> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cardclan.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Card Formats

> Choose a single-page card, a front-and-back postcard or the classic folded card, each with its own opening animation.

Every card has a **format**. The format decides how many pages the card has and how it opens for the recipient.

| | Single page | Front & back | Folded card |
| - | - | - | - |
| **Pages** | 1 | 2 (front and back) | 4 or more |
| **How it opens** | Rises out of the envelope and settles face up | Flips over like a postcard when tapped | Opens like a greeting card |
| **Good for** | Invitations, announcements, flyers | Postcards, save-the-dates | Greeting cards with a longer message |
| **Default** | | | Yes |

Cards you created before formats existed are folded cards and look exactly as they did.

## Choose a format

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Format & event tool">
    Open your card in the editor. In the left toolbar, click **Format & event**. Only the card's owner sees this tool.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a format">
    Under **Card format**, choose **Single page**, **Front & back** or **Folded card (4 pages)**. The change saves straight away.
  </Step>
</Steps>

In the editor, page labels follow the format. A single-page card shows **Card**. A front-and-back card shows **Front** and **Back**.

## Page limits

* **Single page** cards have one page, and **Front & back** cards have two. When a card reaches its limit, the add-page and duplicate-page buttons are hidden.
* To switch a card to a format with fewer pages, delete the extra pages first. CardClan never removes pages for you. If the card has too many pages, you'll see: *This card has more pages than a 2-page format allows. Delete some pages first.*
* **Folded cards** have no page limit.

## What recipients see

1. The email arrives with the card's cover, the same as for every card.
2. When the recipient opens it, the envelope opens first, as it always does.
3. After that, the animation depends on the format:
   * **Single page:** the card lifts out and settles face up. There's nothing to click.
   * **Front & back:** the front shows first. Clicking or tapping the card flips it to the back, and again to return to the front. Keyboard users can flip it with **Enter** or **Space**.
   * **Folded card:** clicking the cover opens the card to show the inside pages.

On phones, every format is shown one page at a time. Swipe or tap to move between pages.

For recipients who have asked their device to reduce motion, the card appears in place without animating.

## Workspace last page

A [workspace default last page](/guides/default-last-page) is added only to **folded cards**. Single-page and front-and-back cards have no room for an extra page, so the last page isn't shown on them.

## Use a format for an invitation

Single-page and front-and-back cards work well as invitations. Turn on **This card is an invitation** in the same tool to add event details and collect RSVPs. See [Invitation Cards & RSVP](/guides/invitation-cards).


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