In terms of the impact that the finish of your business cards will have, remember that your business cards only have time to make an impact for a few seconds. The finish of your business cards can play a large part in this. Here are the main finishes that are available to you and the sort of business that they might suit.
Matte Or Uncoated
Uncoated / Matte finish business cards are great to use when you want to write on the back of your card, such as writing down a mobile number or adding a note about a follow-up meeting. Solid to the touch and not showing off, these cards are used by consultants and tradespeople, as they get scribbled on at jobs and meetings, and are also great to use for events and exhibitions and for taking photos of for online purposes as they have no glare.
Gloss Laminate
When finished with a gloss laminate the colours in your design are enhanced. This makes gloss laminate very popular with food companies, photographers, retail shops and companies with strong colours in their logos. Glossy business cards do however show up finger prints and smudges. How will your business cards be used? How often will they be handed around?
Soft-Touch Velvet Laminate
Soft-Touch Velvet Laminate finish business cards have a very soft, almost suede-like quality to them. As a result, business cards printed with Soft-Touch Velvet finish are often noticed before they are read, simply because of their tactile quality. They make great business cards for creative studios, beauty brands and high-end services that want to produce premium business cards that feel like a small luxury.
Spot UV Detailing
Spot UV detailing involves applying a raised, glossy coating to selected areas of the design, often to a logo or to highlight specific text. The area to which the UV coating will be applied is printed in reverse onto the underlying matte finish surface. Spot UV detail work makes a great addition to simple, clean designs incorporating a logo mark, and typically commands a slight premium over a basic single finish, as it is printed as a separate stage within the print process.
Foil Blocking
Foil Blocking – Print with Metal. Print with Foil. We use foil blocking to add a metallic accent to your business cards, created by pressing foil into the card rather than simply printing it. For weddings, beauty salons, higher-end services and occasions, foil blocking can be a fantastic addition to your business cards. However, it’s important to note that there is a cost per colour per area of foil, so an initial on a business card may cost less than a border of foil around the entire card. It’s also worth viewing a printed sample under normal lighting before deciding whether the finish is for you. What may look great on screen can look very different when viewed under shop lighting.
Textured Or Cotton Stock
These stocks have a textured or even cotton like feel to them. Suitable for designers, artists & tradesmen. Typically uncoated so colours will be less intense than on a glossy finish but the tactility of the paper is often more important than the intensity of the colour for these types of businesses.
Recycled Or Kraft Stock
Recycled or Kraft card is a great choice for eco-friendly businesses, an allotment-to-table food business or anyone who conveys sustainability in their work. When it comes to recyclability, uncoated stock (including plain uncoated or Kraft) is far better than laminated card with plastic laminate or foil. Mixed materials are difficult to recycle and often end up in the bin. See how plastic-laminated items affect recycling for more information from the body that sets out UK resource and recycling policy for businesses.
Matching The Finish To The Job
Most businesses select a business card print finish based on the following factors: The business card print finish that will get the most use; The conditions in which the printed business cards will be left; and The cost per unit of each business card print finish. For example, Matte finish business cards are printed on uncoated stock and are ideal for people who work in humid environments such as in a van or in a wallet. Gloss laminate business cards are printed on coated stock and are ideal for businesses that need to distribute large quantities of business cards. Soft-Touch laminate business cards are printed on coated stock and are ideal for businesses that want to give their business cards a premium feel. For example, photography businesses and upmarket designers. The cost of Soft-Touch laminate business cards is greater than Matte or Gloss laminate business cards, but this extra cost provides a premium finish that is impressive to recipients. For information on business card printing standards for printed business cards, please look at the UK print industry standards for business card printing such as printed business cards made from recycled paper. For advice on printed business cards and setting up a small business, please refer to GOV.UK.
Whatever finish you choose it’s always worth asking your printer to supply you with a physical sample of the finished article before you place an order for a full print run. Hold it in your hand and test it out as you would use it – in a pocket, in a wallet, on a counter etc. and you’ll get a much better feel for it than you would from looking at a photo of a printed sample on a screen. For Business Cards Gloucester it’s always worth asking local printers for physical samples of finished prints.
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