Frequently Asked Questions
Regular Business Cards - FAQ
Q
What's best for business cards 350gsm, 400gsm or 450gsm?
A
Flexpress only offer a 400gsm board because it offers the perfect compromise between a 450gsm board that many see as too rigid and a 350gsm board that can be seen as flimsy and cheap. Offering just one board thickness helps us keep costs down, avoid errors and improves turnaround times.
Q
What is laminating?
A
Laminating is the application of an extremely thin layer of plastic over the surface of the card which serves to both protect the print and add a luxurious feel to the surface of the board. Laminating protects the card and adds to it's longevity which, considering you really want people to keep your card, is no bad thing.
Q
How thick is the laminate?
A
Each different type of laminate varies slightly from just 24 microns thick (0.024mm) for gloss laminate to 50 microns (0.05mm) for our linen embossed laminate. Even the thickest laminate doesn't noticeably add a difference to the thickness of the card.
Q
Can you write onto a laminated card?
A
Lamination doesn't accept normal writing ink well. Ideally you'd use a permanent marker. If you're looking for a card you can write on, choose our unlaminated cards, or only choose lamination to one side of the card (the side that doesn't need writing on!).
Q
Is laminating suitable for membership cards?
A
Membership cards are generally plastic 'encapsulated', as opposed to laminated. Encapsulating seals the card within a solid plastic border and encapsulation film is generally much thicker than laminating film. There is nothing stopping you using a laminated card for a membership card but encapsulation is probably a better solution.
Q
What's the best board to use for business cards?
A
Some people feel 450gsm is too thick and some people feel 350gsm is too thin, so we recommend 400gsm board which nobody seems to complain about!
Q
What are the most popular laminated finishes and why?
A
Matt laminate is by far the most popular. It offers extremely good value as a decent balance between protection, tactility and price. Secondly soft-touch laminate which, whilst considerably more expensive offers a luxurious velvety feel that's hard to resist feeling. Some people like a glossy effect, but right now, it tends to be only a small percentage of the cards we produce.
Q
Is there any such thing as a plastic laminate that can be recycled?
A
A new starch-based laminate is available, but quite simply it isn't as good and still takes almost as long to break down in landfill. Using traditional laminate is the way to ensure your card looks great and is therefore likely to be kept for longer! Flexpress research what we offer carefully and won't offer you anything that's less than it seems, but rest assured, as soon as a worthwhile option becomes commercially available, you'll definitely find it here.