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Letterpress Business Cards The Letterpress Business Card…
The letterpress Business Card gets noticed, remembered and talked about. My own first experience with my first letterpress business card clued me in to its importance right away. I would present my card to someone and they would ooh and ahh over it and then try to hand it back to me. It took a while for me to figure out what exactly was going on. It turns out that the intended recipients felt the card was too valuable for them to be able to keep! Apparently they believed that a card so fine was to be viewed only and the thing of value returned to its owner. I have had to get in the habit of saying, "here, you can keep this", or, "this is for you" when I give my card out. And the usual response is as a gift has just been given. Design...is high-ended and open. The final "look and feel" of the letterpress business card is of critical importance. The design speaks of the business, and of the owner. A piece of the owners "image" is left in the possession of the interested party. The color scheme is most often a match with the existing corporate colors. The link between the business card colors and the company colors can be made with exacting perfection through precise color-matching formualtion. A "signature", or unique color can be formulated if so desired. Size and proportion...are mostly standardized in this class of card, and the pedestrian format is 2" x 3.5" in either the horizontal or vertical composition. It's best to keep the orientation and size in mind with an eye towards the business card organizer, of which most show cards in the horizontal orientation. But the "standard size" rule can be broken with great flare, and remain to classify as "business". The paper...is thick, with a smooth, but not glossy surface in a light or white color. The edge is cut sharp and clean. Letterpress business cards must "snap" when strained and relieved. The grain of the paper must travel along the long axis of the paper so as to avoid an inward curl upon itself. The text...and the information it contains are geared toward readibility and clarity. Even in business cards, the old adage of, "less is more" still holds true. The web address for contact information is really the only "demographic" lead one needs to include. The emphasis should rather be placed on the individual and the company name. Space is never intentionally left on a business card for writing notes, rather, generous margins lend the "royal" look to the card.
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