Business Cards - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/14/2005 08:59:53 AM · #1

What template or program would work well to create a business card? I assume PS is commonly used?

And what size/dimension/dpi/pixel should a photo/card be when handed over to a printer online or elseware and what's the best format?

I ask because I'm seeing 2x3.5 and then in PS they say set to 2.25x3.75. Why?

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 09:05:15.

Travis99

Canon EOS-5D

08/14/2005 09:05:03 AM · #2

Check Here

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/14/2005 11:07:38 AM · #3

I have used sharpdots.com with much success with both business cards & other printing. They have templates and such on their web site.

08/14/2005 11:23:13 AM · #4

I hooked this up quickly as a test. The image size and shape worked plus I thought the dark parts would serve well for text.

I'm not 100% thrilled but I think it's workable.

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 11:33:39.

Prof_Fate

08/14/2005 11:42:36 AM · #5

//www.vistaprint.com is very good, and the cheapest i could find. I downloaded theor PS template (a PSD file) and did my layout, uploaded and got cards. I went the cheapest (free?) shipping method - they say allow 3 weeks, it took 1. I think the total was $56 or so, glossy, for 500.

is what i ended up with. matches my website in design. not real colorful, but feedback is good and i think my 'market' will respond well to it.

I would highly recomend vistaprint.

As to your card, the buildings do not look to be in focus to me..could be the image you UL'd, but the words seem in focus.

No address? No website?

From this card I'd get the idea you do commercial type of work. Great if you do, but if you do weddings or portraits I'd never hire you based on this card.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/14/2005 11:55:05 AM · #6

I used a picture that I hit with Gothic Glow for kicks. I have a cleaner version but threw this down to see how it printed.

I have no website and I'm not sure if I'd like to do weddings but I have done portrait work.

I'm curious about the font choice, the general layout and feel. For the moment I don't want to do sales but I do need something to hand to people that already know me. Basic and wide open...if that makes sense.

I appreciate your honesty.

cbeller

Nikon D300

08/14/2005 12:10:54 PM · #7

Originally posted by pawdrix:

I hooked this up quickly as a test. The image size and shape worked plus I thought the dark parts would serve well for text.

I'm not 100% thrilled but I think it's workable.

You don't want to put any kind of border around your card, because the tolerences when cutting the cards are not that precise.

For mine, I used an image on the front and then put all the contact information on the back, so the front would not be so cluttered.

Make sure to use a font that is clear and easy to read.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/14/2005 12:33:14 PM · #8

Chris, nice card and thanx for the comments.

This update has a cleaner image, my name is spaced more and I added some text.

I have seen very nice cards with borders before but I'll take your word under advisement.

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 12:35:12.

cbeller

Nikon D300

08/14/2005 12:46:34 PM · #9

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Chris, nice card and thanx for the comments.

This update has a cleaner image, my name is spaced more and I added some text.

I have seen very nice cards with borders before but I'll take your word under advisement.

My suggestion, you need to center the info on the bottom. Having everything on the bottom left justified throws off the balance of the card. Having the phone numbers larger really doesn't look right either. You want consistency and balance.

Just my opinion.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/14/2005 01:50:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by cbeller:

[
My suggestion, you need to center the info on the bottom. Having everything on the bottom left justified throws off the balance of the card. Having the phone numbers larger really doesn't look right either. You want consistency and balance.

Just my opinion.

I'll see how that flies when I get back in later. Though the image has some built in constrictions.

Thanx

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/14/2005 01:52:03 PM · #11

I agree with cbeller. You might also burn the water background or add a soft drop shadow to help the type stand out. Be careful when using open letterspacing and tight leading... you should have considerably less space between letters than than lines of type for legibility.

Definitely lose the border. Between printng and trimming, the artwork can shift by 1/16" or more and there almost ZERO chance that your border will be centered. Also, if you haven't done this before, note that for images that run off the paper edges you must provide additional artwork (bleed), usually 1/8" beyond the finished size on every side, and registration-color crop marks to indicate where to trim.

I just finished this one for my brother (and he switched *%@# phone numbers on me). ;-)

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 13:53:34.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/14/2005 01:56:14 PM · #12

That's a smart looking card.

Rikki

Canon EOS-20D

08/14/2005 02:40:04 PM · #13

Originally posted by pawdrix:

My suggestion would be to use sans serif fonts instead of the serifs you use. We've seldom used serif fonts due to the fanciful "tails". Typically, the cleaner the card, the better they appeal to most clients.

Artan

Canon Digital IXUS v3

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/14/2005 02:53:34 PM · #14

Originally posted by rikki11:

Originally posted by pawdrix:
Chris, nice card and thanx for the comments.

This update has a cleaner image, my name is spaced more and I added some text.

I have seen very nice cards with borders before but I'll take your word under advisement.

My suggestion would be to use sans serif fonts instead of the serifs you use. We've seldom used serif fonts due to the fanciful "tails". Typically, the cleaner the card, the better they appeal to most clients.

I would agree with loosing the serifs
a much cleaner look will work better with the background.

From someone who ran a print shop for 4 years
I would also recommend a border less card.
business cards are cut plus or minus 1 - 2 mm (1/32)
unless the cut is perfect ( and it never is) borders look absolutely amateurish.

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 15:44:45.

elsapo

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

08/14/2005 03:26:04 PM · #15

has anyone used www.wetinkprinting.com? 500 free cards?

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 15:26:58.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

08/15/2005 04:08:44 AM · #16

Here's mine:

This link should give you 25% off your next purchase. It gives me a $1 off my next purchase too but since I have several hundred of each of my card designs it might be a while before I get to use it! But that 25% off should be sweet!

//www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=621283133975 (for .com site)

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

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

08/15/2005 04:10:09 AM · #17

More advice here:

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=246132

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

08/15/2005 04:19:29 AM · #18