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FAQs
How quickly can my plastic cards get printed?
What is the minimum order for plastic cards?
How thick are your plastic cards?
What size are your plastic cards?
What is the difference between Digital and Offset Printing?
What is the difference between PVC and Laminated cards?
How should my files be prepared?
Are design services available?
How does sequential numbering/variable text work?
Can you send me a sample plastic card?
Can the art department review my files before I place my order?
How quickly can my plastic cards get printed?
Our plastic cards offer turnaround as quickly as 1 – 2 business days on digitally printed cards, 10 – 15 business days on offset printed cards and 5 – 7 business days on our thin plastic cards. Simply select your turnaround option before placing your order.
Cut-off for each day’s production is noon EST. For example, if 3 – 5 business days is selected for the turnaround and the files are uploaded before noon EST on Monday morning, the order will ship out between Wednesday and Friday of that week. (Assuming the files are setup according to our specifications.)
If Self Service Design + Proof is selected, please allow an additional 24 hours for proof creation. The order will go into production after proof approval.
If Partial or Full Service Design is selected, please allow an additional 24 hours for design and proof creation. The order will go into production after proof approval.
What is the minimum order for plastic cards?
The minimum order for digitally printed plastic cards is 1 card. The minimum order for our laminated and thin plastic cards is 100 qty. The minimum order for our offset cards is 500 qty.
How thick are your plastic cards?
All of our standard cards are printed on 30 mil plastic. This is the same thickness as a credit card. Our thin cards are printed on 20 pt plastic which is thin and flexible.
What size are your plastic cards?
All of our standard cards are 3.375” x 2.125” with rounded corners. This is the same size as a credit card.
Our thin plastic cards are 3.5” x 2” with rounded corners. This is the same size as a business card.
Our thin square plastic cards are 2.5” x 2.5” with rounded corners.
What is the difference between Digital and Offset Printing?
We use 2 different printing processes for our products. In most cases, customers are unable to tell the difference between them however there are some advantages and limitations to each.
Digital printing is perfect for small quantities of printed pieces with super fast turnaround available (1 – 2 days with rush service). Digitally printed cards cannot contain full bleed and must have 1/16" white border around the edge of your design.
Offset is the traditional printing method. It handles heavy ink coverage and small fonts better. In addition, the cost per piece goes down dramatically as quantities increase. The minimum quantities for offset printing are higher and turnaround times take longer.
What is the difference between PVC and Laminated cards?
PVC products are printed on a solid piece of plastic similar to a PVC pipe. Laminated or PolyLam products are printed and then laminated with a piece of plastic above and below to form the final piece. Both have very good quality outputs and are extremely durable.
If you require a magnetic strip, PVC cards are your only option. If your design contains heavy ink coverage and you are printing less than 500 pieces Laminated products are recommended. Laminated products also offer faster turnaround than offset printing.
How should my files be prepared?
Click Here to download our Setup Guide which includes file specs and templates.
Are design services available?
We would be happy to design your plastic cards for a small fee. Click Here to learn more about our design services.
We do not charge any setup fees if you are able to provide camera-ready artwork that conforms to our file setup guide. If your artwork does not require any additional file preparation services, this is considered Self Serve.
If you would like to receive a digital proof, select the Self Serve+ option for an additional $5 and we will provide a proof for approval prior to production.
If you already have your card designed in Microsoft Word, Publisher or another program that does not conform to our file setup guide, we will charge a Partial Service design fee of $50 which includes a digital proof and one round of revisions.
If you simply have a logo and require design services from scratch, we will charge the Full Service design fee of $100 which includes a digital proof and one round of revisions.
Click Here to learn more about our design services.
How does sequential numbering/variable text work?
All we need is an Excel file containing the data you would like to merge. We include up to 3 custom fields with each order as long as they are on the same card side. Click Here to learn more about setting up the Excel file by downloading our File Setup Guide.
Can you send me a sample plastic card?
Absolutely. Just Click Here and fill our your contact information and we’ll send you a complimentary sample kit.
Can the art department review my files before I place my order?
Of course. Simply send your files to artwork@shortruncards.com. Our art department will review your files at no charge and let you know if we recommend any fine tuning before placing the order.
