Templates & Specs
Poplar offers five mail formats: Bi-folds, Tri-folds, three different sized Postcards, and Letters available in Black & White or Color. For your campaign to be considered Active and available for mailing or running tests, you must first upload creative.
IN THIS ARTICLE
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 on all four sides along with trim, safe zone, and address block indicators. Our address block is applied to the creative after uploading so please remove the placeholder beforehand.
Static template files should be used for creative designs that do not utilize personalization or variable content:
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Illustrator
- PDF/X-4
- PDF/X1-a
- PNG/JPG
For specific details on exporting, color profiles and general best practices, please visit the Static Creatives page before uploading to the platform:
Dynamic HTML template files must be used for creative designs that do plan to 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 or CSS, reach out to support@heypoplar.com for assistance.
For specific details on fonts, merge tags and general best practices, please visit the Dynamic Creatives page before uploading to the platform:
Postcards
Dimensions, Bleed & Safe Zone
Postcards 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.
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 at and contain high-resolution images at 300ppi/dpi for best possible print quality.
Example
If you're designing a 4" x 6" postcard, add an extra 0.125" to all four sides to bring the total file dimensions to 4.25" x 6.25". The safe zone should be inset from the 4"x 6" trim by 0.125" on all four sides so all text, logos, terms & conditions, etc. should appear within 3.75" x 5.75".
| Total Dimensions | Trim | Safe Zone |
| 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" |
We always recommend designing edge-to-edge without white borders or crop marks, to avoid any risk of them appearing on the creative after cut.
Address Block
The highlighted orange address area picture above is applied automatically by our print rendering system. 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.
| Postcard Size | Address Block Dimensions |
| 4" x 6" | 2.375" x 3.275" |
| 6" x 9" | 2.375" x 4" |
| 6" x 11" | 2.375" x 4" |
Our address block is auto-applied, please delete the placeholder before upload and DO NOT include a white block in your back artwork. We take care of that for you.
Bi-folds & Tri-folds
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.
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 at and contain high-resolution images at 300 PPI/DPI for best possible print quality.
What holds them together?
The vast 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.
Bi-fold Dimensions
Bi-folds are available in 2 different formats, Shortfold (folds left to right) and Longfold (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, so the final dimensions after trim are as follows:
Shortfold: 17" x 5.5"
| Panel | Size | Address Block |
| Outside/Inside Panel Front | 8.5" x 5.5" | N/A |
| Outside/Inside Panel Back | 8.5" x 5.5" | 3.95" x 2.37" |
Longfold: 8.5" x 11"
| Panel | Size |
| Outside/Inside Panel Front | 8.5" x 5.5" |
| Outside/Inside Panel Back | 8.5" x 5.5" |
Tri-fold Dimensions
Tri-folds are also printed at larger dimensions with a slightly smaller bleed than bi-folds, so be sure to consider the safe zone when placing important text. The inside panel ends up being slightly smaller than the outside panel for easy folding. Both templates are pre-formatted to include a 0.25" total bleed, so the final dimensions after trim are as follows:
| Panel | Size | Address Block |
| Interior/Exterior Outside Panel | 5.5" x 8.5" | N/A |
| Interior/Exterior Inside Panel | 5.375" x 8.5" | N/A |
| Interior/Exterior Mailing Panel | 5.5" x 8.5" | 3.75" x 2.15" |
Letters
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.
Windowed envelope with the address info printed on the first page of the letter insert page. Includes the following options:
- 8.5" x 11" letter page inserts. (First page includes area for return and recipient address)
- Color or B&W
- Single or Double-sided
- Additional pages (charged per page)
- Return Envelope
- Perforation (if using return envelope)
Dimensions & Safe Zone
Letters are printed on standard 8.5" x 11" paper and inserted to a double windowed envelope with address info printed on the first page. Additional formatting options include single or double-sided print, additional pages, return envelope, perforation (if using return envelope), and B&W or Color:
Letters do not contain a bleed area since designs are printed straight onto the paper without being trimmed down. Because of this, we do not recommend using a heavily saturated edge-to-edge background color since there will be a slight white border where the printer ink detects the end of the page.
The letter base rate includes the first side of the first page, regardless of if you select single or double sided the additional page cost is per printed side. i.e. if you submit a 2 page PDF as a double-sided creative it would be the base rate + the cost of 1 additional page.
Address Block & Bar Code
A white address block with return address is auto-applied in the top left during upload, it is the only part of the letter that's visible through the envelope windows and cannot be customized.
A bar code will also be auto-applied along the 0.25" safe zone line at the bottom of each page. It is important to keep this in mind when positioning footer text, terms & conditions, or other important promotional information:
