At a crucial networking event, you meet a colleague with whom you have been longing to work. After building up the courage to talk to them, you reach for your wallet to grab a business card. You can see the person squint as they examine it. They then smile at you and say thank you for the conversation.
You start to wonder if the font was too small after they have left. The layout felt crowded because of the art. It had a thin border that seemed to make everything feel out of place. Did the images show any pixelation? Did the paper have enough thickness? You never hear from them. It is true that you only have one chance to make an impression. It is important to have professional printed materials when networking. This is especially important if you are a freelancer selling your brand and services. Here are seven tips to help you win at networking events and stay ahead of your competition.
1. Limit The Color Palette
The world is seen in its full color. While some parts are beautiful, others are a bit tacky. (Note: …) There is a greater chance that something will clash with your Christmas sweater. Also, the text will be more difficult to read. And let’s face, they won’t call you if they can’t see your phone number. You can also save money if you don’t plan on printing in multiple processes. A one-or-two-color layout will allow you to offset or letterpress print in a variety quantities at a lower price than if you had three, four, or even five colors.
2. Give The Piece A Breathable Breath
Make sure there is plenty of space between text and images. It will make them feel icky if they are too tight at the border. This is a technical term. Although they may not be able tell why your piece makes them feel uncomfortable, they will be less likely ever to look at it again. These elements should not be too close to the edge. You run the risk that important information will be lost when the piece is cut from larger sheets. To compensate for shifts in registration that may occur during printing or cutting, we recommend a text-safe margin of 1/4″ (0.25″) for all items. This may seem excessive for some pieces, such as business cards, but it is actually a reasonable amount. This is a much smaller difference than you might think and will result in a better product that people will enjoy to hold and read.
3. Refuse To Accord Borders If Possible. Keep It Spaceful If Not.
You might think adding a border around your copy is a great way to add elegance to a basic design. While you may be right to think so, borders must be done properly. Otherwise, your copy will be too crowded and the design won’t appeal. You want your borders to be within the 0.25″ margin of text safety, just like any other elements in your design. Uneven borders can ruin a design that is otherwise well-researched. Also, don’t try to fit too many words within the border. Only include what is necessary. As a call-to-action, you can add a link to your website to RSVP for an event or request additional information. Consider this: When working on a computer screen people often think that the design is very good. However, it would look even more appealing if the copy was framed. They’re right! Guess what? When the piece is cut down to size, it will retain its natural frame. This is true: the edges of business cards, invitations, and postcards provide a natural frame to your design. A printed proof can help you get more information than just looking at the design on screen.
4. Use Vector Artwork Or High Resolution.
For print design success, high resolution assets are essential. People are often in a hurry to find the right image for their project. They either search for open-source images online, pay for poor clip art or hire a web developer to create something for them. These artworks are often 72dpi. But that’s okay. The artwork looks amazing on the screen so it should print well. Wrong. It’s not. 72 dpi is different on a screen than it is in real life. This will be obvious to the people you are trying to give your piece to. What’s the solution? Use high-resolution raster and vector artwork. You can find more information about raster or vector artwork on our FAQ. But here’s the scoop: Raster images consist of tiny pixels. The smoother an image will appear, the more pixels there are per inch. Standard print resolution is 300dpi.
The image should be beautiful at 100%, but will begin to pixelate at 125% or larger. A 72dpi image, meant for the web will probably print poorly. There are exceptions, but it is best to burn the bridge until you truly need it. These vector images were created using mathematical calculations. There are not pixels, only numbers. As a vector image, it will look as beautiful on a business card or side-by-side on a wall. A vector image is best for putting your logo on a space station’s side. Vector images work best when they are accompanied by illustrations and solid colors. Before you rush to print your project immediately, consider the following: Is your artwork high-resolution? Is your logo clear? Is the logo crisp enough to be printed on a poster, a banner or a space station? If you get a “no” answer to any of these (yes, ALL of them), you will want to address it before you press. It will pay off long-term if you are patient.
5. Consider The Paper’s Color.
Sometimes, we get a request from someone with a black design on a full-bleed background. The design looks great on screen but can be difficult to print depending on what process you use. For large runs of offset-printed copies, the conversation might be different. However, if you are looking to print a few small orders and prefer digital or letterpress printing to begin with, some colors may be difficult to achieve or impossible to reproduce. There is another option: printing black text on colored papers. It will be harder to see the text on the screen because the background of your file is white, but it’s almost always easier than trying to recreate a color. You can’t replicate the texture of certain papers on a computer screen, so it is worth printing on colored paper. French Paper, which we use frequently, is a great mill. It prints well and is available in small quantities.
6. Design For The Printing Process.
Radix Media offers four printing processes: digital, letterpress and foil stamping. Each one is different and each has its strengths. These strengths can help you create a better printed piece. It is hard to imagine a worse feeling than having put your heart and soul into a particular design only to find that it can’t be reproduced in the way you want. Not only does this affect your morale but it could also cost you time and money. It is important to first think about the process and then design for it. If you work for a company that has a full-color business card design and is frequently reprinted due to aggressive hiring, or changing job titles you may be better off printing digitally in smaller quantities. Letterpress is a better option if your design is straightforward and you want to convey a premium, high-end look. Do you want to make a lot of the same thing over and over again? Let’s face the facts, 100,000 envelopes will last you a very long time. You can offset it and call it quits. Sometimes, it is impossible to give your piece the same amount of thought before it is finished. This is especially true when time is short. While we will always help you determine the best way to make your printed piece come to life, it might require that you be open to suggestions. We also offer graphic design services to help you focus on what you love.
7. Be Versatile.
Let’s face it, even if you follow the six tips above, things can happen. Things can change. Your boss may make changes that cause chaos in your workflow or your designer might suggest a rebrand. You may have different needs from others. You should be flexible. Think about all the possible factors that could affect your design, and the possibilities for printing it. You should not use metallic colors for your primary branding color. Why? You can’t print metallic ink offset, letterpress, or foil stamped. We haven’t evaluated these digital presses and they are rare so we don’t know if they work. You won’t be able to print a digital flyer, small-run business cards or vinyl stickers in small quantities. In this instance, your primary brand color should be easily identifiable and can be used in many contexts.
This will ensure consistency across all printed assets regardless of what process or machine they are printed on. This is especially useful when printing non-paper items, like textiles. There are many ways to print business stationery and business assets. We guarantee your printed materials will look amazing if you follow these tips. Here’s an added tip: Don’t wait till the last minute to start planning! Get in touch with your next project as soon and as quickly as possible. We will gladly advise you on how to make it easy and profitable. For examples of print design that has been successful, visit our portfolio. We want your project and you to look amazing, so these tips will help you create a better printed piece. Communication is key to the success of any organization. A great piece of printed material can help you communicate with others.
