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Biz Card... Paper ?
Posted by bradb1920 in
7 Aug 2003 — 9:45am
7 Aug 2003 — 9:45am
Not a typography question, but...
I have a very simple and understated design for a business card and have now started sourcing paper which is really going to complete this clean card. Do you think that 130lb double thick cover would be overkill? And, which finish should I lean towards... Wove or Linen?
Thanks,
BB
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7 Aug 2003 — 10:53am
Erm, I'm a big fan of wove - linen finishes on machine-made paper are a bit corny. IMHO. As far as 130#C goes, I don't think you necessarily need that weight. But I don't think it'd hurt either. I see so many cards these days on 80#C that 110# is enough of a breath of fresh air for me ;-)
7 Aug 2003 — 11:07am
Linen is corny because Staples uses it! Especially with thermography. Hmmm... nice and cheesy.
7 Aug 2003 — 11:14am
>Especially with thermography.
I just puked in my lap when I read this.
Incidentally Brad, you might look at French Paper (if you haven't already). They make very nice uncoated stock. They'll actually make custom weights and/or finishes if you want. I believe the thickest weight they regularly carry is a 21 point cover. The other nice thing is that you can buy direct from their website, rather than going through a huge distributor for a relatively small order.
7 Aug 2003 — 11:22am
>The problem with most (all?) linen papers is they are machine made.
Yeah, if they're actually handmade, then they can be great. I absolutely agree. But to fake a linen/laid/etc. finish on a machine is just ridiculous. Almost sinful...
7 Aug 2003 — 1:14pm
Mmm... Gmund. I don't think that they really can do wrong. excepting them, I would have to agree that linen isn't the way to go. I have to say that I'm partial to the double thick mohawk superfine, a paper that has become a habit that I just can't kick.
7 Aug 2003 — 2:24pm
> Linen ... thermography ... cheesy
But wait, it's so tactile, like slammed letterpress, right? :-/
hhp
7 Aug 2003 — 2:54pm
What's a good paper to use in a plain old laser printer? Looking for better stuff to print my resumes on when the time comes.
7 Aug 2003 — 3:00pm
Add to that, a good paper for laser-printed
type specimens...
any suggestions...
7 Aug 2003 — 3:05pm
French Smart White.
7 Aug 2003 — 3:24pm
I think Speckletone Basics is also laser/inkjet approved.
7 Aug 2003 — 3:45pm
I would agree with french smart white for cards and proofs, it's a nice, solid white. The only problem with using a laser printer for cards is that you are limited to the weight you can run through it-and toner has a habit of rubbing off after a while.
Try also Mohawk Najavo and Superfine, I've run both through a laser printer with great sucess.
Fox River Starwhite looks good, as do Gilbert Neutech and Realm
7 Aug 2003 — 5:46pm
>The only problem with using a laser printer for cards
I think I wasn't so clear - the laser printing compatability comment was for Colin (resumes) and BJ (specimens). I agree wholeheartedly with Ben - laser printing business cards is a bad idea. Smart White (and Speckletone) function very well in offset conditions. From my experience anyway. And letterpress for that matter.
I also must condone, without reservation, Ben's Mohawk Superfine habit. Be careful: it can lead to harder things. It's good to hear that it'll run through a laserjet.
>as do Gilbert Neutech...
Am I right in remembering that Neutech was introduced as a substrate for direct-to-plate printing? Or is my brain farting on me?
7 Aug 2003 — 8:49pm
I'm not sure if it was or not, but it's marketed as their "digital" paper. I have a vague memory of running it through a laser printer with good success before, and it has a nice opacity.
I kind of have a thing for seeing what will go through laser printers, my favorite of which is the HP 5000, which will take almost any kind of paper, as long as it's not too rough, including 90 pound watercolor paper. And don't forget printing black on black paper with a glossy color laser printer-subtle and delightful.
7 Aug 2003 — 9:07pm
>And don't forget printing black on black paper with a glossy color laser printer-subtle and delightful.
Sounds nice. I'll have to try that one.
I had a prof in grad school who used to run through two printers a year. She'd run 300# watercolor paper sewn together with yarn and collaged on through a HP inkjet on a daily basis. Unfortunately I've never had balls like that.
12 Aug 2003 — 7:53am
Thank you for all the feedback. I think I am going to go with Finch fine 130# bright white. Has anyone used /printed on this before? I will also look into Mohawk superfine and French smart white.
BB
22 Aug 2003 — 6:49am
Just wanted to thank everyone for recommending French Paper's Smart White. It's beautiful and I'm switching from Finch Pruyn's Fine White to French's for this project. Thanks again
Brad
7 Aug 2003 — 11:14am
The linen paper from Gmund, Valentinoise, is beautiful. The problem with most (all?) linen papers is they are machine made. And those machine made papers have sadly become associated with the corporate world of the 80s along with the colors PMS288 and PMS194.
So, I'm not disagreeing with you Keith, I'm just adding my 2 bits.
8 Aug 2003 — 5:48pm
If you are going with lithography, I rather like Potlatch McCoy Matte 100# for business cards. If you want something to set you apart, try Glama natural or one of Appleton's Curious line (translucent). A more subtle break from convention would be Strathmore Elements. For letterhead and envelopes, if you can afford it, nothing says it like 100% cotton.
If you're concerned about in house printing on a particular device, call and ask for some samples from the manufacturer, then run some test sheets through the printer in question.
Bill Lomax