Using AI to Design Your Plastic Card Artwork

AI image tools are brilliant for getting a design idea fast. The problem is the image that comes out the other end is built for a screen, not for a 0.76mm sheet of PVC running through a printer. Most AI-generated artwork we receive looks great and is completely unprintable as-is.

Here is how to use AI properly so what you send us is something we can actually print, not just something that looks nice on your phone.

Why AI Artwork Usually Gets Rejected

• Wrong shape. AI tools default to square or A4-style images, not a card-shaped rectangle.
• Wrong resolution. A "high quality" 1024×1024px image is low-res once it is stretched across a card and printed — it will come out soft or pixelated.
• Wrong colour mode. AI images are built in RGB, for screens. Print uses CMYK. Bright neons, deep blues and vivid greens often shift noticeably when converted — that is physics, not us being fussy.
• No bleed or safe margin. Nothing in the image accounts for trimming. Anything important near the edge risks being cut off.
• Fake text. Ask an AI for "a card with LOYALTY written on it" and you will usually get warped, misspelled gibberish. AI still cannot reliably render real text.
• Compressed exports. Most free AI tools only let you download a watermarked or compressed preview. That compression shows up badly once printed.

None of this means do not use AI. It means use it for the background artwork and leave the technical setup to us.

Step 1: Tell the AI the Exact Shape and Size

Standard cards are 86mm × 54mm — a 1.585:1 ratio, wider than it looks face-on. For printing, your artwork file should be set up at 92mm × 60mm (card size plus 3mm bleed on all four sides) at a minimum of 300 dpi.

Prompt to use:
"Create the image at a 1.585:1 landscape aspect ratio, like a credit card. Fill the entire frame edge to edge — no border, no frame, no rounded corners, no drop shadow."

Do not ask the AI to "design a credit card" or "design a loyalty card" — it will draw you a little 3D mockup of a card sitting on a table. You want the artwork itself, not a picture of a card.

We accept artwork in PDF, AI, EPS, PSD, TIFF, and high-resolution JPG or PNG formats. PNG is preferred over JPEG for AI exports as it does not compress and throw away quality.

Step 2: Keep Important Content Away From the Edges

AI tools have no idea your card gets trimmed after printing. Tell it directly:

"Keep all text, logos and important details at least 5mm in from every edge. Background colour, pattern or texture can run right to the edge."

Step 3: Describe the Vibe Properly

The difference between a vague prompt and a useful one:

Weak: "Make me a loyalty card design"

Better: "Design a flat, minimalist loyalty card background. Style: modern, clean, geometric. Colours: deep teal (#005F6B) and warm gold accents on a white background. A subtle wave pattern across the bottom third. Plenty of empty space top-left for a logo. No text or numbers anywhere in the image."

Always give the AI:

1. Style words — minimalist, vintage, luxe, playful, corporate, hand-drawn, geometric, botanical
2. Exact colours — hex codes if you have a brand palette, or specific names ("forest green and cream", not "nice greens")
3. What to leave empty — tell it where your logo, name, barcode or magstripe needs to sit, and tell it to keep that area clear
4. What to leave out — "no text", "no logos", "no people", "no card mockup", "no drop shadow or 3D effect"

Step 4: Never Let the AI Generate Your Real Text

Logos, business names, numbers, barcodes — add these separately in proper design software, or send us the background image with clear written instructions on exactly what text needs adding and where. We will not use text baked into an AI image — the fonts, spelling and spacing are not something we can fix afterwards.

Step 5: Download the Largest File You Can

Whatever tool you are using, look for "download original", "high resolution" or "upscale" before saving. Do not screenshot a preview. PNG over JPEG where you have the choice — it does not compress the image and throw away quality.

Checklist Before You Send It Over

• Image fills the frame — no card mockup, no rounded corners or shadow baked in
• Aspect ratio close to 1.585:1, landscape
• Highest resolution export available, PNG preferred
• No AI-generated text, numbers or logos in the image
• Important detail kept away from the edges
• Colours described in hex codes or specific names, not "vibrant" or "punchy"

What Happens Once We Receive It

Send us your AI-generated background, your logo (vector file if you have one), and the exact wording you need adding. Our design team sets it up correctly for print — sizing, bleed, colour conversion and text placement included. If what you have sent is too low-res to print cleanly, we will tell you before we go any further, not after the cards are made.

Quick Questions

Can I just send you the AI image and let you sort the rest?

Yes. Send us the highest resolution version you can get, plus your logo and exact wording. We will handle the technical setup — sizing, bleed and colour conversion included.

Will my colours print exactly as they look on screen?

Close, but not identical. Screens use RGB light, print uses CMYK ink, and the two do not match perfectly — especially with very bright or neon shades. We will flag it if a colour is likely to shift noticeably before we proceed.

Can the AI add my business name or logo directly into the image?

Do not let it. AI-generated text is unreliable and we cannot edit it once it is part of the image. Send your logo and wording separately and we will place it properly.