The correct artwork size for custom card sleeves comes from the print template for the sleeve you are ordering. The card's dimensions alone cannot tell you the required canvas size, bleed allowance or safe zone.
Before exporting, confirm the full artwork dimensions, required resolution, accepted file formats and any instructions about colour profiles. LDB Duel's standalone custom card sleeve uploader currently accepts PNG or JPG files up to 5 MB. That upload limit does not, by itself, specify the production template.
For help choosing sizes, finishes and quantities, read our custom card sleeve design and buying guide.
Separate card size, sleeve size and artwork size
These measurements describe different things. Mixing them up can leave a file with the wrong proportions or an important detail too close to the edge.
| Measurement | What it describes | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Card size | The physical card being protected | Choose a compatible sleeve category |
| Sleeve size | The physical sleeve surrounding the card | Check fit and compatibility with additional layers |
| Finished print area | The area of the product intended to display the artwork | Plan the visible composition |
| Full artwork canvas | The supplied file, including any required bleed | Set up the export using the production template |
| Safe zone | The area where essential details should remain | Position names, faces and logos |
Do not convert a card measurement directly into an artwork canvas. Sleeve seams, borders and the printing process can affect the required layout.
For help choosing the sleeve category itself, read the Japanese vs. standard-sized trading cards guide.
Read the template before setting up the file
A useful production template should tell you the full canvas dimensions, intended trim and safe area. It should also identify which elements are guides rather than part of your artwork.
Check that you have the template for the correct sleeve size and border option. Do not reuse a playmat or deck box template simply because the same illustration will appear on both products.
If numerical requirements are not supplied, ask for them before creating a tightly framed design. A browser preview helps with placement, but it is not a substitute for a confirmed bleed allowance or safe-zone measurement.
Keep the original template separate from the final export. Retain an editable working file so you can revise the layout without starting again.
Understand bleed, trim and safe zones
Bleed is artwork extending beyond the intended finished edge. Its purpose is to avoid an unwanted unprinted strip if trimming varies slightly. Continue backgrounds and other expendable details into this area where the template requires it.
Trim is the intended finished boundary. It is a reference line, not a place to anchor small text or the edge of a logo.
The safe zone sits inside the finished boundary. Keep essential content comfortably inside it. Bleed protects the background at the outside; the safe zone protects important content at the inside.
Do not add a universal bleed allowance from memory. The correct allowance depends on the supplier and product. Likewise, do not add crop marks unless the submission instructions request them. Marks included in a raster image can become part of the printed design.
Convert physical dimensions into pixels
When the supplier specifies physical dimensions and a target resolution, calculate the pixels needed for each side of the canvas.
For a measurement in inches, multiply it by the required pixels per inch. For a measurement in millimetres, divide by 25.4 to convert it to inches, then multiply by the required pixels per inch. Round up to a whole pixel where necessary, unless the template gives exact pixel dimensions.
Use the full canvas including bleed, not just the finished visible area. If the supplier provides exact pixel dimensions, use those directly.
The following calculations are illustrative only. They are not LDB Duel sleeve dimensions or approved print specifications.
| Illustrative measurement | Calculation at 300 ppi | Pixels required, rounded up |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 2 × 300 | 600 px |
| 3 inches | 3 × 300 | 900 px |
| 50 mm | 50 ÷ 25.4 × 300 | 591 px |
| 75 mm | 75 ÷ 25.4 × 300 | 886 px |
For example, a hypothetical canvas measuring 2 × 3 inches would need 600 × 900 pixels at 300 ppi. This demonstrates the calculation; it is not a sleeve template to download or copy.
Check effective resolution after cropping
Resolution needs to be assessed at the size the image will actually print. Adobe describes 300 pixels per inch as a common high-quality print target, but your printer's requirements take priority.
Suppose a source image is 1,200 pixels wide. Printed across 4 inches, it provides 300 pixels per inch. If you crop it to a section only 600 pixels wide and enlarge that section across the same 4 inches, the effective resolution falls to 150 pixels per inch.
This is why a large original file can still produce a soft result after heavy cropping. Check the pixels remaining in the part of the image you intend to use.
PPI describes image pixels per inch. DPI describes printer dots per inch. Upload instructions sometimes use the terms loosely; follow the stated image dimensions and ask for clarification if the requirements are unclear.
Changing the resolution label does not restore detail
Changing an image's resolution setting without resampling changes its relationship to physical print size. It does not add pixels to the artwork.
Resampling changes the pixel count. Enlarging an image this way creates additional pixels through interpolation or another reconstruction method, but it cannot guarantee an accurate recovery of missing original detail.
Start with the original high-resolution export. If the source is visibly blurry or compressed, request a better file rather than assuming that typing “300” into an export setting will repair it.
For vector artwork, retain the editable source and rasterize an export at the confirmed submission dimensions. Do not assume a vector file can be uploaded when the product accepts only PNG or JPG.
Choose the file format and colour settings deliberately
| File choice | Practical use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Artwork containing clean edges, lettering or flat colour | Check the file size and whether any transparency is intentional |
| JPG | Continuous-tone artwork where compression helps meet the upload limit | Inspect edges and text for compression artifacts |
| Editable master | Preserving layers and future revisions | Keep it separately; export a supported copy for submission |
LDB Duel's standalone sleeve uploader lists a 5 MB limit for PNG and JPG files. A different product uploader may use different limits.
Follow the supplier's colour-profile instructions. Do not assume every printing workflow requires a customer-supplied CMYK file. If no profile is specified, ask rather than making an unnecessary conversion.
Keep an untouched master and inspect the submitted copy after export. Avoid repeatedly saving a JPG through successive edits. If the file is too large, review export settings before reducing pixel dimensions below the printer's requirement.
Check the export rather than trusting the working file
Open the exact file you will upload and check its pixel dimensions, proportions and visible content. Confirm that guides, trim lines and annotations have not been included unless requested.
Inspect it both at full resolution and at roughly the intended physical size. The first check can reveal compression damage; the second can reveal lettering or details that are too small to read.
After uploading, review the placement again. Zoom and rotation controls can change the crop, even when the original export is correct. Keep a record of the approved file and preview so you know which version was submitted.
A digital preview cannot establish the finished material, colour accuracy or print durability. If those are critical to your project, ask about a physical proof or sample before placing a larger order.
Use this artwork submission checklist
- Confirm the exact sleeve size and border option.
- Obtain the applicable canvas dimensions, bleed and safe-zone instructions.
- Use the required pixel dimensions or calculate them from the full canvas size.
- Check effective resolution after cropping and enlargement.
- Follow the specified colour-profile and transparency instructions.
- Export a supported PNG or JPG within the uploader's limit.
- Remove guides and marks unless explicitly requested.
- Keep important details inside the safe zone.
- Confirm permission to reproduce any artwork you did not create yourself.
- Review the uploaded crop and retain the final approved version.
Once the file is ready, use the custom card sleeve designer to position the artwork. If you are still choosing a visual direction, browse the card sleeve collection before commissioning or preparing a new file.
