How to Design a Black Plastic Card
There are two ways to make a black plastic card. Choose satin black hot foil for solid black PVC with black edges, a matt finish and foil colours. Choose a full colour black design on standard PVC for photos, gradients and a different number on each card. Then design for that process.
This guide helps you pick, then shows how to design for each, whether you want black business cards, VIP cards or something else. We supply both, from 25 cards. For a satin black membership card, see our membership card design ideas.
The short versionSatin black: black all the way through, matt, printed in up to 4 solid foils. No photos or gradients, text 8pt or larger, lines at least 0.25mm, and nothing within 3mm of the two long edges. Full colour black: set flat black to C0 M0 Y0 K100, run it 3mm past the edge, and give small white text a regular or bold weight.
What are the two kinds of black plastic card?
A satin black card is black all the way through and printed with foil. A full colour black card is a standard PVC card with a black design printed on it. Both are 86 x 54mm and 760 microns thick, the size and thickness of a bank card, and both can be printed on both sides.
| Detail | Satin black hot foil | Full colour black |
|---|---|---|
| Edges | Black | White core shows as a pale line |
| Finish | Satin (matt) on both sides | High Gloss included, or Premium Matt for £20 +vat per order |
| Up to 4 solid colours, from 42 foils | Full colour CMYK | |
| Where the print sits | On the surface: foil bonded on by heat | Sealed between clear PVC sheets, so it can’t scratch or wear off |
| Photos and gradients | No | Yes |
| Metallic gold and silver | Yes Across the design | As an extra Foiling on part of it |
| A different number on each card; barcodes and QR codes | Ask us | Yes |
| Proof | Free email proof; ask us about a sample colour being posted to you | Free email proof; optional postal proof, £65 +vat |
| Price | Quoted from your design | From £75.00 +vat for 25 |
You see the edges when a card is held side-on or lies in a stack. A full colour card is printed on a white central sheet, bonded between two clear PVC sheets and then cut out, so that sheet shows at the edge.
Which black card should you choose?
Choose by what the design has to do: photos and gradients need full colour, and black edges need satin black. Full colour also handles a different number or barcode on each card. On satin black, ask us first.
- Designing a black plastic card?
- Does it need a photo, a gradient or more than 4 colours?If yes: Full colour blackPrinted in CMYK, sealed under clear PVC
- If not: Does each card need its own number or barcode?If yes: Full colour blackFrom a start number or an Excel file. On satin black, ask us first
- If not: Do you want black edges?If yes: Satin blackFoil on solid black PVC
- If not: Either will workSend us the design and ask for a price on both
Want metal on a full colour card? Gold in CMYK is a printed colour, not a metallic one, so add metallic foiling to part of the design, such as a logo, in simple, solid shapes.
Which foil colours work best on a black card?
On black foil business cards, metallic gold, metallic silver and white stand out strongly against the card. Gold and silver are our most popular foils, and white is a popular choice for wording and logos.
- Holoprint, a holographic foil, refracts the light into a rainbow as the card moves.
- Gloss black gives a subtle watermark. We’d use it for a pattern or a logo, not for wording.
- Dark foils, such as navy, are dark on a dark card, so check the photo of each one before using it for wording.
You can use up to 4 colours from our range of 42, on one or both sides. There’s no Pantone matching, so choose the nearest foil to your brand colour. Our satin black ink colours page has a photo and a video of each one, and we can supply a pack of colour swatches (ask us for the price).
What can’t be printed on a satin black card?
Anything shaded, and anything too fine. Hot foil prints solid, flat colour, so the artwork has to be line art. These figures come from our satin black artwork guide and our hot foil limits page.
| In your design | On a satin black card |
|---|---|
| Photographs | Won’t print Choose full colour black |
| Gradients, tints and halftones | Won’t print Redraw them as solid shapes |
| Text smaller than 8pt | Can fill in 8pt is the smallest we recommend |
| Lines thinner than around 0.25mm | Can break up Make them thicker, or leave them out |
| A detailed logo around 10mm across | Likely to fill in Make it bigger and simpler |
| Large solid blocks of foil | Can look patchy Keep coverage moderate |
| Anything within 3mm of either long edge | Won’t print The printable area is 86 x 48mm |
- Hairline frame: can break up.
- Detailed logo, 10mm across: likely to fill in.
- Thin serif name: very thin strokes can break up. Below 8pt, the centres of a and e can fill in.
- Solid bar: can look patchy.
- Wording by the long edge: won’t print.
The press uses very high temperature and up to 8 tons of force, and a large solid area can make the card melt and distort. We check foil designs free of charge, and our page on what hot foil can’t print has more on each limit.
How do you design a full colour black card?
Work in CMYK and set flat black backgrounds and black text to C0 M0 Y0 K100: black ink and nothing else. Run the black 3mm past the edge of the card, so the file is 92 x 60mm, because a background that stops at the card’s edge can leave a white line along it. If a photo or gradient fades into the black, email sales@cpcards.co.uk to ask how to set it up.
Why does black print brown?
Because it came from an RGB file. On screen, black is R0 G0 B0. A general RGB to CMYK profile converts it to C76 M71 Y65 K81, a mix of all four inks, which prints a dark, muddy brown. The mix depends on the profile, and on a black card it affects the whole card. Our guide to the CMYK colour gamut explains why conversion changes colours.
Check the numbers before you send the file, because a black can look right on screen and still be all four inks. We ask for K100 alone, not the print trade’s rich black, which has other inks under it. AI artwork is always RGB, so its black needs correcting: we convert it and enhance its colours for £10 +vat, or £29 +vat if the work is more extensive.
How big should white text be on black?
Nothing below 6pt, with contact details at 7 to 9pt and names at 10 to 14pt. White text is the white of the card showing through. A light or thin weight can look faint when small, so use a regular or bold weight and keep it off busy photos. Our guide to font sizes on plastic cards shows each size to scale.
Gloss or matt?
For a matt black plastic card on this route, choose Premium Matt, £20 +vat per order. It disguises surface scratches on a dark background, and barcodes and QR codes scan more easily. High Gloss is included and makes colours look more vibrant. Our gloss and matt guide compares them.
Can a black card have a barcode, QR code or number?
Yes on a full colour black card. On a satin black card, email sales@cpcards.co.uk to ask before you design around one.
- Barcodes are black bars, so on a black card they go on a white box, with the number underneath.
- QR codes should be at least 15mm square, on a white square of their own. See business cards with QR codes for the border and testing.
- Numbers run on from a start number or come from an Excel file formatted as Text, normally in Arial or Times New Roman. For a white number on black, ask us.
We can’t print a different photo on each card. Your proof shows where the names and numbers sit. Check your spreadsheet before you send it, because our artwork check is technical and doesn’t cover names or spelling.
What will the proof show?
Every order gets a free email proof before the full run is printed, so you can check the layout and wording.
Satin black. The colours on the proof are a guide only, and the same foil can look different on a frosted, white, satin black or metallic card. If in doubt, email sales@cpcards.co.uk to ask about a sample colour being posted to you for approval.
Full colour black. The colours on the proof are a guide only, because every screen shows colour differently. If a colour has to be right, add a postal proof to your order: a few real cards, posted to you, for £65 +vat, in around 5 working days.
Check every word and number on the proof yourself, because our artwork check is technical only. To hold real cards first, order our sample pack.
Which template and file do you need?
Each route has its own template, 92 x 60mm with the 86 x 54mm card inside, and they aren’t interchangeable.
| Detail | Satin black hot foil | Full colour black |
|---|---|---|
| Template | Satin black template and guide | Plastic card template and guide |
| Keep clear | 3mm along the two long edges, marked in red, and wording 3mm from the short edges | Wording and logos 3mm inside the edge: a safe area of 80 x 48mm |
| Files | EPS, PDF, Illustrator or Photoshop; JPEG or TIFF at 600dpi | PDF preferred, or Illustrator, EPS, Photoshop or TIFF, at 600dpi |
See which file format to send, and how to design a plastic business card for layout and wording. Rather not set it up yourself? Send your logo and wording, or pick one of our satin black examples, and our design service will create it for £29 +vat. A technical fix to your own file is £10 +vat.
How much do black plastic cards cost?
Satin black cards are quoted individually, from your design: email it to sales@cpcards.co.uk or use our satin black quote form. Full colour black cards are priced from the table below.
| Quantity | Full colour, both sides |
|---|---|
| 25 | £75.00 +vat £3.00 each |
| 50 | £79.00 +vat £1.58 each |
| 100 | £85.00 +vat 85p each |
| 200 | £99.00 +vat 49.5p each |
| 250 | £109.00 +vat 43.6p each |
| 500 | £175.00 +vat 35p each |
| 1,000 | £245.00 +vat 24.5p each |
One design from your print-ready artwork. Prices exclude VAT and optional extras such as numbering and Premium Matt. Delivery is free within Great Britain, and our delivery prices list the charges for Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Production takes 7 working days from proof approval and payment. Express takes 3 to 4 working days: ask us for cost and availability.
Questions & Answers
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Where can I get black plastic cards in the UK?
CP Cards supplies both kinds of black plastic card, printed in England, from a minimum order of 25. Satin black hot foil cards are quoted from your design, and full colour black cards start at £75.00 +vat for 25. Every order gets a free email proof. Delivery is free within Great Britain, and our delivery prices list the charges for Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. For a quote, email sales@cpcards.co.uk: we often reply within minutes, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
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What is the difference between a satin black card and a full colour black card?
A satin black card is solid black PVC with a matt finish and black edges, printed in foil. A full colour black card is standard PVC printed with a black design, so it can carry photos and gradients, with the print sealed under clear PVC and a white core at the edges.
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Are black plastic business cards matt or gloss?
It depends on the route. Satin black cards have a satin (matt) finish on both sides. Full colour black cards come in High Gloss, which is included, or Premium Matt for £20 +vat per order, which disguises surface scratches on a dark background.
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Can you print white on a black plastic card?
Yes, on both. On a satin black card white is a foil, so keep text at 8pt or larger, in a sans-serif such as Arial. On a full colour card white is the white of the card showing through, so give small white text a regular or bold weight.
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What CMYK values should I use for a black plastic card?
C0 M0 Y0 K100: black ink and nothing else, for backgrounds and for text. Black from an RGB file, R0 G0 B0, converts to a mix such as C76 M71 Y65 K81, which prints a dark, muddy brown. This applies to full colour cards only, because satin black cards are black plastic printed with foil, not CMYK.
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Can a black plastic card have a barcode or a different number on each card?
On a full colour black card, yes: a barcode on a white box, a QR code at least 15mm square, and numbers from a start number or an Excel file. On a satin black card, email sales@cpcards.co.uk to ask first.
Designing a black plastic card?
Email your design, or your logo and wording, to sales@cpcards.co.uk, and say whether you’d like satin black, full colour black or a price for both. You approve a free email proof before anything is printed.
We often reply within minutes, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.