By: Brad Kartel
Submitted: 2010-10-20 20:27:01 | Word Count: 583
Are you running out of print business cards? Why don’t you make your own or get these print materials online?
Gone are the days when you still have to hire a graphic designer to create a design template. You need not to go to the nearest local printer, too, to produce your print materials. In the comfort of your own home and through your personal computer as well as inkjet printer, you can print business cards on the fly. Print business cards can be easy to make. In no time, you can finish these print business cards. If you have a background in publications design, you are more or less familiar with the procedure. Here are some guidelines you need to read to familiarize yourself with the process:
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- Prepare the needed materials. These include your paper stock and of course, your ink type. You may have any paper stock at home. Use one that is quite heavy-weight, so it can resist wear and tear. You may also want to choose between paper stocks that has matte or glossy finish. For the ink type, you need to base this on the printing results – black and white or colored.
- Choose the design software or computer application you need. You may want to go for Microsoft Publisher which is preferred by design beginners. This has a selection of pre-designed templates, so if you wish to just do the editing, you can use any of the available print business cards. If you wish to make designs from scratch, open a new document. You can also use Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Corel Draw, among other similar applications.
- You may want to gather all the design elements you are going to use. For example, you may want to download specific font styles, images, or illustrations for your business cards. Brushes and patterns are great design elements, so you may also have these on your disposal. You may also want to include your profile picture which should be a recent one. Place all these in your computer for easy access.
- It pays to have a plan when making your own business cards or any publication design, for that matter. Before you even open a blank new document, make sure that you already have a design theme in mind. You can start by working with your colleagues or employees. You may want to get their design suggestions or recommendations.
- Using the design software, open a document and set your specifications. There are standards sizes for print business cards. Use these when making your design template. Divide your document accordingly. One paper stock can contain eight or more print business cards. Do not forget to include allowances on your document.
- Print a sample of your business card, and check the print result for errors. on paper you may find crucial mistakes that need to be ironed out before you print en masse. For example, there may be flaws in bordering or formatting. Make the necessary revisions. Do not forget to save a file before you send your design template to the printer.
- After printing, gather all your document pages that contain your print business cards. Cut these print business cards evenly. You may want to make use of a slicer, so that the edges are cut straight.
Author Resource:-
Brad Kartel is a marketing executive whose passion is helping business owners build their image through print business cards that suit their needs.
