Formats & specifications
PostPal checks every design against the specification of the selected format. Dimensions, bleed and allowed sides are binding — a design that does not fit is rejected. The reserved address, franking and coding zones are a Deutsche Post requirement: in Postcard Studio you may place something there and get a notice, and we check every design before sending. This keeps the postcard printable and ensures the recipient address can be applied correctly.
PostPal treats every postcard format as its own print specification. The selected format determines not only size, but also the technical rules for your design.
Each specification includes:
- Dimensions and aspect ratio of the final format.
- Bleed for edge-to-edge printing.
- Address zones that must remain free for the recipient address.
- Whether the format is one-sided or two-sided.
These rules apply in Postcard Studio and during design upload. Two-sided formats need a front and back side. One-sided formats allow only the front.
Enveloped formats such as Card in an envelope – DIN lang are sent in a window envelope. Their reserved address zone sits on the front, because that is the side facing the window. Deutsche Post applies franking and coding to the envelope, so those zones do not exist on the card. The back side is fully available for your design.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to choose a format?
The format determines dimensions, aspect ratio, bleed, address zone and whether a back side is allowed. PostPal uses this data to check your design before sending.
Do the format rules also apply in Postcard Studio?
Yes, with one difference for the postal zones. Dimensions and allowed sides are enforced. Elements may hang over the card edge into the bleed — whatever hangs over is trimmed off, and the Studio shows you exactly that cut. The address, franking and coding zones you may use — the Studio shows a notice at the top listing which elements sit there, and we check the design by hand before sending. For uploaded print files this was always the case, because the content of a finished PDF cannot be checked against the zones automatically.
What matters for one-sided formats?
One-sided formats accept only the front side. Back-side files or back-side content are rejected or removed when changing format.
What does 'card in an envelope' mean?
The DIN lang enveloped format is a DIN lang card (210 × 98 mm) sent in a window envelope. It is printed on both sides. The address area on the front must stay clear, because the recipient address has to be visible through the envelope window.
Why does the enveloped format have no franking or coding zone?
Deutsche Post applies franking and coding to the envelope, not to the card. On the card itself you only need to keep the address area on the front free.