Hey everyone!

I am getting ready to order some business cards from WHCC for the first time and I'm super excited! However, the safe line is throwing me for a bit of a loop. Probably because it's 5 am and I should be asleep but that's another story haha.

I understand that everything important should try to be kept inside the safe line. But then that area seems awfully small to me? Should the design take up the entire rectangle that is outside of the safe line, or is it ok for it to just go a little beyond it?

I hope that makes sense. I'd appreciate the help/advice of any current WHCC business card customers!

Thanks!!!

I have my first batch scheduled for delivery today so I'll let you know this afternoon. The area did seem small, but I made myself stay inside it just to be safe. If this batch leaves a lot of the extra space, I'll be a little more "daring" next time.

They do it kind of weird -- but not really once it's explained. A business card is 2"x3.5". They use a 1/8" bleed on each side, so the size of the file is 2.25 x 3.75 (2x3.5 plus 1/4" each dimension -- 1/8" on each side). BUT -- their safe line comes in 1/4" from the edge. That made no sense to me at first.

They just want you to keep a 1/8" margin so that when they're cut, nothing gets cut off. The cutting process isn't exact and sometimes the paper shifts a little. What I do when designing with their templates is to just put another guide on each side at the 1/8" mark -- right between their safe line and the edge of the file. The new guide lines represent the actual size of the card.

They're right in saying you should stay within the safe lines. But you can go right to the very edge of them and still be safe. There's still a 1/8" margin to the edge of the card.

I hope that makes sense.

I kept mine within the safe line. Some will bleed off the edge, so it won't be as far from the edge as you think. Here is a sample of mine that I had done at WHCC.

Don't order their business cards -- they're flimsy. Order from the "small card" menu and get rep cards, pearl, UV coated both sides. Unless your design is WHITE WHITE and then you'd probably hate pearl. But pretty much anything else will look nice on pearl. The UV coated pearl rep cards are not at all flimsy and look awesome!

Thanks Jules, the rep cards are actually what I meant I think. And I am leaning towards the Pearl!

Thanks for helping me understand the safe line area everyone, I think I've got it now!

Yup, that is what I have, Pearl UV coated on both sides!

I got them and am satisfied. Thanks Adam for explaining the extra wide margins. I put my text right on the safe line and it is not near the edge. Most of the movement is on the 3.5" side. Some of them creep in and get close to the "safe zone." There is hardly any variance on the 2" axis.

I hope I am not missing this answer if someone already answered it...I really did read all the responses!

I am trying to design a card that has multiple "blocks" with images (like Kari's) in them. I want the design to bleed to the edges (no white around the design). Some of the images in the design just barely extend outside the WHCC safety line. I am concerned that if they don't cut on the safety line, that there will be white edges on some parts of the card. If I am reading Adam's post correctly, I might run into that issue. Is that right?

To be TOTALLY safe, your images should extend all the way to the edge of the card design. The "safe line" shows where the edge MIGHT be cut IF the printer skews a little. To be safe, anything important should fall within that safe line, hence its name.

I have had hundreds of DIFFERENT card designs printed as rep cards and I am here to tell you that the safe line is there for a GOOD reason. There is variation in the trim. Generally speaking, however, the cards are USUALLY cut at the halfway mark between the edge of the design and the safe line. If you are the slightest bit unsure of your design, however, I recommend printing the minimum amount as a test. It's a $12 test. Not bad in my opinion.