[willed]

Now don't worry, I'm not going to ask you guys to volunteer to do my business card for me - you ought to get paid for that. What I do ask is some advice on making my own. There is quite a discount at the local printers if you make your own design, and I've got a copy of Photoshop, so I thought I ought to give it a shot.

Problems
I've used PS for photos before, but not design work. My main problem is with the resolution. I want to include a pic of myself. It's at perfectly alright resolution, but when I shrink it down to business card width, the quality goes to crap. I realise it's not going to be as good as full size, but I don't think this will print out at all well:


Also notice the text looks bad. How can I make it look sharp? Shall I do the whole thing at 5x actual size and leave the shrinking to the printer?

I would also like the pic to fade to white around the edges. Any tips on how to do that?

Thanks for any help.


Mods - this thread is here as it is not really about PS as such, so I don't think it needs to be in the Apps forum. If you disagree, feel free to move it.

[Goldfinger]

Firsly your document is probably set at 72 dpi instead of 300 dpi like it should. Secondly you're zoomed in at 200%.

[tooki]

Photoshop really isn't the right program for this -- it's a photo editing app, not a layout app.


But yeah, it looks like you are using a much too low resolution.

tooki

[nonhuman]

Keep in mind that a full color image is going to really drive up the price. My business card also includes a picture, and we do it in greyscale without a background. The only color is in our logo (which is a single shade of blue) and then a few details in that same blue.

[James L]

Goldfinger nailed it....

Things will always look pixelated when you zoom in past 100% as you have done in this image! What does it look like at actual size (100% view)?

Now, what resolution are you working at? When you open up a new file in Photoshop the default resolution is 72 pixels per inch. While that is fine for web work, you really should be much higher for print... such as the suggested 300ppi.

Good luck!

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by tooki

Photoshop really isn't the right program for this -- it's a photo editing app, not a layout app.


But yeah, it looks like you are using a much too low resolution.

tooki

I use it all the time for business cards, it is fine for it.

At any rate make sure you set it to 300 DLI

[Kevin]

I think we should debate the merits of bone, eggshell, and off-white.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I use it all the time for business cards, it is fine for it.

At any rate make sure you set it to 300 DLI

My first graphics job in the early 90s was making business cards for a printing shop.

I used mostly Quark for the job. I can't really see using Photoshop for such things.. .or why one would want to. Other than they know Photoshop and don't know Quark, Indesign, Illustrator etc.

[tooki]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I use it all the time for business cards, it is fine for it.

You can do it, but it's not the right program.

tooki

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by tooki

You can do it, but it's not the right program.

tooki

Quark isn't either most of the time. Sure you can make the fancy graphics in Photoshop, import it into quark and export it, then make a PDF of it.

Or, just do the whole thing in Photoshop and send a PDF.

What would the downside be to that?

[Kr0nos]

Do NOT use a picture on a business card! As others have already pointed out, it will only drive up the price, and it really won't help in accomplishing what you are trying to do.

If money isn't an issue, go for a different, maybe upscale, type of material (i.e. white plastic, to go with an Apple/Mac like theme), or some nice quality paper...rounded corners.

Also, if you have Freehand or InDesign, use any one of those apps to do your layout work, as the type will be "easier to process"for the people who will actually print your cards.

My 2ç

[isao bered]

i've designed quite a few business cards over the years - small quantity custom stuff that i print myself for folks who'll only require a small number of cards. given the quality of printers and papers now available you can produce some outstanding (and unique) results making them yourself.

as goldfinger said, work at a minimum of 300 dpi for any renderings or effects. also, work at the size you are going to print - don't scale down upon completion just zoom your screen to work if necessary.

fading the photo edges can be accomplished using a simple transparency mask. i use programs other than photoshop, so i can't give you the step-by-step for it. however, it should be something as simple as selecting the image an applying (adjusting the area and intensity to suit you) a square, rectangular, oval or round mask.

while you may do the photo finishing for the image in photoshop, tooki is correct in suggesting a "layout app" for the actual work of producing the final product for the card. which application you use *may* be dictated by the type of file the printer requires, but many programs save into common formats. personally, i use the program canvas (does a lot of things very well for a reasonable price), but you can probably download some cheap software (or possibly free trials of the expensive stuff) that will help you layout and save the card more easily than photoshop will.

if you would like further help either pm or email me at laeth_isao_bered@mac.com

be well.

laeth

[KeriVit]

You can get 500 full color cards digitally printed for about $55, so that's not too bad. But I advise working in CMYK at 300 dpi as other have mentioned... REPEAT... DON'T change your file- start with a new doc at 300 dpi.

[tooki]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Quark isn't either most of the time. Sure you can make the fancy graphics in Photoshop, import it into quark and export it, then make a PDF of it.

Or, just do the whole thing in Photoshop and send a PDF.

What would the downside be to that?

The downsides are a) lack of proper typography controls, and b) the fact that with default settings, the text gets antialiased, which is really bad for printed matter. (I've seen blurry antialiased text in print more and more since it became the Photoshop default rendering mode.)

And finally, for offset-printed matter, you want a text resolution of 1200dpi or higher. Why create a huge 1270dpi bitmap (which can't be tweaked to the needs of the printing process) when you can create a vector file that'll print text at 2540dpi and simultaneously be a smaller file?

tooki

[stevesnj]

I do custom cards and since most print digital 4over there is no price increase from using a photo or not. Wherever you go you must ask for the layout specs for bleeds. This is a crucial step so the cards will be cut properly. As for your jagged edges you need to set the correct resolution and put your images in first then your text. Your text usually must be converted to outlines (usually done in Illustrator). A tip for a better card, always get the UV coated for your cards if you do images on the card. Get the specs from the printer they usually give you a setup templet (at least the good printers do) and ask what type of printer they will use, RGB or 4 color and then you will have to design your card to the printer it will be printed on. 3 color is usually junk in my opinion. digital is faster turn around and better color saturation/output. Hope this helps.

Steve

[rozwado1]

What are the business cards for anyway? The one in the OP looks like something you'd hand out to a drunk girl at a bar...

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Kr0nos

Do NOT use a picture on a business card!

Correct answer.

Whenever I see a business card (or any other business literature) with someone's pic on it I automatically think "what a smarmy t***, putting his pic on it like that". And then proceed to throw it into the bin.

Don't do it.

However, I suspect that part of the reason you're actually having this card is so chicks will remember who you are after you've chatted them up and asked them to phone you. In which case it's perfectly acceptable. But put a tie on, you hippie!

[CMYKid]

DItto the assery of using photosop for page layout...I've wasted countless hours trying to break young designers of the terrible habit.

Anyway, whenever I see a photo on a business card I just think realtor.

[RobOnTheCape]

I use business card composer, save as a pdf, and then email to the printing shop. Couldn't be simpler.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Quark isn't either most of the time. Sure you can make the fancy graphics in Photoshop, import it into quark and export it, then make a PDF of it.

I do said graphics in Illustrator. Photoshop isn't really the best for such things. Having vector work for print, esp business cards, it comes out MUCH better, and sharper.

Can you not tell the difference in say a logo designed in Photoshop, and one in a vector image program? I sure can. For one the type will be clealer.

Photoshop isn't meant for such things. No one is arguing that it can't be USED for such things. But the results aren't as good. IMHO.

Such practices as designing layouts and such in Photoshop is usually only practiced by the un-experienced or those clueless as to why you shouldn't use Photoshop.

[willed]

Wow, thanks for the replies guys, comprehensive stuff. In answer to questions/comments: colour isn't going to break the bank - I've checked the prices and know what I can afford. The company accepts PS documents too, and I don't own a copy of Quark/InDesign etc so using them is out.

Originally Posted by Doofy

Correct answer.

Whenever I see a business card (or any other business literature) with someone's pic on it I automatically think "what a smarmy t***, putting his pic on it like that". And then proceed to throw it into the bin.

Don't do it.

However, I suspect that part of the reason you're actually having this card is so chicks will remember who you are after you've chatted them up and asked them to phone you. In which case it's perfectly acceptable. But put a tie on, you hippie!

In general I agree with you about pics on business cards, and have been wondering whether or not to include one. However, I am a professional tenor, and regardless of what people might say, how you look tends to have a direct bearing on how often you get hired. If I send this card out, people get some idea of what they're going to get at their concert/wedding. I'd be interested on more opinions on this though, as I'm also currently doing some freelance journalism... Maybe I should find a shot with a tie on!

Thanks for all the input!

Will

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Correct answer.

Whenever I see a business card (or any other business literature) with someone's pic on it I automatically think "what a smarmy t***, putting his pic on it like that". And then proceed to throw it into the bin.

Don't do it.

However, I suspect that part of the reason you're actually having this card is so chicks will remember who you are after you've chatted them up and asked them to phone you. In which case it's perfectly acceptable. But put a tie on, you hippie!

My company puts pictures on the cards, and we now have offices in 16 countries and are doing very well.

It depends on the business you're in.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by willed

In general I agree with you about pics on business cards, and have been wondering whether or not to include one. However, I am a professional tenor, and regardless of what people might say, how you look tends to have a direct bearing on how often you get hired. If I send this card out, people get some idea of what they're going to get at their concert/wedding.

Right, stick one on in that case then.

[Kr0nos]

Originally Posted by willed

If I send this card out, people get some idea of what they're going to get at their concert/wedding.

I'd send the business card and a nice (maybe b&w, coated) medium size photo of yourself. That way people won't get a headache trying to look at the tiny picture on your card.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by nonhuman

My company puts pictures on the cards, and we now have offices in 16 countries and are doing very well.

It depends on the business you're in.

Only to a certain extent. There's many more factors involved. As an example, there's a company here called "Viking Direct" where the chairman has his pic on literally every page of the catalogue (i.e. holding up a product in front of his big cheesy grin). This puts me off. The only reason I do business with them is the fact that their prices tend to be ridiculously low - if the prices were the same as everyone else's I'd be doing business with a company which didn't have pics of the owners everywhere.

In general business, every time I see a pic of the owner on literature I think "used car salesman".

If Willed is a tenor though, it's probably a good idea to have a pic on there.

[stevesnj]

willed, i sent a PM to you... stevesnj

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Only to a certain extent. There's many more factors involved. As an example, there's a company here called "Viking Direct" where the chairman has his pic on literally every page of the catalogue (i.e. holding up a product in front of his big cheesy grin). This puts me off. The only reason I do business with them is the fact that their prices tend to be ridiculously low - if the prices were the same as everyone else's I'd be doing business with a company which didn't have pics of the owners everywhere.

In general business, every time I see a pic of the owner on literature I think "used car salesman".

If Willed is a tenor though, it's probably a good idea to have a pic on there.

It definitely has to be tastefully done, that's for sure. Part of the reason we do it is that, as a PR firm, we definitely want people to be able to remember who we are even if we just bumped into them at a networking event or something. And it's just a small, greyscale, professional looking headshot. I actually kinda like it, although it did seem a little odd at first.

[euchomai]

I've been using www.dpgink.com for our cards. Double sided, full color, coated and printed to the edge. 1500 for about $65 with shipping. Works out great for us and we use them for everything from actual business cards, to advertising cards.

[E's Lil Theorem]

Ooh, I'm glad I read this thread. Lots of good stuff to keep in mind as I redesign the new SexyTummy.com "business" card. As you can see below, the current one isn't much of anything, though it does the job just fine