---
title: "Tent Card Artwork Setup: Bleed, Panels and Fold Lines"
description: "How to set up a print-ready tent card file: full flat sheet size, 1/16″ bleed, fold line positions, the upside-down back panel, CMYK, 300 dpi and rich black."
url: https://tent-cards.ca/guides/artwork-file-setup/
last_updated: 2026-10-24
---

# Tent card artwork and file setup

A tent card file is one long strip, not two separate faces. Get these few things right and your proof comes back clean.

## The flat sheet, 4 × 6.25″ card

Measurements from the top edge of the file, bleed included.

Panels top to bottom: flap 2″, back face 6.25″ (upside down), front face 6.25″, flap 2″. Folds at 2.0625″, 8.3125″, 14.5625″ from the top of the file.

## File dimensions

|  | 4 × 6.25″ card | 5 × 5.5″ card |
|---|---|---|
| File size with bleed | 4.125 × 16.625″ | 5.125 × 16.625″ |
| Trim size | 4 × 16.5″ | 5 × 16.5″ |
| Fold 1 (flap / back) | 2.0625″ | 2.8125″ |
| Fold 2 (peak) | 8.3125″ | 8.3125″ |
| Fold 3 (front / flap) | 14.5625″ | 13.8125″ |
| Panels, top to bottom | flap 2 · back 6.25 · front 6.25 · flap 2 | flap 2.75 · back 5.5 · front 5.5 · flap 2.75 |

## Checklist

- PDF, full flat sheet: One page at the full file size with bleed. No crop marks.
- 1/16″ bleed: Extend background colours and images past the trim to the file edge.
- Safe zone: Keep text and logos 1/8″ inside the trim and 1/8″ away from each fold.
- Back panel upside down: Rotate the artwork on the upper face 180°. After folding it reads the right way up.
- CMYK, 300 dpi: Images at 300 dpi at the printed size. Convert RGB to CMYK, or we convert and point out colour shifts on the proof.
- Rich black for large areas: For big black backgrounds use C30 M20 Y20 K100. For small black text use plain K100 so it stays sharp.
- Small and reversed text: White text on a dark background: 8 pt minimum, and lines at least 0.75 pt.
- Fonts: Embed or outline fonts in the PDF.

## File questions

**Why does one face go upside down?**

The strip folds over at the peak. The upper face ends up rotated, so it must be printed upside down to read correctly on the table.

**Do I design the flaps?**

You can run the background colour onto them, but they lock under the tent and are not seen. Keep text off them.

**My file is two separate faces. Can you use it?**

Often, yes. Send both faces and we will place them on the flat sheet and show the result on the proof.

## Related

- [Free tent card templates](https://tent-cards.ca/templates/)
- [Table tent design tips](https://tent-cards.ca/guides/tent-card-design-tips/)
- [How to fold a tent card](https://tent-cards.ca/guides/how-to-fold-a-tent-card/)

---

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