Plastic Business Cards

Clear plastic and the white underbase

The main technical issue when printing on clear plastic is that CMYK inks are themselves semi-transparent. Printed directly onto a clear surface, colours come out pale and ghostly because there is no white behind them. So elements that need to look solid get a white underbase printed first — white, then colour on top. This must be specified as a separate layer in the artwork, exactly like a spot UV mask. Using the white layer selectively is precisely what makes a clear card interesting: the background stays transparent while the logo stays solid.

• CMYK inks are semi-transparent
• Solid elements need a white underbase
• The white layer is a separate artwork layer
• Leaving the background clear is the whole effect

When a plastic card is justified

Plastic cards cost more than paper, so they are justified when they solve a specific problem. First, durability: when the card is handed out often and kept a long time (tradespeople, auto service, medical clinics). Second, wet environments: beauty salons, pools, spas, kitchens. Third, visual impact: design studios, architects, creative businesses where the card is itself part of the portfolio. Fourth, when the card doubles as a loyalty or membership card.

• High durability — years of use
• Fully waterproof
• Visually distinctive — the transparency effect
• Can double as a loyalty card

What to watch for

Plastic cards carry three limitations. First, writing on them by hand is practically impossible: an ordinary pen will not mark smooth plastic. If you need to write on the card, choose frosted plastic or go back to paper. Second, the lead time is longer than for a standard paper card because the printing and cutting technology differ. Third, the environmental angle: PVC is not as easily recycled as paper, which sits awkwardly with an eco-positioned brand.