Greeting Card 101


At Independent Printing & Packaging, we take pride in producing beautiful, quality items for nationally-renowned greeting card and stationery publishers. We also work with individuals interested in launching a greeting card or stationery product line. See details below or contact us for a personal conversation with a Greeting Card Printing Expert!

We’ve collected basic information to consider when planning for your next greeting card printing project or program.

You’re Unique

And so is your product. That’s great! If your greeting card printing product is not an industry standard size, we can custom-manufactured envelopes to meet any size requirement.

Guess the Weight!

Whether coated or uncoated, white or colored, textured or smooth, the weight of a paper impacts the cost of the paper.
Cover weight = thicker, heavier weight
Text weight = thinner, lighter weight
Greeting card printing products typically use Cover weight
Catalogs and Journals typically use Text weight

Greeting Cards 101

Design Options

Greeting cards, calendars, journals and other stationery items typically feature art, photos or graphics on one or both sides. Here are other techniques or decorative options you may wish to consider:

  • coating
  • varnish
  • foil
  • embossing/debossing
  • die-cut
  • glitter

Packaging Considerations

Okay, you’ve decided on size, paper and product design. Now a proper package will help to beautifully wrap your items. Questions to consider:

  • Will the item be sold individually or in sets?
  • If sold in sets, how many items per set?
  • Will each item or set be wrapped, bagged or boxed?
  • Will boxes or sets require labels, codes or ribbons?

With Independent Printing & Packaging, there’s no need to compromise your vision. Our full service bindery and finishing options will accommodate your every need! Keeping greeting card printing and production in one location, with one main point of contact, creates both cost- and time-savings for you. As a printer that can foil and emboss in parent-size press sheets, we are truly unique and serve a specific niche with this uncommon capability!

Inventory & Fulfillment Options

Once production is complete, you’re ready to start filling orders! Independent Printing & Packaging’s full-service order fulfillment center is ready for your product. We have three levels of fulfillment programs to choose from. Let us show you how fulfillment can help you!

Valuable Industry Links

A little knowledge goes a long way! To learn more about the greeting card printing industry, Independent Printing & Packaging recommends these highly regarded sources: