Raised business cards are one of those specialist business cards that have been there for years. Raised printing, also known as thermography, can add a third dimension to your business card, giving your cards depth that people can’t resist to touch.
How does thermography or raised printing differ from other printing process? Raised business cards are printed just like other cards via offset printing. However, in thermography, a special powder is sprayed on the card while the ink is still wet. The powder then sticks to the wet ink then the cards are exposed to an ultra-violet ‘curer’ that bakes the powder/ink part of the thermo card. You can choose glossy, flat or metallic finishes for your raised business cards.
Thermography is similar to the process of engraving but the procedure is fairly simpler as lesser raw materials are required. Apart from that, it is also more cost effective and effective in the long run because the dye does not run out or get washed away if a liquid is to fall on it.
However, if you are the designer it is important to understand the limitations when designing a thermographed or raised business card.
1) Avoid any type that is very small, or thin since the thermo process can easily fill-in gaps between characters on small type.
2) Thermo cannot be applied to tints (e.g. 50% red) as these would need to be printed separately, which means additional cost. In other words, elements of a design that you want to be thermographed should be in spot colors or solid ink. Thus, it is impossible to thermograph a multi-colored logo
3) Forget CMYK. You need to supply the printer the Pantone or the colors and spot colors that you used in the design.
Below are some good examples of raised business cards:
Raised Business Cards 01-Linen Business Cards with thermography
Linen’: fabric textured white business card starting. Great with raised ink option!
Raised Business Cards 02-Juice Lighting
The card utilizes a special kind of printing called thermography. This heat-set ink leaves a raised and almost rubbery image on the paper. Here we used clear thermography on a solid field of the Juice pink to create a wet look and enhance the tactile experience with the card.
Raised Business Cards 03-Polydesign
Two different business cards for a interior design firm. Printed in thermography on extra-white uncoated paper.
Raised Business Cards 04-Nathan McCarthy
Raised Business Cards 05-Thermography and Offset Business Card
Raised Business Cards 06-Thermography and Offset Business Card
Raised Business Cards 07-Rampart Investment Mangement
Raised Business Cards 08-Linen Business Cards with thermography
Raised Business Cards 09-Linen Business Cards with thermography
Raised Business Cards 10-Goose
Raised Business Cards 11-Linen Business Cards with thermography
