The purpose of this article is to discuss the most commonly seen specifications and attributes of business cards in the Brisbane market, as well as the different types of printing and finishing available.
Full colour business cards have definitely become the most commonly seen offering in Queensland’s printing market. They have become the most cost effective option for small-medium business due to the popularity of aggregated group runs. Convenience and fast turnaround times seem to be the other driving factors, doing away with the need to print business cards for all staff in one run. It is the same cost per card to print 1 x 500 as 4 x 500.
Spot colour or PMS colour business cards are still fairly common, most often printed for larger companies who have many staff and can print group runs without any hassle. In certain cases, spot colour business cards are chosen because an exact colour match is required, or if the desired colour cannot be achieved through full colour process (CMYK). Most business cards that are seen in QLD without a cello glaze (uncoated finish) will be spot or PMS colour – Due to all aggregated group runs of business cards being finished with a cello glaze.
The widespread use of aggregated group runs for full colour business cards has meant that cello glazing has changed from an expensive luxury, to the most commonly seen finish for business cards in Brisbane. Gloss was most popular 5 years ago, but matt cello glaze seems to be chosen by 90% of clients at present. Gloss is great for photos and images, but matt cello gives a cleaner, more corporate feel.
Spot UV coating can be quite stunning when used in certain ways, or can be an expensive waste when used ‘incorrectly’. Unimaginative designers use the spot UV to highlight text or an image that they want to stand out. Because the gloss UV coating can only be seen when the light reflects off it, it can be easily missed. Registration with small text is very difficult and often gives a poor finished product or one that is barely noticeable. I feel the best way to use the Spot UV coating is against a solid background over a matt cello, using the UV coating to create a very subtle image or pattern that becomes visible when viewed from the correct angle.
Visit the Uniprint QLD website for more information: http://www.uniprintqld.com.au/
