Business
cards
are
cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are
shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid. A
business card typically includes the giver's name, company affiliation (usually
with a logo) and contact information such as street addresses, telephone
number(s), fax number, e-mail addresses and website. Traditionally many cards
were simple black text on white stock; today a professional business card will
sometimes include one or more aspects of striking visual design.
Business
cards are printed on some form of card stock, the visual effect, method of
printing, cost and other details varying according to cultural or
organizational norms and personal preferences. The common weight of a business
card varies some by location. Generally, business cards are printed on stock
that is 350GSM
High
quality business cards without full-colour photographs are normally printed
using spot colours on sheet-fed lithographic presses. Some companies have gone
so far as to trademark their spot colours (examples are Premier League Blue
& Red, Perkins Blue and Caterpillar Yellow & Black). If a business card logo is a single colour and the type is another
colour, the process is considered two colours. More spot colours can be added
depending on the needs of the card. With the onset of digital printing, and
batch printing, it is now cost effective to print business cards in full colour.
To
simulate the "raised-print" effect of printing with engraved plates,
a less-expensive process called thermography was developed that uses the application
of a plastic powder, which adheres to the wet ink. The cards are then passed
through a heating unit, which melts the plastic onto the card. Spot UV varnish
onto matte laminate can also have a similar effect.
Full
colour cards, or cards that use many colours, can be printed on either
lithographic or digital printing presses; however, they use the CMYK (cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black) four-colour printing process. Screens of each colour
overprinted on one another create a wide gamut of colour.
Some terminology
in reference to full-colour printing:
-
4/0 - Full Colour Front / No
Print On Back
-
4/1 - Full Colour Front / One Colour On reverse
-
4/4 - Full Colour Front /
Full Colour Back
These
names are pronounced as "four backing nothing," "four backing
one," or "full colour throughout".
A
business card can also be coated with a UV glossy coat. The coat is applied all
over the card just like another ink using a UV coating machine. UV coats can
also be applied as a spot coating - meaning areas can be coated, and other areas
can be left uncoated. This creates additional design potential.
UV coats,
and other coatings such as sealers and varnishes are used to speed
manufacturing of the cards. Cards that are not dry will "offset"
which means the ink from the front of one card will end up on the back of the
next one. UV coatings are generally highly glossy but are more likely to
fingerprint, while other coatings are not noticeable and increase the life of
the card. It is possible to use a dull aqueous coating on uncoated stock and
get some very durable uncoated cards, and using UV coating or plastic
lamination can also be applied to thicken thin stocked cards and make them more
durable as well.
When
cards are designed, they are given bleeds if colour extends to the edge of the finished
cut size. (A bleed is the extension of printed lines or colours beyond the line
where the paper it is printed on will be cut.) This is to help ensure that the
paper will cut without white edges due to very small differences in where the
blade cuts the cards, and it is almost impossible to cut the cards properly
without. Just being a hair off can result in white lines, and the blade itself
will pull the paper while cutting. Bleeds are an extra 2mm to all sides of the
card.
-
Bleed size: 89 × 59 mm
-
Standard cut size: 85 x 55mm
Fold-over
or "tent" cards and side fold cards are popular as well. Generally
these cards will fold to the standard size.