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japhyryder · 12-30-2004, 11:31 AM

I own a major franchise printshop and I will give you my advice for cards.

Couple things,
First you have to decide how much you want to spend.
Copying is the cheapest (Kinko's, Office Max)
Thermography (Raised) is the next cheapest (mom & pop printshops, Sir Speedy, Alphagraphics)
Flat printing can be the most expensive but is the most professional. You also have the most choices.

Second, your design dictates how you produce your cards.
If it is just B&W with some text you can take it about anywhere and have them run them on there copier
If it is two or less colors you can use 'Raised' printing to get you a quality card at a reasonable price (you need to stick to standard colors to keep you cost down)
If it has full color pictures, graphics, or 3 or more colors you have 2 options, you can run them on a color copier and get a decent looking card at an affordable price or you can send them to a broker printer, for about 100 dollars
If you are looking for the cream of the crop on great paper talk to your local printer about paper and colors and see what kind of creative ideas they have.

Third I always think business cards printed on someones little home printer with perfed edges look like crap, when I have a sales rep come in with something like that I give him 15 seconds and tell him no thanks, it is unprofessional.

Fourth the current trend is thick paper 100 lb or more, only certain places will carry that type of stock and it will not go through any home printer. Even most commercial copyshops can't run that type of stock through their printer.

Let me know if you have anymore questions, PM me I might be able to help you.

12-30-2004, 11:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
japhyryder no one special Location: Charlotte, NC	I own a major franchise printshop and I will give you my advice for cards. Couple things, First you have to decide how much you want to spend. Copying is the cheapest (Kinko's, Office Max) Thermography (Raised) is the next cheapest (mom & pop printshops, Sir Speedy, Alphagraphics) Flat printing can be the most expensive but is the most professional. You also have the most choices. Second, your design dictates how you produce your cards. If it is just B&W with some text you can take it about anywhere and have them run them on there copier If it is two or less colors you can use 'Raised' printing to get you a quality card at a reasonable price (you need to stick to standard colors to keep you cost down) If it has full color pictures, graphics, or 3 or more colors you have 2 options, you can run them on a color copier and get a decent looking card at an affordable price or you can send them to a broker printer, for about 100 dollars If you are looking for the cream of the crop on great paper talk to your local printer about paper and colors and see what kind of creative ideas they have. Third I always think business cards printed on someones little home printer with perfed edges look like crap, when I have a sales rep come in with something like that I give him 15 seconds and tell him no thanks, it is unprofessional. Fourth the current trend is thick paper 100 lb or more, only certain places will carry that type of stock and it will not go through any home printer. Even most commercial copyshops can't run that type of stock through their printer. Let me know if you have anymore questions, PM me I might be able to help you. __________________ It's only entertainment, someone's sick idea of a joke.