Business cards is very important in my line of work,  that’s why I always update all my cards for specific target market. Come join me how I design my new stylist and unique business cards using Adobe Photoshop CS4 – Trial Version. Also I will share my clients Business Cards that I design.

Concept and Preparation

First of all before I start designing creatives I always make some concepts sketch base on client’s or my ideas, this make me more productive, I can plan ahead for possible issue that I may encounter also help me work more focus. I usually use different lines, basically circle represent logos this also apply to all of my printing and web development projects. I like the round design dye cut type below, problem with this kind of design is the extra cost for dye cutting. But business card with rounded corner are Awesome! so I still go for this design.
I want to design a card that have texture effects and blended my new painting in the front, for back portion some selected paintings I done. Its like a mini portfolio. I found a texture brush that I can use in this project. I like to discuss about making texture but I’m in to thigh schedule now maybe in next projects. I download this texture brush series at http://www.brushking.eu/ just click the graphic below to download.

Books you can use as reference

Lets Start now!

Launch Adobe Photoshop and create new file settings bellow. Actually you can use other application like illustrator in designing business card but here I want to add texture and graphics. It depends what your trying to achieve if you are in to simple and vector like design use Illustrator or corel draw. About Color mode I choose RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color sometime the four color base CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) ask your printing service what color mode that they can handle, this is base of what kind of printer they have. Resolution is 300 dpi for good quality print out.

I also advice to save it in Preset so when you need to design again like this you just choose in preset dialog and you save time in profiling hard to remember settings.

Lets load our Texture brushes, just follow the bellow screen shots and browse the 299-random_splatter_brushes_ps7__by_keepwaiting.abr that we downloaded.

Next step is to create a Folder and choose the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) new layer will be created automatically as shown in bellow screen shot, just click the images to view in large size. Now I need to reshape the rounded rectangle to make it our base shape for dye cut design. Choose the Direct Selection Tool (A) and follow the bellow screen shots.

At this stage I’m ready to apply the texture >>> Hit Windows >>> Brushes then select the texture brush.

I created new layer and I start applying texture on the rounded area I just play until I get the effect I want.

Now I need to duplicate the Shape layer for border layer and change the color to white then apply Free Transform Path like shown in screen shots bellow, Change the layer blending mode to overlay and change the layer opacity to somewhere 70% , Apply Layer Styles settings shown below.

Time to add my logo signature and position it apply layer effects.

I open the graphics and add to the design, the challenge is I must blend the texture I created to the graphics, I merge the two elements using eraser tool and erase the edges of painting

I need to delete the white portion I just use Magic Wand to select this and hit delete.

At this stage the front front design is already finish, I create new folder name it Back and duplicate the main shape and drag it to the Back folder.

Adding the back design graphic, I open my old design file and copy and paste it to my new business card design.

I need to follow the shape of my design so I click and hold command the shape layer and hit Select >>> Inverse >>> then hit delete.

Now we need to flip this back design to horizontally to follow the front design.

Lets check my design this is the front design because the front folder layer is visible.

Now the back folder is visible.

Nice I’m very happy of the outcome, bellow is the presentation.

Some of my old designs and my client business cards that I design.

Thank you and God bless!!!