Business Cards? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/24/2005 01:42:40 PM · #1

Any advise on where to get business cards printed? Seems like online places are the cheapest and you can design them right on their website. The main one seems to be VistaPrint but there were some other ones when I searched Google. I just need a simple design and need to order no more then 250 cards.

Thanks!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/24/2005 01:47:18 PM · #2

If you need just a few cards, and especially if you want them photographic, lay them out 3-up on a 4x6 print and trim them out yourself. Get prints at Costco if you're a member ($0.14/each, $0.17 if you upload and have them mailed to you). In fact, if you're not a member, I can probably print them and have them drop-shipped to you.

Otherwise, almost every drugstore and supermarket has a self-serve machine where you can get prints in about 5 minutes.

fixedintime

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

07/24/2005 01:50:06 PM · #3

For simple cards you can get the card stock at Staples and the like - perferated for Business Cards, and set it up in Word - print out what you want. That is what I do for my work cards.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/24/2005 01:53:11 PM · #4

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Yeah, I am trying to figure out if I want to do one of my pictures as a background/logo or else just have a simple layout with some lines seperating the top from the bottom or something. Anyone happen to have a sample of their card online to get an idea from?

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

07/24/2005 02:08:41 PM · #5

If you're going to be submitting your photos to editors, I've been told numerous times having a photo on your business card is a bad idea.

You want them to know you for who you are, not who you were at the time that you gave them the card...

For studio type work it may not matter as much...

07/24/2005 02:15:19 PM · #6

I have now had 4 different sets of business cards printed by Vistaprint and have been delighted with the very high quality (and excellent service) each time.

//www.vistaprint.co.uk/frfuk?frf=621283133975 (for UK)

//www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=621283133975 (FOR USA)

Please ask me if you want a referral link for one of the other international stores.

The link above will get you 25% off your first order (and I think it gives me either $1 or Â£1 of my next order though that might be a long time coming since I have cards coming out of my ears).

Their cheapest option is to use one of their predesigned cards which include various graphics and allow very little to be changed.

Alternatively you can design your own

- either upload individual images (you'll pay a fee for uploading an image but once used in one card it is stored permanently and can be used in other products/ cards for no charge) or use their images provided and then add text using their interface

- design your entire card, including text, in Photoshop (or similar) using the template they provide to ensure correct size and upload entire design (paying that same one off upload fee)

I'd strongly recommend the glossy finish - it looks great.

The quality of these cards outweighs many I have seen printed by so-called professional printers. I have had a lot of compliments on all of mine.

(I have one for my business, plus same one again for hubby but with his name and details, then one for Mamta's Kitchen - that one is just for fun as it's just a hobby site but the cards were so cheap as they had a sale on and I thought they would be a fun gift for my mum, and the last is for my DPC Prints portfolio).

If I can be of any assistance in using their interface let me know.

If you do use them off the back of my recommendation, do please consider using my refer-a-friend link above as it seems to me a win-win offer.

Message edited by author 2005-07-24 14:22:15.

07/24/2005 02:23:50 PM · #7

Oh and I have also ordered some of their business card magnets (they offered me some for free after one of my orders - I just paid postage) and also the large calendar magnets (which I customised using the same uploaded company logo I had used on my company business cards) - also free.

Both look fantastic.

07/24/2005 02:56:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Yeah, the reason I want business cards is to try to do some stringer/freelance photojournalist stuff in my spare time for local events the papers might not have the time or people to cover. Thanks everyone for the info and Kavey, I will be using your link for VistaPrint.

CorySmith

07/24/2005 03:09:20 PM · #9

Great FX Bus cards

i used this site to get mine printed
they give you a PSD file with the rulers and everything in the template so you cant screw it up
i reccomend it

07/24/2005 04:26:27 PM · #10

You're welcome.
Please don't think I'm recommending them in order to earn the referral rewards - I won't need more cards for quite some time as I have 500 each of the ones I have ordered.
It's just that I looked at a lot of the alternatives (not including the one Fetor just recommended) and most were more expensive for lower quality card (thinner) or no gloss or less flexibility in terms of content.

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/24/2005 04:32:58 PM · #11

This is the one I'm using as of now. I was going to use VistaPrints (see link in Kavey's post) but just ended up going to Staples and getting the preforated Businesscard stock cause I waited too long to place an order and needed them ASAP and they acutally turned out pretty good.

I used the template from VistaPrints to set up the card so it was pretty easy. Overnight Prints is another place that I know a few people here use.

07/24/2005 04:47:35 PM · #12

Cool, thanks Jen, that is a very nice card.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/24/2005 04:51:03 PM · #13

OK here's a link to my three cards.

The first one is our business card and matches the design theme of our website. It's the first proper one I did on vistaprint though I'd previously used their "free cards" offer where I had completely used a design of theirs and only paid postage. I did this business one about a year back now, I think. I had to pay to upload the graphics. I paid about Â£60 UK for 500 for me and 500 for Pete (two different cards as the text is different), including glossy finish and postage. I had quotes of between Â£150 and Â£200 from traditional printers for the same job.

The second one I did in October last year. I am fairly pleased with it and people seem to really like it a lot and sometimes I'm talking to someone about it and have one out and someone else sees it and asks for one. I regret like hell not putting my email address on it. That said, at the time I had a different opinion of DPC Prints than I do now and had expected to continue using it as my main selling method. I am now not intending to do that but still have a lot of these cards left to give out!!! I paid Â£30 for 500 of these.

The third one I did for my mum's hobby site. I used one of the free images in vistaprint's stock library but cropped to only use part of it. I paid about Â£11 UK for 500 including postage (with glossy finish too). They look great!

.

Jen I like your card design!

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

07/24/2005 04:57:28 PM · #14

I have used Printing For Less before and been happy with the results. I don't know how they compare on pricing though...

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

07/24/2005 05:13:18 PM · #15

I am happy with overnightprints.com

They'll UV coat/do glossy for no extra charge.

And they'll do small runs. I tried $14.99 for 100 cards, and a good thing because I tweaked the design colors a little and typography as a result. Very substantial card stock and quick service.

Message edited by author 2005-07-24 17:22:34.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

07/24/2005 05:34:06 PM · #16

Thanks everyone, you all have very sharp business cards!

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/24/2005 05:37:42 PM · #17

Thanks Kavey! I like yours too, especially Mamta's Kitchen. :-) And Lynn, your card is quite breathtaking.

jmlelii

Nikon D850

07/24/2005 05:50:40 PM · #18

Not sure if anyone mentioned these yet, but Overnight Prints is a fantastic site to order. Color matches identical to what was on my computer, and that was my biggest concern. I highly recommend them.

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

07/24/2005 06:11:47 PM · #19

Thanks, Jen, yours is quite compellling. Do you do animal photography, or another specialty?

bobdaveant

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/24/2005 06:24:46 PM · #20

What do you think of these?, my wife wasn't to keen on me using my daughter on the one card, so I came up with the skyline shot..

bobdaveant

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/24/2005 08:22:16 PM · #21

no comments? quiet crowd tonight..

bcoble

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

07/24/2005 09:14:10 PM · #22

Perhaps I am picky. You can do better. My wife owns a printing company and I see alot of cards, graphic's, layouts and design. There both ok however you can do better. If I had to choose between the two the first one is better. Not sure about the choose of the Font. On that card I like the image over the other card.

K-Rob