Business Card Design Services
Build trust in your brand with inspired design.
A brand is how your clients "feel" about your company, and a business card is usually the first thing that goes in their hands—a "welcome mat" for your prospects. Regardless of how much of a digital age we live in, business cards are still a tried and true marketing tool that can direct people to call you, or check out your sweet website. An uncompromising business card design will set the tone for your brand and services with a look that your clients are sure to remember.
Why Quality Business Cards Matter
A business card is your first impression, so it’s important to make it a good one! That is why it’s imperative your business chooses a reputable graphic design firm that can create an effective and impactful design to be printed on exactly the right material by the best printer available. Sure there are cheap alternatives out there that make it easy to do it yourself, with basic, unoriginal templates to be printed on standard ink and paper, but your business card is not the place you want to cut corners—figuratively speaking that is!
If you’re continuing to read this, you’re thinking in the right direction and refusing to settle for a boring, everyday business card. Now where do you start? Well, there are many ways to make that happen for your business, so let’s begin with the most basic, yet vital, part of designing a great business card: the material. Paper is undoubtedly the most common way to go, but there are still many things to consider to ensure you’re using the right type.
Paper Weight
The weight of paper, or its thickness, is an integral part to ensuring your graphics and text appear clearly. Determining how heavy your paper should be depends on whether you’ll be printing on both sides, and the longevity you expect from your business cards. As a general rule, we usually recommend going with a sturdy card stock that can hold two sides of ink and withstand the expected wear and tear that results from your clients carrying and storing your card.
Alternatives To Paper
Even though most business cards you’ll see are printed on paper, that doesn’t mean that’s the only option available. You can help differentiate your card from others by simply choosing an uncommon material to print on, such as plastic, wood, or even metal. Since paper printing is the most popular method for producing business cards, handing a client a shiny, textured, or semi-opaque business card that’s rigid and long-lasting can instantly grab their attention while giving them yet another reason to remember you.
Once a decision has been made on the specific material that you’re going to be printing your business card graphics and text on, you’ll want to consider additional options that can further improve the look and feel of your final piece. Finishing options such as UV Coating, foil stamping, and embossing can be that final touch to any basic business card.
Finishing Options
Another aspect to consider when it comes to choosing your material is the finish. For instance, if you’re going with a more classic look, then a matte-paper (such as linen) would be a fine choice. There are glossy and even satin or silk finishes that work much better with colors and imagery, but offer less durability and legibility with your text. Our graphic designers consider all elements of a client’s card before recommending the best option when going to print.
UV Coating
Specialty Finishes
Another aspect to consider when it comes to choosing your material is the finish. For instance, if you’re going with a more classic look, then a matte-paper (such as linen) would be a fine choice. There are glossy and even satin or silk finishes that work much better with colors and imagery, but offer less durability and legibility with your text. Our graphic designers consider all elements of a client’s card before recommending the best option when going to print.
Embossing
The embossing process involves a metal plate and a counter. Your material (paper only) is placed between the metal plate and counter so that your graphic or text, through pressure, will become raised. A few things to keep in mind when using an embossing treatment is that the front AND back of your embossed element and card stock (paper) will be physically altered. You’ll also want to make sure that small text or lines are not embossed, as there is a good chance they will blend together.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is the process of adhering a foil directly onto your business card with a combination of heat and pressure. You can choose from a variety of colors, patterns, and even semi-opaque or glossy finishes. This particular effect works well in combination with embossed elements, creating eye-popping effects for your logo, company name, or even graphics.
Metallic Ink
Metallic ink is not a foil, it’s a special type of ink that contains real metal particles that simulate the appearance of metal. When printing with metallic inks, the final result is usually less metallic than a foil stamp; although, using metallic inks can produce a more visually appealing business card if you’re going to use this effect on multiple elements.
Thermography
This technique uses a special powder mixed with ink, which will raise when heated. The results are similar to embossing, where the applied graphics or text will rise above the material, to give dimension and texture. Because this process is more precise than embossing, it works well with text or small/thin graphics. The downside to thermography is that it can only be applied to one side, and you must use a proper paper weight (heavy stock).
Pantone Matching System or PMS
Regardless of whatever style of business card you choose, you may want to consider using pre-selected Pantone (PMS) colors. By choosing a Pantone color to print with, available in small swatch-books provided by your designer or printer, you’ll be able to guarantee more color accuracy throughout your marketing materials. This can be extremely important as each printer could produce noticeable variations in the final coloring of your promotional pieces when printing in CMYK. Differing colors can make it hard for your clients to identify your company’s brand at a glance, resulting in less effective marketing campaigns.
