This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your very own backing cards using Photoshop or Illustrator.
1. Download our templates
To start submitting your backing card designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates for our premium and economy backing cards measure 55mm x 85mm and templates for our square backing cards measure 55mm x 55mm.
Download our templates >> here << and open your chosen size.
2. Understanding our layers
‘Instructions’ Layer
This layer contains our logo and all of the instructions you will need to complete your backing cards. This layer is locked and should not be used.
'Side A’ Layer
This layer is where you should place your artwork. If you would like a single sided backing card, please place your artwork on Side A.
'Side B’ Layer
This layer is where you should place your artwork. If you would like a double sided backing card, please place the artwork for the back of your card on Side B.
3. Importing your Design
Select the Side A layer in your layers palette and either draw your design directly into this layer or copy and paste previously saved artwork.
If you would like a double sided backing card, do the same for Side B.
Please ensure that all artwork extends to the outer edge of the blue border. Your backing card will be cut where the red dotted line is, but your artwork needs to have a ‘bleed’ to prevent any unprinted areas from showing around the edge of your backing cards.
Please make sure that all fonts are converted to outlines before saving. To do this in Illustrator, select all of your text and hit Shift+CTRL+O or choose ‘Type > Create Outlines' from the top menu bar.
In Photoshop, right click your type layer and choose 'Rasterize Type'.
Once you’ve imported your design into the template you’re done... It’s as easy as that.
4. Submission checklist
Congratulations, you've finished creating your backing card design. All you have to do now is check the following before submission...
- You have imported your artwork onto the ‘Side A’ and ‘Side B’ layer
- Your artwork extends to the edge of the blue border
- Any important artwork is INSIDE the white rectangle
- All fonts and images are embedded
- Your template contains 1 backing card design only. Additional designs are on a separate document.
5. Saving and submitting your designs
There are 3 different ways to save and submit your designs...
1. Submit your artwork immediately
If you have already created your designs, you can send them to us using the 'Upload Artwork' button, located on our product pages or by emailing them to ‘info@zapcreatives.com’.
Name your files appropriately so that we know which designs you are referring to. Your file names should include 1. your name, 2. design number, 3. chosen product and 4. the date that you placed your order through our website.
Please save all Photoshop files in .PSD format and all Illustrator files in .Ai format. Here's an example...
Select all of the designs that you would like to submit, right click and choose SEND TO > COMPRESSED (ZIPPED) FOLDER.
This will create a compressed folder containing all of your designs. Rename this folder so that it contains your name and the date that you placed your order on our website. Like this…
Please add all of your designs into one folder. So, if you purchased charms, stickers and pins, for example, just pop them all in the same, compressed folder and pass it our way.
2. Submit your artwork later
If you have placed your order via our website but your designs aren’t quite ready yet, that’s ok. You have up to 2 weeks to submit your artwork to us, which allows you to take advantage of any special offers that we’re running.
To submit your designs later, save them with 1. your name, 2. design number, 3. chosen product and 4. your order number. Then email them to ‘info@zapcreatives.com’.
Please save all Photoshop files in .PSD format and all Illustrator files in .Ai format. Here's an example...
3. Placing a re-order
If you have placed an order in the past and would like to re-order those designs that’s great! We store your artwork for a maximum of 6 months, which saves you the hassle of having to resubmit your designs via email.
To place a re-order, simply place your order online, email us with your previous order number(s) and let us know that you are placing a re-order.
You may only want to order 1 or 2 designs from your previous order(s). To do this simply quote your old file name(s) and let us know how you would like them to be produced and in what quantities.
Here’s how to do it…
Hi Zap!,
I’ve just placed an order #12345 on your website and would like to re-order the following designs from a previous order #12121. Please can I have…
10x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN1-CLEARCHARM-12121
20x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN2-WALNUTKEYRING-12121
10x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN3-ACRYLICPIN-12121
Thanks!
[YOUR NAME]
If you have any questions about this tutorial or any other aspects of our website and manufacturing processes, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
