Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm) Print Template & Bleed Guide
USPS-compliant standard direct mail and convention postcard format (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm). Heavyweight cardstock construction suitable for marketing mailers, artist promotional handouts, and collectible art cards. Official pre-press dimensions, 0.125" bleed canvas setups, and exact 300 & 600 DPI pixel matrices for print-ready file submission.
Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm) Exact Prepress Specifications
Review exact trim boundaries, bleed margins, safe zone offsets, and pixel resolution standards for your print files.
| Specification Parameter | Imperial (Inches / DPI) | Metric (Millimeters) | Prepress Role & Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Trim Size | 4" × 6" | 101.6 × 152.4 mm | Final cut dimension of the finished book or print after precision trimming. |
| Full Bleed Canvas Size | 4.25" × 6.25" | 107.95 × 158.75 mm | Total canvas setup including required 0.125" (3.175 mm) bleed added to top, bottom, left, and right edges. |
| Safe Zone Live Margins | 3.500" × 5.500" | 88.9 × 139.7 mm | Keep dialogue balloons, speech bubbles, text, and faces at least 0.250" (6.35 mm) inside trim lines. |
| Color Resolution (300 DPI) | 1275 × 1875 px | Full Bleed Canvas | Required pixel resolution for painted digital art, colored pages, photographic covers, and wash gradients. |
| Lineart / Screentones (600 DPI) | 2550 × 3750 px | Full Bleed Canvas | Mandatory resolution for 1-bit monochrome manga lineart and halftones to prevent unsightly moiré interference. |
| Recommended Binding | Flat Sheet / Trim to Size: Precision trimmed flat cardstock. Ideal for convention art prints, mini prints, and postcards. | ||
| Supported Paper Stocks | Interiors: 60lb, 80lb, and 100lb Uncoated Opaque for novels and manga; 80lb and 100lb Silk or Gloss Text for full-color comics and art books. Covers: 80lb, 100lb, 111lb, and 130lb Cover (Gloss, Silk, Uncoated, or 10pt/12pt/14pt/16pt C1S Cover). | ||
| Cover Lamination Finishes | Protective Gloss Lamination, Protective Matte Lamination, or Unlaminated. | ||
Generate Custom Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm) PDF Template
Preloaded with 4" × 6" trim dimensions. Calculate your exact spine thickness based on page count and paper stock, then download a calibrated prepress PDF.
Pre-Configured Preset: Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm)
Trim: 4" × 6" (101.6 × 152.4 mm) • Bleed: 0.125" • Safe Zone: 0.25"
Configure your dimensions and click Generate.
Generated files contain outside covers, inside spreads, and trim boundary guides.
Prepress Guide Legend
- 0.125" Bleed Area (Red): Background artwork must extend here.
- 0.25" Safety Zone (Green): Keep dialog, text, and artwork inside.
- Trim Line (Black): Final cut dimension of the finished piece.
- Fold / Spine Lines (Blue): Score and fold positions.
Software Setup Instructions for Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm)
Step-by-step canvas creation, guide rules, bleed setups, and export presets for Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
Manga & Comic Canvas Setup
1. Finish Size: Open File > New (Comic), set Custom Finish to 101.6 × 152.4 mm.
2. Bleed Width: Set Bleed to 3.175 mm (0.125").
3. Safe Margin: Set Inner Border to 88.9 × 139.7 mm (6.35 mm / 0.25" margin).
4. Resolution: Set 300 DPI Color to prevent screentone moiré.
Full Bleed Canvas Setup
1. New Document: Set canvas to full bleed size: 4.25" × 6.25".
2. Resolution: 1275 × 1875 px at 300 DPI (or 2550 × 3750 px at 600 DPI).
3. Trim Guides: Go to View > Guides > New Guide Layout. Set Margins to 0.125 in all sides.
4. Safe Zone Guides: Add inner guide margins of 0.375 in (0.25" inside trim).
Multi-Page Document Setup
1. Page Dimensions: Set Document Width to 4" and Height to 6".
2. Bleed Settings: Set Top, Bottom, Inside, Outside Bleed to 0.125 in (3.175 mm).
3. Margins: Set Top, Bottom, Outside to 0.25 in. For perfect bound, set Inside to 0.375"–0.5".
4. PDF Export: Preset PDF/X-1a:2001. Under Marks & Bleeds, check Use Document Bleed.
Prepress Checklist for Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm) Files
Avoid production delays and unexpected reprints. Verify these 6 critical prepress criteria before uploading your print files.
Full Bleed Coverage
Every background color, splash art panel, and full-page illustration must extend completely to the 0.125" outer canvas border.
Safe Zone Clearance
All dialogue balloons, speech bubbles, page numbers, and vital art elements must sit at least 0.25" inside the trim boundary.
300 vs 600 DPI
Color images must be at least 300 DPI at 100% scale. Monochrome lineart and screentone manga should be prepared at 600 DPI.
CMYK & Profiled RGB
Submit files in CMYK (GRACoL 2006 or SWOP) or sRGB with embedded color profiles. Ensure Total Area Coverage (TAC) is under 300%.
Rich vs Plain Black
Use 100% K for small text and dialogue to prevent color registration fringing. Use Rich Black (C:60 M:40 Y:40 K:100) for large dark fills.
Outlines & Embedding
Convert all live typography to vector outlines (curves) or ensure all font subsets are 100% embedded within your exported PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions About Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm)
Does the 4" x 6" size comply with USPS postcard mailing rates?
Yes! Standard 4.0" x 6.0" postcards meet USPS First-Class Mail postcard requirements (minimum 3.5" x 5", maximum 4.25" x 6", minimum 0.007" thickness).
What is the full bleed canvas size in pixels for a 4" x 6" postcard?
With 0.125" bleed on all four sides, your canvas must be 4.25" x 6.25" (1275 x 1875 pixels at 300 DPI).
Can I print different artwork on the front and back?
Yes. Postcards support full-color 4/4 double-sided printing. You can print full-bleed artwork on the front, and a standard USPS address/stamp template or additional artwork on the back.
What paper stock is used for mailing postcards?
We print postcards on rigid 100lb Cover or 12pt Cardstock with optional Gloss or Matte protective coating on the front, keeping the back easy to write on with ballpoint pens.
Print Your Standard Postcard & Mailer (4.0" x 6.0" / 101.6 x 152.4 mm) with MCE Printing
From multi-design convention art prints to authentic Japanese B6 manga and B5 doujinshi with split-media color inserts, configure your specs and preview your project in interactive 3D.