I recently saw a post expressing interest in sending QSL cards directly via postcards (as opposed to being enclosed in an envelope). As a cross-postal exchange enthusiast and amateur radio operator, I wanted to provide some guidance.I've done some small tasks.I hope this is helpful to everyone. If you find any errors, please let me know in the comments section.
This article may not fully comply with YZ/T 0190("Standard for Postcards") – While there isn't a mandatory standard, this document will still provide design guidelines to improve efficiency in areas such as input and sorting.
Design file parameters
Generally, the following standards are recommended:
- Canvas size: 148 mm x 100 mm, or A6 size (148 mm x 105 mm)
- Resolution: 300 DPI (or higher, otherwise it may result in blurry prints)
- Color mode: CMYK (to reduce printing and screen color differences)
Layout design
Front and back
The postcard has two sides, which means you can consider designing both sides. There are two main approaches: single-sided writing and double-sided writing.
Single-sided writing refers to writing all information and addresses on one side, and printing a custom pattern on the other side.
Double-sided writing refers to writing address information on one side and contact information on the other.
Elemental distribution
The content for Tonglian Information should be found in the "HamCQ Manual".Section "Content of QSL cards" in 《QSL 卡片》Detailed instructions are provided; no further explanation is necessary.
In addition to these common information elements, the postcard must also include at least the following four features: a postal code box, a postage area, a barcode area, and an address area.
Zip code box
Located in the upper-left corner, with dimensions approximately 7 ~ 8 mm wide and tall, and a border line of about 1 mm, with an approximate grid spacing of 1.5 mm. According to postcard standards, the colors are approximately CMYK: 0, 84, 80, 17 Golden-red (approaching) Pantone 1795 C (in any color you like). Of course, you can choose your own favorite color.
Stamp affixing area
Located in the upper right corner, you can either leave it blank or draw a small square with sides of 2 cm as a decorative element. The exact amount of space to reserve for placing stamps should be based on the size of the stamps you typically use, such as their width and height. I personally use stamps that are generally no more than 5 cm wide and 6 cm high.
Barcode placement area
For regular mail within mainland China, a barcode will be affixed. If you have registered the mail, a registered mail barcode will also be attached. Therefore, make sure to leave some space in the lower left corner to prevent the contents from being obscured.
It is recommended to design a "bar code placement" grid that is 4 cm wide and 2 cm high. Additionally, it is recommended to maintain at least 0.5 cm of distance from other elements, as some postal flat rate letters can be quite large.
Address
It's recommended to design it in the bottom or lower-right corner, and create a suitable area based on your font size.
Paper selection
In terms of weight, despite the standard range for postcards being 210 ~ 350 g/m,2However, it is recommended to select items weighing 300g or more. In practice, materials weighing less than 250g are prone to bending during shipping.
Considering the issues of writing and drying, it is recommended to use non-glossy materials such as cotton cardstock as the writing surface to avoid the situation where ink from neutral pens does not dry easily. Of course, you can also consider using inks from fountain pens, ballpoint pens, or quick-drying pens, which are easier to dry.
My design
Here are the results of my design and two eyeball QSO (contact) test deliveries, which serve as an example to inspire others.
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