How to Create a Business Card Template in Adobe Photoshop

This quick tutorial will show you how to create a template for printing sheets of 12 standard 3 1/5 x 2 inch business cards using Adobe Photoshop. Let's get right to it, shall we?

1. Open Adobe Photoshop and create a new image that is 11x8.5 and 300 pixels per inch. (3300x2550 px)
2. If you don't have rulers up by default, go to View > Rulers and click to activate. Additionally, make sure View > Extras is ticked.
3. Click on the left ruler with the Move Tool and drag to create a guideline and release at 1/4 in.
4. Drag 3 more guidelines, marking 3 3/4 in, 7 1/4 in, and 10 3/4 in.
5. Now from the top ruler, drag 5 guidelines to mark 1/4 in, 2 1/4 in, 4 1/4 in, 6 1/4 in, and 8 1/4 in.
6. Lastly, make sure you save a copy of the template before you add the card layers so you can use it again in the future.

There you have your template with a 1/4 in. border! Next, just create a new 3 1/2 x 2 in. image (300 ppi) and work your design magic. Once you've got a business card you're happy with, flatten all layers, Ctrl+A to select all, Ctrl+C to copy, then Ctrl+V to paste it into the template. Move the new layer into the top left slot. If it doesn't snap into place between the guidelines, go to View > Snap To and select Guides. Now it will lock into place. Ctrl+V again to paste another card and move that layer directly below the first. You can continue that way until you've pasted and moved all 12 cards, or you can flatten the first few layers, type M to switch to the Rectangular Marquee Tool and select a row or column of cards to copy, then paste that into the other open slots until they are filled.

You can print these at home yourself, or send them out to your local printer. Because many printers charge by the cut and there are 9 cuts to be made, it's usually cheaper if you cut them yourself with a good old fashioned paper cutter. Either way, you may want to add crop marks within the first 1/8 in. on each guideline to ensure better accuracy when cutting.

If you enjoyed this article and considered it helpful, please pass it on! Until next time!