Card Printing · Formats & construction
Scratch-Off Card Printing
Scratch-off cards conceal a code, reward or answer beneath a removable opaque panel.
- Hidden image or code; scratch panel and visible identification
- Coated card
- Promotion code
Start with the intended use, finished size and quantity. The material and construction can follow.
The product in use
Concealed information beneath a removable coating
A scratch-off card conceals an image, code or answer beneath a removable coating. Visible identification and the hidden content remain separate artwork layers. The release system protects the revealed print, while the coating must withstand ordinary packing and rubbing before deliberate use.
What makes up the finished product?
- Printed faces
- Identify every front and its matching reverse; a shared back still requires a defined orientation.
- Card construction
- Surface, opacity, thickness and corner shape work together to determine handling and readability.
- Code and reveal pairing
- Match hidden values to visible identifiers and reconcile quantities before the finished cards are bundled.
Specifications and materials
Scratch-Off Card Printing specifications
Use these reference options to build the project brief. Dimensions are design examples; material availability, tooling and production timing depend on the confirmed specification.
| Parameter | Reference or option | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Finished dimensions | 85 × 55 mm | A wallet-size design example fits a short code; leave space around the removable panel for instructions. Design reference, not a factory limit. |
| Reveal configuration | Hidden image or code; scratch panel and visible identification | Reliable removal does not by itself prove that the hidden values match the campaign file. |
| Artwork and collation | Unique face count, reverse groups, copies per design and cards per packed unit | A full manifest prevents missing cards, mixed versions and incorrect front-to-back pairings. |
| Cut and handling | Finished size, specified corner geometry and surface finish | Assess bend, edge condition, stacking and any writing or scanning function on the finished card. |
| Material construction | Coated card or Uncoated card | Compare the actual grade and construction. Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling. |
| Format and order unit | individual finished cards per artwork or person | List components and versions separately so quantities refer to the same finished unit. |
| Finishing choice | Decorative foil and scratch coating serve different purposes and should use distinct separations. | Approve the proposed material and process combination on an appropriate sample. |
Compare the material and its effect.
Choose the surface and construction for the way the finished product will be used. The options below are selection references, not a guaranteed inventory list.
Coated card
300 or 350 g/m² supplier reference grades
Smooth coated card supports printed illustrations. Equal GSM does not ensure equal thickness, rigidity or opacity.
Sample check: Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Uncoated card
White or colored uncoated card
An open surface suits handwriting and a tactile finish. Ink appearance and fine detail change with the surface.
Sample check: Test the intended pen or stamp on the finished surface.
Selected sample focus — Coated card: Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Format & usable space
Scratch Card Size, Reveal Panel & Hidden Content
85 × 55 mm
A wallet-size design example fits a short code; leave space around the removable panel for instructions.
This is a design reference, not a required size or a manufacturing limit.
Reveal configuration
Hidden image or code; scratch panel and visible identification
Reliable removal does not by itself prove that the hidden values match the campaign file.
View the original format reference
Surface finish options
Artwork outside the scratch panel
The removable scratch layer is a separate functional coating, not decorative foil. Keep these finishes outside scratch panels, validation codes and writing areas; approve removal, concealment and readability on a finished sample.
No added surface treatment View effect & artwork guidance
Varnish & coating View effect & artwork guidance
Illustrative finish samples, not photographs of this product. Final suitability follows the confirmed stock, construction and approved sample.
Compare all surface finishes
Details that change the finished product
Inspect the printed cards as a complete unit
Test reveal and data as separate functions
Keep the hidden data and scratch mask separate. Test opacity before scratching and readability after removal.
Reveal configuration
Reliable removal does not by itself prove that the hidden values match the campaign file. A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count.
Surface and finishing compatibility
Decorative foil and scratch coating serve different purposes and should use distinct separations. Smooth coated card supports printed illustrations. Equal GSM does not ensure equal thickness, rigidity or opacity. Compare a trimmed sample for stiffness and surface handling.
Promotion Codes & Answer-Reveal Cards
Promotion code
Match each concealed value to the campaign manifest and verify reveal separately.
Learning answer card
Trial the scratch area without damaging the underlying answer or surrounding writing space.
Solve the risk before production
Check Reveal Removal & Hidden-Value Matching
The critical finished-product check
A code can lift or become damaged with the coating. Validate a functional sample with the intended coin or tool, including rub and reveal checks.
Codes are exposed by routine rubbing
Why it happens: The reveal coating lacks the resistance needed for distribution and packing.
Fix and check: Test packing rub separately from deliberate reveal with the intended scratching tool.
When to choose another format
Scratch Cards, Tracked Tickets & Loyalty Cards
| Alternative | Use and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Scratch-Off Ticket Printing | Tickets can add serial tracking and distribution bundles to the same reveal concept. |
| Loyalty Card Printing | A printed or stamped loyalty workflow does not require a consumable reveal layer. |
Sample and approval
Test the Scratch Panel & Revealed Code Together
Free samples are available, with preparation completed within 15 days. Confirm the sample scope; courier arrangements and transit time are separate.
Structural sample
Checks dimensions, fit and assembly using unprinted or representative materials. It does not establish final color.
Printed proof
Checks text, image reproduction and artwork on the agreed proof medium. It may not reproduce final assembly or every finish.
Complete finished sample
A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count.
From brief to delivery
Order Details for Scratch-Off Card Printing
Build and approve the order in five steps
Send the project brief
Send hidden-data format, unique codes, panel positions and redemption workflow. Include finished dimensions, quantity by version, destination and required arrival date. If a configuration is undecided, describe the intended use.
Compare the quoted configuration
Compare the same quantity basis: individual finished cards per artwork or person. Check that the quote identifies materials, finishing, included components, sample scope, packing and freight.
Approve the appropriate sample
A complete card set checks front-to-back matching, cutting, handling and the supplied pack count. A print proof checks artwork and color; a complete finished sample also checks assembly. Record what the selected sample does and does not reproduce.
Confirm files and release production
Approve the final artwork revision and the reveal configuration specification. Record the agreed quantity, payment conditions, packing and production schedule in the order.
Confirm packing and dispatch
State cards per deck or bundle, box components, assortment rules and carton labels. Confirm production completion and transit as separate dates, using the delivery destination and required arrival date.
- Supply front and back files with a matching ID list. Keep trim bleed separate from safe text and corner-cut areas; supply finishing masks as named separations.
- Extend edge-to-edge trim artwork by 3 mm unless the approved template specifies a different bleed. Use approximately 300 effective ppi for continuous-tone images at their placed size; keep fine linework as vectors where possible.
Project questions
Planning Scratch-Off Card Printing
Is a scratch sample enough to approve campaign data?
No. A sample tests the coating and reveal construction. Hidden values, duplicates, sequencing and visible identifiers need their own data checks against the approved campaign file.
How should I specify quantities and versions?
Count individual finished cards per artwork or person. State hidden-data format, unique codes, panel positions and redemption workflow; components, language versions and different structures must be listed separately.
What determines the minimum quantity and delivery schedule?
The selected stock, construction, finishing, version count and sample scope determine production planning. Request quantity breaks for the same configuration and an arrival-date plan that separates sampling, manufacturing and transit. No minimum or lead time is implied by the design examples above.
Specify the finished product.
Send hidden-data format, unique codes, panel positions and redemption workflow. Include finished dimensions, quantity by version, destination and required arrival date.