Business Cards?

[dennykyser]

For those of you that use business cards do you have them printed at a printing shop or make them yourselves. I have never made my own but am wondering with the high quality printers now if that is an option.

[Cordell]

Hi dennykyser,

For me it's not only printer quality, but the paper too. I don't care for the thin paper that is available to print quality business cards at home. To me people can tell (at least I certainly can) if someone printed their cards at home. Even using greeting card stock is not worthy.

Also, for what you pay in the end when printing at home you would be better off going through a local shop or online with a company like VistaPrint.com. For example, VistaPrint routinely have specials. I just purchased 500 full color cards with glossy finish for less than $20USD. I must say it is better to wait for their specials though. Even if you don't their prices and quality is better than my thin prints from home. I here americasprinter.com is good too, but I have not used them.

Cordell

[Belmondo]

My main complaint with do-it-yourself business cards is that they come in tear-apart sheets, and no matter what the quality of the serrations they use, they always have a slightly rough edge. The print quality I can control, but the rest of the card just has a 'less-than-professional' look.

[sparktography]

iprint.com <-- great cheap business cards. they do raised text, glossy, or full color! I've been really impressed with their quality. $35.00 for 500 including shipping!

[Scottes]

Do it yourself cards always look so cheap and unprofessional. Part of it is thin paper, part is perforations (Yuch!), and part is because people who don't know design think it's easy to design something as simple as a business card. I've seen some pretty terrible looking business cards that couldn't be saved by any amount of professional printing.

[dennykyser]

I agree that the do it your self kits are worthless, I am talking about people that purchase the corect stock, build their cards in MS Publisher, and cut with a paper cutter.

What I do see that cant be done at home is the raised lettering which looks good.

[SnJPhoto]

I found this place to be reasonable and the instructions are very straight forward to follow. I liked the idea of using one of my own photos as the card background and did the layout in Photoshop. If you follow the instructions on formatting etc, they turn out just as you lay it out. I believe the price was $49/1000.

Scott

http://www.overnightprints.com

[tamash]

I've used these guys for the last 6 years: http://www.business-card.com

Not quite as cheap as some posted here, but excellent full-color results on really nice paper.

- Bill

[Conk]

I am really surprised to see that so many people think that making their own cards look cheap.
I made some 3 fold brochures for My White Raven Art Business that were taken to the Vancouver and Miami International Boat Shows and I'll assure you that they, along with my cards looked very professional. Especially the brochures. I had sample copies made from 2 print shops done by laser and was less than satisfied with the results.
Keep in mind that I had to do more work than just simply print them out. I did not use card stock especially with perforations. I used 51lb 2 sided photo paper with a "soft gloss". I admit that it is a little heavier paper than I would have liked but it was quite suitable. After printing the paper was then sprayed. I then sprayed the paper with a uv resistant acrylic coating. I also cut the cards (no, not with scissors ) and folded the brochures myself.
I had to be sure that these were going to be passed off as nothing less than professional as the public that I was/am marketing to are wealthy luxury yacht owners.

[TKHerman]

Check out www.globalprintrunner.com. I get complements ALL the time on my cards -- and they're fairly inexpensive. I first saw them in Photoshop User magazine. Also, you can order a "sample" kit from them showing the different types of stuff they offer.

Hope this helps...

TK

[robertwgross]

I can't get by with only one type of business card. So, I make my own in different designs, all on Epson Premium Luster paper, which is just the perfect thickness, and with a nice finish. All of the cards have one of my standard photos on it, but one says that I am a wedding photographer. One says that I am a nature photographer. ... then there are others. I hand out one that is appropriate for the occasion.

---Bob Gross---

[NILOLIGIST]

I also printed some cards at home, they looked very professional it was the quality of the paper that wasn't up to par. I have printed my own cards for years at home but since having them printed professionally, I really prefer to have them professionally printed. I can't match that quality. I paid $60 for 1000 high gloss colored business cards and I really like them. People like the cards and now I am considering making cards for people and charge them a creative fee + cost of printing and shipping.

I used americaprinters, I don't see them listed anymore but they were great.

NiL,

[dicky109]

I agree that unless you are going to go to great lengths like Conk, that home printed cards are going to look like....home printed cards. The biggest part of that is if you carry them around in your wallet or even a card holder in your pocket, that they'll deteriorate very quickly through both abrasion and moisture.

IMO, if you need to present a quality image, home printing doesn't even come close to professional.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I would only add this to the argumants for printing at hime..

Sometimes you just can't decide on a final design.. you may want to try something out etc...

In the end,. once your ready to mass produce.. yes use a printing company.. but during that "experimental phase" start out using your own.. it gives you plenty of leeway before you lock in the final card.

[Conk]

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

I would only add this to the argumants for printing at hime..

Sometimes you just can't decide on a final design.. you may want to try something out etc...

In the end,. once your ready to mass produce.. yes use a printing company.. but during that "experimental phase" start out using your own.. it gives you plenty of leeway before you lock in the final card.

I absolutely agree.