The psychology behind plastic card printing

If you are considering new plastic business cards, the psychology behind plastic card printing can make or break a design.

You want your plastic business card to stand out from the crowd, it’s a mini billboard advertising what you do and where to contact you and it needs to attract attention, but not too much attention.

A business card is the lasting impression you leave with people when you are gone and so sloppily designed cluttered plastic cards won’t evoke positive thoughts about either your business or personality. On the other hand, a well thought out, neat and bold looking card will give the impression of a solid and successful business.

Some of the most important choices to make in plastic card printing are aesthetic. The typography, font-sizing and choice of font, line height, letter spacing and white space all need to be right if you want your card to make an impression.

White space, the part of the card which is the space between lines of type and around a design, is just as important as the words upon the card. Leaving plenty of white, or blank, space is generally associated with sophistication. Too little white space and it leaves the impression of a cheap design. The spacing around lines will also allow the reader to quickly assimilate the information on your card. Try not to use more than three fonts on your business cards when you’re arranging plastic card printing. The more fonts you use the harder it makes the card to read.

Deciding what to include on the card is also important. Some company business cards don’t include the name of the individual who carries it, but it can be helpful for the card recipient to have a specific person to contact, particularly in a large organisation.

Including the name of the business or the service provided in a bold, clear font makes it easier for people to read and to refer to. There is nothing worse than shuffling through a wad of business cards looking for a specific one when it doesn’t stand out. It is also common practice to include a method of contact, either phone, e-mail or web addresses whilst not forgetting to include country and area codes with phone numbers.

Consider adding a logo to your design when you’re arranging plastic card printing as an easy visual reference. A logo used consistently on business cards, letterheads, other print and electronic materials establishes a strong company identity.

Please contact our team for advice as how to leave the best impression with your plastic business cards.