Digital Business Cards

A business card is a card displaying information about a business or the person carrying the card. The information includes the person’s name, company name, address, telephone or fax number, email address and website, financial details are sometimes included as well, and cards can be printed on one or both sides. Black print on white card is the traditional method of printing business cards but now they come in a variety of stunning colors, materials and designs.

Digital business cards are produced from a digital image onto various materials. Traditional methods of printing use various formats that involve plates, but digital business cards do not use any type of plates with the result that cards can be produced with a quicker turn around and more cost effectively. This new process allows for on demand printing and slight modifications can be made easily without delaying delivery.

Inkjet or laser printers are the most popular methods used and they place deposits of ink or toner onto a variety of surfaces that include canvas, paper, and photo paper. Professional printing companies use high quality ink and precise laser etching to get an superior image. Sometimes the ink or toner does not soak into the paper or card but instead forms a thin film on the top so a fuser liquid (toner) or UV curing procedure with heat is applied to correct this problem.

It is not only business people that carry digital business cards, but individuals too have embraced the revolution in digitally produced cards. They have personal photographs or designs reproduced on such materials as aluminium or plastic which, before the digital revolution, were far too expensive to use, as a means of expressing their individuality through design. Many people now carry personal cards to give out to friends, family and colleagues as well as business cards to give out to professional acquaintances.

Digital business cards can be produced using desktop publishing software very cheaply and may be a solution for individuals, sole traders or small companies. Larger companies needing substantial quantities of cards for their employees and wishing to create the right impression with existing and potential customers rely on a professional printing company to supply them with their cards. When choosing a printing company a business should not only take into consideration the price but also the reputation of the printers for delivering high quality cards correctly printed on time and has knowledgeable and experienced staff who undergo regularly training in the latest techniques and provide customer care service that is first rate.

The two main techniques used in producing digital business cards are:

• fine art printing – photographs of original artwork scanned using extremely precise high resolution scanner
• Digital imagery – digital laser exposure onto photographic paper that is light sensitive

Special digital printing equipment was designed in the early 1990’s and since then there has been many improvements but the industry has not stood still and enhanced techniques and improved machinery are constantly being brought to market.