards for Letterpress Edge Painted Business Cards

Material & Process Compliance

Substrate: Premium uncoated cotton or pulp paper stocks in 32 pt, 40 pt, and 48 pt thicknesses, sourced from FSC-certified mills. Fibers comply with ISO 536 (grammage) and ISO 2470 (brightness) standards.
Printing Method: Traditional letterpress impression using polymer or metal plates. Ink transfer by manual or automated platen press per ISO 12647-1 print reproduction consistency guidelines.
Ink Composition: Oil-based Pantone® or rubber-based inks, mixed to specification and tested for adhesion and opacity under ASTM D3359 and ASTM D2244 ΔE color variation tolerance ≤3.
Edge Painting & Finishing: Hand-painted edges using pigment inks or metallic lacquers compliant with REACH. Die-cutting performed with steel-rule dies conforming to ISO 1101 geometric tolerance standards.
Compliance: All materials RoHS-compliant and manufactured under ISO 14001 environmental management systems.

Dimensional & Build Standards

Attribute	Nominal	Tolerance	Notes
Card Size	3.5″ × 2″ (U.S. Standard)	±0.5 mm	Custom die-cut shapes options
Stock Thickness	32–48 pt	±5 %	Varies by cotton or premium pulp board selection
Impression Depth	0.15–0.30 mm	±0.05 mm	Controlled by platen pressure calibration
Edge Paint Coverage	Full perimeter	±0.25 mm	Applies to edge-painted variants only
Trim & Registration	±0.5 mm	—	Hand-aligned for precision

Environmental & Safety Disclosures

Material Safety: Paper fibers and inks are non-toxic and compliant with ASTM D4236 labeling standards for art materials.
Environmental Impact: 100 % tree-free cotton stocks available; all inks low-VOC under ASTM D3960.
Recyclability: Fully recyclable and biodegradable; no laminated or coated elements used unless requested.
Handling: Store flat in a cool, dry place between 18–25 °C and 40–55 % RH to prevent curling.

Quality Assurance & Color Management

Press Calibration: Ink density and impression depth calibrated per batch for ΔE2000 < 3 deviation.
Plate Registration: Checked per 50-card interval to ensure consistent impression alignment within ±0.25 mm.
Edge Paint Quality: Each painted batch inspected for even application, no bleed or overspray.
Die-Cut Verification: Shapes measured against master die templates using optical comparators to maintain tolerance.

File Preparation Alignment

Bleed: 3 mm (0.125″) bleed; safe area 3 mm inside trim line.
Resolution: 300 dpi at actual size; raster artwork discouraged for text or logos.
Color Mode: Supply as spot Pantone® or CMYK; indicate letterpress ink colors clearly on separate layers.
Emboss/Deboss Areas: Provide vector path labeled Impression for depth mapping; avoid gradients or drop shadows.
Fonts & Lines: Convert text to outlines; minimum stroke width 0.25 pt for fine letterpress retention.

Legal & Marking

All artwork and imprinting produced under client license. Production identifiers and color mixing codes recorded internally for quality traceability but do not appear on printed cards. Product conforms to ASTM D685 paper durability and ISO 9706 archival permanence standards.

Letterpress Edge Painted Business Cards FAQs

What paper are these made from, and how thick is 30pt?

They’re printed on 30pt smooth white uncoated card stock. “30pt” is about 0.030 inches thick (~760 microns), roughly 2–3 regular business cards stacked. It’s stiff, matte, and ideal for crisp letterpress impressions and visible edge paint.

How does edge painting work, and will the color rub off?

After trimming, we hand-paint the card edges with a highly pigmented ink, then let it cure. The color is solid on all four sides and designed to resist normal handling. Like any painted edge, heavy abrasion or moisture can scuff it, so store and carry cards in a case.

How many ink colors can I use for letterpress, and how should I set up files?

Choose 1–3 spot colors for letterpress (solid inks; no gradients). Supply vector PDFs/AI with Pantone Solid Uncoated spot swatches, fonts outlined, and one art layer per color. Keep minimum line weight ≥0.25 pt (positive) and ≥0.35 pt (reversed-out), and use text ≥6 pt for best readability.

Can I print letterpress on both sides, and how deep can the impression be?

Yes, 30pt stock supports two-sided letterpress. We balance impression so heavy hits on one side don’t bruise the other: think tactile, not craters. Avoid large solid fills and ultra-deep embossing on opposing sides in the same area to prevent show-through and warping.

What size and bleed do you need, and can I do full-bleed designs?

Final trim is 3.5" × 2". Provide a 0.125" bleed on all sides (3.75" × 2.25" file) and keep critical text/logos 0.125" inside the trim (safe area). Full-bleed letterpress is fine, but large solid areas are discouraged, use clean shapes and spot solids for best results. Upload separate front and back files.