silk business cards – BlockbusterPrint.com Blog

What are Silk Laminated Business Cards?

Silk laminated business cards, oh my! These are not your average, run-of-the-mill business cards. No, sir! These are the Rolls-Royce of business cards, the crème de la crème, if you will. Imagine you’re at a networking event, you reach into your pocket, and pull out a business card so smooth and glossy, it makes even the Mona Lisa look a little dull.

Now, you might be wondering, “What makes these silk business cards so special?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Here’s what these luxurious little rectangles have to offer:

They are coated with a silky smooth finish, hence the name, which not only feels great but also makes them more durable.
They are tear and water-resistant (because who hasn’t spilt their morning coffee over important contacts, am I right?).
They have a thickness that adds to their premium feel (no flimsy paper that can be crumpled easily!).

So next time you’re out there, trying to make an impression, remember – nothing says “I mean business” like a silk laminated business card! Print silk business cards with BlockbusterPrint.com

High Impact, Low Maintenance: Why It Pays to Invest in Silk Cards

When you compare handing over a business card printed in thin linen cardboard with thick, laminated business cards that have professional-looking print – which do you think will impress customers? The latter, of course. These days, branding is all about image. If a customer perceives your business card as cheap and haphazardly put together, they will equate the same characteristics to your business. On the other hand, if your business cards are luxurious, thick, and professional-looking, customers will be equally impressed with your brand. This is precisely the reason why it pays to invest in silk cards.

Silk Cards are High Impact, Low Maintenance

Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out: Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out:

1. Matte Silk

Matte silk business cards are non-shiny, but the surface retains that silky-smooth finish. If you want something that’s straightforward, this is for you.

2. Foil Stamped

Silk If you want to highlight your company name or logo and you have a bold business card design, foil stamped silk is the way to go. This lamination process uses heat rolling to add red, blue, silver, gold, black, or copper-colored foil on the card. This is great for those who want their business cards to stand out.

3. Silk Spot UV

There’s also the spot UV treatment where a flat layer of gloss is added to specific areas on the card. This could be the border, the brand name, or logo. This is a great choice for business card designs with highly contrasting colors.

Silk cards are usually made from 17-pt. cardstock which has 54% the thickness of a credit card. This feels thick to the hand, while the silky-smooth surface of the laminated paper feels extra luxurious. Another advantage of going for this type of business card is that the lamination process makes the material ten times stronger than non-laminated cards.

All in all, silk business cards high impact – which means that they leave a lasting impression and they’re also low maintenance because of the durability of the material. What more can you ask for from a printed promotional material?

Factors to Consider when Looking for a Business Cards Online Service Provider

There are numerous benefits from ordering business cards online. First, you don’t have to physically go to different printing companies just to order a set of business cards. You can take your pick from the many companies online and process your order through their website. Second, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience. Simply check out the reviews of the printing company you’re considering going with – and do a bit of research. From there, you can easily decide which one to order business cards from.

Just to delve a bit deeper into the process of looking for printing companies, here are a few more things to consider:

The printing process used

Does the company use desktop digital printers or huge printing presses? If it’s quality you are after, it is better to go with offset printing. This uses state-of-the-art printing presses, the process of which is called offset printing. As compared to digital, offset produces more professional-looking results and there are more lamination effects that can be achieved. If you want something that’s luxurious to the touch, for example, the can print silk business cards that have a special laminate. This makes the surface of the card feel like fabric to the touch.

The length of experience that the company has

When taking advantage of any type of service or product, it is a must for you to look at the length of experience that the company has in the business. The longer that they’ve been in existence, the more expertise they’ve gained over the years.

The material used and the printing effect

Of course, you also need to look at the quality of the material and the printing effect applied on the business card. What kind of paper stock is available? How many laminating options and printing effects can you choose from? If you’re looking for soft touch business cards, most printing companies would offer suede and silk variations.

The quality of customer service offered

Finally, make sure that the printing company provides high quality customer service. Since most transactions are purely online, see to it that they are highly responsive to your messages. Make sure that they will send you a digital proof of the business card design, and even offer color suggestions if the grey that you used is too light or too bright for the effect that you want, for example.

Take these things into consideration when looking for a company to print your business cards to get the results that you want.

Business Cards Online: Should I Opt for Suede or Silk when Ordering?

When ordering business cards online, there are several choices that you have to make. For instance, should you go with a standard-sized business card – or something larger or smaller to make your brand stand out? Which paper stock should you use? How about the printing effect? For this, there are over a dozen options to choose from: textured linen, metallic, foil-stamped, brown kraft, suede, ultra-high gloss, black edge with three layers, plastic, spot gloss, and rounded corner.

Here, however, we will focus our attention on two types of soft touch business cards: suede and silk. Why are they called “soft touch” business cards in the first place? Because the printing and laminating effect on the paper stock produces a fabric-like effect that is soft to the touch. If you want to impress the heck out of your customers, you should definitely consider having silk or suede business cards made.

Next, what is the difference between suede and silk business cards? Here’s a quick look:

Suede

The difference between suede and silk, when it comes to business cards printing, is actually very subtle. It all depends on your color palette. When designing your business card, what color is the background and the font? Are there any images or hand-drawn illustrations that you would like to highlight? Suede is perfect for card designs where a deep black is used. When viewed under bright lights, suede reflects less light as compared to silk. As such, business card designs where high-contrast colors are required may opt for that luxurious suede, fabric-like effect.

Silk

Just like the fabric, silk business cards feel smooth and silky to the touch. Both suede and silk cards are finished with a matte laminate after printing to create that fabric-like effect. Silk printing has been around longer than suede, so it has a more classic feel to it. Suede has a richer, velvety texture while silk is a lot sleeker and smoother. Color-wise, silk reflects more light than suede so keep that in mind when using high-contrast hues for the background or font.

As compared to plain, uncoated cards, silk or suede business cards give off that ultra-luxurious vibe. When having cards printed out for your business, you should definitely consider going for these fabric-like textures.

Why It Pays to Invest in Printing High-Quality: Business Cards Online

You will find a lot of companies offering business cards online services, but not all are created equal. Some will offer you cheap packages, especially if you are ordering in bulk. Others provide 24-hour printing services, which is a very fast turnaround time. But quality-wise, how do the cards look? If you want to leave a lasting impression to your customers, you do need to invest in professional-looking business cards.

Are Cheap Business Cards a Bad Idea? Yes!

Sure, you might find printing packages for a set of plastic business cards to be quite affordable or cost-effective. But if they end up looking like a set of cheap business cards, it really is a bad idea. Why? Take a look at these reasons:

It leaves an impression that you don’t care about the customers.

Let’s say that you are participating in a trade show and there’s a booth opposite yours that is offering the same product or services. A participant walks in, visits your booth and that of your direct competitor. The customer will be holding two business cards after learning about what you both have to offer as a business. How does your business card compare with the other company? If you hand over a cheap-looking business card made of thin cardboard and has a barely readable print, you won’t create a good first impression. This customer will naturally choose the better-looking card, because that is what he or she will be impressed with.

It’s a reflection of the quality of your products and services.

When you walk into a beauty salon, you naturally expect the hair and makeup artists to look their best. The same thing applies to business cards, which are a reflection of what you are all about as a brand. If you hand over cheap-looking business cards, they will have an impression that they will receive the same cheap quality from you. On the other hand, if they receive a thick business card that they can ooh and ahh over, they’ll think that you are only offering the best quality product or service.

It’s something that a person can easily forget or worse, throw in the trash!

Business cards are still a must-have in this digital age but if you distribute cheap-looking or forgettable ones, a customer can easily forget about it. Or worse, once they see the poor quality of the print or the paper, they will throw it in the trash the minute your back is turned! To prevent this from happening, make sure to invest in high-quality products like silk business cards or ones made from thick paper grade with high-quality offset print.

You might be saving a lot of money when ordering cheap business cards, but it’s really not worth it if it will leave your customers with an ill or poor impression of your brand.

Printing Business Cards Online? Know When to go for the One- or Two-Sided Option

You have to go through a series of steps if you want to order business cards online. When doing so, you’re already aware that this tiny 3.5” x 2” card is your representation as a business owner – so it has to suit the image that you’d like to project to your target market.

First, you need to look for a good print service provider. It’s recommended that you go for ones that offer offset printing instead of desktop digital printing. The former uses state-of-the-art printing presses, as well as an offset printing method for professional-looking results.

Second, you must come up with the design of the business card. You have very limited space so make the most of it. See to it that the font type and size, colors, logo, and images, if any, all combine to create a coherent whole.

Third, pay attention to the small details that make the card. Choose the material – you can go for plastic business cards or silk business cards which are made from thick cardboard, but are laminated to create a fabric-like effect.

Fourth, decide whether you will use just one or both sides of the business card. Here are a few key points for each option:

Printing on one side

You will save on printing costs if you will go for the one-sided option – and this is actually a popular choice among business owners. From a customer’s perspective, some prefer to receive one-sided business cards so they can write notes on the blank side. If this is your goal, make sure that the blank side of the card is pen-friendly – which means that the finish should not be shiny. Otherwise, clients cannot write notes on it like a brief introduction, the time and date of their next appointment, etc.

Printing on both sides

If you think that one side of the business card is not enough to contain your contact information, you can definitely print on both sides of the card. It may be a bit more expensive but if it will convey more of your marketing message, the extra investment is well worth it in the end. Aside from doubling the available space, you can also use the other side of the business card to make a standout statement. You can print a pattern of your logo on the other side; a small graphic or hand-drawn illustration, or even something like: Write down your next appointment with us on this space: then leave a couple of blank lines. Aside from increased printing costs, two-sided business cards may take a longer time to print – but overall, it is a lot more impressive.

Based on the pros and cons of each, you can make an informed decision about whether a one-sided or two-sided business card will work for your business.

Suede, Foil Stamped, Spot Gloss Business Cards: Which Do You Prefer?

Are you considering ordering spot gloss business cards? This is a type of business card that offer an extra oomph, leaving customers impressed with what you have to offer as a company. By going for something that’s luxurious and extra special, you can easily achieve your marketing objectives.

Take Your Pick from these Luxurious Business Cards

Traditional business cards are sized 3.5” x 2” and are made from thin or thick cardboard material. But if you want to veer away from the traditional, there are many types of luxurious business cards to choose from. Here are a few options:

Suede business cards

Just like silk business cards, suede business cards feel like fabric to the touch. If you want to give your customers a glowing impression of your brand, this is definitely something that you must consider printing for your business. Made with 19-pt. paper, it has 70% the thickness of a credit card. The soft suede effect is achieved by using velvet lamination, something that cannot be done using simple desktop printing. If you want an organic theme for your business card, suede is the way to go.

Foil stamped business cards

Another luxurious business card option is foil-stamped cards. If you’re a lawyer, for example, and you want to impress clients, gold foil business cards is your best bet. Gold, silver, copper, or colored foil is used – not metallic ink – to ensure that a real metallic lustrous effect is achieved for the card. 17-pt. paper stock is used, and it is best to design the card with dark colors in mind to make the metallic glint pop out.

Spot gloss business cards

Finally, there’s the spot gloss business cards. As the name suggests, these are cards which have glossy ink applied only to certain spots on the card. It could be the logo, the name, a box with an image, etc. The combination of matte and glossy ink makes the spot appear raised or embossed for a fully impressive effect.

No matter which among these luxurious business cards you end up ordering, you are bound to leave a lasting impression to your customers because they’re extra special.

A Preview at How Luxurious Spot Gloss Business Cards are Made

There is absolutely nothing wrong when you go with traditional business cards – but why stick with it when you can go for something extra special like spot gloss business cards? Just like

silk business cards and gold foil business cards, spot gloss cards has an extra layer of printing that makes colors pop and the design stand out. Here, we will have a quick preview of how these ultra-specialty business cards are made.

Outlining the Process behind Making Spot Gloss Business Cards

There are many companies specializing in printing business cards, brochures, flyers, rack cards, and similar products. When looking for one, make sure that spot gloss business cards is included in their products list, or you might not achieve the same effect.

Now, here’s a quick preview at how luxurious spot gloss business cards are made:

Offset printing is used, not digital.

Companies that specialize in printing brochures use state-of-the-art printing presses that apply the offset printing process, as well as features like Heidelberg color technology. Although there are cheaper digital printers out there, it is better to go with offset printing if you want superior and professional-looking results.

After the first layer of printing is done, a second layer of glossy printing is applied on specific areas of the card.

The first application of ink on the business card paper has a matte effect. Then, specialized ink to achieve a high-level of gloss is applied – but only on certain areas of the card. If you want to outline an image, the logo, or a specific part of the card, this is where the gloss is applied. The combination of matte and glossy ink raises the part of the card that’s printed in spot gloss, making the colors pop and highlighting the name, logo, or image.

Thick paper stock is used on standard-sized business cards.

Because there are two layers of ink applied, it is best to use thick paper stock for spot gloss business cards. Printing companies recommend using thick 16-pt. or super thick 17-pt. paper. You may also want to place your orders in advance to give the printing company plenty of time to perfectly finish the process.

Indeed, spot business cards are an excellent option if you want your brand name to really stand out.

Get that Super Cool Effect from Spot Gloss Business Cards

If you want to up the ante in representing your brand, why not distribute spot gloss business cards? This is a super cool printing effect that can only be achieved using the offset printing method from companies with state-of-the-art printing presses. If you’re going for something cheaper like digital printing, it might be difficult – if not impossible – to achieve the same luxurious effect.

How is the Spot Gloss Effect Achieved?

Just like gold foil business cards, a specialized printing process is used to achieve the spot gloss effect. As the name implies, gloss is applied to certain parts of the business card. If you have a standard-sized 3.5” x 2” card, for example, a high-gloss layer can be applied to the logo. If the design is black-and-white, gloss can be applied on the white parts of the card to highlight certain aspects of the design. The application of a glossy layer makes the colors pop. Since the rest of the surface has a matte effect, running your fingers through the parts with the glossy layer makes the business card feel extra luxurious. It adds another dimension to the design, making your brand stand out.

Here’s a quick list of other things to remember when ordering spot gloss business cards:

Consider adding gloss to logos, illustrations, a name, or just the parts of the card’s design that you wish to highlight.
The spot gloss effect works best with a thick card stock, so go for thick 16 pt. or super thick 17 pt. paper.
The ‘gloss’ part is a combination of matte and glossy layers, making the area raised – which is something that you need to consider when creating the design. If you want to highlight a name, for example, make sure that it’s in a large font – otherwise, the glossiness of the design might be indistinguishable.
Similar products are silk business cards, silver or gold foil stamped business cards. All these add that extra layer of dimension to otherwise plain contact cards.

All in all, if you want your brand to stand out, you really must consider going with super cool spot gloss business cards.

Is there Still a Need for a Business Cards Print Service Provider?

In today’s business environment, some doubt whether there is still a need to get a business cards print service provider. They might argue that it’s all about videos and social media now – so if your form of advertising is not online, you should not even bother with it. But is this true? Is there no need for traditional print advertising anymore? Not necessarily. There are still numerous benefits to having thick, elegant business cards. Read on to find out what these advantages are.

Why It Still Pays to Print Business Cards

If you want your brand or your name as a professional to be remembered by your customers – existing or prospective – then you definitely need to invest in high-quality business cards. Here are the reasons for doing so:

The ceremony behind handing over a business card harnesses human-to-human connection.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong in maximizing the use of technology. The downside is that real human connection gets lost along the way. This is one of the reasons why it still pays to invest in business cards. There’s almost a ceremony when you hand over a business card to a prospective customer or client. You fish out the card from your wallet or from its container, then carefully hand it over to the other person. There could be a shaking of hands, a smile of acknowledgment, or just a simple nod. These gestures mean that you have established yet another business contact. This makes the recipient of your card less likely to forget about your name or brand.

You can use your business card as a tool to make your brand stand out.

It’s all about image these days, and business cards are a great tool to make your business stand out. Instead of thin linen cards, you can go for laminated, rounded corner business cards. If you want to have something with a more luxurious feel to it, order a set of traditional-sized silk business cards. Combine it with a design that mirrors the image that you’d like to portray as a brand, and you are all good to go in making your brand stand out.

It’s a cheap but still effective form of advertising.

Finally, business cards are an inexpensive but still effective form of print advertising. When you combine it with flyers, brochures, notepads, letterheads, banners, and notepads, you can launch a promotional campaign that will help spread the word about the product or services you’re offering as a business.