At Creative Pixel Agency we believe that the design of a business card should represent your company, what it has achieved and what it stands for as a brand. When designing cards, we focus on typography and the use of secondary elements whilst utilising a simple colour palette.

Business card processes and finishes

Litho Printed business cards

Offset lithographic printing creates clear, sharp images and text on a variety of materials. Litho printing is the most cost effective method to produce a long print run. It is also possible to print on a wide range of material weights and textures than with digital printing, as the ink often ‘sits’ better on the page. Litho printing can accurately reproduce the entire spectrum of Pantone® spot colours. The only real draw back of litho printing is the set up cost to create the plates and get the job ready on press, so for smaller print runs there will be a point at which digital printing becomes more cost effective.

Matt Lamination

Perhaps the most popular finishing option available. Matt Lamination is a process in which a thin transparent plastic film is applied to the surface of card packaging. This gives the packaging even more rigidity, making it not only highly durable but making the treated surfaces water resistant too. Matt Lamination also has the added benefit of giving the finished surface a soft “satin” finish that is really smooth to the touch.

Gloss Lamination

Similar in technique to Matt Lamination but with a different finish, Gloss lamination gives our printed card packaging a shiny covering by applying a thin transparent plastic film to the surface of card. This gives the card even more rigidity, making it not only highly durable but also adds a certain level of water resistance.

Hot foil business cards

Hot foil printers or hot stamping machines have long been used to add something to printed products that no other printing process can – shiny gold, silver and other metallic colours can be achieved. However, nowadays hot stamping foils are available in a wide spectrum of finishes and many special effect foils, gloss foils and others finishes are now available in addition to the more traditional gold and silver finishes.

Embossed business cards

Embossing creates raised areas by stamping them into the paper. This technique is commonly used to raise titles or logos but can also be used on its own to stunning effect. This process is a great ways to give your packaging a tactile contrast and eye-catching finish, especially when used in conjunction with metallic inks or hot foiling! Our embossed business cards have raised up or impressed patterns or designs printed onto background card. Embossing creates a premium feel to your business cards and well-designed embossed business cards creates a physical memory which makes them a memorable talking point. There is a great example of this below. Additionally, for that special creative flair, you may want to consider foiled business cards, or a UV coating.

Spot UV Varnish

A glossy stock card has a type of coating, that gives it a shiny finish which reflects bright colors more effectively. This type of stock paper is better used on a business cards that has pictures and images. The glossy finish helps to project the images on the business card, so it is advised that the images on the business should project more information about the company. One good advantage of this kind of stock card is that , the glossy finish protects the card, and makes it last longer. while the con of this type of stock card is that, you can’t write on top of the card, it wouldn’t reflect.

Pantone and Metallic Inks

allows for an amazing metallic shine. This finish is accomplished by actually putting metallic particles in the ink so they reflect light in a way that is not possible with regular inks. Metallic printing is a great way to enhance the final print of both your disc and packaging – and you are not just limited to silver and gold – simply choose an ink from the Pantone Metallic Library. Note: If you are after a more mirror-like metallic finish for your packaging, consider using Hot Foil Stamping instead.

Different types of Business card Stock

Matt card stock

This type of card stock has a silky and smooth type of surface. But is not as shiny as the Glossy card stock. Matte cards come in different ranges of colors but the most popular is the white color. The advantage is that, you can easily write on top of the card, in case the company.

Textured Card stock

This comes in both the Glossy and matte card stocks. This type of card stock makes a business card unique and stand out. The textured stock cards, have patterns impressed into them, which gives it, it’s unique form. The glossy textured card stock has the same advantage as the normal glossy card stock, it has a shiny finish that protects it, and makes it last longer. While the matte textured card stock can be written on.

Specialist paper stocks

At Creative Pixel Agency we have access to many specialist paper suppliers who offer a myriad of colour palettes, weights, paper finished and textures.