If you’re looking to break into the world of greeting cards, you’ve already taken the right first step by finding us! At The Imaging Centre, we specialise in printing greeting cards for publishers — whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your range. Get started by requesting a sample pack.

Yes — definitely! If you’re new to the greeting card industry, our InPress Seminar is one of the best ways to get started — and it’s completely free to attend.

InPress is a full-day, in-person seminar at our site, created especially for new publishers. It’s a mix of expert presentations and hands-on sessions designed to give you a complete introduction to greeting card production. You’ll hear from industry experts, create your own print-ready artwork, watch your design go through the full printing process and leave with your very first set of professionally printed cards. Whilst also enjoying a delicious complimentary lunch on us!

Yes – we can pack as much or as little as you need. By default, your cards come printed, creased, and ready to be packed. We can also supply envelopes and cello bags for you to pack yourself. However, many publishers now choose to have their cards sent direct to retailers, ready for the shelf. That’s why we offer a complete fulfilment service — whether hand-packed or using our automated packing machines.

We believe in print-on-demand — so you only order what you need, when you need it. Our minimum order is just 6 cards per design, which works perfectly as most retailers order in packs of 6. This gives you maximum flexibility, especially when testing new ranges or keeping stock levels low. All cards are printed on one of our HP Indigo presses, so you get the highest quality even on the smallest runs. But just because we can do small quantities doesn’t mean that’s all we do — thanks to our unique pricing model, we cater to publishers of all sizes.

Most greeting cards are printed on a single-sided coated board—silk finish on the outside for a smooth, vibrant print, and uncoated on the inside so it’s easy to write that perfect message. It’s a classic choice that balances print quality and practicality. But if you’re feeling adventurous, there are plenty of other options to explore! Textures, weights, finishes—you name it. Our general rule of thumb? Try to replicate the type of material you’re designing on, so your final product feels just as good as it looks.

Bleed is the extra 3mm of artwork that extends beyond the edge of your card—think of it as a safety net to make sure your design goes right to the edge after trimming (no awkward white borders here!). We require a 3mm bleed on each edge, and for folded cards, we also recommend a 2mm bleed over the crease to keep everything looking seamless. Not sure what that looks like? No worries—just request one of our sample packs and we’ll show you exactly how it’s done.

When it comes to card sizes, the best-kept secret is to start with your envelope—trust us, it’s much easier for us printers to cut and crease to size than it is for envelope suppliers to magic up custom sizes! That’s why standard card sizes are based around standard envelopes. Popular finished sizes include 105x150mm, 120x170mm, 127x177mm, 150x150mm, and 125x125mm. As a general rule, the bigger the card, the more it costs—fewer cards fit on a sheet, which means more paper and higher print costs.

Ah, the classic colour conundrum! What you see on your screen is made up of glowing RGB pixels, while printed products use CMYK inks—two very different beasts. Screens are bright and backlit, which can make colours pop more than they will on paper. Plus, every screen is calibrated a little differently (hello, mystery magentas!). That’s why your printed card might look slightly warmer, cooler, or just a tad off from what you expected. The best way to get it just right? Request a printed proof or one of our sample packs—it’s the colour truth serum your designs deserve

The back of your card is prime real estate—don’t let it go to waste! Most publishers include their logo, website or social handle, and a short copyright line. But here’s a top tip: always add a unique code for each design. You wouldn’t believe how many cards we see called ‘Snowman’—a code helps us make sure we’re printing the right one, and it makes reordering a breeze for retailers. Don’t forget the barcode either—it’s a must-have for most shops and makes sales tracking a whole lot easier. It’s also the perfect spot to shout about your environmental credentials. The Imaging Centre is proudly FSC® Certified, so adding that badge shows your customers you care about sustainability—and that’s a win for everyone (including the trees!).

Are your cards environmentally friendly? You bet they are! At The Imaging Centre, we look at every step of the process to keep your cards as green as possible. Because we print digitally and on demand, there’s no overproduction—just what you need, when you need it. We’re serious about waste too: all leftover paper is collected for recycling, and we don’t stop there—it includes everything from press consumables to foil offcuts. We don’t stop there (again!)—all of our company vehicles are electric, we’ve invested in solar panels, energy-saving lighting, and plenty more behind-the-scenes initiatives to reduce our footprint. And to top it all off, we’re proudly FSC® Certified, so you (and your customers) can feel good about every card you create

Getting your cards to us is easy-peasy! If you’re an IC Simplicity subscriber, you can manage everything through your own online portal. Just pop in the card specs, upload the artwork, and voilà—your files are safely stored and ready to go. When an order comes in, simply log in, find the design, tell us how many you need, and we’ll take care of the rest. No fuss, no file hunting—just fast, stress-free printing!

We’re always working to get your cards out the door as quickly as possible—without ever compromising on the top-notch quality you know and love from The Imaging Centre. For standard printed orders of up to 2,000 cards (packed and ready to go), our typical turnaround is 3–6 working days. Got special finishes or larger volumes? Just add a few extra days so we can give them the care they deserve. And if you’ve got a deadline looming, let us know—we’ll do everything we can to make it happen!

Our customer service team have a wealth of knowledge, so please use them. We are open from 9am–5pm weekdays. Give us a call on 01622 871449 or come and see us, we are here to help.