ARTWORK PREPARATION GUIDE

From your artwork
to approved print files.

Follow a visual example, build in the clean production file, and send the export for review. Measurements are shown in familiar U.S. inches first, with exact production millimetres in parentheses.

Standard cards and booklet pages finish at 2.76 × 4.72 in (70 × 120 mm). Their full artwork canvas is 2.91 × 4.88 in (74 × 124 mm).

START HERE

One kit. One illustrated guide.

The kit contains the card, booklet and box examples, clean production files, working overlays and unchanged box dielines.

Download the complete template kitZIP · 43.24 MBRead the guidePDF · 24.00 MB

No account or external documentation is required.

01 / CARDS

See the finished look before you place artwork.

The outer 0.079 in (2 mm) on each side is bleed and may be cut away. Keep important content 0.157 in (4 mm) inside trim.

Bordered card front with a deterministic frame inside the safe area
Bordered card front with a deterministic frame inside the safe area

Bordered front

The background reaches the canvas edge. The visible vector frame and its full stroke stay inside the 2.44 × 4.41 in (62 × 112 mm) safe area.

Borderless full-bleed card front
Borderless full-bleed card front

Borderless front

Artwork covers the entire compact canvas without an edge-aligned frame. Faces and primary symbols still stay inside safe.

Reversible framed shared card back
Reversible framed shared card back

Framed shared back

The shared back is composed separately for each real aspect ratio and receives its own deterministic vector frame inside safe. The clean 156-page PDF uses Pages 1–78 are the card fronts and Pages 79–156 are the corresponding backs. Repeat the approved shared-back artwork on all 78 back pages.

Standard and compact sizes
Standard finished
2.76 × 4.72 in (70 × 120 mm)
Standard canvas
2.91 × 4.88 in (74 × 124 mm)
Standard safe area
2.44 × 4.41 in (62 × 112 mm)
Compact finished
1.97 × 3.54 in (50 × 90 mm)
Compact canvas
2.13 × 3.70 in (54 × 94 mm)
Compact safe area
1.65 × 3.23 in (42 × 82 mm)

For another agreed size, add 0.157 in (4 mm) to both finished dimensions. Example: 1.97 × 2.76 in (50 × 70 mm) finished becomes a 2.13 × 2.91 in (54 × 74 mm) canvas.

02 / 48-PAGE BOOKLET

Front cover first. Back cover last.

The booklet uses the same 2.91 × 4.88 in (74 × 124 mm) canvas and 2.76 × 4.72 in (70 × 120 mm) finished page as the standard card.

Illustrative booklet front cover
Illustrative booklet front cover
  1. Page 1 is the front cover.
  2. Pages 2–47 are inside pages.
  3. Page 48 is the back cover.
  4. Export 48 single pages in order. Do not build printer spreads unless we ask for them.

The kit includes a three-page visual example and a separate clean 48-page production PDF.

03 / BOXES

Match the assembled package to its exact source map.

The folding overlay uses explicit source cut/crease IDs. Lid/base generic paths remain labelled SOURCE TECHNICAL LINE - PRESERVE; their meaning is not guessed from color. Red shows the verified 0.079 in (2 mm) bleed band and green shows the verified 0.157 in (4 mm) safe region.

Assembled folding card box illustration
Assembled folding card box illustration

Folding box

Folding box beside its verified exact source map
Folding box beside its verified exact source map

The numbered front maps to one exact verified panel. Cut and crease semantics come from the source path IDs.

Assembled lid-and-base card box illustration
Assembled lid-and-base card box illustration

Lid and base

Lid and base beside their distinct exact maps
Lid and base beside their distinct exact maps

Lid and base use separate exact source files and maps. Any technical source-sheet dimensions are file-size checks, not finished box dimensions. Never create one part by scaling the other.

  1. 1. Look

    Use the exact source-map PDF to understand the verified panel.

  2. 2. Position

    Extend background through the 0.079 in (2 mm) bleed band and keep key content inside the 0.157 in (4 mm) safe region.

  3. 3. Export

    Hide the overlay and export from the clean artwork canvas.

  4. 4. Send

    Send clean artwork together with the unchanged reference dieline.

CANVA OR AFFINITY

A five-step workflow.

  1. Import

    Open the matching clean PDF or SVG at its original size.

  2. Place

    Fill backgrounds to the canvas edge and keep key content safe.

  3. Guide

    Add editor-only guides 0.236 in (6 mm) from each flat canvas edge.

  4. Export

    Export PDF Print at 1:1 scale without visible guides.

  5. Reopen

    Check dimensions, page count, edge coverage and page order.

Back to the wholesale partners overview, browse the deck catalogue, or start a quote.

Helpful answers

What size should my tarot card artwork be?

A standard card finishes at 2.76 × 4.72 in (70 × 120 mm) and uses a 2.91 × 4.88 in (74 × 124 mm) artwork canvas. Its safe area is 2.44 × 4.41 in (62 × 112 mm). A compact card finishes at 1.97 × 3.54 in (50 × 90 mm) and uses a 2.13 × 3.70 in (54 × 94 mm) canvas. The canvas includes 0.079 in (2 mm) bleed on each side; keep important content 0.157 in (4 mm) inside trim.

What is the difference between bordered and borderless artwork?

For a bordered card, the background reaches the canvas edge while the visible border stays inside the safe area. For borderless full bleed, artwork covers the full canvas and the outer 0.079 in (2 mm) on each side may be cut away. Important faces, text and symbols still stay inside the safe area.

How are card and booklet pages ordered?

The clean card PDF has 156 pages. Pages 1–78 are the card fronts. Pages 79–156 are the corresponding backs; repeat the approved shared-back artwork on all 78 back pages. Page 1 of the 48-page booklet is the front cover, pages 2–47 are inside pages and page 48 is the back cover.

Can I use Canva or Affinity?

Yes. Import the clean file at its original size. Add editor-only guides 0.236 in (6 mm) from each flat canvas edge. For boxes, position with the working overlay, hide it before export, and send clean artwork with the unchanged reference dieline.

Will my artwork be checked before printing?

Choose the print options you want and place your order. We review the artwork before production and contact you if anything needs to be adjusted. Nothing goes to print until the files are approved.

How much does box layout preparation cost?

Box layout preparation is US$50 below 60 decks and included from 60 decks of the same design. Ready files and minor logo, company-name or QR-code edits are free. New illustration, extensive reconstruction or other design services are agreed separately.

What is the standard canvas size for tarot cards?

2.91 × 4.88 in (74 × 124 mm) for a standard 70 × 120 mm (2.76 × 4.72 in) finished card — 0.079 in (2 mm) bleed on every side, safe area 2.44 × 4.41 in (62 × 112 mm), 0.157 in (4 mm) inside trim.

Where can I find a custom tarot card template?

In our free kit: a single 156-page clean production PDF — pages 1 to 78 are the card fronts, pages 79 to 156 the corresponding backs — plus a 48-page booklet file and box dielines, all downloadable on this page.

Where can I find free printable tarot cards?

Not on this page. These are production-ready print files for a paid run from 12 decks, not free printable sheets — for free printable tarot content, see our tarot cards guidebook.

Is there a way to design my own tarot cards online for free?

Not for free, but yes for print: import the clean 74 × 124 mm template into Canva or Affinity at its original size, add editor-only guides 0.236 in (6 mm) from each flat edge, then export as PDF Print at 1:1 scale.

What is the typical format of a tarot card?

Two formats, both available here: standard 2.76 × 4.72 in (70 × 120 mm) finish, and compact 1.97 × 3.54 in (50 × 90 mm) finish. A 78-card standard set is the default; a different card size or count is agreed on request.

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