Creative Templates
Poplar offers five mail formats: Bi-folds (long and short), Tri-fold, three different sized Postcards, and Letters available in Black & White or Color.
Template Downloads
The .zip files below contain InDesign, Illustrator, HTML, PDF, and PNG/JPG templates. The templates are pre-formatted to include 0.125in bleed (except for letters) on all four sides along with trim, safe zone, and address block indicators.
Designers ✨ For additional guidance on export instructions, print best practices, and troubleshooting please review our Creative Guides section!
Postcards
Bi-folds & Tri-fold
The majority of Bi-fold and Tri-folds will be folded and held together with a tabbed clasp by default. However, when mailing high volume batches adhesive may be used to optimize production time.
Letter
Our letter format is an excellent option if you'd like to target recipients with a longer or move private message. They're also preferable when mailing to commercial addresses, as other formats could be subject to a lower delivery rate if the commercial address is not accepting promotional mail.
Template Specs
Static template files should be used for creative designs that do not utilize personalization or variable content:
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
PDF/X-4 or PDF/X1-a
PNG/JPG
For guidance on exporting and print best practices, please see our Static: PDF & PNG/JGP Guide.
Dynamic HTML template files must be used for creative designs that utilize personalization or variable content such as first name, rolling expiration date, unique promo code, etc. If no one on your team has sufficient knowledge of HTML /CSS, our team is happy to help! Just follow the instructions on this form to submit your design to be translated into HTML:
For guidance on coding, merge tags and print best practices, please see our Dynamic: HTML/CSS Guide.
Dimensions, Bleed & Safe Zone
Postcards, Bi-folds & Tri-folds are always printed at larger dimensions, then trimmed down to final size to ensure no gaps or unprinted areas appear on the final product. Before uploading to the platform, your files must include a 0.125" bleed on all four sides.
Bi-folds are available in two different formats, Short 17 x 5.5 (folds left to right) and Long 8.5 x 11 (folds top to bottom), each panel on both formats are the same size - just folded in a different direction. Both templates are pre-formatted to include a 0.125" at each edge.
Letters are printed straight on to 8.5 x 11 standard print paper and do NOT need a bleed, as they are not trimmed down after print.
A Safe Zone is also specified to prevent any text or important copy from running too close to the edge of the mail piece. Mail pieces should always be designed edge-to-edge (no white bleed) at and contain high-resolution images at 300ppi/dpi for best possible print quality.
4.25" x 6.25" or 1275 x 1875px
4" x 6"
3.75" x 5.75"
6.25" x 9.25" or 1875 x 2775px
6" x 9"
5.75" x 8.75"
6.25" x 11.25" or 1875 x 3375px
6" x 11"
5.75" x 10.75"
17.25" x 5.75" or 5175 x 1725px
17" x 5.5"
16.75" x 5.25"
8.75" x 11.25" or 2625 x 3375px
8.5" x 11"
8.25" x 10.75"
16.625" x 8.75" or 4988 x 2625px
16.375" x 8.5"
16.75" x 5.25"
Our address block is auto-applied during upload to the platform, please delete the placeholder before upload and DO NOT include a white block in your back artwork. We take care of that for you.
Address Block
The highlighted orange address block placeholder in the template files indicate where the platform will auto-apply the address block upon upload. It is very important to delete this placeholder entirely - do not leave a white box in its place. For best results, provide creative with background or design that runs fully behind this block.
Make sure to never place critical text in this area, as the address block will be layered on top prior to printing the piece. The printed color of the address block is white/paper color with text and postage indicia rendered in black - this area is not customizable.
The address block is not consistently proportionate across postcard formats, so it is very important to follow the template for the corresponding postcard size.
Example The address block for the 4x6 postcard takes up significantly more space on the back than it does on a 6x9 postcard, so if you're sizing down a design the back will have to be redesigned.
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