Business cards

For those who use them. Do you make them yourselves or have another company create them? Is there a program you use? Im going to be making some cards to pass out to other breeders at shows so I can make some business contacts, but all the templates I see look like crap. I want to design my own with my own pictures and such but not sure how. Can anyone share how you make yours?

Thanks.

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Well...I'm a graphic designer by day, so I had all the necessary programs/know-how when I designed mine. But if you want to get technical, I used Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

I had them printed by OvernightPrints.com. They should be here on Wednesday. :)

Alas I don't have those or the money to buy those programs. :(

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Alas I don't have those or the money to buy those programs. :(

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Yeah, understandable. I'd try Word? (I'm going to graphic designer hell for even suggesting that haha!)

Of have someone design them for you.

Yeah I might just have to. Any other options....good programs strictly for business cards?

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Paint.NET is like photoshop and free. It's what I used to make the banner on my website. It's not for strictly business cards though.

Okay thanks!

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If you can get publisher then you may beable to put something together. You could look at vistaprint.com. the have thousands of templates and some allow you to add your own photos.

I am a military officer, and I have "calling cards" (name, rank, etc...) to give out or drop off. I use a heavy linen card with raised lettering. I like the classic look and feel of that.

Many of the websites will let you design your card online and then send you a proof before you order. Or, you can tell them what you want and they will design it for you.

Another free photo-shop-like program is known as GIMP. :)

I used photoshop to make mine, vistaprint printed them. They make it easy, download their template and open it in photoshop and it has all the lines marked to show you where you need to keep content.

If you use a Mac, there is an app called Pixelmator that is very good and not too expensive.

Initially I used a publisher program and then ordered them from VisatPrint.com. However, due to rising ink costs, I found that my local UPS store will make them for me and at a better price if I buy 500 at a time. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you go to many shows, they disappear quickly.

Vistaprint is where I usually get mine. I have been thinking about trying a run from staples. Vistaprint is cheaper tho. Just make sure if you do go thru vista print, get the thick premium stock on your cards. Otherwise the cards are too thin. Also, most of the other products they will recommend to you are cheap and look crappy and cheap when they show up. I do think my cards turned out nice tho...

I used Gimp to edit my photos and GotPrint.com had a blank template I could use online to design my own cards. Worked out well, IMO

http://www.amazon.com/Avanquest-5415.../dp/B0004F93ZY

This is the one I used to use. Mine is an older green box but it doesnt run on my 64bit pc :mad:
I know I pay a little more for printing my own cards http://www.officemax.com/office-supp...94565&ssp=true BUT I can change the design as often as I would like.:D

I am actually going to suggest something completely different. get a designer to design a card for you. Often you can find a program and hire a talented student to do it reletively inexpensivly, don't offend them by suggesting they can do it for free and use it in a protfolio. Bussiness cards are the first representation of you and your company you can make it a good one that is what I would suggest. I run a sucessful bussiness and if you take it seriously you will be taken seriously if you fudge everything and have cobbled together things you will not be taken seriously and turn off clients.


Kat yes you are going to graphic designer hell. word? :tears:

I know that there are a lot of good programs out there, but in truth, if you go down to your local print shop they usually do business cards for a pretty reasonable price. Also, doing it this way you can pretty much do anything you might want. One shop that I know of in Montana has a deal where they'll print something like 500 cards for $50. It's just an idea

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Originally Posted by Tarawr88

Another free photo-shop-like program is known as GIMP. :)

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Just to echo support of GIMP - great program for image creation/editing.

http://www.gimp.org/

We use Photoshop then upload everything to Uprinting.com. They're a little expensive, but I like these "leaf" type cards which in person are much more crisp and clear.

http://www.theherpvault.com/images/Blog/THV.jpg

I know this thread is a bit old and the OP most likely has cards in hand by now, but I wanted to echo the suggestion above of finding an artist to design a card for you. Those guys are efficient, experienced, and pretty cheap. You probably already have a friend who is versed in graphics who would probably do a design up for free for you.

My site of choice for business cards is printsmadeeasy.com. I use the two-sided cards. Logo and info on one side, nice snake pic on the other.

When getting my logo designed, business card design was part of the package. I went with Vistaprint for the actual cards.


Single sided:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s9687b26b.jpeg


Double Sided:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s054fdca4.jpeg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...sb9d547f9.jpeg

I love how the graphic designer in the thread wasn't suggesting the person support her industry. What's wrong with me? Haha I guess I'm just so used to people not taking my job seriously that I just default to it.


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Kat,
You and I both know software does not make a designer anyway. A good designer can use anything and make a good design. The average joe can use everything and still have a bad one. i am not a designer but I work closely with some really good ones.