Which type of printing gives the best quality?

Hi,

I am new to printing and am considering getting some good quality business cards printed, but there are so many types of printing methods and so many online companies that provide printing services, can anyone recommend a good website where I can design my own Business Cards at a competitive price?

I am based in London so anyone one that can deliver to me would be great!

Thanks in advance.
Jdat

 

In terms of print method - what do you want the card to look like? Do you want raised type? Full color? High Gloss or flat, or gloss effects? Special texture stock? Foil stamping?

As far as an online business card designer, I've yet to see one that offers the flexibility that a design tool like indesign, illustrator, or coreldaw provides, but it all depends on what you're going for...

 

Hi Jeff,

Many thanks for your response,

I am looking to create a full colour business card which has a matt look, no raised text, ideally I don't want a thin card that bends so easily. So it should be quite think.

I'll continue searching the web for an online site that will let me design my Business Cards online.

Many thanks,
J

 

Hi Jdat

I have used a number of online companies and would highly recommend the following:

www.cardsmadeeasy.com

They are very good, their prices are competitive, but it's the quality of their cards and customer service that sets them apart from the rest.

They also deliver worldwide.

Happy Printing!

 

How about the lifespan of the card? Imagine you keep the card in a wallet, which card would last longer (be readable and have a nice look): inkjet printed or laser printed?

 

I'd go for press printed and coated ideally. But I think either laser or inkjet can be good or bad. Inkjet depends on the ink and stock whether it's very durable or smudges off with force or bleeds with time and moisture, etc. With lasers and heavy stock I've seen some that aren't fixed well enough by the fuser on the heavy stock and so rub off especially in rich black areas for example where you have the thickest toner stack to fuse.

 

Best quality? Litho printed with matt lamination - but you must provide or commission professional level artwork. That means NO clipart.

 

NO GLOSSY ON THE INKJET ... IT MAKES A BIG MESS....



you know...I really do like old fashioned press printed/coated....
very classy... look

 

You obviously want to send you business into the toilet. Design on a website man dont be tight

This is simple many people don't get it.

Good design and good print quality will get you a little bit of business and retain your current customers.

Bad designs and bad print quality will insure you get NO business and guarantee you will loose you customers.

This is your image your business you might as well print it onto a napkin. Do you where tracksuit pants and a tanktop to a business meeting this is the image you are projecting.

 

Guru isn't wrong - off the shelf template built business cards just scream 'amateur'. Is that the image you want to project?

How much will a professional designer charge? Usually anything they can get away with - our company charges 15.00 to 50.00 depending on accuracy of design brief and how much work we do on the project.

 

i think that now with the introdution of digital presses and copiers, small full colour runs are easier on these machines, we however still print business cards and flyers litho, obviously you pay more, but we have a select group of clients that would rather pay the extra for classy looking stationery. I think people are getting a bit lazy now (no offence) and wont litho 1000 full colour biz cards that would take a days work from scratch that can be done on a digi machine i n 2 mins.. But there is a market for it and as said these certain people do pay for it.