I didn't know this until recently, but the greeting card fold-line is not centered (not at the 5-inch point on a portrait card).  They purposely make the face-side 1/16th-inch or so wider so that the card is easier to open.  And this 1/16th-inch is also not exact, as the folding machines have some variation.  It could be zero, or it could be 1/8th-inch, or anywhere in between.
 
I'm curious to see how much of the front-side image ends up on the backside of the card given that the front should be wider.  It could be dangerous putting any info in this fold space as at times it might end up partially on the front once all the machine tolerances are taken into account.
 

Quote from Shaun_131054 on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 10:37am:

 
 
Hello Tom & Shaun
 
I'm not sure that fold issue applies here.  Looking at finished cards it really looks to me like the cards are cut after they are folded.  This seems to result in a very even edge.  And compared to other cards the GCU cards are extremely consistent on the size and edge conditions.  Although the centering of the face image consistently does favor the fold.
 
I got my template card back and while it didn't work as I'd hoped it did confirm some things.  When I made my template my goal was to find some information to help make some consistent and even borders, I didn't know about the 5.2x7.2 size at the time and calcualted a somewhat larger image size.  That image was clearly printed to "fill" the 5.2x7.2 area and the same thing happens with a 5x7 image size.  The image will be enlarged and borders will consequently not come out as even on a finished card when trimmed.
 
I got 2 copies of the card and both were identical as far as centering goes.  I'm not kidding when I say identical either.  You can flip the cards against each top to bottom and they still match.  These images are centered to an increment that is barely visible, if visble at all to the naked eye.
 
So I created another test card to print.  It's a 5.2x7.2 image. I'm gonna print it both horizontally and vertically.  Again we'll see what happens.
 
Sorry folks I just get a little nutso about finding out stuff like this ... I'll get a real kick out of it if I can get a template that will make it possible to get an exact even border on all four sides.      

Hi Tom,
 
Rather than tell people not to use that area at all, I would tell people to give it a try and see how they like it. I am very pleased with how it looks on my printed cards.
 
I have ordered 13 of my cards, and on none of them was the area on the back too thin to keep the type on the back.
 
Once GCU has set it up so that we can have an actual credit line on the back of the card, I won't go to the trouble of setting it up in that overlap area, but for now I am glad to have a copyright line and my URL. I use 6 pt. all caps so that there are no ascenders or descenders on the type.
 
Dustin

Tom, I would be glad to send you a photo, but have given away all my cards. I'll order another one and photograph it when it arrives.
 
Dustin

Well, I'm glad you are enjoying the sale. I did notice your website URL on your earlier post of the images of the card fold, so I went to check it out. That's great that you have published some books.  
 
I just went back to your website now to see your widget, and I don't remember clicking on it, but I guess I must have! Odd that you would get a commission when an artist that is already logged in to GCU buys one of their own cards, but I guess the automated program isn't sophisticated enough to discern that. Don't spend the profits all in one place!
 
Dustin

That was supposed to be a joke, Tom. I guess I need some lessons in how to be funny. (Maybe I should buy one of your books!)
 
DK

Thanks, Kathy.  
 
FYI: You referred to me as a "he" when in fact I am a "she." I know most people think of Dustin as a male name, but I was actually born before Dustin Hoffman became famous and anyone had heard of the name!

That's interesting Kathy.  
 
I just so happened to use my single "store credit" just now (not sure how I got it, actually) to send out one of my cards to my Mom in New York.  
 
I received 3 emails due to this transactioin: 
The first was "you sold a card through your widget" and earned 50 cents.
The second was "you sold one of your cards" and earned $1.00 (.50 + .50)
The third was "thanks for the order" with nothing charged (as expected).
 
These may be just standard emails and the accounting system will sort it out, but I don't think we should get paid anything when free credits are used.  But then again, that might be just the way it works.  
 
I better shut-up before it really costs me something.