Why does my business card crack around the edges?

Cracking along the edges of a business card usually happens when the artwork carries heavy ink coverage, such as deep or dark colors that run to the edge. The extra ink saturates the paper fibers and makes the coated surface more brittle where the card is cut or folded.

• Heavy, dark, full-bleed colors are the most common cause, since dense ink stresses the stock at the trim edge.
• Folded or scored cards are more prone to cracking because the coating flexes right where it is weakest.
• Thicker and uncoated stocks tend to fold and cut more cleanly than heavily coated ones.
• Building your dark tones as a rich black in CMYK rather than piling on maximum ink helps lower the saturation.

If you expect very dark coverage, our team can recommend a stock and finish that holds up best.