Fast Postcard Printing in Chicago
Postcards are the cheapest piece of direct mail that still gets read — no envelope to open, the message is just there. When a mailing deadline moves up, a clear price, a free proof and a firm ready date are what save the campaign.
How postcard printing works
- Order online any time. Earlier is safer — your ready date starts when you approve the proof.
- Send print-ready artwork. Our preflight checks size, resolution and bleed automatically and flags problems immediately.
- Approve the proof. You get a free digital proof. Nothing prints until you say yes.
- Pick up in about 3–4 business days at our Niles shop, or arrange local delivery.
No rush fee. Every order is regular price — you are not paying a penalty for a deadline.
Specifications
Who orders postcards
Direct mail campaigns. Mailing dates do not move. Printing that keeps up with them is the whole job.
Appointment and service reminders. Dentists, salons, auto shops — reminders that actually get looked at.
Grand openings and new locations. Blanket the neighborhood before the doors open, not after.
Real estate farming. Just-listed and just-sold cards while the sale is still news.
What “print-ready” actually means
This is the single thing that decides whether your order is ready on time. A file that needs rebuilding adds days. Send us:
- PDF where possible — it carries fonts and layout reliably
- 300 DPI images at final print size (a photo pulled off a website is usually 72 DPI and will look soft)
- 0.125″ bleed — background color and images extending past the trim line
- Text kept 0.125″ inside the trim so nothing gets cut off
- CMYK color if you can; we will convert RGB, but colors can shift slightly
If any of that is unfamiliar, send what you have anyway. Our preflight catches these problems automatically and we fix simple ones free — we would rather spend ten minutes fixing your file than have you miss your date.
Pickup and delivery across Chicagoland
Our shop is in Niles, IL. Pickup is free and easy for Niles, Skokie, Evanston, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Harwood Heights, Norridge and the surrounding suburbs. Ordering from further out? We ship printed orders nationwide.
Local pages: Skokie · Evanston · Des Plaines · Park Ridge · Morton Grove · Harwood Heights · Niles
Related printing
Postcards · Business cards · Flyers · everything we print same day
Postcard printing questions
How fast can postcards be printed?
With print-ready artwork, postcards are usually ready in about 3-4 business days after you approve the free proof.
What size postcard should I mail?
4×6 is the cheapest to mail at USPS postcard rates. 6×9 costs more to mail but stands out in a stack of envelopes — worth testing if your offer is strong.
Do you handle the mailing too?
We print. For mailing we can prepare the file to USPS specs and point you to a mail house — call and we will walk you through it.
How thick are your postcards?
14 pt is standard and feels substantial. 16 pt is heavier and premium — a noticeable difference in the hand for a small price increase.
Can the back be left blank for handwriting?
Yes — ask for an uncoated or matte back. Gloss coating resists pen ink, which is a common and expensive mistake.