A business card is a small printed object that people hold, read and keep. Paper and finishing affect all three. Begin with the job the card must do, then choose the material and design together. The most suitable stock depends on the artwork and the result you want, rather than on a single weight number.
Start with readability
Decide which details must be easy to find: your name, role, company and preferred contact method. Review those details at the finished card size. A large design on a monitor can hide small text that is difficult to read when printed.
If the card uses both sides, give each a purpose. One side might introduce the brand while the other carries contact details. Keep essential information away from the trim and leave enough space around a QR code for the chosen use. Check the destination before artwork approval.
Paper weight and thickness are different
Grams per square metre describe paper weight. Caliper describes thickness. Two papers with the same weight can feel different because their structure and surface differ. Ask about both when the thickness or hand feel is central to your choice.
The materials reference explains stocks and finishes in more detail. Use it to describe a preference, then confirm the actual stock and specification in your quotation. A photograph can suggest a look, but cannot show every aspect of texture or stiffness.
Consider the paper surface
An uncoated surface can suit a tactile, restrained design. A coated stock can support a different appearance for photographs and colour. Surface and colour affect the contrast available to small text, particularly where the artwork uses light tones.
If people need to write on the card, say so. A laminated or heavily finished surface may not behave like an untreated paper. That practical requirement belongs in the first brief, along with any intended stamp or handwritten note.
Choose finishing with the artwork
Lamination changes the surface. Spot UV highlights selected areas. Foil adds a separate material through its own production information, while embossing or debossing introduces relief. These operations need a suitable stock and correctly prepared artwork.
Choose a finish because it serves the design. A logo treatment may deserve emphasis while the contact details remain clear and quiet. Combining several finishes changes both the specification and the production sequence, so describe the combination before asking for a schedule.
Plan the first order and the reorder
Check whether the card needs several names, roles or language versions. Supply a clear list of versions and quantities. A change to the base artwork can also affect finishing information, so treat a revised file as a new version for approval.
Keep the agreed specification with the approved artwork for future enquiries. Identify what stays the same and what changes when requesting a reorder. Do not rely on an old photograph alone to describe stock, dimensions or finishing.
Build your name-card brief
Send the quantity, finished size, stock preference, printed sides, finish and required date. Include the artwork or explain what is still being prepared. The name-card specification page gives product detail, and the prefilled quote builder helps prepare the enquiry.
Same-day printing available. Subject to artwork, stock and production capacity confirmation. Timing is agreed for each job.
Same-day printing available. Subject to artwork, stock and production capacity confirmation. Timing is agreed for each job.