Designing your small business identity when working to a budget that doesn't stretch to hiring a professional can be very frustrating. Print ready digital artwork files need to be created to a correct size, resolution and color mode. Providing poor artwork files to printers will result in an unprofessional looking final product which wont make a positive impression on your customers and could loose you business.

This tutorial goes over the basics of creating digital artwork files for creating business cards; it can also be used to create other business stationery items including letterheads, compliments slips and label artwork files by simply adjusting the sizes.

Dimensions mentioned are for landscape business cards and should be transposed for portrait business cards.

To create a new artwork file in Microsoft Publisher select the document type Blank Publication > Business Card.

Adjust the size of the document by selecting File > Page Setup. For business cards set the size to 9.5cm x 5.7cm. The dimensions include the bleed of 3mm (8.5pt) business cards.

Make sure that you set the printing options to 1 copy per sheet using the Change Copies Per Sheet Option.

To set print options select File > Print. From the drop down menu choose "Microsoft Office Document Image Writer". In the print window click on Advanced Print Settings. Under Separations select Composite CMYK as Output and set the Resolution to 300x300. Close the Advanced Print Settings window by clicking OK and finally just cancel the print window.

Safety Margins

To create guides for the safe area in which you can add your design and text, switch on rulers by selecting View > Rulers. Now you can just drag the guidelines out of the rulers to the required position. You can remove them in the same way by just dragging them back into the ruler.

Any time an image or color is printed to the edge of a page, it must extend beyond the final dimensions of your job to allow for cutting. The size for the bleed of a business card must be exactly 3mm (8.5pt).

Text or artwork you wish to preserve must be at least 3mm (8.5pt) inside of the final dimension of your design (Safety Margins).

It is recommended that you set guides for Safety Margins and Bleed. For business cards set the guides to 3mm, 6mm, 51mm and 54mm vertically and 3mm, 6mm, 89mm and 92mm horizontally.

To save the document in Publisher select File > Safe As and save your artwork as a Publisher file. Email your .pub file to technical@goodprint.co.uk, we will convert it into an acceptable format, upload it into a basket for you and email you a link to view the proof and place your order.

Written for Goodprint Ltd, providors of instant online business cards and matching stationery via their website http://www.goodprint.co.uk.