Harry-- I actually went through the same calculations you did to get a template that worked!  But, I agree, that it may be a bit complicated for those without a print background.  I'm glad this topic has been brought up again.  Some months ago Shaun asked me to send the template I was working with and I know that a new and improved template IS something in the works and is part of the whole situation with being able to have customized printing on the back.  Yet is not something GCU can just implement quickly like "new categories" for example.  They have to work with their printing partner, "cardstore," I believe.
 
Shaun--  any new developments on this front?  In the meantime, I can just suggest that if you have an actual "border" leave a MINIMUM of a quarter inch around (more the better) and shifting the image a few pixels to the right and to the top within the 5x7 inch may give you better centering.  With cards that "bleed." just make sure again that the MINIMUM 1/4" can be trimmed and not affect the card image.  (The "right/top" shift can't hurt here either.)
 
Waiting to hear about new template developments!
 
-Ernestine

I am going to copy and paste yours and Harry's post to have handy for me for guidance.  I probably better order some of my own cards too, so I can really see for myself.  Thanks so much Ernestine!

Norval, I don't know if this will be helpful, but, when I first joined GCU and signed up for the forums, I, too, thought I was getting dupes.  However, after a few, I realized that each new post generates an email from the forum you are subscribed to and you have to scroll to the bottom to see the new post.  Hope this helps.  Oh..and I checked at your shop... very nice!  I especially liked the military valentine cards.  
 
gina

Hello Everyone,
 
Lots of good questions here.  I'll try to address all of them.  
 
We've been doing our own testing over the last couple months, and I can say that a new template for full bleed images is in the works, although I'm not too sure when it will be completed and available.  
 
Harry is on the right track.  Through testing and research we found that the fold edge and trim edges are typically about .1" and that images are slightly enlarged to 5.2x7.2" before they are printed, then cut to make a 5x7" image.  For full bleed images you can try sizing your images to 1560x2160 pixels at 300 dpi, leaving .1" bleed on all 4 corners.  Your card will be cut differently each time it's printed, but the .1" bleed should allow for this variance.  
 
For the moment, we do still recommend keeping text and all important detail .25" inches from the edges of the card, just to be safe.    
 
Images with borders have always been a little tricky.  If your border is visible within the red dotted-line on our card templates then it will always appear on the card, however since the card may not always be perfectly centered, theres a chance that thinner borders may look uneven on print.  We recommend that you use thicker borders so that the inconstancy is hardly noticeable to the eye if the image is not perfectly centered.  A .5" border should work well.  
 
With regard to the thumbnails that are displayed on the site, we currently don't have the ability to trim your images so that they always resemble the finished product.  That said, if you upload full bleed images at 5.2x7.2 and keep all important detail .25 inches away from the corners, the difference between the thumbnail and the printed image should only be the trimming of the .1" bleed, which the customer will probably not notice.  If the customer is not satisfied with the card, we will work with them to come up with a resolution.

Quote from Cara_131386 on Feb 14^th, 2008, 11:31am:

 
Hi Cara,
The template was designed to be the starting point when you create your images, so that the images you upload meet recommended dimensions and resolution.  You can hide the Template Guide layer and use the red border to ensure text and other important detail will be included in the printed image.  Just be sure to hide the red border before exporting your image to jpg  
 
You can also paste your 1500x2100 or 2100x1500 pixel (at 300 dpi or ppi) images on to the template to verify that all text and other important detail will be included in the printed image.

Hi Shaun,
 
I haven't tried printing them yet because I am waiting for one to be approved.
 
Based on measuring the 8 or so cards I still have in my hands, I came up with a template that is 5.325" x 7.455" that I output at 300 dpi from Corel draw.  To find your recommend 1/4" border (which of course is more when blown up) I drew a 5x7, marked the 1/4", then enlarged it to a width of 5.325 (that gave me the 7.455 height maintaining the width/height ratio).  I left the 5x7 centered as the referenced trim line.
 
You shouldn't make your new template 5.2 x 7.2 it's not the right proportion.  5x7 is 1/1.4 (width/height).  5.2x7.2 is 1/1.38 ... that .02 in "proportion" is huge.  I assume when you enlarge you hold the aspect ratio and don't distort the image.  
 
And as far as centering ... even on multiples of the same card, mine have been closer than I can measure.  Very consistent ... horizontal or vertical.
 
I'm confused by you mentioning a 1 inch bleed.

Quote from Harry_132595 on Feb 14^th, 2008, 11:53am:

 
Hi, I'm new, my first post.  Question related to the topic of borders:  Your cards have different colored borders and backgrounds.  I do not see where GCU gives us a choice of borders or backgrounds so I am assuming that you create your cards with your own choice of border color, etc.  Correct? -- Dee

Hi folks,
It's now 5 days later and I am back in the land of the living....I went completely through my store and checked on any and all borders that I thought might have a problem and re-worked them all.  Man!--what a job...At times I felt like I would never see the light of day again.  But here I am and with all my cards corrected.  I found that as I reworked my borders, I had new ideas, often Better ideas, as to the colors of borders or the useage of a certain card front, or new verse ideas.  This proved to be a VERY worthwhile endeavor, as I am much more pleased with my cards than I was prior to this 're-evaluating'.  Now I know that I will periodically go back through each card in my store and re-think it!
Now, a couple of things I found after re-working over 200 cards, is that we could definately benefit from an easier way to move through our photos.  
Administrators--Do you think we could just point-and-click to the page we want?
IE:  1-50  (pg 1)   51-100 (pg 2)  101-150 (pg 3)
Now if I could point to pg 3 and click, it would be ever so much faster than working my way through page one, page two and finally page three--to say nothing of page twenty!
I also found the process cumbersome when changing the photo on a card, to get back to the same page I was on, but keep the new imported images available.  Pages do not seem to automatically refresh when you return to them--so the newly added photo does not show up.
Oh gosh, I'm tired and probably not making myself real clear.  
But any help in this areas would be most appreciated.
 
One other thing:  I have asked several times, but never received an answer....
Will the template be updated with current stats and will be having the Support the Troops campaign again this spring?  I would dearly love an updated template to use for a local press release.  PLEASE, let me know..I know there are others here also interested in this.
Thanks!
Sue