What do your business cards look like?

I just ordered some from moo. Seems a little bit pricey, but from everything I hear they are worth it.

Fronts:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hovercm/3966921​241/

Oh, man, where do I start. How about I teach college visual design... and you've just done everything wrong. 1) OMG, photoshop layer effects: BOTH outer glow AND bevel and emboss. Even one effect is one too many. Makes it look like you're all about cheap photoshop tricks. 2) You've got type left aligned, right aligned, centered. Pick one. 3) You change type sizes on the same line (MB Photo). 3) Type needs to be kerned, especially the phone number with 11 in it. 4) Leading is WAY too loose.

Is the paper you ordered glossy both sides? Usually its 1 side. Gloss paper never looks good, unless you maybe print actual images, and IMAO, thats not good either. Its so hard to pick an image that best represents... better to make them think you are visually sophisticated and get them to your website. The other glossy paper exception my be if you also have a spot dull varnish, but that works better on dull coated paper with a dry trap gloss varnish.

This is one of those BEFOREs in a before and after. Why is it even 2-sided? Should have hired a designer. Sorry.

Here, man. I did this in 5 minutes. You don't have to like it.

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hover wrote in post #8730446
I just ordered some from moo. Seems a little bit pricey, but from everything I hear they are worth it.

Fronts:

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

And, the back of all the cards, cropped of course to leave safe room and all that via moo:
http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hovercm/3966921​241/

they're looking a little on the dark side.. hope you're not disapointed when they come through

Mcluckie?, feeling like an idiot here, but what does "kerned" mean?

Hover, the images don't seem dark to me, but they do seem flat, do the moo cards get colour corrected?

I do like the back side of the cards a lot. I Just think some of the front shots need better cropping. the kissing couple, i would put them far right, the little guy in the suit I would crop the legs behind him right out and have him placed far right as well. I like the fountain shot, but the focal point is on his hair not the water, eyes or his mouth which would have more of an impact.


CFL: I think Mcluckie has a few good points. The outer glow is making the words look out of focus. I really do like the two lines above and below mbphoto. that looks cool

Thanks for all that input, I know I should have posted it on here for some CC first but I guess I got caught up in the moment haha.

Also, it looks a bit better than how it looks on here quality wise as photobucket demolished the quality of it. But I do see what you are talking about Mcluckie and thank you. Also, I like the sample you gave me, I will save that and use that as a bit of a template I guess for my next card .

Kerning is the space between characters. Type should be set with Optical Kerning in Adobe apps. That always sets better type. Then, issues like double slender characters, or characters that create a big space between themselves, needs to be tightened. Sorry, I love type. I toggle careers as designer and photoguy back and forth.

I agree completely. I didn't want to trash everyones post here like some expert (hmmm), but the images are weak. Better cropping, maybe tighter would certainly help. Also I wasn't sure about switching from vertical to horizontal working as a series. I hope you paid attention to the way a card gets turned over so it doesn't need an extra turn.

I haven’t designed a real “business card” yet but I wanted something I could hand out in the meantime to those who ask about my work (I know, I know, my gallery still isn’t up…). All I know is that when I finally design one it’s going to incorporate spot glossing/UV, which isn’t exactly cheap considering 500 is the minimum order qty, so I don’t want to rush it. For now, this’ll do.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/17547754@N03/3​972939786/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/17547754@N03/​3972171081

They are totally different things. UV is a flood clearcoat that runs in-line as a 5th color. Printers actually like it because it speeds dry time to the cutter. Its usually very cheap to free. There is no spot UV I've ever heard done.

Spot gloss varnish is an extra film and plate and can either be either in-line (effect is only OK) or as a dry trap (meaning they take it off press for a bit while the ink dries, then run the varnish on dry ink). The advantage to dry trap is the varnish sits on top of the ink rather than settling in. The effect is MUCH more dramatic and worth the price. In-line spot varnish is maybe 30% as effective, and much cheaper.

Be sure to spec a dull coated paper for the best spot gloss contrast. Judging from your temporary cards, I'd suggest hiring a designer so you don't waste your money.

i just designed mines, i have to order them, but this is pretty much how i want them....ill be using plasticprinters.com anyone ever dealt with them before???....
the grey area will be frosted clear plastic.....so excited.

k-style wrote in post #8744051
i just designed mines, i have to order them, but this is pretty much how i want them....ill be using plasticprinters.com anyone ever dealt with them before???....
the grey area will be frosted clear plastic.....so excited.

Does your domain host have e-mail?

I wouldn't use a gmail.com e-mail address.

I do as I don't have $10 for a stupid email. Then again I don't put my email on there at all. I put my website on there and on my website there's a link that says "Click to email" and my phone number.

turbo212003 wrote in post #8744286
Does your domain host have e-mail?

I wouldn't use a gmail.com e-mail address.

I agree. A gmail account looks un-professional looking IMO. You already have your own domain, I'm sure you can set up an e-mail account in minutes.

Also, why not make your card look more like your website? At least add your logo to your site?

Hikin Mike wrote in post #8744692
I agree. A gmail account looks un-professional looking IMO. You already have your own domain, I'm sure you can set up an e-mail account in minutes.

Also, why not make your card look more like your website? At least add your logo to your site?

i do have an email set up with my domain, however it looks a little too repetitive when i drafted the card....

ELKINCARDONA
photography

elkin@elkincardonaphot​ography.com
www.elkincardonaphotog​raphy.com


it just didnt look right, plus ive seen alot of business cards where the person uses a gmail, its not like my email is something like "hotboy2390" or "killacam31".....lol

as far as the card looking like the site.... i used the same exact font as my site and although my site changes colors, i tried to stick to the earthy tones....hence the lightbrown...i didnt use the logo on the site because i like how the default changes colors along with the pictures....:o better than my one color logo...

k-style wrote in post #8745678
i do have an email set up with my domain, however it looks a little too repetitive when i drafted the card....

ELKINCARDONA
photography

lkin@elkincardonaphoto​graphy.com
www.elkincardonaphotog​raphy.com


it just didnt look right, plus ive seen alot of business cards where the person uses a gmail, its not like my email is something like "hotboy2390" or "killacam31".....lol

as far as the card looking like the site.... i used the same exact font as my site and although my site changes colors, i tried to stick to the earthy tones....hence the lightbrown...i didnt use the logo on the site because i like how the default changes colors along with the pictures....:o better than my one color logo...

Nothing wrong with repetition. I just think using a gmail account looks amateurish too me. I'd use your logo on your website too. It's called branding.