Unlike some other add-ons, foil stamping is an attractive option that’s available to everyone. That includes non design types. That’s because it can be applied to virtually any element on the card — even text for example, so graphic design skills are not necessarily needed.

Naturally, foil business cards are a cool, unique and attractive compared to standard business cards. They portray a sense of class and style that image-minded businesses and individuals really like.

Since real metal foil is applied to the card, those elements maintain a shiny reflective look compared to the rest. The effect can be as simple or as detailed as you desire/

Foil stamping is a great way to make your business card stand out from the pack. People look at them longer and remember them better. As with any interesting card, the more unique it is, the more likely your friends, associates and customers are to share or show it to others – thereby building your brand and possibly earning you referrals.

For anyone who considers this medium to be one of their primary marketing tools, this can be a very important quality indeed!

How are foil business cards created and made?

The process may vary a bit from printer to printer, but generally the first step is to create a file with the complete design – in other words, all of the graphic and text elements together. This is what is to be printed first onto the paper.

Once the card is printed, the foil is then added where you want it.

The way this works is through a “mask file” – which tells the machine, specifically where the foil is to be applied. For example, the mask may be black and white. Wherever there’s black the foil is applied, wherever there is white, it’s not. In other words, all of the graphic design, text, and shapes on the original document are left out of this one, except for the parts of the card where the foil is to be applied.

It’s fairly simple to do and if you’re not a designer, your printer will certainly be able to help you.

There are many people that get online every day to shop. Shopping on the internet is much more convenient than it is to go to a local store. There is some important information that you need to know before you start shopping online. This article is going to tell you what that information is:

1. Research all potential merchants ‘websites thoroughly. As with mall shopping, it is easy to get drawn into a merchant’s website by flashy ads, beautiful pictures of their clothing, sporting equipment or whatever is you are shopping around for, and proclamations of the lowest prices in town. This is not to suggest that you should not visit these sites-in fact, you might find some hidden gems underneath the flashiness, but proceed with caution.

When looking through a merchant’s website, considering the following: Is the site secure? You can find this out by looking at the merchant’s web address. If there is an “s” after the http, on the payment page, then you can feel confident that the website is secure. Is there a small padlock featured in the bottom left hand corner of your screen? If the padlock is open, the site is un-secure and proceed with high caution.

Do the merchants feature their physical address and a contact phone number? This is an indicator of a company that can be trusted. You can also look up companies through the Better Business Bureau. These things can tell you a lot about the merchant and if they are someone you should be working with.

2. Question the offers. You may be in awe of what some merchants seem to be offering you (75% off, free shipping, even free laptops) but make sure you investigate everything. If you’re not comfortable figuring out what is really being offered by browsing online, do things the old fashioned way and get some customer support on the phone. Often times, if it looks too good to be true, it is. Getting the full detailed disclosure can prevent you from making a purchase you’ll regret later.

3. Use a credit card. Normally, using credit cards is not always the best way to use your purchasing power. However, in the case of online shopping, using a credit card is the best way to protect yourself. If you buy something online using a credit card and something goes awry, you are protected by the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. You can dispute any charges made on your credit card, and you are able to withhold any payments during a creditor investigation.

Having one credit card used for online purchases will help in making all of this even more manageable. Make sure your credit card is a genuine credit card, not just a bank or ATM card with credit card-esque powers.

4. Do not give out your Social Security number. You should never be required to give out your Social Security number when purchasing anything online. It is just not information that an online retailer needs, so run fro the hills if you come across a merchant’s site that asks for that information.

5. Be specific with your search engine. If you just type in “blue jeans” you are going to get a really wide range of sites and literally thousands of results. If you narrow down your search terms, like using “blue jeans size 26 boot cut” and perhaps even adding something like “Guess” or “Lucky Brand,” you will return results that are more fitted to what you are looking for. The less you have to sift through, the easier it is.

6. Know what you are looking for. If all you have in mind is that you want to look at blenders, you may be in for a serious wake up call. Sit down and make a list of things you would like to find in your dream kitchen appliance: the price you are willing to spend, features you want, color, glass vs. plastic pitcher…the possibilities of combinations are many, so save yourself some headache and think about these things before seeking out anything you may be looking to buy.

7. Ctrl+Alt+P. One way to help keep meticulous track of your online purchases is to print out every single confirmation page that an online merchant gives you at the end of a transaction. This way you have indisputable proof that you made the purchase, along with your order number, should any problems ever arise.