Where can I have creative business cards made?

August 10, 2011 8:06 PM

Where can I make business cards like the one in this link? http://www.tomnealfilm.co.uk/#223278992

I've generated a QR code for my business card, but I would love to have a similar style like http://www.tomnealfilm.co.uk/#223278992.

Where could I go to get something like that designed? Do you recommend any companies?

posted by rwmacy to work & money (6 answers total)

Moo? But you need to design it yourself or use one of their templates.
posted by beowulf573 at 8:21 PM on August 10, 2011

In case I'm not getting something, what is it about these that you aren't just contacting any given printer? (Okay maybe not nextdaybusinesscards.com, but you get the idea; just pick someone from the phone book.) The only thing that's maybe a little odd is the rounded corners, but that'd just be a pretty standard die cut. It'll add to the cost, though.
posted by Su at 8:53 PM on August 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Aaand this is when I realize I somehow went totally blind to the last line in the post. Sorry.
You can actually build this around how much you're willing to spend and what sort of quality you're expecting.

In terms of just the printing, you can get 500 of these for about $60 from this place. (That's random, not a recommendation.) A search for something like "business card printer rounded corners" will turn up lots of others that'll probably be around the same. But every business card I've ever encountered from one of those online on-week-turnaround places has felt like it came one of those places. Your call whether you care. Maybe somebody else can come up with one that uses heavier/better paper than the ones I've come across.

Unless you happen to find that that or a similar template(and I'm guessing those are custom), design will be above that, whatever the designer charges. If you've got a limited budget, maybe you can get a hold of a design student and show them this as direction for what you want?

On the other hand, if you've got the budget to go for custom work, just find a designer first and they'll probably have a printer they already work with.
posted by Su at 9:09 PM on August 10, 2011

I use Zazzle. You design your own and it can be printed on two sides. No round corners though.
posted by wandering_not_lost at 12:44 AM on August 11, 2011

Yes it is the rounded corners that make this non-standard mass printing. And essentially, "where can I get these designed?" and "where can I get these printed?" are two separate questions.

You're going to need to do this in two parts. First, the card needs to be designed, and that is definitely a custom design. So you're going to need Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator or < insert argument about appropriate tool here > whatever. Alternatively, you will need an actual print designing human. Either way, the end result should be a high-definition, print-ready PDF with embedded fonts.

Next, you are going to need a print shop set up to print rounded corner things as a standard offering so that you don't also need to pay for a custom die. Su's link is a fine example; this is somewhat specialist and Moo, Vistaprint, Print Ink, etc do not offer it. You then upload your files (front and back) to this printer and place your order.

Be aware that this is a more intensive and costly process than "use our crappy templates to print inexpensive business cards online!" offerings. The QR code part is a piece of piss; the rest of it is labor and materials intensive.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:34 AM on August 11, 2011

I've had good experiences with the dubiously-named http://www.printsmadeeasy.com/. They're cheap, quick, do rounded corners and allow you to upload your own artwork (for front and back).
posted by Squid Voltaire at 10:53 AM on August 11, 2011