Stationery Design Tips &
Business Cards Design Tips
The Business Card
Business cards generally consist of a
single card stock sheet with an individual's contact
information, including name, company name, and
company address, phone, fax, email, and website
address. Don't make the mistake of trying to cram
every bit of contact information onto your business
card. If you need to include a great deal of information,
use the back side of the card as well.
Paper Stock, Business Cards Size, and
Colors
Most business cards are printed on 100-lb.
glossy, professional white or off-white stock.
This is generally the least expensive option.
Many business choose to use specialty stocks to
give their business cards extra flair.
Choose your stock carefully. The stock you choose
can say as much about you and your company as
the words the business card contains. You can
choose a vivid, eye-catching color, a subtle textured
stock, or stock with high recycled content, among
others. Each type of paper makes a statement about
you and your company.
The most common business card size is 2"
x 3.5". We recommend that you stick with
a standard size due to the fact that many business
card scanners and business card holders are made
to fit this size.
Over the last several years - full color has
become much less expensive. Since the vast majority
of cards are printed in black ink on white card
stock, adding color is a very simple way to make
your card stand out. Color doesn't mean you have
to spend a lot of money. Printing in colored ink
on colored card stock can be very economical if
full color is not an option.
Things to Avoid
If you put a picture on your business
card - make sure it has an up-to-date picture.
Watch out for free business card offers on the
web. As this offer sounds very compelling these
cards often have a logo or text on the back saying
that "This is a free business card - to get
yours at ...(go to some company)". This looks
very unprofessional if you plan to hand out your
cards in a business type atmosphere. We recommend
that you go ahead and spend a little money to
get a card that does not say free on the back!
We do not recommend making your own business
cards as this process is often time consuming
and can be expensive (ink and card stock). In
addition, people strongly dislike receiving cards
with rough edges (made from the blank stock purchased
at office supply stores) They are often perceived
as cheap and unprofessional. The price of printed
business cards has come down considerable in the
last few years. You can get a much more professional
card at a very low rate by having a professional
print shop make your business cards.
Letterheads Design Tips
Letterheads Design Packages & Tips
For many businesses, a great letterhead package,
with stunning business cards, is the most critical
of marketing materials. Along with an effective
logo, a letterhead package lends credibility and
respectability to the business it represents.
Want to make a great impression? Want to look
like you’ve been in business for many years?
Start with a convincing letterhead package and
business cards.
Making a Good letterheads Impression
All the marketing materials you produce for your
business should sell for you. That includes letters
and business cards. Sometimes your business card
is the only impression a potential customer has
of your business before they contact you. A first
rate business package, including your letterhead,
business cards and envelopes, should make it easy
for your prospect to understand what you do, the
quality and value your business offers.
Letterheads Cost
Looking for embossing, four color or foil on your
letterhead package? These special treatments look
beautiful and make a spectacular impression. If
you’re looking to make a great impression,
but you don’t have such deep pockets, there
are many ways to trim costs back. Standard two
color letterheads and business cards can be affordable
and striking. Are you a start-up? We can make
you look like a seasoned veteran. Are you seeking
a new corporate image to match your success. When
Marketing Impressions designs your new look, everyone
will sit up and take notice.
Letterheads Design
There are a countless ways to lay out your letterhead,
envelopes and business cards. Want a look that
is fresh and innovative? We can do it. Looking
for a conservative corporate image with flair?
We can do it. Is quirky and creative your style?
We can do it. No matter what your look, consider
an inventive approach to your business card. Two
sided, fold over and mini-brochure business cards
are both cost effective and stand out from the
crowd.
Getting Started
Once we have submitted and you have accepted our
estimate, we will begin the layout process. Marketing
Impressions has a time-tested, tried and true
secret method for determining your letterhead
package style preferences. This means you won’t
be dependent on imprecise descriptions of your
vision. After all, our job is to take your vision
from the abstract to the concrete, from an idea
to reality. We know how to do this in such a way
that we are sure to hit the mark and give you
layout proofs you love.
Custom Envelopes Design Tips
Envelopes
Commercial business envelopes come in several
standard sizes and are normally expressed by a
number such as #9 or #10. See the chart below
for a list of the most common sizes. Most business
envelopes are manufactured using 16 lb. to 40
lb. paper stock. Personal envelopes are also available
in a wide variety of sizes and colors.
Commercial Envelopes Measurements
Commercial business envelopes sizes are often
referenced by a number such as #9 or #10. The
chart below includes all of the most common types
used by printers today.
Size Width x Length
#6 1/4 3 1/2" x 6"
#6 3/4 3 5/8 x 6 1/2"
#7 3 3/4" x 6 3/4"
#7 3/4 3 7/8" x 7 1/2"
#8 5/8 3 5/8" x 8 5/8"
#9 3 7/8" x 8 7/8"
#10 4 1/8" x 9 1/2"
#11 4 1/2" x 10 3/8"
#12 4 3/4" x 11"
#14 5" x 11 1/2"
Substance Weights for Envelopes
16 lb. Used for overseas air mail envelopes.
20 lb. Used for commercial envelopes where strength
and opacity is not a factor.
24 lb. Used for most open side official and commercial
envelopes.
28 lb. Used for most open and catalog envelopes
and large (i.e. 11, 12 and 14) size commercial
envelopes.
32 lb. Used for heavy duty envelopes and clasp
envelopes.
40 lb. Used for large envelopes, heavy duty envelopes
or envelopes used for storage and frequent reference.
Envelopes Types
Commercial - Commercial envelopes are normally
used for letterhead, invoices, statements, direct
marketing mailings, and reply mail. Come in cartons
of 2500-5000.
Booklet - Booklet envelopes
(open-sided envelopes) are often used to mail
annual reports, brochures, sales literature and
small documents. These types of envelopes are
normally used in high volume because they can
be automatically inserted. Come in cartons of
500-1000.
Catalog - Catalog envelopes
are used to mail catalogs, large booklets and
other high weight articles. Catalog envelopes
(open-ended envelopes) do not have the machine
insert option. They are often hand packed. These
type of envelopes often include a metal clasp.
Come in cartons of 500-1000.
Invitation - Often used in formal
occasions. These types of envelopes are characterized
by their pointed flaps and enclosures. They can
come with or without an embossed (raised) border
panel. Come in cartons of 2500-5000.
A Size - Announcements, small
booklets, brochures, less formal invitations,
and promotional pieces. These envelopes have a
square flap and come in a wide range of finishes
and colors. What happens most often is enclosures
are produced custom to fit within the envelope.
For this reason they do not have raised panels.
Come in cartons of 1000-2500.
Shipping/Packaging - These types
of envelopes are typically used for, guess what,
shipping items.
These are the types that most envelope companies
will offer: Paperboard, Tyvek, Corrugated, Bubble,
and Plastic.