How to Print Business Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Users
While the rise of digital networking has changed how people connect, business cards remain important for building and nurturing professional relationships, as they can enhance face-to-face interactions and provide a tangible way to share contact information.
If you're a professional or an entrepreneur who needs their first set of business cards, this step-by-step design and printing guide is for you.
Step 1: Decide on the shape
Most people are familiar with rectangular business cards that slip nicely into wallets. However, you don't always have to conform to the standard-shaped business cards, especially if you're in an industry where creativity, innovation, and uniqueness are highly valued.
Die-cut business cards are an excellent option if you want to stand out. They have a unique design created using a die-cut machine that cuts cardstock (or other materials) into a specific shape, such as a circle, oval, square with rounded edges, or half-circle.
Step 2: Select a size
The standard size for a business card is 2" x 3.5", which is the same as a credit card or a driver's license. However, you can choose smaller cards (such as 1.75" x 3.5" and 2" x 2") if you want to share just the most basic information.
By contrast, larger business cards, like the 3" x 3", are great if you want to go beyond sharing contact information. With more space, your cards can also serve as appointment reminders, mini CVs, loyalty punch cards, bookmarks, discount coupons, mini calendars, and event tickets.
Step 3: Choose your material
Most business cards are printed on 14 pt., 16 pt., 17 pt. cardstock. "Pt." stands for point, with each point representing one-thousandth of an inch (or 0.001"). The higher the point, the thicker and more durable the cardstock is.
In many cases, 14 pt. cardstock is an ideal choice because it is cost-effective and offers just the right amount of thickness. On the other hand, 16 pt. and 17 pt. are great options if you want a more premium feel and look.
Business cards are also available in metal steel, a material that conveys durability, luxury, and sophistication. Since these cards are impervious to damage in normal use, they are suitable for brands that want to build a reputation for delivering innovative and premium products or services.
Step 4: Add finishing touches (optional)
You can add finishing touches to give your business cards a more premium feel and look. Spot UV coating and foil printing are two popular options.
Spot UV coating is a printing technique that adds gloss to specific parts of your design, such as the logo, company name, or any key design elements.
There is a variation of Spot UV printing that adds a tactile texture to the design, creating a raised effect, hence the name Raised Spot UV.
Another way to create eye-catching business cards is to use foil printing or stamping. This technique utilizes heat, pressure, and pigmented foil (copper, gold, and silver are the most popular colors) to accentuate key design elements, such as logos or company names.
Step 5: Decide what information to include
A business card should always include your name, job title, company name, logo, and contact information (e.g., phone number, email, and website). You can make it easier for potential customers to tune in to your business updates by including social media handles and a QR code as well.
You can use both sides of the card to add more information, such as a list of services, a marked map of your business location, etc. However, make sure you leave enough white space and don't overcrowd the design to maintain readability and visual harmony.
Step 6: Create a design
There are two ways to create a design for your business cards: Hire a graphic designer or take the DIY approach.
If you choose the DIY method, the internet is a great source for free and paid business card templates. Another option is to use design apps like Canva and Adobe Express, both of which are known for their user-friendly interfaces, extensive collections of templates, and drag-and-drop functionalities.
Step 7: Set up your print files properly
Make sure you use image- and print-friendly formats like PDF, JPEG/JPG, and TIFF when saving your artwork. This way, you can preserve its quality and color accuracy and adjust the resolution easily based on your needs.
Note that any artwork intended for printing should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) to ensure clear and detailed prints. Additionally, the color mode of your image file should be set to CMYK, which is the gold standard for printing digital products.
Step 8: Choose where to print
Although you can print at home, going DIY has certain limitations. Home printers generally lack functionalities to add finishing touches like foil stamping, Spot UV coating, glossy or matte laminations, etc.
Inconsistent colors, rough edges, and blurry designs are also common issues with DIY printing.
By contrast, having your business cards made by a professional printing company offers several advantages, including more customization options, superior ink and paper quality, and a more professional look.
If you need a large quantity of business cards, professional printing may offer more benefits than the DIY approach due to bulk discounts and design assistance that can help you avoid costly errors.
Conclusion
We hope this step-by-step guide can inspire and guide you as you design and print your first set of business cards online.
No design experience required! NextDayFlyers has business card templates with proper formatting, spacing, bleed, and margins to prevent unbalanced design elements, cut-off text or graphics, and other common errors.
We also offer free design proofs to avoid common printing errors and ensure your business cards are print-ready.