Files ready to print business cards with Microsoft Publisher

Designing the identity of small businesses while working to a budget that does not tend to hire a professional can be very frustrating. Print-ready digital graphics files must be created to a proper size, resolution and color mode. Provide poor graphics files to printers will result in a professional looking final product, it wont make a good impression on your customers and you might lose business.

This tutorial goes over the basics for creating digital graphics files for creating business cards, but can also be used to create other items of business stationery, including letterhead, envelopes, labels, compliments and graphics files by simply adjusting the size.

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

To create a new drawing 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 9.5 cm x 5.7 cm. The dimensions include the bleed of 3mm (8.5pt) business cards.

Be sure to set the printing options of 1 copy per sheet with paper copies for Option Exchange.

To set print options, select File> Print. From the drop-down list choose "Microsoft Office Document Image Writer". In the Print window, click Advanced Print Settings. In select Composite CMYK separations as output and set the resolution to 300x300. Close the Advanced Print Settings window by clicking OK and then just cancel the print dialog.

Margins of safety

To create a guide for the area of ​​safety where you can add your text and picture, turn on rulers by selecting View> Rulers. Now you can simply drag the guidelines out of the rulers in the desired position. You can remove the same way by simply dragging them back into the ruler.

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

Text and images you want to keep must be at least 3mm (8.5pt) inside the final size of your design (Safety Margins).

You should set the margins of safety guides and Bleed. For business cards set the guides to 3mm, 6mm, 51mm and 54mm vertically and 3mm, 6mm, 89 mm and 92 mm horizontally.

To save the document in Publisher select File> Safe As and save the drawing as a Publisher file. Send yours. Pub files technical@goodprint.co.uk, we convert it into an acceptable format, load it into a basket for you and e-mail a link to view the evidence and order .......