| Along with the development in printing methods came | | | | gloss coating. |
| numerous possibilities to enhance the look of business | | | | 2. Pearlized inks |
| cards designs with the aid of a wider range of ink | | | | With this type of ink, very fine particles that reflect light |
| options. | | | | create a glittery effect, creating a subtle but impressing |
| Should you wish to veer away from the conventional | | | | shimmer. |
| black-inked business cards, you may choose from | | | | 3. Fluorescent inks |
| different colors, different effects and even different | | | | Fluorescent inks display intense sheen that makes the |
| textures. | | | | print striking. It works best with less formal business |
| Common printing ink | | | | card designs. |
| Both traditional offset and modern digital printing | | | | Textured prints |
| methods make use of the four-color process inks | | | | There are other ways to further make the |
| known as CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) | | | | appearance of your business cards more appealing. |
| process colors. Although limited to four, it can produce | | | | These effects require more than just inks to achieve |
| an array of colors when mixed at different intensities. | | | | the look you want. |
| Special inks | | | | 1. Thermography |
| Most of the time, the CMYK process colors are more | | | | This process produces a raised ink effect. To create |
| than enough to produce all the colors needed to print | | | | this, resin powder is put on the surface of the card |
| texts and images. But when very specific or unique | | | | while the ink is still wet. The powder is then melted by |
| shades are required, a fifth or even sixth color is | | | | applying heat, and it follows the form of the letters or |
| needed to achieve the hue accurately, as in the case | | | | graphics. Once the temperature drops, the raised prints |
| of some logos. These additions are called spot colors. | | | | produce gelatin-like letters with a subtle sheen. |
| Inks for spot colors are also prepared by combining | | | | 2. Foil stamping |
| colors at different percentages to get the hue needed. | | | | Foil stamping is a process wherein metallic foil is |
| One of the most commonly used inks for spot colors | | | | applied with the aid of hot dies that are pressed |
| are the Pantone inks. The company that produces | | | | against the foil and the business card. This leaves a |
| these inks annually comes out with swatch books that | | | | shiny foil layer that has a slippery feel to the fingers. |
| serve as a guide to the extensive color gamut that | | | | 3. Embossing |
| can be generated for spot colors. | | | | Embossing also requires the use of dies. This provides |
| Aside from typical shades of solid colors, Pantone inks | | | | a raised effect on the surface like thermography, but it |
| also make ink effects possible. These effects can | | | | leaves a depression on the other side. |
| extend your options for business cards design by | | | | This may be done after printing to add dimension to |
| allowing you to use inks that can add character to | | | | the prints, or may even be done without ink to provide |
| your card. | | | | an ink less impression on the surface called blind |
| 1. Metallic inks | | | | emboss. |
| Metallic inks contain pigments that give it the metallic | | | | Clearly, there are several ways to enhance your |
| look when printed. The solid sheen is protected and at | | | | business cards designs plus many more combinations |
| times made more lustrous with the presence of a | | | | you can use to make them unique and effective. |