Card Sizes, Colors, and Border Styles
The Card Printer offers extensive visual customization through nine card size presets, a four-color system, and multiple border styles. This reference guide covers every option so you can design cards that match your brand and fit your intended use case.
Nine Card Size Presets
The Card Size dropdown provides nine presets that cover the most common card dimensions used worldwide. Selecting a preset automatically sets the card width and height.
CR-80 Standard (3.375 x 2.125 inches)
The CR-80 Standard is the most commonly used card size in the world. It is identical to the dimensions of a standard credit card. This size is the default and recommended choice for employee ID cards, customer loyalty cards, and gift cards. CR-80 cards fit into standard badge holders, lanyards with card sleeves, retractable badge reels, and wallet card slots. If you are unsure which size to use, choose CR-80 Standard.
CR-80 Portrait (2.125 x 3.375 inches)
CR-80 Portrait uses the same dimensions as CR-80 Standard but in a tall (portrait) orientation instead of wide (landscape). This layout is useful for badges where a larger photo area is desired, such as visitor passes or photo-prominent identification cards. The card is the same physical size as a credit card, just rotated 90 degrees.
CR-79 Proximity Overlay (3.303 x 2.051 inches)
The CR-79 is a slightly smaller card designed as an adhesive overlay for clamshell proximity cards. Clamshell proximity cards are thick plastic cards with embedded RFID chips used for door access control. The CR-79 overlay is printed with the employee's information and photo, then applied as a sticker on top of the clamshell card. The slightly smaller dimensions ensure the overlay fits within the card's printable area without overhanging the edges.
CR-100 Government (3.88 x 2.63 inches)
The CR-100 is an oversized card format used primarily for government and military identification cards. It is noticeably larger than a standard credit card, providing more space for photos, text, and security features. This size is also used by some organizations for high-visibility badges that need to be readable from a greater distance.
Business Card Standard (3.5 x 2.0 inches)
The standard US business card size. While slightly different from the CR-80 card dimensions, this size is widely available in pre-cut cardstock sheets and compatible with most business card printers. Use this preset when printing on standard business card stock from office supply stores.
Business Card EU (3.346 x 2.165 inches)
The European standard business card size, equivalent to 85 x 55 millimeters. This is the ISO 7810 ID-1 standard used throughout Europe and many other countries. Select this preset when printing cards intended for use in European markets or when using European-standard card stock.
Mini Card (2.75 x 1.1 inches)
The Mini Card is a compact format designed for key-tag sized cards. These small cards are commonly used as loyalty key fobs that customers attach to their keychains. The reduced size limits the amount of text and detail that can be displayed, so Mini Cards typically show only a member number, a barcode, and the company name. Photos are generally not used on Mini Cards due to the limited space.
Folded Card (3.5 x 2.0 inches)
The Folded Card preset displays the folded dimensions (the size of the card when folded). The actual printed sheet is double the width, and the card is folded in half after printing. Folded cards are useful for cards that need additional interior space for information, such as appointment cards, membership cards with terms and conditions inside, or cards with a coupon on the inner flap.
Custom (User-Defined)
Select Custom to enter any non-standard card dimensions. When Custom is selected, the Width and Height fields become editable, allowing you to type in exact dimensions in inches. Use this option for specialty cards, non-standard badge sizes, or any card that does not match one of the eight predefined presets.
Four Color Pickers
The Card Printer provides four color settings, each with its own color picker button that opens a standard Windows color dialog. Colors are stored internally as ARGB (Alpha, Red, Green, Blue) integer values, which means any color is possible, including transparency effects.
Background Color
The background color fills the entire card surface. The default is white, which provides maximum contrast for text and barcodes. For employee ID cards and loyalty cards, a white or very light background is recommended for readability and barcode scannability. For gift cards or premium membership cards, a colored background can create a more visually striking and branded appearance.
Title Color
The title color controls the heading text at the top of the card (for example, “EMPLOYEE ID” or “GIFT CARD”). This color should contrast well with both the background color and the accent color, since the title often appears within or adjacent to the accent-colored title bar area.
Text Color
The text color applies to the cardholder's name and all detail lines on the front of the card, as well as the text lines on the back of the card. The default is black. For cards with a dark background, switch the text color to white or a light color to maintain readability.
Accent Color
The accent color is used for decorative elements on the card, including the title background highlight bar and any ornamental lines or shapes. The default accent color is dark blue (#003366). The accent color is the primary branding element on the card. Set it to your company's brand color for a professional, on-brand appearance.
Color Selection Tips
- Use your company's official brand colors for the accent and title colors to maintain brand consistency across all printed materials.
- Keep the background white or a very light shade for employee ID cards and loyalty cards where barcode scanning reliability is critical. Barcode scanners need high contrast between the barcode bars and the background.
- For gift cards, consider using the accent color as the background and white as the text color for a bold, premium look.
- Test-print a single card before committing to a large batch to verify that colors print as expected. Screen colors and printed colors can differ depending on your printer's color profile.
- Avoid using very light colors (pale yellow, light gray) for text, as these may be difficult to read on a white background.
Border Styles
The border is the visual frame around the edge of the card. The Card Printer offers three border style options.
Solid
A clean, rectangular border drawn as a straight line around the perimeter of the card. The Solid border provides a traditional, structured appearance. It works well for formal identification cards and professional badges where a clean, defined edge is desired.
Rounded
A border with rounded corners, creating a softer, more modern appearance. The Rounded border style matches the physical shape of most printed plastic cards (which have rounded corners after being die-cut). This style is popular for loyalty cards, gift cards, and any card where a contemporary look is preferred.
None
No border is drawn. The card content extends to the edges without a visible frame. The None option is useful when the background color or design elements already define the card's visual boundaries, or when you want a borderless, full-bleed design.
Show Border Toggle
The Show Border checkbox must be enabled for either the Solid or Rounded border to appear on the card. When Show Border is disabled, no border is drawn regardless of the selected border style. This toggle provides a quick way to compare how the card looks with and without a border during the design process.
Visual Customization Tips
- Employee ID cards — Use CR-80 Standard, white background, dark text, company brand accent color, and a Solid or Rounded border. Keep the layout clean and professional with the photo on the left and text on the right.
- Loyalty cards — Use CR-80 Standard or Mini Card (for key fobs), white or light background, brand accent color, Rounded border for a modern feel. Make the member number and barcode prominent for easy scanning.
- Gift cards — Use CR-80 Standard, consider a colored background with white text, bold accent color, Rounded border. Disable the photo zone and make the balance and card number the focal points.
- Visitor passes — Use Custom card type with CR-80 Standard or CR-100 Government size. Use a bright accent color (red or orange) to make visitor badges visually distinct from employee badges at a glance.
- Always preview both the front and back sides of the card before printing to ensure colors, text placement, and borders look correct on both sides.