Card Printing · Formats & construction
Loyalty Card Printing
Paper loyalty cards record visits, purchases or rewards through stamps, handwriting or codes.
- Stamp spaces, printed code or numbered campaign
- Coated card
- Stamp program
Start with the intended use, finished size and quantity. The material and construction can follow.
The product in use
A working surface for visits, stamps or redemption
A loyalty card records repeated visits or supports a defined redemption workflow. Stamp spaces require a receptive surface; printed codes require readable contrast and a clear scan area. The usable face is organized around the customer’s next action rather than decoration alone.
What makes up the finished product?
- Printed faces
- Identify every front and its matching reverse; a shared back still requires a defined orientation.
- Card construction
- Surface, opacity, thickness and corner shape work together to determine handling and readability.
- Campaign unit
- Define the quantity per campaign or location and keep stamp, code or number versions distinct in packing.
Specifications and materials
Loyalty Card Printing specifications
Use these reference options to build the project brief. Dimensions are design examples; material availability, tooling and production timing depend on the confirmed specification.
| Parameter | Reference or option | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Finished dimensions | 85 × 55 mm | A wallet-format example keeps the card portable; a folded card creates more reward spaces. Design reference, not a factory limit. |
| Redemption method | Stamp spaces, printed code or numbered campaign | A stampable area needs a compatible surface; decorative film can interfere with ink. |
| Artwork and collation | Unique face count, reverse groups, copies per design and cards per packed unit | A full manifest prevents missing cards, mixed versions and incorrect front-to-back pairings. |
| Cut and handling | Finished size, specified corner geometry and surface finish | Assess bend, edge condition, stacking and any writing or scanning function on the finished card. |
| Material construction | Coated card or Uncoated card | Compare the actual grade and construction. Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling. |
| Format and order unit | individual finished cards per artwork or person | List components and versions separately so quantities refer to the same finished unit. |
| Finishing choice | A folded card provides additional stamp positions but requires crease and closure review. | Approve the proposed material and process combination on an appropriate sample. |
Compare the material and its effect.
Choose the surface and construction for the way the finished product will be used. The options below are selection references, not a guaranteed inventory list.
Coated card
300 or 350 g/m² supplier reference grades
Smooth coated card supports printed illustrations. Equal GSM does not ensure equal thickness, rigidity or opacity.
Sample check: Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Uncoated card
White or colored uncoated card
An open surface suits handwriting and a tactile finish. Ink appearance and fine detail change with the surface.
Sample check: Test the intended pen or stamp on the finished surface.
Selected sample focus — Coated card: Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Format & usable space
Loyalty Card Size, Stamp Space & Redemption Method
85 × 55 mm
A wallet-format example keeps the card portable; a folded card creates more reward spaces.
This is a design reference, not a required size or a manufacturing limit.
Redemption method
Stamp spaces, printed code or numbered campaign
A stampable area needs a compatible surface; decorative film can interfere with ink.
View the original format reference
Surface finish options
Printed fronts; writable backs or panels
Keep message, signature and stamp areas free of added film or coating. Place foil on non-writing artwork only and test the chosen pen on the actual stock. Relief and film are not defaults for writable areas.
No added surface treatment View effect & artwork guidance
Gold foil stamping View effect & artwork guidance
Silver foil stamping View effect & artwork guidance
Illustrative finish samples, not photographs of this product. Final suitability follows the confirmed stock, construction and approved sample.
Compare all surface finishes
Details that change the finished product
Inspect the printed cards as a complete unit
Leave room for stamps or redemption
Test the actual stamp ink or pen on the chosen stock. Leave the reward boxes free of incompatible film or varnish.
Redemption method
A stampable area needs a compatible surface; decorative film can interfere with ink. A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count.
Surface and finishing compatibility
A folded card provides additional stamp positions but requires crease and closure review. Smooth coated card supports printed illustrations. Equal GSM does not ensure equal thickness, rigidity or opacity. Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Stamp Programs & Code-Based Loyalty Cards
Stamp program
Keep stamp positions on a tested ink-receptive surface.
Code redemption
Check code contrast, scanner behavior and any serial rules on final-size cards.
Solve the risk before production
Check Stamp Drying & Redemption Readability
The critical finished-product check
A stamp can smear when applied to a coated surface. Use a tested writable area and check drying after normal customer handling.
A code will not scan after finishing
Why it happens: Reflective coating, size reduction or artwork encroaches on the code and quiet area.
Fix and check: Test the final printed and finished card with the actual reader before issuing the campaign.
When to choose another format
Loyalty Cards, Business Cards & Gift Cards
| Alternative | Use and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Business Card Printing | A contact card suits identity sharing without redemption or stamp-space requirements. |
| Gift Card Printing | A gift card uses its own value and redemption workflow rather than visit tracking. |
Sample and approval
Test the Loyalty Card with the Intended Stamp or Code
Free samples are available, with preparation completed within 15 days. Confirm the sample scope; courier arrangements and transit time are separate.
Structural sample
Checks dimensions, fit and assembly using unprinted or representative materials. It does not establish final color.
Printed proof
Checks text, image reproduction and artwork on the agreed proof medium. It may not reproduce final assembly or every finish.
Complete finished sample
A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count.
From brief to delivery
Order Details for Loyalty Card Printing
Build and approve the order in five steps
Send the project brief
Send stamp or barcode workflow, reward positions, terms and quantities per design. Include finished dimensions, quantity by version, destination and required arrival date. If a configuration is undecided, describe the intended use.
Compare the quoted configuration
Compare the same quantity basis: individual finished cards per artwork or person. Check that the quote identifies materials, finishing, included components, sample scope, packing and freight.
Approve the appropriate sample
A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count. A print proof checks artwork and color; a complete finished sample also checks assembly. Record what the selected sample does and does not reproduce.
Confirm files and release production
Approve the final artwork revision and the redemption method specification. Record the agreed quantity, payment conditions, packing and production schedule in the order.
Confirm packing and dispatch
State cards per deck or bundle, box components, assortment rules and carton labels. Confirm production completion and transit as separate dates, using the delivery destination and required arrival date.
- Supply front and back files with a matching ID list. Keep trim bleed separate from safe text and corner-cut areas; supply finishing masks as named separations.
- Extend edge-to-edge trim artwork by 3 mm unless the approved template specifies a different bleed. Use approximately 300 effective ppi for continuous-tone images at their placed size; keep fine linework as vectors where possible.
Project questions
Planning Loyalty Card Printing
Should a loyalty card be coated on both sides?
Decide from the redemption method. A protected image face can be paired with a suitable working surface, but the intended stamp or pen should be tested on a representative sample before that surface is approved.
How should I specify quantities and versions?
Count individual finished cards per artwork or person. State stamp or barcode workflow, reward positions, terms and quantities per design; components, language versions and different structures must be listed separately.
What determines the minimum quantity and delivery schedule?
The selected stock, construction, finishing, version count and sample scope determine production planning. Request quantity breaks for the same configuration and an arrival-date plan that separates sampling, manufacturing and transit. No minimum or lead time is implied by the design examples above.
Specify the finished product.
Send stamp or barcode workflow, reward positions, terms and quantities per design. Include finished dimensions, quantity by version, destination and required arrival date.