Print Specs & Safe Zones
Every creative's front design (its image template) has a specific canvas size for its mail piece. Use these dimensions when creating designs in Canva, Photoshop, an image AI, or any other design tool. Each postcard size (4×6, 6×9, and 6×11) has its own canvas, so make a separate creative for each size you send. The Upload a file and Use your own AI options in the creative wizard show the size for the mail piece you're designing.
If an upload doesn't match the canvas size for its type, thanks.io saves it cropped to fit and shows a warning. Cropping can cut off content near the edges and reduce print quality, so upload at the exact dimensions.
Canvas sizes
| Mailer type | Canvas size (px) |
|---|---|
| Postcard 4×6 | 1875 × 1275 |
| Postcard 6×9 | 2738 × 1838 |
| Postcard 6×11 | 3337 × 1777 |
| Letter (windowed or windowless) | 2550 × 3300 |
| Notecard | 1800 × 1313 |
| MagnaCard | 2588 × 1688 |
| Gift Card | 1800 × 1313 |
Safe zone
Keep all important content - text, logos, phone numbers, contact information - at least 10% away from each edge of the canvas. This is the safe zone.
Content that falls outside the safe zone may be trimmed during printing or sit uncomfortably close to the edge.
Example safe zone margins:
| Mailer type | Min margin (left/right) | Min margin (top/bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard 4×6 (1875 × 1275 px) | ~188 px | ~128 px |
| Postcard 6×9 (2738 × 1838 px) | ~274 px | ~184 px |
| Postcard 6×11 (3337 × 1777 px) | ~334 px | ~178 px |
| Notecard / Gift Card (1800 × 1313 px) | ~180 px | ~131 px |
| MagnaCard (2588 × 1688 px) | ~259 px | ~169 px |
| Letter (2550 × 3300 px) | ~255 px | ~330 px |
Bleed
Your artwork should extend all the way to the edge of the canvas - and ideally slightly beyond the cut line - so there are no white gaps after trimming. This is called bleed. Use background colors and images that extend to the very edge of the canvas.
Print zone overlays
The previews in the creative wizard, ThanksAI Studio, and Send Mail draw the print zones over your design, with a key underneath, so you can check placement before you save or send. Click a preview to see it full size, zones included.
Which zones appear depends on the mail piece and the side:
| Zone | What it means | Shown on |
|---|---|---|
| Cut line | The card is trimmed here. Extend artwork past it; keep important content away from it. | Postcards, Magnacards, notecards, gift cards |
| Safety zone | Keep text and logos inside it. | Every mail piece |
| Address and postage | The address and postage print here. Keep it clear. | The message side of postcards and Magnacards |
| Magnet | Covered on the front, cut out on the back. | Magnacards |
| Envelope window | The addresses print here and show through the window. | Windowed letters |
| Fold line | Where the piece is folded. | Letters, and the inside of notecards and gift cards |
| Barcode | A barcode prints here. Keep it clear. | Windowless letters, and windowed letters with additional pages |
The preview you see while writing a message is a render of that side as it will print, so you can also check that the message fits and isn't too long for the card.
Canva templates
thanks.io provides official Canva templates sized to these exact dimensions for each mailer type. Start from one of these templates to get the canvas size, bleed, and safe zone set up correctly from the start.
- Postcard 4×6
- Postcard 6×9
- Postcard 6×11
- Windowless Letter
- Windowed Letter
- MagnaCards
- Folded Notecard & Gift Cards