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Vertical business cards. While the traditional presentation of a card is in a horizontal format, sometimes a vertical proportion is called for. This are generally not appropriate for info-rich cards - a logo, company name and various contact information is about all we can fit. On the other hand, vertical cards showcase your logo nicely, and can be quite artistic. Also, remember your card back, perfect for a little more design flair. If there's an additional printing cost, it should be minimum. Your printer can produce the run as a 'working turn' (a technique where cards are set up as an 'imposition' - a combination of card backs and fronts and the sheet is flipped over once one run is complete).
Horizontal business cards. This type of card is close to the 'golden mean' aspect ratio and is the more common type of business card design. We can generally fit more information into this format, but are somewhat restricted in the design freedom. A typical design will see the logo on the left, with contact info on the right side. When it comes to putting information on their card, many clients try to squeeze a war-and-peace extravaganza. Don't. Too much information and the typeface will have to be very small and might be difficult to read. Rule of thumb - try to keep font sizes to 9pt and larger.
Illustrative logos and business cards. If your logo is a full color CMYK design (as opposed to the more economical spot color format) you may be tempted to 'go to town' on your business card design. The thinking generally goes like this - "I have to pay for full color printing, so I should take advantage". While that's certainly sound thinking in the economics department, it can cause the design of your card to suffer. Best keep the design accents and flourishes to a minimum and let your logo 'do the talking'. Take a look at the Froggie's Bait Dock design (above). Even though the logo is full-blown process color, the card is relatively simple and accents the mark rather than overwhelming it.
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Once you've finished the design phase, it's on to having your business cards printed. Many of you will choose to work directly with a local printer, but may be new to working with print shops and some of the jargon involved. Here's a few pointers on working with your printer and how to insure there's no surprises when your new business cards are delivered.
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From a design perspective, business card artwork that bleeds can be visually appealing, and shouldn't add to the cost of printing. Cards are usually printed several on a sheet, so it's simply a matter of cutting them up once the printing is completed. A 'bleed' is already built into this setup. |
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If your business card has been designed as spot color material, it is critical that BEFORE having them commercially printed that you ALWAYS check your colors with a Pantone Color Swatch Book. This is the only way to insure that the colors contained in your business card will print as you planned. The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is the 'industry standard' for matching colors so if your printer tells you that they don't have one, select another printer. |
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Always ask for a 'press proof' of your print job. While it's sometimes difficult to get a proof that's completely accurate when using spot colors (most proofing systems are set up for CMYK and 4 color process) it will give you a rough idea, and will also allow you to check for typos and spelling errors before it's too late. Reprinting your business cards because your phone number was incorrect is an expensive proposition. |
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If you're printing your letterhead, business card and envelope package on a combination of coated (glossy) and uncoated (matte) papers - typical with 'glossy' business cards and letterheads - keep in mind that the Coated and Uncoated surfaces may shift the colors and the colors may not match exactly across your stationery. |
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Colors may not match exactly if you attempt to print spot color business cards as a CMYK (four color process) job, especially if - as many business cards are - they're being printed on glossy stock. Many printers will simply change the colors to CMYK in your original files - this is haphazard at best. There's a Pantone Spot to Process Formula book that allows you to choose CMKY equivalents to your spot colors. Use that beforehand, or ask an experienced designer to do it for you. Keep in mind that certain spot colors do not convert exactly. Also, if your printer is using a 'gang run' - grouping your business card with a number of other pieces on a large sheet - expect varying colors from run to run. Gang printing is the type of printing used by most 'online' printers. |
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Copyright 2007 - The Logo Factory®. All rights reserved.
The letterhead design examples shown in our graphic design portfolio are the property of the respective copyright and/or trademark holders. Used by permission. All other rights reserved.
See our Classic Logos for older (1996 - 2002) examples. |
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| Yes! The Logo Factory designed the logos featured in our business card design examples.View more in our Logo Design Gallery. |
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| Want to get your business cards professionally printed but your logo is in the incorrect format? See how our logo repair service can help. Turn that fuzzy old design into flawless new file formats that are ready to be professionally printed! |
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