FAQs

As mentioned above, the machine itself requires a minimum of 0.5" or 1/2" of margin on all edges. The same amount of margin should be left around the window (if applicable)

Currently, Digital Envelopes can only be printed on the front, not on the back. The back of the envelope would include the flap.

Arline is also commonly known as "Security Printing", and refers to the random pattern printed on the inside of envelopes. This is used to obscure the content and prevent it from being read through the envelope and is frequently used for confidential documents or cheques. Envelopes with Artline are sometimes called "Cheque Envelopes", though they can be used for any application where the content needs to remain private.

If you are looking to order Blank Envelopes, these can be selected during the configuration of your Greeting Card, and will automatically match the size of the card selected. If printed envelopes are required, the sizing would be as follows: A2: Used with 4.25"x5.5" or 5.5"x4.25" Greeting Cards. A6: Used with 4"x6" or 6"x4" Greeting Cards. A7: Used with 5"x7" or 7"x5" Greeting Cards.

Pantone is a propriety ink system that is the standard for colour matching and brand colours. Each ink is given a number and has a specific recipe so it can be mixed from standard ingredient inks. There are two main categories or colour books (named like that because the swatches are literally organized in books like paint chips), Coated and Uncoated. These are based on the paper that will be used, so colours for envelope printing should be picked from the Uncoated swatch book. Pantone has a partnership with most common design software companies like Adobe so that the different colour books can be loaded from inside programs like Illustrator or InDesign and the desired colour chosen. This allows...

Pantone Envelopes allow you to match the colour across all of your stationery products like letterhead, different sizes of envelopes, invoice forms, notepads, etc. The standard recipe makes it much easier to repeat the same colour for items ordered at different times or reprints in the future. The other major advantage of Pantone printing is that the recipe can be scaled up or down as needed. Therefore, it is recommended that all Pantone items be ordered together so that one large batch of ink can be mixed and used for everything, guaranteeing that all items will have the exact same colour, because they will be printed with the exact same ink.

Artwork with bleed is not possible with Pantone printing because the envelopes are pre-manufactured and arrive from the paper supplier already folded and glued. The exact size of each envelope can vary by up to 1/16" or .0625", so if there are envelopes that are slightly larger, a white line could show at the edges. For this reason, any artwork that is supplied with bleed will have the bleed removed and a white margin added.

A minimum of .25" or 1/4" should be allowed on at least one edge (ideally the top edge where the flap is), as this is the margin that is required for the press to actually grip the envelope. The other edges should have a minimum of 1/8" or .125", so that any slight variations in the size of the envelopes or position of the printing will not be noticeable.

Yes, content can be printed on the flap of the envelope, however, one of the double-sided printing options should be chosen. Commonly, the address or a slogan is printed on the flap, though a logo or simple design can also be used. The only constraints are the number of inks that can be used and the fact that the design can not have bleed. The standard margin guidelines should be taken into account for the flap as well as the rest of the design. If there is content on the flap, it should be supplied as a second page in the PDF, not added to the top of the front artwork. This is because each side of the envelope is printed separately, as the envelopes are already manufactured.

For a letter-sized document that will be folded into three panels (Letter or Tri-Fold), a #10 envelope should be chosen. This envelope is 4.125" x 9.5", and can fit several folded sheets comfortably, as well as smaller return envelopes (a #9 or #8). For flat letter-sized documents that will not be folded, a 9" x12" size should be picked. Again, this size allows for multi-page documents to fit comfortably. If the documents will be inserted into a 9" x 12" Presentation Folder, then a 10" x 13" envelope will accommodate the folder as well as the documents inside.

Artline is a special finish where a random pattern is printed on the inside of the envelope so that the contents can't be read through the envelope. It is also called security printing or security tint and is common when the envelopes will contain confidential documents or cheques (often these are referred to as "cheque envelopes" for this reason).

Peel and Seal envelopes come with double-sided tape and liner instead of the remoistable glue on regular envelopes. Therefore, instead of licking or moistening the glue with a damp sponge or brush, the liner is simply peeled off and the envelope can be sealed. This is ideal for applications where there are hygiene concerns, but also simply for convenience and speed in sealing.

A #10 envelope is 9.5" wide X 4.125" tall. Or 12.13cm X 10.47cm. It's the most common American size envelope you will see circulating in the mail. Most bills, statements, letters are sent out in a #10 envelope.

In case you can't find a downloadable template, you need to create a new document with the trim size set to the exact size of the envelope (no bleed). For example, if you want to print a 9.5" x 6.5" envelope, your document needs to be exactly 9.5" x 6.5". The inside margins should be at least 0.5", which means your design elements should be at least  0.5" away from the edge of the document.

Having a vertical envelope would be possible for envelope sizes that have an "open end" option. You would take a standard horizontal artboard, but your design would be rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. You would export a PDF with a horizontal layout and attach that PDF to your online order.  This way when you turn the envelope to the vertical position your design will go from top to bottom.

Yes, there are templates available for download once the size has been selected. It is strongly recommended that the templates are used, as they include all of the proper safe zone margins and bleed guides, as well as the folds and helpful notes regarding the orientation of the content on the flaps and front face. Using one of these templates will help ensure that the final envelope looks as expected.

Yes, this is the only Envelope product that allows for artwork with bleed. With the other two printing methods, the envelopes arrive already cut and glued into envelope shapes, whereas with the Full-Colour envelopes, they are printed on a flat sheet, then "converted" into envelopes. During this process, they are die-cut, so as long as the proper amount of bleed is given in the artwork, the final envelope will have printing right to the edge.

Because these envelopes are printed first then cut, a die is required. A die is a cookie-cutter like tool with blades embedded into a wooden block, and therefore the size that can be cut is fixed and a new die is required for each new size. The options available are the most commonly ordered sizes and the dies are already made. As new dies are made, new sizes will be added.

Unlike the other printing methods, the flap artwork should be included with the art for the front. It will need to be rotated 180 degrees and positioned at the top, just like if you were looking at an envelope with the flap open. The content will be upside down so that it will be right-side-up when the flap is folded. Also, if there is to be a solid colour printed on the entirety of the flap, it should extend a minimum of 1/8" or 0.125" onto the front face of the envelope so there will be a stripe at the top of the completed envelope. This is called "Overbleed" and is needed because the envelopes can shift during the die-cutting and folding processes. If there is no overbleed allowed, there ...

If no elements are intended to bleed, there should be a minimum of 0.125" or 1/8" of margin from all cut edges and folds. If there are elements that will bleed, then they should extend a minimum of 0.125" or 1/8" past the trim or fold lines.