Business Card Printing Online?

Vista Print order came in and everything looks great. No issues and this is my third order. Can take some pics and post if interested.
 
vistaprint cardstock WAS weak... really weak

vistaprint cardstock WAS weak... really weak

Matthew R. Rodwell said:
I wasn't to thrilled with vistaprints, they had a good price but their card stock was rather thin for professional cards.
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I too tried the vistaprint option because it was SO cheap. Discovered that even among the cheapies online you get what you pay for. Not only was their cardstock weak, the printing itself was very weak. Could have gotten better quality on my laser printer if it weren't for those little tear lines around the edge.

Look beyond vistaprint if you want your business card to speak positively for you.
 
I see all these print places offer a choice of Glossy U/V Coating
or Satin Matte Finish, whats the difference and what looks better?
 
I use Matte finish. Glossy is a shiny finish like magazines and matte is textured like paper (something like that...:-)
 
FatDaddy said:
To each his own and your mileage may vary. Nothing but love from me...
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Backed. I've used them for years. I don't know what all this talk is about flimsy cardstock. Seems fine to me.

I do the design in Photoshop, send it out, and Vistaprint pretty much meets my expectations.
 
craigkendall said:
I too tried the vistaprint option because it was SO cheap. Discovered that even among the cheapies online you get what you pay for. Not only was their cardstock weak, the printing itself was very weak. Could have gotten better quality on my laser printer if it weren't for those little tear lines around the edge.

Look beyond vistaprint if you want your business card to speak positively for you.
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I completely agree with Craig. I'd politely suggest that some of the other users may not have a background in printing and can't tell that Vista Print:

1.) uses a pathetically thin paper stock
2.) doesn't print continuous tone images
3.) has inconsistent color replication

It may be fine to them, but Craig's standards are the professional standards.
 
Yeah I've got a stack of the "nice" double sided cards from VistaPrint... total crap. I'm honestly embarrassed to hand them out. THe printing is muddy looking, the colors are extremely muted. Later had the same design printed by a real printer and the difference is night and day. So is the price though... I gotta agree with Prodigi and Craig on this one. Granted though I've got a decent background in print and am picky as all get out about stock and print quality.
 
Don't ever apologize for having standards. If you have a background in printing and are picky as hell that's an asset, not a deficit.
 
Oh Im not apologizing at all. I just dont think everyone needs the best of everything, especially if they cant afford it. If all you can afford is the vistaprint stuff then its as good as you will probably get. I'd rather have single sided single color cards with nice ink on a nice stock than double sided full color (if you want to call it that) cards from vista though.

There used to be an agency around here who's artists hand drew each of their business cards so each one was a unique piece of art. Apparently they just kicked out a few a day in their sparetime so they always had a decent supply. Was quite a novelty - luckily they were good artists, not my stick figure crap.
 
I just ordered some cards form www.acidflyers.com. $30 plus shipping, two days to print them and I'll get them in the next couple of days so I'll report back here with what they look like.

I did use a very simple design for mine though, so I cannot judge full color reproduction.
 
Prodigi Pictures said:
I'd politely suggest that some of the other users may not have a background in printing
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Fair enough. I'm not in printing/graphic arts. I'm in video production!

All I know is that I've got no shame in handing out my business cards and people get a kick out of them.
 
Prodigi Pictures said:
I completely agree with Craig. I'd politely suggest that some of the other users may not have a background in printing and can't tell that Vista Print:

1.) uses a pathetically thin paper stock
2.) doesn't print continuous tone images
3.) has inconsistent color replication

It may be fine to them, but Craig's standards are the professional standards.
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This is silly.

I know all the low budget online printers have issues, so none of them are perfect. I am not a graphic artist, but I do the design, send it in and it comes back looking like the design I did. Exactly as I designed it - and 500 for $50 bucks. I bump the card stock because I know Vistaprint is thin with the basic cards. The card cut is not 100 percent perfect, but 90 percent. The sharpness is really pretty good probably 90 percent.

Did I say it was $50? Do I like them - yes. Am I happy to pass them out - yes. Do you want one at the DVXuser party at NAB - ask me and I will pass you one with a smile.

I don't expect a DVX-100 to perform like a Varicam, but they also don't cost the same so they can't perform the same. But if you watch Iraq in Fragments and War Dance you don't nit pick about the cameras, but enjoy the content because it is well done.

Same with design and we know that. We are talking about low budget printing and what places work and what places don't.
 
Fat Daddy -

Go back and read Luis' first post. He's the one who started this thread, not you, and I'm answering HIS questions. You want to defend mediocrity, do so on another thread.

Luis specifically said that quality was his #1 concern. That's why I'm talking about quality.
 
Prodigi -

He also said:
"Anyone here use any online services they've been happy with?"

I am pointing out I am happy, you are pointing out what you think and it comes down to who has the final word or opinion on a user experience?

Maybe it got a little off topic, but it seemed when someone said this company worked for me, someone said, no this didn't work for me and it had a bit of the attitude "I am the professional and I know best."

I should have said "Luis, online printing will never be the best way to go when quality is the only criteria. Most people using online printing are doing it to save money and for convenience. My experience has been good with Vista Print."

I appreciate all user experiences and would want to know when it went good and when it went bad, especially with someone who has a printing background. Just don't make it a "We know what we are talking about and you don't kind of a thing."

I'm gonna take the high road on your line about "defending mediocrity on another thread" and just say - I'm fine with staying here.

John
 
From companies like AcidFlyers, the UV coated stuff may not be acceptable for USPS mailing (like a postcard). They have a less slick option that is suitable for mailers.

The super-glossy UV stuff is really designed for club cards and flyers that don't get mailed.

Likely moot if you're having business cards done, but that is why many of these companies offer the UV / Super Glossy and less glossy option.

e
 
i didnt read the whole thread... BUT i just got my cards double sided with glossy finish and rounded edges done... got them through overnightprints.com

waiting for them in the mail, but my friend had some done there and they look great.

as for prices i only ordered 100 to start and it was like $15.
 
Vista Print is good. BUT, (I don't know if anyone mentioned this) call them after you print and make sure they take you off of the "rewards" program. Trust me on this. Also a place called clubflyers does some good work. They're at http://www.clubflyers.com. Other than that I've never had a problem with Vistaprint, and would use them again.

-Nate
 
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