This document provides information and guidelines for designing a successful business card. It discusses standard business card sizes, important information to include, design tips, font recommendations, and printing do's and don'ts. Key aspects to focus on include keeping the design simple, using readable fonts, including essential contact details, and following size and layout specifications for clear printing. Technical printing terms are also defined to help with the design and production process.

2. WHAT IS BS CARD?
• A SMALL CARD PRINTED WITH ONE'S NAME, PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION, COMPANY POSITION,
BUSINESS ADDRESS, AND OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION.

3. SOME EXAMPLE…

4. BUSINESS CARD…
LET’S CREATE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CARD

5. SIZE AND SPECIFICATIONS
• US HORIZONTAL BUSINESS CARD
•Standard dimensions: 3.5 x 2 inches
•Bleed size: ⅛ extra (total size inc. bleed
would be 3.75 x 2.25 inches)

6. WHAT INFO TO INCLUDE?
• BUSINESS NAME
• LOGO
• FULL NAME
• TELEPHONE NUMBER
• EMAIL
• WEBSITE

7. REMEMBER:
“SIMPLICITY IS THE ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION”
- Leonardo Da Vinci

8. DESIGN TYPE?
• USING A PRO? THEN INTEGRATE YOUR LOGO AND COLOR SCHEME.
• DOING IT YOURSELF? THEN HARD TO GO WRONG WITH WHITE CARD AND BLACK TEXT.
• “SIMPLICITY IS THE ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION” - LEONARDO DA VINCI

9. CHOOSE YOUR FONTS
• READABILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
• DON’T USE GIMMICKY FONTS

10. DO’S AND DON’TS
• GREAT DESIGN NEVER CAME FROM FOLLOWING RULES. SO, BREAK ‘EM! EXCEPT FOR THESE. THEY’RE
PRETTY IMPORTANT. STICK TO THESE GUIDELINES TO ENSURE YOUR TEXT, IMAGES AND LAYOUT ARE
PERFECT.

11. DO’S
• DO MAKE THE COMPANY NAME/LOGO LARGER THAN 12PT.
• DO OUTLINE FONTS FOR PERMANENT TEXT SUCH AS COMPANY NAME AND SLOGAN.
• DO STRETCH YOUR DESIGN TO THE EDGE OF THE BLEED AREA.
• DO REMOVE ALL TEMPLATE LAYERS SO ONLY YOUR DESIGN IS LEFT WHEN SUBMITTED TO CLIENT.

12. DON’TS
• DON’T USE ANY FONT SIZES SMALLER THAN 8PT.
• DON’T OUTLINE FONTS FOR EDITABLE TEXT SUCH AS CONTACT INFORMATION IN YOUR SOURCE FILES.
• DON’T USE BORDERS BECAUSE THEY’LL PROBABLY LOOK LOPSIDED AFTER PRINTING.
• DON’T SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE DESIGN IN A FILE.

13. THE DICTIONARY OF DESIGN
• CMYK AND RGB... DROIDS FROM STAR WARS, RIGHT? DESIGN LINGO CAN BE A LITTLE TRICKY, BUT WE
CAN TRANSLATE. HERE ARE SOME DESIGN AND PRINTING TERMS YOU’LL NEED TO KNOW.

14. COLOR MODE
HOW COLORS ARE REPRESENTED IN YOUR DESIGN
• CMYK: AN INK-BASED MODE USED IN PRINT.
• RGB: A LIGHT-BASED MODE USED ON-SCREEN.

15. RESOLUTION
THE AMOUNT OF PIXEL DETAIL IN AN IMAGE
• LOW RESOLUTION: FEW PIXELS MAKE THE IMAGE PIXELATED.
• HIGH RESOLUTION: MANY PIXELS MAKE THE IMAGE SHARP.

16. PRINT GUIDELINES
• TRIM LINE: WHERE THE PRINTER WILL CUT YOUR IMAGE.
• BLEED: THE AREA BEYOND THE TRIM LINE THAT EXTENDS PRINTING TO THE EDGE.
• SAFETY LINE: THE BORDER THAT CONTAINS ALL PRINTABLE TEXT.

17. VISIBLE

18. SHAPE AND ORIENTATION
HOW YOUR DESIGN PHYSICALLY APPEARS
• HORIZONTAL: SHORT, WIDE, AND LANDSCAPE-STYLE. THE CLASSIC CARD.
• VERTICAL: TALL, SKINNY, AND PORTRAIT-STYLE. TURNING NORMAL ON ITS SIDE.
• FOLDING: RECTANGULAR WITH A CREASE. STANDARD BUT STAND-OUT.
• DIE-CUT: ANY SIZE, ANY SHAPE. A BOLD WAY TO GO BEYOND BASIC.

19. VISIBLE

20. PRINTING TECHNIQUES
• 4-COLOR OFFSET: THE STANDARD, FULL COLOR PRINTING PROCESS.
• 1- OR 2-COLOR: LIMITED COLOR FOR LIMITED BUDGETS.
• FOIL INK: SPECIALTY PROCESS THAT USES METALLIC FOIL RATHER THAN INK.
• SPOT COLOR: COLOR GENERATED BY AN INK (PURE OR MIXED) PRINTED USING A SINGLE RUN.

21. LEARN MORE…