At Impact Printers & Lithographers, we take pride in delivering high-quality business card printing services designed to make a lasting impression. Your business card is often the first thing a potential client or partner sees, and we believe it should reflect the professionalism and identity of your brand. To empower our customers, we want to provide clear and sufficient information to help them make informed decisions for their orders.
On this page, we’ll guide you through an important choice in business card printing — coated versus uncoated cards. Understanding the difference between these two options, with insight from a seasoned business card printer, will help you select the style and finish that suits your business needs and personal preferences. Your perfect business card starts here when you reach out for guidance and printing.
The Importance of Business Cards in Professional Activities
Business cards remain an essential tool for professionals, serving as tangible representations of identity and brand. They’re invaluable during networking events, allowing professionals to leave a lasting impression by sharing their contact information in a sleek and convenient format. For example, after meeting a potential client at a conference, handing them a well-designed business card ensures they can easily follow up, fostering future collaboration.
Business cards also strengthen customer connections because they present a professional image and demonstrate preparedness. Imagine a real estate agent providing a client with a card. This simple act can inspire trust and reinforce their reliability. Additionally, business cards provide opportunities for creativity. Unique designs or finishes can make professionals stand out in competitive industries.
What Makes Coated & Uncoated Business Cards Different?
Understanding the difference between coated and uncoated business cards ensures you know which option is the best one for your professional needs. Impact Printers & Lithographers has ample experience printing business cards of all types and will gladly work with you to determine all the details of your order. To start the process, we’ve provided some valuable information below about coated and uncoated business cards:
Coated Business Cards
Coated cards are known for their sleek matte or glossy finish, offering a noticeable shine that enhances their appeal. The coating ensures vibrant, crisp colors by keeping the ink on the surface, making logos and images appear sharper and more defined. This makes coated stock a popular choice for photographers, designers, restaurateurs, and artists looking to showcase their work in the best possible way. Adding an ultraviolet (UV) high gloss coating can also give your cards a luxurious touch. However, it’s worth noting that the shiny coating can make writing on these cards difficult because it creates a smooth, non-absorbent surface. Some advantages of investing in coated business cards include the following:
- Ideal for anyone prioritizing visual appeal
- Durable against damage, dirt, and moisture
- Uses less ink compared to uncoated paper
- Clean and polished appearance
- Sleek and refined texture
- Quick and hassle-free production
Uncoated Business Cards
Uncoated business cards offer a natural feel with no gloss, making them perfect for writing on with ease. They’re an excellent option for anyone who might need to jot down notes or extra details on the card. Whether it’s you or your client adding important information, uncoated cards are incredibly practical. This feature makes them especially useful in situations where flexibility is vital.
Uncoated paper stocks are also commonly used for items like stationery, standard envelopes, newsletters, and budget-friendly flyers. You’ve likely seen appointment reminders or notes written on uncoated cards — highlighting their everyday functionality. Below are examples of the advantages uncoated cards offer:
- Simple to write on
- Stylish design with a quality finish
- Available in many themes, colors, and textures
- Produces brighter results on uncoated paper
- Uncoated paper has a natural, textured feel
Which Business Card Option Is the Best One for You?
Impact Printers & Lithographers is proud of its history as a trusted business card printer for professionals in any industry. We strive to ensure every customer gets the look and features they want and need for their business cards, helping them with networking, communication, and other essential activities. Knowing if you should get coated or uncoated business cards requires consideration of elements like colors, finishes, durability, and prices. Below, we compare these factors between coated and uncoated business cards:
Colors in Business Cards
When creating business cards, choosing the right colors and materials is crucial to achieving the perfect look. To ensure accurate colors, use a Pantone CMYK guide. For uncoated cards, keep two things in mind: the paper’s shade (whether bright white, warm, or off-white) can alter your chosen colors, and uncoated papers absorb ink differently, affecting the final result.
For coated cards, similar considerations apply. The base color of the paper can influence the appearance of your design, and coatings or laminations add texture, which can subtly shift how colors appear. If color accuracy is critical, request a hard copy proof from our printers to review the final look before approving full production. While slight color variations aren’t noticeable for most, taking these steps ensures a polished, professional result for your business cards.
Choosing Your Finish
When designing business cards, it’s important to think beyond colors and consider finishes or special printing options. For uncoated cards, the number of colors plays a significant role as printers often utilize PMS Offset Printing, which limits color options. Using more than four PMS colors can drive up costs and extend production time. Unique finishes for uncoated cards include embossing, engraving, letterpress, and raised ink, each of which is tailored to uncoated paper.
Coated business cards, on the other hand, are more versatile, leveraging modern printing techniques that work well for vibrant, colorful designs. They offer finishes like raised or flat spot UV and foil, and you can enhance their feel with silk or suede lamination. You can also customize coated cards with matte or glossy looks, making them an excellent choice for a polished and professional impression.
Business Card Durability
It’s surprising that uncoated paper often costs more than coated paper, especially since coated paper is more durable. Coated paper has a laminated surface, making it resistant to wear, moisture, and dirt,which is why coated business cards can survive being wet or handled repeatedly while still looking great. In contrast, uncoated paper is more natural and environmentally delicate but less durable.
If you work in industries where your business cards may be exposed to tougher conditions, coated paper is the better choice. However, for more formal or corporate settings, uncoated paper offers a clean, professional look. Ultimately, the type of paper you choose depends on your needs, but both options can suit different scenarios effectively.
Consider the Prices
The price difference between coated and uncoated paper comes down to materials and production. Paper is primarily made from wood fibers, and the more natural fibers it contains, the higher the cost. Uncoated paper is typically more natural, relying less on artificial materials, often making it more expensive than coated options. Coated paper, on the other hand, integrates additional materials and finishes, offering a cost-effective solution with a polished look.
If you’re working within a budget but still want durable, professional business cards, coated paper options like 16pt matte cards are an excellent choice. Do you prefer the texture and feel of uncoated paper? Keep in mind it usually comes at a higher price. Another tip is thinner paper stocks are generally cheaper, so consider this when managing your printing costs.
Reach Out to Impact Printers & Lithographers Today
Let Impact Printers & Lithographers handle all your professional printing needs, including sales sheets, brochures, business forms, and business cards. We’re always ready to work with you and produce high-quality printed goods that meet your expectations. For business cards, we’ll gladly print coated or uncoated cards, depending on your needs and preferences. Contact us today to get started on business cards your clients and colleagues will admire.
