Business Cards and Business Card Printing

After choosing and creating the design of the business card, the next thing to decide is how the business card should be printed. Will the way the business cards were printed affect the effectiveness of the cards as means of projecting the company's image? The answer is obviously "yes".

The two major ways of printing business cards are "full colored" and "raise lettered." To decide which one best suits the company, one should first know the difference between the two? The first difference lies in the way the ink is applied on the card. And the second difference, obviously, is the cost of having such business cards printed.

Printing a full colored business card is similar to printing from an inkjet printer connected to a desktop computer. The inks used for the full colored business card are printed at the same time. The inks are just combined in such a way that various hues and shades are created.

Printing a raised lettered business card utilizes a process known as thermography. In printing, each color for the business card is on a separate plate. The business card is run through the press for each color. As a result, the ink is embossed. This type of printing is also called "spot printing."

Printing raised lettered business cards can be cheaper than printing full colored business cards if the card design utilizes one color only, or the black color. The cost of printing raised lettered business cards is less when white plate is used, instead of linen or cordwain. But of course, if there will be more than one color, the cost of printing raised lettered business cards goes up. This is when printing full color business cards becomes a cheaper alternative. This implies that when a company likes to have its colored logo carried by the business cards, the company may incur lesser expenses with full colored printing. And if the number of business cards is higher, the cost for each card becomes lower.

The cost of printing, however, is secondary to company image, when choosing what type of printing is needed. Raised lettered business cards give the impression of elegance and sophistication. A doctor, a lawyer, or any person with a similar profession should opt for raised lettered business cards. These business cards need not sell anything. They just provide information about the owner of the business card, along with an image of professionalism.

Other professions, however, may choose the full color business cards, especially if they are in the field of marketing. For example, if a businessman is directly selling water-purifiers, the picture of the products should appear on the business cards. And the cheapest way to go about it is by full color printing.