Color Business CardsThe advent of quick and easy full color business card printing has proven to be one of the great equalizers of the Internet. In the old days, full color business cards were strictly for the big city, deep pocketed crowd. These days, anyone can sport a flashy color business card, no matter the location, budget, or graphic design skills. The first article I wrote on color business card printing--way back in June 2004--garnered a significant amount of interest. So I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the topic and dig a little deeper. This time out, I've done a bit of research on the major players in the online color business card printing business. I've put together a comparison chart that shows the considerable differences in pricing (and other factors) between the vendors. If you're thinking about getting some new business cards printed, it's a must read. There's a good number of variables when it comes to buying printing, with the foremost being quantity. For the sake of simplicity, the chart only shows the prices for an order of 1000 color business cards. Ordering a larger quantity will result in a lower cost for each card, as the economics of scale come into play. Conversely, orders of less than 1000 cards will result in a higher cost per card. How much color do you want? 4/0 = full color on the front, with a blank back, while 4/4 = full color, front and back. Paper stock is the next variable. The smaller the pt. number, the thinner the card. It's always nice to have some heft to a business card. While 14 pt. stock will feel more substantial than 12. pt stock., an aqueous coating (or varnish) will add weight to any card. It's always a good idea to get a proof of your job before it goes to print. Many vendors will provide the first electronic Acrobat PDF proof free of charge. If you make changes, your costs will go up. And if you need a printed proof, you can expect to pay for it on small print runs. Turnaround time can make a huge difference in price. Generally speaking, the faster you need your cards, the more you'll pay. Some printers are set up for fast turnaround from the git-go, so keep that in mind as you price out your jobs.
Color Business Card Printer Comparison Chart (updated 10/4/07)
Color Business Card Printing Basics
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