We have created a set of print templates for many of our products to assist our users in the file set-up process. The Service Bureau is not liable for reprints if you fail to follow any of these directions.
| QUICK LINKS | TEMPLATE DOWNLOADS |
| GENERAL GUIDELINES | DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS |
| DESIGN + ARTWORK CHECKLIST | CARD TEMPLATES DOWNLOAD: Business, Exhibition, Postcard |
| FILE SET UP OVERVIEW: Full Bleed vs. No Bleed | SADDLE STITCH BOOK TEMPLATES |
| EXPORTING TO PDF FOR TEMPLATES | CREATING A CUSTOM TEMPLATES |
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Download Template > Edit InDesign File > Export PDF > Submit for Printing
Download the desired Print Template package and follow each templates instructions. All folders include a Instructions.pdf for usage and exporting information.
Templates are available as InDesign. Additional instructions on creating and saving your file are included in the template package.
All of our templates are specific to the way the Service Bureau processes, prints and applies finishing/cutting/folding to your order.
Using templates downloaded from another website will not work. Period. We have our templates fine tuned to the millimeter with our printing software and cutting machines.
Before getting too far into your design process we suggest looking at both the Artwork Guidelines below. Cards are printed on a larger sheet of paper and are then cut down, if your design/background color/image goes to the edge of the file you must submit as a Full-Bleed cards (see below)
DESIGN CHECKLIST + ARTWORK GUIDELINES
 TextKeep all text at 8pt or higher. |  ImageryMake artwork a vectorPDF/photographs at 300dpi or higher. |  Crop MarksWe don't need them!We add our own in the places we need them. |  LinesSharp lines need to be at 0.5 or thicker. |
Do not add borders to your design. !!!
This is our #1 no-no.
A delicate border around the edge of your cards may look great on screen, but that same border can look off-center on the final product.
Generally speaking, borders are not recommended because slight shifts can occur during cutting. For small products such as business cards, even half a millimeter of cutting shift can cause the borders to look uneven.
If you really love the idea of having a border design, choose either a thick border that extends to the edge of the artwork file and well within the safety zone, OR choose a thinner border that is contained entirely within the safety zone.
Make sure your text is inside the safe area.
The “safe area” is designated using margins in the InDesign template and is shown as a pink line. By putting text or design elements past this line you run the risk of being cut off or appearing too close to the edge of your card or booklet.
Make sure your image is full bleed if you are wanting the image or design to look like it is going off the edge of the card.
If you have elements of your design that extend all the way to the cut line, make sure that in your file you extend them past the cut line and all the way to the bleed line to ensure that there is no white border on the final product.
Whether you’re using a photo or a solid color, you’ll want to make sure that the background of your design extends through and fills the bleed area.
Even leaving one edge too short will result in ugly white edges on one edge of your final product.
When using photos you’ll want to make sure there is plenty of extra space around the focal point of the image, so the unimportant part of the photo can fill the bleed area and the important part is in the safe area. We don’t want anyone’s head to get cut off.
Make sure your design is the right size and resolution.
Make sure your design is the right size. Each template will have a final size that is required for the finishing whether it’s cutting or folding.
If it doesn’t fit, we will cancel your order and ask that you resubmit.
Likewise, if your design is blocky or blurry on screen, you need to get a higher resolution file and start again.
If you are uploading photography or non-vector artwork (e.g. JPEGs), please make sure they are no less than 96dpi (ideally at 300dpi). If your designs are a mix of photography and design, make sure the embedded photographs used are above the recommended resolution to avoid pixellation.
HOW TO DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES
To download the templates please follow these instructions:
Right Click (Control Click) on link below that is blue.
Click ‘Save Link As’, Click Save.
Download prompt will pop up at bottom of browser window.
You must click the arrow to the right of ‘Discard’ to ‘Keep’ the file, File will begin to download.
Double click on that file and a folder with the templates and an Instructions.pdf for that product will appear.
. 
TEMPLATES
If you are experiencing issues when downloading. Please read the how to download section above.
Cards are printed on a larger sheet of paper and are then cut down, if your design/background color/image goes to the edge of the file you must submit as a Full-Bleed cards (see above)
There will be an Instructions.PDF in each template folder with detailed instructions for how to use the template.
Standard Business Card: Final Card Size 3.5″x 2.0″
No Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 3.5″x 2.0″
Full Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 3.75″x 2.25″
Bleed Area: 3.75″ x 2.25″
Make sure your background extends to fill the bleed area to avoid white edges when cutting.
Trim: 3.50″x2.0″
This is where we will be cut your cards.
Safe Area:
Make sure important information like text and logos are inside the safe area to avoid being cut.
Exhibition Card: Final Card Size 5″x 7″
No Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 5″x 7″
Full Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 5.25″ x 7.25″
Bleed Area: 7.25″ x 5.25″
Make sure your background extends to fill the bleed area to avoid white edges when cutting.
Trim: 7″x 5″
This is where we will be cut your cards.
Safe Area:
Make sure important information like text and logos are inside the safe area to avoid being cut.
Postcard: Final Card Size 6″ x 4.25″
No Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 6″x 4.25″
Full Bleed – PDF Size Submitted – 6.25″ x 4.50″
Bleed Area: 6.25″ x 4.50″
Make sure your background extends to fill the bleed area to avoid white edges when cutting.
Trim: 6″x 4.25″
This is where we will be cut your cards.
Safe Area:
Make sure important information like text and logos are inside the safe area to avoid being cut.
Greeting Card: 5.5″ x 8.5″ card creased in half to yield a 5.5″ x 4.25″ card
Bleed Area: 5.75″ x 8.75″
Make sure your background extends to fill the bleed area to avoid white edges when cutting.
Trim: 5.5″x8.5″
This is where we will be cut your cards.
Safe Area:
Make sure important information like text and logos are inside the safe area to avoid being cut.
Fold Line: This is where the card will be creased. Please be aware of content above and below this area.
35 1″ Buttons
Currently, the Service Bureau is not offering Bureau Assembled buttons due to the overwhelming volume of orders. We are currently offering a Customer Assembled deal of $0.10 per button.
This means when you place your order thru the Digital Storefront we will print your artwork, gather the materials needed to make those buttons and mark your order complete. Your order will be placed in our cabinet for you to pick up. Then we will ask that you set up a time to come use our button maker to make your buttons on site at the Service Bureau.
We will provide a quick in-person tutorial when you arrive and make sure you are all set to make buttons!
If you are a Student Group or Department that is interested in making buttons while on site in your area or at an event on campus we can reserve one of our machines for you to “rent” for a set period of time.
Please email us with questions about reservations and how this would work for you. servicebureau@saic.edu
The Service Bureau can make 1” buttons. Each button costs: $0.10 with no limit to your order.
The template for 35 – 1″ buttons can be found on our Print Templates page here and a video of just how easy the process is can be found here on our Help Center.
Helpful hints about our templates:
-
- Pay attention to the layers that need to be turned off when exporting your PDF.
- There is a blue safety line that indicates the area we recommend keeping important artwork.
- Remember that because the buttons are small (1”), any text that you include on the edges may be difficult to read and/or folded over once the button is made.
- By default, the Service Bureau prints all button orders on text weight paper. You will have only text weight paper available in the Digital Storefront when you order.
Please feel free to reach out with questions.
Sample of our buttons can often be found outside on our sample wall.
Saddle Stitch Booklets:
While there is no “standard” book size, below you’ll find a few templates using Adobe InDesign to help you get started.
These are just meant to be a guide, and use standard paper sizes folded in half, but your books can be as small or big (up to 13×9.5in) as you’d like. Feel free to use these templates to get started, and change the size in “document setting” to the size of the book you want to make.
Detailed exporting information for all Booklets is located in our How To Booklet for Saddle Stitch.
Half Letter Saddle Stitch Booklet – No Bleed: 5.5″x8.5″
This template is set up so that your book is exactly 5.5×8.5 inches, which is a letter size sheet of paper folded in half. There is no cutting required, because nothing in your booklet goes all the way to edge of the page (cut line). The white border in this template represents the printer margin, the edges of the paper where nothing can get printed.
Half Letter Saddle Stitch Booklet – Full Bleed: 5.5″x8.5″
This template is set up so that your book will be exactly 5.5×8.5 inches, but printed all the way to the edge of the paper. This means your book will be printed on a larger sheet and cut down to size. Make sure anything in your book that goes all the way to the edge of the page is extended to the bleed line. For more information about bleed check out our crops and bleed info page.
Letter Saddle Stitch Booklet – No Bleed: 8.5″x11″
This template is set up so that your book is exactly 8.5×11 inches, which is a tabloid size sheet of paper folded in half. There is no cutting required, because nothing in your booklet goes all the way to edge of the page (cut line). The white border in this template represents the printer margin, the edges of the paper where nothing can get printed.
Letter Saddle Stitch Booklet – Full Bleed: 8.5″x11″
This template is set up so that your book will be exactly 5.5×8.5 inches, but printed all the way to the edge of the paper. This means your book will be printed on a larger sheet and cut down to size. Make sure anything in your book that goes all the way to the edge of the page is extended to the bleed line. For more information about bleed check out our crops and bleed info page.
DIY TEMPLATES
These templates are DIY / Do-It-Yourself… meaning you will be cutting out the artwork on your file.
8-up Business Card
2-up Postcards
4-up Labels
CUSTOM TEMPLATES
If you have a specific sized item that you would like to have cut or folded please reach out for a consultation and we will assist with setting up a custom finishing template.
If you have a project that does not fit into one of our templates and is a custom size we can create a cutting or creasing template for our Duplo Cutting machine for a $15 charge.
We request that you speak with a technician if you have a project you think may benefit from creating a custom cutting or creasing template.
How Cutting and Creasing Templates Work
Our DC-616 Pro Slitter/Cutter/Creaser offers the perfect finishing solution.
We gang up your artwork on a larger sheet, measure where cutting needs to happen and run it through our Duplo Pro which is designed to cut and crease at those measurements.
Please talk with a technician or staff member if you are interested in this option and we can assist with file set up and cost calculation.