- A business card is a device to impart information,
but it can be so much more than that.
A stellar card will represent the brand
without a person present, communicate the brand message,
and drive traffic to the website.
In today's design savvy world,
even state accounting and law firms
now recognize the use of a unique business card.
I consider a specialty business card
to take advantage of printing or finishing techniques
beyond a one-sided traditional card.
It's like the Cadillac with all the options
compared to a good solid Chevy.
Fortunately, you can design a card
with many possible techniques and special effects,
such as foils, die-cutting, engraving,
letterpress, printing on both sides of the card,
oversized cards and folded cards.
On one of their card options,
moo.com added a chip that can transmit information
to your mobile device.
One of these can add that extra zing on a card.
Using all the unique printing options at once, however,
is not a particularly good idea.
That can be a little too much frosting on the cake.
Here are some examples of these processes.
A foil is just what it sounds like,
a piece of metallic or colored material
stamped onto the business card.
The foil creates an actual metallic color
or high gloss effect that ink printing can't.
Die-cutting or laser cutting can be applied
to the overall shape of the card to create a unique form,
or use the process to cut out forms on the inside of a card.
Engraving is a technique that uses metal plates
and pressure to print typography or images.
It's an excellent way to print opaque white
onto a colored paper.
Letterpress printing is the process that combines
individual metal letters and ink to create an impression.
The typography feels debossed into the paper
and the blind emboss creates a three-dimensional form
on the card surface by pressing a plate into the card.
Printing on both sides of the card opens the options
to add information, patterns, or images.
Oversized cards can feel luxurious and unique,
but can prove unwieldy if they are too large.
And folded cards are helpful
when there is a large amount of information
and you need four sides of a card.
Used the wrong way, these techniques can prove
that just because you can do something
doesn't mean you should.
Consider how the client uses a card.
Do they hand them out like crazy or are they stingy?
A specialty card will cost more to produce
than a traditional card.
If the client plans to hand out thousands at a trade show
or leave them on the counter for everyone,
you could be throwing money away.
Save the specialty business card approach
for special situations
and remember to follow the rules of reduction.
In this instance, too much of a good thing is too much.