Custom Designs
admin posted in Uncategorized on September 19th, 2008
Many things can be done for your custom design cards.
The front of the card can be designed with many different concepts and all the colours of the rainbow, plus startling mettalic and high gloss reflective surfaces. All cards are opaque with the general terms and conditions (and other features) on the back.
The back of the card is reserved by Cards4all, to communicate such messages as the general use of hte card. For example, can only be used at the issuing store, does not work with ATM, cannot take cash out of card, etc. Terms and conditions vary with the type of card.
If the Merchant requires their own terms and conditions, then this is best placed on the front of the card so as not to be confused with or lost amongst, the general terms and conditions governing the use of the card.
GENERAL ART IDEAS
Obviously a Logo is a great place to start.
The next consideration is to communicate what the card is. So if it is a gift card, tell the customer that, better yet, put a gift box on the front to show them. This will make it sell better, without anyone having to point out how the card benefits the customer. **Remember, our cards have NO VALUE on them until after you load that value onto them.
This means they can be presented throughout the store and the cash register – maximise your sales!
It is not neccessary to finalise the art, any sketches you wish to send to the art department are gratefully received (art@cards4all.com.au) and we will process your ideas into the final design. Or you can provide provide finished art, which we will print from.
GIFT CARDS - generally they are illustrated with a present and the phrase “Gift Card” in the top left corner because that is where people begin reading…. then the separate elements of who, what, where and advertising should follow.
LOYALTY REWARDS CARDS - generally a good idea to include a graphic like a present and the phrase “Loyatly Rewards” usually in the top-left corner.
PREPAID CARDS - use the phrase “Prepaid Card” and place this large an bold, near the top or top left of card.
EXPENSE CARDS - use the phrase “Expense Card” and place this large an bold, near the top or top left of card.
FUEL CARDS - use the phrase “Fuel Card” and place this large an bold, near the top or top left of card. Make the most of company branding of the fuel.
FUNDRAISER CARDS - use the phrase “Fundraiser” or “Fundraising” and place this large an bold, near the top or top left of card. Consider the use of sponsers Logos and supporting groups.
INCENTIVE CARDS - use the phrase “Gift Card” prominently, best in the top left corner. Be sure to add your SPECIFIC details like name, email and mobile phone number.
BUSINESS GIFT CARDS - use the phrase “Gift Card” prominently, best in the top left corner. Be sure to add your SPECIFIC details like name, email and mobile phone number.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS - use the phrase “Membership” prominently, and the details of the club, organisation, group or business with Logos.
EVENT PASSES - have the name and description of the event prominent, best placed in the centre near the top, with less important details like address, contact information on the front, but written smaller
CUSTOM CARD HOLDERS – be sure to think about how the card will look on the holder and arrange the information to suit, most card holders have the business name and logo on them usually top and centre.
COLOUR
When thinking about colour consider first the “branding” you have in place already. If you are a coca cola then you go with your specific red and then use contrasting colours to enhance that “branding”. Even small businesses may have already moved into “branding” of the business without realising it, A florist may be using a pretty blue in their windows, business cards, etc. A garden store may be using green to link to the psychological link associated with lush beautiful foliage. Go with a colour that your customers can link to you.
Apart from that, you may consider simple effects such as a white card which generally makes Logos and Photographs stand out. Others prefer really striking colours of pink and yellow or shiny. We dont recommend the use of very dark colours as it may overall not stand out and reduce the sale of the cards. Shiny cards include the gold, silver, chrome and other metallic effects. These do stand out and make very striking backgrounds or bold lettering, etc. Unfortunately, each of these “special effects” is an additional cost, over and above the base price of a card, for each card purchased.\
If colour is an important aspect of your design, the best way to get it right is to provide us with the specific CMYK mix – the professional 4 colour process (the printing is done in more colours but that is a technical print issue). This way when we go to print, we are using your specific colour. Colours may be different from what you see on your computer screen or from your printer, so if you have specific needs discuss this with the art department (via email) or provide the exact colour mix required. Please do remember, that there is some variation in the printing process and while all care is taken, there may still be a 8 % variation.
SIZE
What works on one scale, does not always work on another. Most obvious is small text, which you want to be readible, becomes unreadible due to shrinking to fit the space which you want it in. Remember not everyone has great eyesight either.
solution:
1> Fonts. Different fonts have greater readibility, try a simplier font, Times Roman has the highest readibility.
2> Background. Simplier background will enhance the readibility of everything on top of it.
3> Colour. Increasing contrast between background and font (or graphic) assists greatly. Remember some people are colour blind, green and red being the most common. What may appear a great colour combination may infact be completely the same colour to some people. Fonts are more readibile if they are dark on a light background. Amongst the highest readibility is dark blue on yellow.
SHAPE
YES, we can customise your card concept to look exactly the way you want. There are some practical considerations though, for instance, it needs to be easy to carry and able to work with everyday eftpos equipment. or ATM. There are standards to be used for financial and membership applications and the shape must accomodate the magnetic stripe.
Legal Issues to consider:
“gift card” reference
There are differences between giving a “gift” and providing a commission. As soon as you remove the “gift” reference, you change the nature of the card. There may be immediate TAX REPORTING and LEGAL implications which Im sure you would like to avoid.
As it stands, the gift is tax deductible business expense (for you) but doesnt have to be reported other than that. The person getting the gift may not need to declare it.
If your card indicates a $$$ amount or similiar offer, exclusion of the phrase “up to” will require you to reward your client with the full value of the offer. Many of our customers using incentive cards to generate new business or maintaining contact with clients make use of the “up to” concept to barter a great deal for their client and still keep a big offer on the card.
Variation from the terms “gift”, “loyalty”, “expense”, “prepaid”,”fundraiser”, “memebership” may introduce TAX reporting and Legal implications. Inclusion of other terms such as “referral” may have similiar implications.
**Of course we are not accountants. So please get independant advice regarding these legalities and the implications on any changes you wish to make.
Supplying Graphics – Logos, Photographs, etc.
In summary, the best advice is KISS
(Keep It Simple Silly).
Generally we maintain the CONCEPT of the card in the top left, the substance of who what where in the middle-bottom right and distribute additional information where it will fit.
This is how people process information. They start reading from the top left and go through to the bottom right corner.
So the best way to setup your card is to
TOP LEFT: what the card is about
BOTTOM RIGHT: who we are
The art department is always happy to assist.
To look into the FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions, there are many answers about cards and design.
I hope this is helpful, one way of judging these things is printing them onto paper, cut them into separate images, then put them a distance away and see which one still conveys the message -
BUY ME
IM A CARD YOU WANT.