Foil Business Cards (Majestic Business Cards)

File Setup – Raised Foil Business Cards

To ensure a flawless, high-quality raised foil finish, please follow the file preparation guidelines below.

The sample image shown on this page features an actual Daffodil Print business card produced using this exact process. You can download the same files from the Templates section for reference.

Also, please avoid using thin lines for foil, as they may not come out clearly, and ensure the foil color contrasts well with the background for the best result.

Required Files

• One CMYK print-ready design file (PDF or JPEG)

• One separate foil mask file (black-and-white, vector format only)

Bleed:Add a 0.125-inch bleed on all four sides. For example, a 2" x 3.5" card becomes 2.125" x 3.625" with bleed.

Foil Mask File Requirements

• Must be a vector file created in Illustrator or another vector-based program

• Use solid 100% black (C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100) to indicate foil areas

• White areas = no foil

• Do not use gradients, shadows, grayscale, or effects

• Avoid knockouts, as slight foil shifts (up to 1/16”) may occur during production

Design Guidelines

• Do not place artwork or text directly beneath foil areas

• Use a solid background color beneath foil areas for best clarity

• Avoid glow effects, soft edges, or knockouts in foil regions

Font & Foil Coverage Tips

• Minimum font size:
  – 10 pt for regular fonts
  – 12 pt for bold or thicker fonts

• Foil coverage should remain under 30% of the total design area

• Avoid large foil blocks (over 1" x 1")

• Up to 50% foil coverage is acceptable for thin strokes, patterns, or icons

Additional Notes

• For double-sided designs, submit two separate print files and two separate foil mask files

• Foil cannot be applied over printed elements — foil masks must rest on solid color backgrounds