Standard Plastic Card Solutions 866.439.9581

Visit our quick order page in the menu bar.

Follow these eight steps when placing your next order with us:
1. Refer to a quote number if you were custom quoted.
2. Refer to the catalog item number if this was priced out of our catalog or website.
3. Highlight any unique information.
4. Advise on the status of the client’s artwork. Indicate if the artwork is attached or will be sent separately.
5. Attach a hard copy of the artwork.
6. Include your purchase order number on the artwork, as well as in the subject line of your email.
7. Communicate any critical deadlines or tight delivery so we are aware.
8. Check to make sure all information needed to produce your job is on the purchase order to eliminate your order being held up.

Please use the following guidelines when preparing digital files for Standard Plastic Card Solutions:

Artwork must be to size; Download product templates on the product pages.

 Colors: Colors must be defined as Pantone® or CMYK. Art submitted as RGB will be converted to CMYK. Converting colors from RGB to CMYK may change their appearance.

Text: Text must be at least 6-point type. Small, bold, and/or condensed text should be kerned to avoid spaces filling in when printed.

Reverse Printing: We do not recommend printing logos with fine lines in reverse, as they will fill in during printing. Text printed in reverse must be bold and at least 6 point type.

Clearances & Bleeds: Clearances are the minimum space required between elements of art and the finished edge of the product. We require that Ad Copy be 1/8” in from all template edges, ruler scales, holes & slots. Bleed is the distance the ink extends past the finished edge of the product before final cutting. Our Standard bleed is 1/8” (.125”). Raster files must include the required bleed when submitted, as they are not editable like vector files.

Ruler Scales: Must bleed 1⁄8”, and the shortest increments on scales must be at least 1⁄8”. Customer agrees to a 1/32" tolerance on ruler scales. These are not precision instruments and should be used accordingly. Inches and cm’s on the front are standard.

Please use the following guidelines when preparing digital files for Budgetcard:

Software/File Format: Only professional design software packages may be used to produce artwork. Programs such as Microsoft Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint are not capable of delivering high-quality art files for imprinting.

Preferred: Adobe Creative Suite CC

Illustrator® (.ai) is our graphics department’s preferred layout software. Colors must be defined as either spot or CMYK. To avoid font problems, all text must be converted to curves/outlines, or font file(s) must be included/attached via email. When a clipping path is needed, create it using the Pen tool and use the fewest possible control points. Complex clipping paths may lead to additional art charges.

Photoshop® (.psd) We use Photoshop to edit and correct all photographic images and complex illustrations. If raster artwork is the only art available, submit unflattened art files at 600 dpi for the best printing results. Changing an image's resolution from, for example, 72 ppi to 300 ppi will not change the file's appearance; it will instead cause a blown-out or low-resolution appearance. Images should be sized accordingly with all bleeds (if applicable) & clearances accounted for. 

InDesign® (.indd) As with all submitted work, images should be sized accordingly with all bleeds (if applicable), and clearances accounted for. All fonts and image files must be included and submitted.

Email Guidelines: Our e-mail address for submitting artwork is: rmitchell@standardplastic.com. E-mailed art files cannot exceed 5MB. Files larger than 5MB should be compressed with a program such as Stuffit, submitted on CD/DVD, or uploaded to our FTP site. Contact for FTP instructions and password.

Subject: Email messages should include Company Name, Quote Number, and the Purchase Order Number associated with the attached artwork. “artwork for Mark-Gold Promotions - PO#4822.” 

Art Charges/Billing: Any required work, such as typesetting, color separation, touch-up, creating bleeds, adding crop marks, etc., is subject to an art charge. Time spent pre-flighting/troubleshooting files (including correspondence with the client, searching for logos/typefaces, etc.) is also subject to an art charge. Please note that deliveries may take longer if SPCS prepares your art. SPCS charges $50 (v) per hour for artwork. We will advise the client if their art charge exceeds $40(v) and does not appear on the purchase order as a line item “estimated art charge”. Client will also be advised if their art charge exceeds the estimated art charge by more than $40 (v).

Variable Data: Data files should be supplied in Microsoft Excel, dBase, or delimited text format. Files will be produced in the order provided unless otherwise specified in your document. Programming Charge is $50 (v). Consecutive Numbering does not require a data file (and does not require a programming charge). Please specify the starting number and number of digits on the purchase order.

 Stock/Standard PMS Colors (No Charge)

Plates or Screens: $25 (v) 1 color front. For 1/1 through 4/4: $50 (v). Reorder set-ups are 1⁄2 of the original set-up charge.

PMS Ink Matches: SPCS offers 27 standard PMS colors at no additional charge. Any standard PMS color is available. PMS match on white stock is $30 (v). Due to extra time required, a PMS match on a colored stock is $120 (v). SPCS will make every effort to match the requested PMS color; however, we do not guarantee an exact PMS match. Ink matches can vary by up to one shade.

Colored Stock: Available upon request.

Yes, we refer to it as the CR80 size, measuring 3 3/8” x 2 1/8” (3.375 inches x 2.125 inches), featuring rounded corners with a 1/8″ (.125 inch) diameter – the same dimensions of a credit card. In addition to this, our products extend to various other distinctive shapes and sizes. You can explore options such as key tags, combo cards, hanging cards, postcards, and more.

Absolutely! We understand the importance of making informed choices when it comes to your project needs. To assist you in this decision-making process, we offer free samples. Simply let us know the specific products you’re considering and the options you’d like to see. Whether it’s different card sizes, finishes, or special features, we’ll put together a sample kit tailored to your preferences and send it straight to your doorstep. Order your free samples here.

Our standard production time for most orders is 3 to 7 business days (Monday thru Friday excluding holidays) after we receive the final proof approval and payment for the order. Products that are available online using our shopping cart may also have the option of same day rush service (with final proof approval and payment before 10:30 am eastern), next day rush, second day rush service and three day rush service. Depending on the specifications and details of some custom orders, production time may take from to 10-14 business days after receipt of the final proof approval and payment. Please call us to inquire as to the production time for custom orders requiring quantities and features not available online.

Our standard shipping method is United Parcel Service (UPS). We offer UPS ground and express services through our website shopping cart. USPS and FedEx services may also be available by calling us at (800) 318-3500.

We accept JPEG and TIFF format files. You may upload or email (rmitchell@standardplastic.com) a compressed file containing the images or mail us a CD with the files. Please use last name and first name as the file name. An example would be jones_charles.jpg. When taking pictures for ID cards, a light blue background works well as it absorbs the flash and doesn’t reflect off your subject.

Please center head and shoulders and try to stay no more than 3 to 5 feet away, the closer the better. All pictures must be at least 300 dpi in resolution to ensure that they will print out clearly. Supplied images must also all be of consistent size and proportioned exactly as they will appear on the card. Questions, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Sure! Just give us a call at 866-439-9581 and we’ll be happy to go over your requirements, wishes and vision with you. Our design team will then go to work and email your custom design proofs within 48 hours.

Yes you can! Giving you all the tools you need to design your own custom plastic cards is what we are all about! 

All of our products also have design templates that are easily downloaded and include simple layout instructions.

Just visit the product page to find the template to get started and give us a call if we can help in any way.

If you have art files ready to be printed, the best way to order is to choose your options on the product page and then choose “Upload Artwork” before you add the item to your cart. To add more than one file, just make sure to select all of the desired files in the upload dialogue box that pops up when you click “Upload Artwork.” If you have trouble, you can also use our live chat feature and upload there. Or you can create an account on our Artwork Portal and manage all your files there.

If you have a logo or image you want to use but don’t have a printable art file ready, you can e-mail us directly (rmitchell@standardplastic.com) or use our Contact Us page.

Just give us the specifics for your custom shape and what features you will need. We’ll be glad to work with you to produce a custom shape and/or sized card to meet your needs.

Yes we do! This allows us to make quick decisions while keeping a close eye on the quality of your order. This is why we have the fastest turnaround times in the business!

You can find our Terms & Conditions here.

Our Acceptance & Return Policies are listed here.