Questions and answers

A J-card is the folded paper insert in a cassette case. It has a front cover, a narrow spine that shows on the shelf, and a short flap that tucks in behind the tape. Folded, it makes a J shape.

How to make a cassette J-card →

Yes, if it's a standard clear cassette case (the hinged “Norelco” type most tapes come in). Cards print at 101.6 mm tall, with a 65.1 mm front, a 12.7 mm spine and a 25.4 mm flap.

Slimline cases, some older cases and card sleeves are different sizes, so measure those before you print.

No. There's no sign-up and no email needed. Your design saves automatically in the browser you're using, on that device, and nothing you type or upload is sent to us.

If you clear your browser's data, the design goes with it.

Yes. Drop a picture onto one of the Your photo looks, or onto any look with a picture space. It stays in your browser.

Only use pictures you have the right to use. That rules out other people's album artwork and photos you found online.

No, every card prints on one side. For a full tracklist, liner notes or credits, choose “With inside panel” above the card. It adds a fourth panel that folds in behind the cover, so there's no lining up two sides of the paper.

The inside panel has a dedication at the top, the tracklist if you put it there, your notes or lyrics, and the credits as small print along the bottom.

A C-60 for most mixtapes (30 minutes a side), a C-90 for longer ones (45 minutes a side), and a C-46 for an album or EP (23 minutes a side).

C-46, C-60 or C-90? How much music fits →

Print on A4 at “Actual size” or “100%”, never “Fit to page”, and with borderless printing off. Then measure the front panel: it should be 65.1 mm wide.

A test print on plain paper first saves your good card.

Printing J-cards at home →

Yes. The card sits in the middle of the A4 page, so the PDF printed at 100% on Letter comes out whole and at the right size. Only the small footer line at the bottom of the page may be cut off.

Ordinary 80–100 gsm printer paper works. Thin card of about 120–170 gsm feels most like a shop-bought insert and still folds neatly. Matte and silk finishes fold better than glossy photo paper.

Paper, cutting and folding →

Screens glow and paper doesn't, so prints usually come out a little darker. Every look has a lighter ink-saver colour if a dark version prints muddy.

Designing is free, and so is a watermarked PNG download, which is handy for a test print.

The £1.99 24-hour pass unlocks the print-ready PDF and a high-resolution PNG print sheet (325 dpi), with no watermark, 2 mm bleed and crop and fold marks. Download as many as you like for 24 hours. It's a one-off payment, not a subscription, so there's nothing to cancel. Payment is handled by Stripe, so we never see your card details.

The pass is saved in the browser you paid in. If you cleared your cookies, switched browser or changed device, email [email protected] with your receipt and we'll get it working again.

Email [email protected] with your receipt and tell us what happened. Most problems, such as a pass that's stopped working or a file that won't open, can be put right quickly.

The pass is digital and starts as soon as you pay, so it can't be cancelled once it's started. If the files are faulty and we can't fix them, we'll refund you. This doesn't affect your legal rights.

Terms →

Yes. You keep all rights to what you make, and you can print as many copies as you like. If a duplicator is printing your J-cards, check their template first: many want CMYK files with their own panel sizes and bleed.

Cassettes for bands and labels →

Email [email protected]. Ideas for new looks or features are always welcome.