Maybe you’ve heard about metal business cards and you’re curious. Maybe you were given one by someone you networked with and were blown away. Maybe you’re just here as a result of a weird internet knowledge binge. No matter why you’re here, we’re happy to have you!Metal business cards are an incredibly unique way to up your networking game. When you hand someone a metal business card with your beautiful logo and information engraved or printed on, you will present an elevated image of yourself and your business right off the bat. When the card is customized perfectly to your business, from the type of metal to the finish to the logo, you’re going to make an amazing first impression.
But how do you get your hands on one? Just follow these 10 steps:

1. Decide where you want to get your cards from

You have a few different options when you’re deciding this step. The most streamlined choice is to order from an online printer (yes, hi, that’s us). Sun One provides one-on-one consultation with our expert designers that know what type of logo will look best on our cards, how to translate your logo to the metal card best, and even a free typography service for any written content. The cards, if we do say so ourselves, turn out looking extremely well-done and professional.

If you want more information on how we create our business cards, check out our post on how metal business cards are made.

If you decide to order your metal business cards through Sun One, just follow these easy steps:

2. Create your design

The design you want depends on what you will be using the card for, so do some thinking first about who you want to give your card to, and what information you want them to have. Is just your logo enough? Do you want your name and email or telephone included? It all depends on context.

If you choose to have your logo on the card, it will need to be in vector format to be applied to the card. Logos that are impactful and bring something special to the texture of the metal work best. If you have a vector artwork (in CDR, PDF, or ESP format) then you can just send it straight over to us! If not, we’ll set you up with our expert in-house designers that can help you create the perfect image. If you want help with your font, we also have expert typographers that can make your information shine with the right font.

3. Select your material

There are a few different options for the sheet metal material. The usual material used is stainless steel – it’s strong, wear-resistant, and has a nice modern feel to it. We also offer brass and aluminum, and gold if you want it laser engraved.

The base material will receive a plating if you want something other than the above options, but will show through if you get it laser engraved.

4. Choose size and thickness

We offer various sizes and thicknesses for different uses. A member card is typically a little bit smaller than a business card, and we also offer larger VIP Pass cards, as well as our largest size, which is an invitation card. We can also make them a specific, custom size if you need it!

The thickness is also usually dependent on what the card is being used for. A name card is the thinnest, a member card is a bit thicker, a smart card and opener are a bit thicker than that. If you need a custom thickness, we’re happy to talk with you about what your options are.

5. Decide what background color and shading

We’re starting to get to the fun stuff! The background color is what the card will be plated with. We offer gold, silver, black, rose gold, red bronze, and green bronze. Each color offers a unique feel and brings something special to your design.

A gold plating is a bit more traditional, whereas a silver one is more sleek. The black option is modern, rose gold is stylish, and the bronze options are both unique and classic. Choosing the right plating color depends on what kind of image you want to portray with your card, and what fits best with your business.

The shading is also an important choice! It will frame your logo and information in a unique way that makes it stand out and brings some extra texture.

6. Pick a finish

We offer a variety of finishes depending on what you’re looking for. A shiny finish brings out the natural shine and color of the plating. A sand finish is cool and textured a bit roughly, whereas the cloth finish is also textured but in a smoother way that mimics woven fabric. The brushed finish helps them last even longer and disguises any fingerprints, and the mirror finish brings some extra pizzazz. It all depends on what you’re looking to convey.

7. Choose a logo effect

There are quite a few logo effects to choose from that highlight different qualities and components of the metal. The shine (plated) effect allows the natural metal to shine through, while the printed effect is printed on top of the finish. Die cut is extremely unique, as it creates a 3D effect within the card. There is also etching and half etching, a textured overlay, laser engraving, and a combination of half etching and laser engraved.

Choosing the right effect will depend a lot on the type of logo and information you have. It should complement the overall design and not overpower it. Our designers are happy to help you make these decisions.

8. Extras?

In this step, you let us know if you need anything like a serial number, bar code, or QR code added to the card.

9. Send the information to us (we will help you)

Once you make these decisions, and start to get an idea of what you want, get in touch with us! We’re happy to walk you through the process and discuss your options with you.

10. Proof and approve

Once you have a design you’re happy with, we create a design file and email it to you in a jpg file. If you’re happy with it, you approve it and we get started.