Business Card Star Makes At-Home Card Printing A Snap
Think about the per-card cost of most commercial business card printers, and you’ll likely feel a bit taken. Business Card Star makes designing and printing a professional, eye-catching card at home a viable alternative.
The site’s main function is a step-by-step design and print flow, giving you a choice of dozens of templates—”Elegant,” “Geometric,” and the like—that don’t look cheesy or scream “I just graduated from Print Shop Pro!” After moving through the Flash-based design app that has only the buttons you need, you’re asked if you want to send your design off to the site’s commercial printing partners, or—since you came this far—print them yourself. The output PDF file you’ll download is compatible with a whole host of Avery-brand card stock packages, both 8 and 10 cards per sheet. And that’s it, assuming your printer can turn out decent material on its high-quality setting.
Business Card Star is free to use, requires a sign up to save your finished cards on the site.Thanks Susy!
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
These business cards are crap. Mine doesn't fit in a Rolodex, it doesn't belong in a Rolodex. (It just had to be said.)
a previous article on lifehacker made me get some cards printed professionally. This site looks awesome though.
I just had 250 double sided cards printed for $20. The cost per card may be higher but it will look much better.
@phlyingpenguin: Your post could use some elaboration. Did you print your cards using this site? Did you have them printed by their professional printer, or did you print them yourself?
How can it not fit in a rolodex? Those things are frickin' huge. B'sides, WTF uses a rolodex anymore anyway?
Thud
Nothing screams "low rent, no budget, flying on a wing and a prayer" like a business card printed on tear off paper bought at an office supply store.
Swallow hard and ante up for professional printing on heavyweight paper if you want to be taken seriously.
Thud
@Thud:
True, but I'd guess a lot of people here just want personal cards to give out their contact info, or they openly do work on the side (let's say web developers, graphic artists, etc) and aren't trying to say "I have a 10 person company, this is my full-time gig, etc..."
Trust me, I have a consulting company with staff, they have real cards, it's important for our image (people bill out at a high rate), and I understand your point. But it's not always necessary.
Yeah, totally agree with Thud. Also, good luck getting those tear-off business cards from Office Max aligning correctly in your printer and printing nicely. I would recommend VistaPrint.com. Used them in the past and was very pleased with the service and resulting cards.
They are losing whole sessions of work, so be careful, I wasted 20+ minutes, thank you SAAS.
Alan Wilensky
@+ Watch video
@christian ross:
I Heart that Video. I laughed when I saw it a couple weeks ago.
cheeser83
@christian ross:
I Heart that Video. I laughed when I saw it a couple weeks ago.
cheeser83
@christian ross:
I Heart that Video. I laughed when I saw it a couple weeks ago.
cheeser83
Go to www.Moo.com they are the best for printing business cards IMO.
Jonny Lindsay
Go to www.Moo.com they are the best for printing business cards IMO.
Jonny Lindsay
Go to www.Moo.com they are the best for printing business cards IMO.
Jonny Lindsay
Maybe its not so bad.
Alan Wilensky
Maybe its not so bad.
Alan Wilensky
Maybe its not so bad.
Alan Wilensky
I really don't think the money saved is worth the image (Personal Image) lost. Online business card look professional while tear-away ones look crappy and I had a hard time even getting it line up right when I tried it a few months ago
I really don't think the money saved is worth the image (Personal Image) lost. Online business card look professional while tear-away ones look crappy and I had a hard time even getting it line up right when I tried it a few months ago
I really don't think the money saved is worth the image (Personal Image) lost. Online business card look professional while tear-away ones look crappy and I had a hard time even getting it line up right when I tried it a few months ago
The snap-out version of the DIY business cards aren't so bad. They separate cleanly without those hideous perforated edges and you can get them in fairly heavy paper (for regular printers). That said, professionally printed cards are not very expensive and are worth the price. Are people really burning through stacks of business cards so fast that the cost is an issue? If so, business is probably going to be good and can cover the cost :)
TobyM
The snap-out version of the DIY business cards aren't so bad. They separate cleanly without those hideous perforated edges and you can get them in fairly heavy paper (for regular printers). That said, professionally printed cards are not very expensive and are worth the price. Are people really burning through stacks of business cards so fast that the cost is an issue? If so, business is probably going to be good and can cover the cost :)
TobyM
@BrianH:
C'mon, even for personal use, a decent looking, professionally printed card is pretty darned cheap these days. Or as someone else mentioned, trying something whimsical from Moo.com or some of the other online print services.
The DIY Avery card thing is fine if you don't care about your image (i.e., you frequently leave the house in a wormy t-shirt and sweatpants) or if your car is broken and you can't make it to Kinko's (er, FedEx Office) yet you magically have Avery business cards at home.
Deprong Mori
When I first saw the headline "Business Card Star", it made me think of this guy:
+ Watch video
He takes himself waaaaay too seriously. I'm not sure what he would think of these business cards. ;)
jpurdy
Online printing services: Hive Five suggestion?
Ockham
@vinylkemist: Ditto on VistaPrint. I've gotten great cards from them and they weren't expensive at all. Even double-sided printing isn't too pricey. I can't imagine that the Avery tearoffs are cheap enough to make the difference worth it.
Mr_Human
Hmmm, I wonder if there's any way to fit beef jerky into my printer.... [www.boingboing.net]
gtheule
@BobBlackburn: Where did you get this done?
pvcrisp
@Jonny Lindsay:
ditto.
I was in a situation a few years back where my Boss was too "pilled" to do his job. I asked for cards and was told I didn't need them. I made my own. I handed them out as needed. A Rep. asked me about the card I had given him. I had to explain the situation. This Rep. ended up saving us quite a bit of money and the project went very smooth. Toward the end of the project the Rep. stopped in. My Manager happened to be there. The Rep. produced my card and mentioned that he was glad I printed them. My Manager knew nothing of them. Two days later I had professionally printed cards on my desk.
Every single employee you have represents your Company.
Nedly
I was in a situation a few years back where my Boss was too "pilled" to do his job. I asked for cards and was told I didn't need them. I made my own. I handed them out as needed. A Rep. asked me about the card I had given him. I had to explain the situation. This Rep. ended up saving us quite a bit of money and the project went very smooth. Toward the end of the project the Rep. stopped in. My Manager happened to be there. The Rep. produced my card and mentioned that he was glad I printed them. My Manager knew nothing of them. Two days later I had professionally printed cards on my desk.
Every single employee you have represents your Company.
Nedly
@cheeser83: Ahaha... I have not seen this before. What a pretentious prick! It took him 25 YEARS to design a piece of paper (that I bet he didn't even design himself). It has a pop-up that I'll bet the 3 year olds will be impressed with.
I've never had any problems with the "tear away" business cards. This coming from someone who's used them since the mid-90's. Folks who are complaining either got crappy card stock or don't know how to use a word processor.
The tear-offs are handy when you don't want to print 200+ at a time or your information changes often enough. Just get a really high quality card stock and you'll be fine. If you have or work for a company, then there's no excuse to get the professional ones.
This would make an excellent "Hive Five" list. I've personally heard a lot of good news about VistaPrint.
QADude
@christian ross: Whups. Sad part is that here at work, got no speakers hooked to the 'puter, so I can't even figure out what I missed. So sad.
Thud
@christian ross: Whups. Sad part is that here at work, got no speakers hooked to the 'puter, so I can't even figure out what I missed. So sad.
Thud
ill stick with inkscape and overnightprints.com ive used them 3 times for 500 card orders and they came out right everytime
darchinst
@christian ross: This is the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Who is this guy?
Andy Cairns
@christian ross: This is the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Who is this guy?
Andy Cairns
@christian ross: This is the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Who is this guy?
Andy Cairns
+ Watch video
I would throw away your card!
felixxx999
+ Watch video
I would throw away your card!
felixxx999
Man guess i better get back into business and stop being lazy. I will print 1000 full color double sided cards for $50. 14pt high gloss and UV coated. I usually would charge 80 but lets make this a lifehacker deal.
Adam Hummel
Man guess i better get back into business and stop being lazy. I will print 1000 full color double sided cards for $50. 14pt high gloss and UV coated. I usually would charge 80 but lets make this a lifehacker deal.
Adam Hummel
Re-second VistaPrint. You may need to learn some about how to get non-jaggy graphics (Inkscape lets you create useful vector/Illustrator-style files) if you want a custom look. Otherwise, VP's templates and online creator work great. High quality product, low prices.
SavieroMouse
Re-second VistaPrint. You may need to learn some about how to get non-jaggy graphics (Inkscape lets you create useful vector/Illustrator-style files) if you want a custom look. Otherwise, VP's templates and online creator work great. High quality product, low prices.
SavieroMouse
I've always been pleased with Vistaprint. Good quality stock. Low prices. They nail me with daily emails of their promotions, which is annoying, but those are the lowest prices. They are always offering free items, including premium business cards. You just pay shipping. As I say, I'm a happy repeat customer. I live in Canada, but find the US .com site to have better deals.
LucianaJocasta
I've always been pleased with Vistaprint. Good quality stock. Low prices. They nail me with daily emails of their promotions, which is annoying, but those are the lowest prices. They are always offering free items, including premium business cards. You just pay shipping. As I say, I'm a happy repeat customer. I live in Canada, but find the US .com site to have better deals.
LucianaJocasta
If you're good with Photoshop or Illustrator, you can design your business card with that, then upload to a site like zazzle.com. I got some very reasonably priced business cards that way, and I didn't have to deal with perforated edges or anything like that.
dawnsrecipes.com
If you're good with Photoshop or Illustrator, you can design your business card with that, then upload to a site like zazzle.com. I got some very reasonably priced business cards that way, and I didn't have to deal with perforated edges or anything like that.
dawnsrecipes.com
123Print.com is also a great source for professionaly printed business cards.
AcanthaMaguire
123Print.com is also a great source for professionaly printed business cards.
AcanthaMaguire
@Adam Hummel: count me in. that's a great price. what varnish are you using?
mfusion
@Adam Hummel: count me in. that's a great price. what varnish are you using?
mfusion
@Deprong Mori: i agree, to save costs, have the cards printed when there are full color deals and put registration marks for cutting. then either use the circle cutter to get them right, or use your guillotine cutter at home. you do have a guillotine cutter don't you?
also recommended, use 65 lb stock. it feels like a card without the cost of full card stock.
mfusion
@Deprong Mori: i agree, to save costs, have the cards printed when there are full color deals and put registration marks for cutting. then either use the circle cutter to get them right, or use your guillotine cutter at home. you do have a guillotine cutter don't you?
also recommended, use 65 lb stock. it feels like a card without the cost of full card stock.
mfusion
@phlyingpenguin: Ha. But still, ((prepares for slings and arrows)) I assume I'm one of the few people here that actually likes some of the points he makes -- especially the line about "life isn't about being liked, it's about being effective".
bmh
@christian ross: That's hilarious. Almost as funny as the talk about business cards in American Psycho.
I had mine and my fiance's business cards done at overnightprints.com. Pricing is very affordable, the cardstock is very thick and has substance (15pt cardstock is used) full colour with glossy front and matte finish on back, if 2 sided cards are desired. You can use the online card builder, which has many samples to start you off with, or you can submit your own design. The Instructions are easy to follow and the they even provide a template to use for photoshop if you to relinquish more control over design process.
I purchased 2000 cards for under $150.00 CDN, and it would've easily had cost me triple or quadruple that if I had printed locally here in Vancouver.
Scott Young
I had mine and my fiance's business cards done at overnightprints.com. Pricing is very affordable, the cardstock is very thick and has substance (15pt cardstock is used) full colour with glossy front and matte finish on back, if 2 sided cards are desired. You can use the online card builder, which has many samples to start you off with, or you can submit your own design. The Instructions are easy to follow and the they even provide a template to use for photoshop if you to relinquish more control over design process.
I purchased 2000 cards for under $150.00 CDN, and it would've easily had cost me triple or quadruple that if I had printed locally here in Vancouver.
Scott Young
@Thud: I agree that I wouldn't print them on avery for business purposes (though you seem to miss the fact that they do link you to pro printers), but this is absolutely perfect for my wife, who is a stay at home mom.
I picked a basic but somewhat interesting style, have it give all her personal contact info including the ages of our 3 kids, and printed out 20. Now when she's trying to lasso the little-un's, get the car door open, and give someone her phone/email/etc. and make sure she can connect again with another mom she met at the park she just whips one of these out the front pocket of her purse.
For that purpose, it's perfect!
@gtheule: You just need the right kind of LAZOR printer.
@Thud: I don't hand out business cards to that kind of high level critic. :)
Seriously, though, my Avery cards on ivory stock are good enough for most purposes, and perfect for trade shows where you're handing out cards like there's no tomorrow. For anything that requires spiffier presentatons there is the awesome-ness that is Moo.
I worked in a print shop for a few years, and most basic business card can be done at home for much cheaper on your laser or inkjet printers. Sometimes with better results.
Even if your printer is crap, design your cards on and have it printed at Kinkos or Staples or wherever 10-up on a sheet of 8.5"x11" cardstock. Cut em out at home. My last order was $1.75, for 100 sheets (1,000 cards).
Go to [www.printpelican.com] with your PDF. 500 cards with UV coating on 120 PT stock starting at $23.60 shipped to your door in the US and Canada (prices in USD)
Roy Morris
@LucianaJocasta: Check out printpelican.com, they beat the price. At the very least get vistaprint to do a price match on them.
Roy Morris
sorry i lied 14 pt stock
Roy Morris
Please, people, have a real printer make your cards. I spend about $50-60 for FIVE THOUSAND cards. Printed and shipped. Full color on both sides of really heavy glossy cardstock. When it comes to cards, it's all about gotprint.com.
Seriously:
In the last weeks, I feel that lifehacker promotes a whole lot of online services. I find that dangerous. All these services that have been promoted here, will some day flash back on their users. Who knows what such online services will decide in half a year how they handle the precious data they are submitted? No matter if it's pictures, to-do-lists or as here, real addresses and contact info. Just as facebook had not changed its terms of services (okay, I know they took them back...but that's not gonna happen everywhere. I consider that a serious warning shot).
So please, lifehacker: Less information about websites that collect information.
BillyPreston
@Thud: I'm afraid I have to agree. It really isn't that expensive to get some decent cards printed. That is of course if it's for some kind of business.
If you just want to give your information to someone else and what they think of the card couldn't possibly affect you (in the form of lost business or opportunity), then I guess this could work.
superFLYguyO
Re-second VistaPrint. You may need to learn some about how to get non-jaggy graphics (Inkscape lets you create useful vector/Illustrator-style files) if you want a custom look. Otherwise, VP's templates and online creator work great. High quality product, low prices.
ChapmanCatreus
How is this info any different than my publicly available resume?
ColemanShard
I wish I had had these when my 1st business didnt go...it would be a lot nicer to look back if I had these cards as a reminder! As for current business, this is great way to be remembered
MonroeHalomiosis
These cards would look great with a cheap suit from Sears.
UrsaHippodamia
But why print at home wehn you ca print some free business cards? I printed cards on-line and they turned out great! :-)
AnnataThunderbird
If you can't stand the tear-off business card stock that you find in the stores - look hard for the perforation-free business card stock (they DO exist!). It is the same Letter size (or A4 perhaps?) but there are no perforations at all - none - nada - zip.
Not as good as a professional printer - and no double-sided cards - but very nice nonetheless. The cards are stuck to a backing with some kind of super-cling - no residue at all. Works very well!