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You are currently browsing the Business Cards category: | Questions and Answers | | Q. How should I prepare artwork for my business cards? | A. If you are producing your own design, we can accept artwork via email, or on disk (see our accepted programmes) or alternatively you can post a previously printed example for us to reset. In all cases a free proof is available before printing commences.
If you are supplying a tiff file for your business cards, and you want the printing to bleed (ie you want the ink to go right to the edge of the card) please follow the instructions below:
Set the image to a size of 91mm x 61mm (which is 85 x 55 plus 3mm bleed all around).
Ensure there are no critical items in or within 3mm of the bleed area (as they may be cut off or cut into).
Make sure the file has a resolution of 300 dpi at the new size.
Please read our print-ready artwork instructions for more detailed advice on preparing artwork.
Another option, if you wish to buy business cards, is our online business card designer. This allows you to create your own design instantly on the website by choosing an online template and personalising it.
| | Q. How do I place an order for Business Card printing if I am providing my own artwork? | A. To place your order, please select the "business cards" option from the bar at the left hand side of the page. This will bring up a table of prices for different business card combinations. Click the price of the combination you are interested in, for example 1000 business cards printed in two colours, and a box opens giving more detailed price options and turnaround times. When you have selected the option you require click the "order now" button to add the product to your shopping basket. Further products can be added in the same way. Press "continue" to proceed through the order screens, and create an account by clicking on the "new customer" option.
The "new customer" screen will allow you to enter your invoicing and delivery address details, following which you can specify your credit card or other payment information (using our secure server).
A final confirmation screen appears at the end of the ordering process which you can save or print for your records. ****Please make sure**** to click the gold "Confirm Order" button on that final screen to confirm your order, and receive a job number and confirmation email.
Whilst placing your order online you will be asked how you wish to provide artwork. Options include sending a disk, sending a previously professionally printed example, or sending a file by email to artwork@printingdirect.com. (This is the most popular option). Once you have placed your order online, and sent us your artwork, we will produce a proof, often in less than 24 hours. Although our policy is not to produce a proof until an order has been placed you are not under any final obligation until you approve your proof, (assuming you select a proof at ordering stage). If you are paying by credit card we do not debit your card until proof approval (unless you give your permission first). If you have paid by cheque, and you are not happy with your proof and decide to cancel, we will refund your money.
| | Q. Lamination - why should I consider it for my business cards? | A. Apart from the fact that it enhances presentation, (which makes it suitable as an optional extra on any full colour business card), if your card has heavy ink coverage we strongly recommend lamination. This process coats the card on the side(s) with heavy ink coverage with an extremely thin layer of plastic.
This protects the print from unsightly finger marks or scratch marks which can show up on heavily inked areas when the cards are handled or scratched. It also removes the danger (which is otherwise present) that the ink in the heavy ink coverage areas may rub off slightly if rubbed.
On any finished business card, when the cards are cut to the correct size, tiny (we do mean tiny!) particles of card fray away at the edges. With most business cards these cannot be seen, as they are the same colour as the card itself. However where the print "bleeds off" the edges (in other words goes right to the card edge) it is easier to see this very slight fraying because the card-coloured particles contrast with the adjacent ink colour, which can give such cards the appearance of having slightly "roughly cut" edges. Lamination, however, goes a long way to eliminating this problem.
The additional cost (compared to the regular price) for laminating business cards is £15 + VAT per design for laminating the cards on one side, or £20 + VAT for cards laminated on both sides. (250 or 500 quantities). Matt lamination is available on either one or both sides of a card. Gloss lamination is only available on one side.
Unfortunately we are not able to offer laminating on business cards that are not printed using the full colour process. (Of course, we are able to print any business card using the full colour process even if it only has one or two colours on it, as long as you do not want the printing on a non-standard material). | | Q. Can I split one order of business cards between multiple names? | A. Full colour cards :
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We do allow names to be split but there needs to be a minimum of 250 cards per person after splitting. In other words the smallest quantity that can be split is 500 split between 2 people. To split cards in this way, place your order online for the total quantity required, and put a note in the "any other comments" box that you want to split the names, eg “split into 250 for John Smith and 250 for Bill Jones.” There is an additional charge of £25 + VAT per extra name for splitting in the mentioned way, but this normally works out a fair bit cheaper than placing separate orders for each person.
The £25 charge does not apply to the *very* first name in an order so for 500 cards to be split between 2 people there would be one "splitting charge" of £25 + VAT. If paying by credit card, you can mention in your order that you will pay the splitting charge and we will debit your card appropriately. If paying by cheque, you can email us before placing your order for a price adjustment code that you can enter while ordering, so your online total is correct, or just place the order as explained above and we will contact you afterwards and give you a revised total.
Cards printed in one two or three colours :
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We do allow quantities to be split between different names but there needs to be a multiple of 125 cards per person after splitting. In other words the smallest quantity that can be split is 250 split between 2 people. To split cards in this way, place your order online for the total quantity required, and put a note in the "any other comments" box that you want to split the names, eg “split the 500 cards into 250 for John Smith , 125 for Julie Brown and 125 for Bill Jones.” There is an additional charge of £10 + VAT per extra name for splitting in the mentioned way, but this normally works out a fair bit cheaper than placing separate orders for each person.
The £10 per name charge does not apply to the *very* first name in an order so for 500 cards to be split between 3 people there would be two "splitting charges" of £10 + VAT each. If paying by credit card, you can mention in your order that you will pay the splitting charge and we will debit your card appropriately. If paying by cheque, you can email us before placing your order for a price adjustment code that you can enter while ordering, so your online total is correct, or just place the order as explained above and we will contact you afterwards and give you a revised total.
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