Business cards are essential tools for making professional connections and staying in touch with potential customers. They’re also widely accepted as effective promotional items – but which techniques are the most popular? In this guide, we’ll cover the five most popular printing techniques used to create business cards and the pros and cons of each approach, plus we’ll look at some examples to help you decide which technique might be best for your business card design!
Printing Options
(1) Die-Cut, (2) Embossing, (3) Foil Stamping, (4) Full Color / Digital, and (5) Spot UV. No matter which option you choose having a solid understanding of your design, budget and target audience will help ensure that you walk away with not only custom business cards that look great but also ones that effectively represent your brand. We’ll dive into each printing technique below to give you an idea of what to expect when it comes to cost, turnaround time and print quality.
Flat, digital printing
Flat digital printing is one of a handful of newer printing techniques that takes advantage of UV-reactive inks and flatbed printers. Digital flat printing is quicker, cheaper, and more eco-friendly than other options. Since it doesn’t require many solvents or chemicals during production. Businesses are choosing flat digital printing service for their short-run business cards. Because it delivers excellent color quality in small batches at relatively low cost. And because there’s no need to use paper stock, it also helps businesses save on paper costs. Since these can be printed on thin plastic. They are especially popular with companies looking to make credit card-sized business cards.
Spot UV printing
This technique, sometimes called flash printing or exposure printing. Uses a combination of ultraviolet light and resin-coated cards to expose pre-printed patterns onto blank cards. Varnishes, foils and inks are all used during printing. Spot UV creates a unique finish that doesn’t compete with your card design, adding visual interest without dominating it. Spot UV is most often used on basic business cards but can be an excellent tool for more elaborate designs as well.
Foil stamping
This is one of, if not, The most popular printing techniques in business card printing. The reason for its popularity is that it produces a very high-quality and professional appearance. A foil stamping machine works by stamping an ink-filled pad onto your business card design and removing portions of that pad to reveal metallic foil or color underneath. Because of how difficult it is to create these stamps. Foil stamping can only be produced using an offset printing process with strict controls on which inks can be used.
Embossing
Sometimes called debossing, embossing adds depth and a three-dimensional effect to cards. After printing on standard flat stock, embossed cards are handled or run through a machine that literally pushes or presses designs into either side of your business card. The machines can also deboss by pushing designs out of flat stock with a special wheel (usually) and gives it more dimension. These types of cards tend to be very expensive, but if you’re looking for something unique, they’re an option.
