Care & Materials
What the cards are made of, and how to keep them flat
Every size below is approximate — trimming moves by a millimetre or two across a run, and we would rather say so than quote a figure we cannot hold.
The three formats
| Format | Size (approx.) | Board | Finish | Weight with envelope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini (A6) | 105 × 148 mm | 300gsm uncoated FSC | Litho printed | approx. 0.5 oz |
| Standard | 120 × 170 mm | 300gsm uncoated FSC | Litho printed | approx. 0.6 oz |
| Signature | 120 × 170 mm | 320gsm uncoated FSC | Litho printed with stamped gold foil | approx. 0.8 oz |
Three cards are Signature: Paper Hearts, Two of Us and Confetti Birthday. Three are Mini: Good Egg, Just Because and Hello Little One. The remaining five are Standard.
Ink, foil and how they behave
The colours are litho inks on an uncoated sheet, so they sit slightly into the board rather than on top of it. That softens them a little against the same colour on a screen — the plums in particular read deeper in a photograph than in your hand.
Gold foil is stamped, not printed. It has no colour of its own head-on and only lifts at an angle, which is why the foil cards photograph flat and look different in person.
Writing inside
- Ballpoint, gel and pencil all work straight away.
- Fountain pen works, but uncoated board is absorbent: a wet nib will feather slightly. Test a corner of the back if the handwriting matters.
- Give any ink a minute before you close the card. Uncoated stock holds wet ink longer than a coated one.
- Do not write over foil. Nothing adheres to it.
Storing them
Keep spares flat, not standing on edge in a rack — a card stood upright for a month takes a curl from its own weight and never fully loses it. Out of direct sun: the plum and coral inks shift first, and a card left in a south-facing window for a season will not match a fresh one.
Envelopes are gummed, not self-seal. They keep indefinitely in a drawer but will seal themselves in a humid room, which in Hong Kong means most of the summer. If you are buying ahead, a sealed bag is worth the trouble.
Recycling
The board and the envelopes are FSC-certified and recyclable as ordinary paper. The three foil cards are not — the stamped layer contaminates the pulp, so those go in general waste. We would rather tell you that than print a leaf on the back.
Anything not covered here: info@dorqelin.com. Damage in transit is covered on our refund policy.