A designer’s guide to creating business cards

Business cards are one of the easiest ways your client can make a memorable first impression. Here’s everything you need to dazzle them with top-notch business card design.

Your client just ordered business cards (score!) but you’ve got some questions. No fear—we’re here!  Read on for specifications, design do’s & dont’s, and a glossary of design terms. It’s everything you’ll need to hand-off an awesome design.

Size and specifications

Yes, “sizes and shapes may vary,” but most business cards fit the mold. Standard business cards are horizontal and rectangular with slightly different sizes for American and European printers.  Follow these specifications to ensure your cards print correctly. But if your client wants a special business card shape, you’ll need to request specifications directly from them.

US horizontal business card

• Standard dimensions: 3.5 x 2 inches
• Bleed size: ⅛ extra (total size inc. bleed would be 3.75 x 2.25 inches)

EU horizontal business card

• Standard dimensions: 85 x 55 mm
• Bleed size: 3 mm (total size inc. bleed would be 91 x 61 mm)

Submitting files to your client

Once your client has approved the final design, send them all of the design files. Here’s what they need: 

• A layered, editable source file of the final design (AI, PSD, EPS or INDD) in which the fonts are not outlined
• A print-ready PDF file with all the fonts outlined
• All web preview images (JPEG or PNG)
• A link to purchase any commercial fonts used in the design

Make sure all files are saved in the CMYK color mode and 300dpi resolution.

Do’s and don’ts

Great design never came from following rules. So, break ‘em! Except for these. They’re pretty important. Stick to these guidelines to ensure your text, images and layout are perfect.

Font size

Always make sure the business card text is legible. A good rule of thumb is to make the company name and logo larger than a 12pt font. Never use any font sizes smaller than 8pt.

Outlining fonts

Always outline text that won’t be edited (such as the company name or slogan) and leave the text editable for business card information that changes regularly (like a person’s name or contact information).

Be wary of bleeds

A bleed is the part of your design that runs over the trim edge — or past the intended cut line — to ensure a nice printing job. Always stretch your design to the edge of the bleed area.  

Avoid adding borders, since they’ll often look lopsided after printing. Never include important information past the trim line, since it may be cut off during printing.

Double check your final files

Always make sure that all of the template layers have been removed before submitting your final files to your client. Be sure to save each side of the business card in separate files for the printer and label them as such. 

The dictionary of design

CMYK and RGB… droids from Star Wars, right? Design lingo can be a little tricky, but we can translate. Here are some design and printing terms you’ll need to know.

Color mode

How colors are represented in your design 

• CMYK: An ink-based mode used in print.
• RGB: A light-based mode used on-screen.

Resolution

The amount of pixel detail in an image 

• Low resolution: Few pixels make the image pixelated.
• High resolution: Many pixels make the image sharp.

Print guidelines

Measurements to ensure top-notch printing 

• Trim Line: Where the printer will cut your image.
• Bleed: The area beyond the trim line that extends printing to the edge.
• Safety Line: The border that contains all printable text.
  

Shape and orientation

How your design physically appears 

• Horizontal: Short, wide, and landscape-style. The classic card.
• Vertical: Tall, skinny, and portrait-style. Turning normal on its side.
• Folding: Rectangular with a crease. Standard but stand-out.
• Die-cut: Any size, any shape. A bold way to go beyond basic.
  

Material

What your design is printed on 

• Paper: Thin, thick, matte, glossy. Endless colors and endless options.
• Plastic: Transparent, durable and waterproof. A clear way to be clever.
• Anything: Steel. Wood. Fabric. Make a one-of-a-kind first impression.

Printing techniques

How your design is printed 

• 4-color offset: The standard, full color printing process.
• 1- or 2-color: Limited color for limited budgets.
• Foil ink: Specialty process that uses metallic foil rather than ink.
• Spot color: Color generated by an ink (pure or mixed) printed using a single run.

Finishes

The final touches made to your print 

• Foil blocking: Metallic, foil finishes applied with a heated stamp.
• Embossing: Raised textures applied to the material using heat.
• Spot UV: A glossy finish applied to specific areas on the print.