Recognizing quality printing. There are certain things to look for in a
business cards that denotes quality printing. Whether ordering business cards
for yourself, or looking at someone else’s business cards, a trained eye will
tell if the business card was printed or designed using proven quality printing
practices.

Type of Printing Process. Depending on the type of business card, the
actual printing process used varies.
Full color business cards are gaining in
popularity and are the number one choice for business cards. Full color business
cards use printing presses or printing press and full bleed methods that
transfer the entire image to the business cards and then trims of the edges to
ensure that the entire card has proper ink coverage. Printing companies should
use the four color CMYK printing process which is used for most magazine
printings that can precisely match a broad spectrum of colors.

Type of Paper. Paper is measured in different ways, depending on type of
paper and thickness. Most business cards are printed onto card stock, which is a
very thick paper measured by a point system, where 12pt. cardstock is 0.012
inches thick. Standard business cards are 10pt. thickness, though 12pt. provides
a thicker finished product. Paper is also measured by weight by0020number
system, where 80# represents paper that weighs 80 pounds in a 500 count bundle.
Paper weight is also classified by cover or text, where cover paper is heavier
than text, so that 80# cover paper is heavier than 100# text paper. 65# paper is
considerably lighter and a good choice for less expensive business cards.

Type of Finish. Paper is available in a number of finishes, depending on
personal preference, as well as cost difference. Some finishes include linen,
Parchtint, treasure, and leatherette. Linen and leatherette are textured
finishes that produce a linen or leather looking appearance. Parchtint gives
paper a parchment appearance with lighter and darker areas. Treasure or treasure
cote is a glossy finish. Vellum is another textured finish that gives paper a
slightly rough appearance. Most finishes are produced only on one side of the
paper and is symbolized by “C1S”, or coating one side.

Type of Coating. Coating added to the finished printed product protects
the card from the elements to make it a longer lasting quality product. It is
perfect for full color business cards that may succumb to fading or scratching.
Look for UV coating, as most printing companies offer the service free of charge
as a method to ensure longevity of the product.

Request Samples. Are you still not sure about the finished product?
Request a product sample, which most business card printing companies are happy
to provide without a fee. Product samples can help you decide the thickness of
paper and finish of paper, as well as careful inspection of full color or raised
ink printing products.

Review these terms and process when ordering business cards, or use them as a
standard to review business cards of others. Business cards are a representation
of the person as well as the business, and without
quality printing, what does
that say about their services?

Angela Oliver is a contributing author for BusinessCardsPrinting.biz, providing a custom online design system for business cards and business printing. BusinessCardsPrinting.biz has numerous designs, printing options, and graphic design help to create professional, customized business cards.

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com