When you are planning your company stationery either rebranding or as a small business start-up, the kind of paper you use is one of the first things you should decide on. It will directly influence the design and how the finished product will look.
There are many different types of paper to choose from let alone all the metals and plastics that are now increasing in popularity. The higher the quality of paper, the more professional looking the result. Although they will be more expensive that basic 3pt card, they are well worth the investment as the impression they give will be far better.
The ‘pt’ in 3pt refers to the Board and Point, and is printer speak for the thickness of the card. A good gauge is to use a minimum of 14pt so the card is durable and not flimsy. This is especially true if your card design contains a lot of color. A thicker card will prevent the color seeping through to the other side, which you may experience with thinner card.
My personal favourite is Ivory paper because of its superior quality and finish. It lasts a lot longer and stays tidier than normal card. It is a good way of achieving a classy, quality finish for any company.
Handmade paper is another option for people who like textures. They can be made up of many types of materials such as silk, wool, wood and loads of others. Just about any natural material can be made into paper. The different texture is an ideal way to set yourself apart and offering an in when meeting new people. A textured card is sure to evoke comment.
There is also such a thing as non-tear paper which is also a useful business card material. This is becoming more popular as the cost of materials decreases. It used to be expensive to use, but is now quite reasonable. It is a thin card covered in a light laminate which offers the non-tear capabilities. They are also damp proof and can survive a coffee spill, which is why they are being used more and more.
Art paper is my staple but not my favourite. A good quality business card paper with either a matt or gloss finish. It allows for a lot of design options and can take extra elements like photographs or fine images. It does cost a lot more than standard card but the result is well worth the expense in my opinion. Sitting the same design next to each other, one on standard card, and the other on art paper speaks for itself. There is simply no competition between the two.
Any design, no matter how expensive or beautiful will sink or swim depending on the paper stock it sits on. A good quality paper will transform the card into something to talk about and will exude quality, which is something worth much more to a business than the cost of the cards.
Filed under: Business Cards
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