What are Silk Business Cards?

Posted: Dec 24, 2009 |Comments: 0 | Views: 141 |

Your business card is extremely important, because it is part of the equation when potential clients form their first impression of you and your company.  Therefore, a high-quality, professionally-printed card is critical.  This is not an area for self-service; always hire a reputable printing company to produce your business cards.

Top-notch business card printers typically offer a variety of cardstocks to choose from.  One such cardstock option at the high end of the quality scale is silk, sometimes referred to as “silk-satin.”  This is one of the classiest and most elegant cardstocks you will ever see.

Silk Lamination

First and foremost, let’s talk about what exactly the silk is comprised of.  The silky coating is accomplished via silk-lamination, typically on 10pt or 15pt cardstock.  This laminate coating is completely unnoticeable and invisible unless you try to tear the card.  If you try and rip a silk business card, you will see the ultra-thin, transparent layer of silk-laminate peel away from the card. 

It is this lamination which gives silk business cards their uniqueness.  For one, it makes the cards more durable.  The laminate coating makes the cards a little more difficult to tear, and helps minimize the possibility of corners and edges getting frayed.    

Additionally, the silk lamination is completely writeable, meaning you can write on the card with pens, pencils, and markers with ease.  This is a nice feature and is something that is not possible with glossy business cards.  This attribute works well for jotting down appointments, so it is particularly appropriate for doctors, dentists, attorneys, or similar professionals. 

No-Gloss Elegance

Another key attribute of silk cards is that they are non-glossy, which eliminates the common inconveniences associated with glossy business cards such as fingerprinting, streaks, smudges, and the cards sticking together. 

Glossy business cards are coated with a varnish-like substance known as glossy UV (ultra-violet), which is completely different from the lamination associated with silk business cards.  It is this glossy varnish that creates the aforementioned inconveniences.  Conversely, non-shiny silk lamination eliminates these types of problems.

Additionally, the non-shiny look is more upscale and elegant.  Many people correctly perceive glossy UV business cards to be a relatively low end business card product.  The non-shiny look seems to be “in” these days, which positively influences people’s perception of quality. 

Enhancements

Finally, the durability and composition of the silk cardstock make it the best choice for business card enhancement features like spot UV, embossing, and foil stamping. 

Spot UV business cards in particular offer a unique look, as the areas treated with the spot UV are slightly raised and shiny compared to the non-shiny silk cardstock.  Thus, the treated areas “jump off the page” and provide a striking visual impact.  It would not be possible to produce spot UV business cards on an inherently glossy cardstock.

Embossing also works better on silk business cards.  Embossing is the process of raising certain design elements by virtue of them getting “pushed through” from the backside.  The net effect is similar to the account number on a standard credit card, where the numbers are raised on the front and recessed on the back.  As you can probably guess, embossing is a delicate process that puts much stress on the cardstock, and thus is a more appropriate enhancement feature for durable business cards like silk.

Summary

To sum it all up, silk business cards are laminated, durable, writable, non-glossy, and support enhancement features.  Outside of metal business cards or plastic business cards, silk cards are generally considered the highest-end business cardstock in the market today.  They have an elegant look and feel, and do not have the same inconveniences as glossy business cards.  

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/what-are-silk-business-cards-1622119.html

    Article Tags:

    business card

    ,

    business cards

    ,

    silk business cards

    ,

    glossy business cards

    ,

    spot uv business cards

    ,

    metal business cards

    ,

    plastic business cards

    If you want your business card to stand out and generate a positive first impression, consider using your own design with spot UV. This technique involves applying ultra violet gloss to certain areas of the card – such as the logo or specific text elements – so that these areas stand out relative to the non-glossy background. The result, if done right, is a visually stunning business card that is sure to generate excitement and positive feelings about you and your company.

    By: Subbu Rethimanl Business> Human Resourcesl Jul 15, 2009 lViews: 1,589
    Marc Levack

    Today's business environment is ever changing. The way we advertise, the way we network even the way we communicate updates at a daily pace.

    By: Marc Levackl Advertising> Brandingl Nov 11, 2011
    Marc Levack

    Your business card is a very essential part of your business. Its identity is a way. It's how you appear to people who don't know about you yet. It definitely serves to create a first impression about your business. And you would definitely want to leave a lasting positive impression on your potential clients.

    By: Marc Levackl Business> Business Ideasl Mar 15, 2010

    Your business card is a critical marketing tool that communicates much more than just your contact information – it helps build a brand, create an identity, and establish an emotional connection with your customers. So, it’s important to get it right! Follow the tips below to maximize the impact of your business card and make that all-important amazing first impression.

    By: Subbu Rethimanl Businessl Jun 17, 2009

    If you had a big project come up for grabs, wouldn't you consider sending the best representative from the company that hones all the qualities to convince your clients to win over the project? Well, you would.

    By: Pipo Online Printingl Business> Business Ideasl Jul 06, 2011

    Find out the best advice on the way to apply Balanced Scorecard system in various companies. Find out more on Balanced Scorecard advantages in this article.

    By: Wendelll Business> Ask an Expertl May 25, 2012
    Gang Liu

    The current economic climate of China is growing at a rapid pace. China is even predicted too become the top manufacturer in the near future! China currently provides imported products to a majority of nations in the world today. One of these countries is Australia. In Australia, the wholesale business industry is a big success and many businessmen are looking for ways to make sure they improve their trading relationship with China.

    By: Gang Liul Business> Ask an Expertl May 25, 2012

    The most important thing to consider whenever creating business in south America is always to defeat the language barrier and a superb technique to do this if you are willing to know would be to master Spanish language as well as Portuguese.

    By: Kristy Turnerl Business> Ask an Expertl May 24, 2012

    The Latin America market is among the swiftest widening in the world that's the reason why it is an excellent spot to build organizations or purchase shares from countries in this region. The location has great macroeconomic principles and along with sound political weather, it is quite the spot for traders to put their money in.

    By: Kristy Turnerl Business> Ask an Expertl May 24, 2012

    TV distributors are extremely getting more intense with the promotional plans and methods they utilize to get clients. You need to give credit to many of these sellers as most of these techniques call for big amounts of money and creativity to draw in attention to their items and frequently, even poach prospective clients from their rivals.

    By: Kristy Turnerl Business> Ask an Expertl May 24, 2012

    Translucent business cards can offer a fresh look and feel, but if you are using your own artwork, there are a few considerations and best practices to keep in mind.

    By: Alan Kappaufl Business> Ask an Expertl Mar 29, 2010

    If you truly want premium business cards, finding a full bleed printer should be a priority. Full bleed printing facilitates edge-to-edge ink distribution for a striking visual appeal with no amateurish- looking borders. Read on to learn more…

    By: Alan Kappaufl Business> Ask an Expertl Feb 10, 2010 lViews: 191

    Utilizing a printing company for your business cards is a great idea, but there are 5 key issues that you must be aware of in order to ensure a flawless final product. Read on to learn about these issues and how to mitigate them.

    By: Alan Kappaufl Business> Ask an Expertl Dec 04, 2009

    Most professionals need a business card, yet most of the cards you will see are very cut and dry. There a few simple enhancements to your business card that can substantially increase its functional value. This article describes 4 ideas to enhance the value of your card without breaking the bank.

    By: Alan Kappaufl Business> Entrepreneurshipl Sep 30, 2009

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast