In this simple tutorial, we are going to create a dark business card in Photoshop and get it ready for print. Normally you would do some of this with a tool like Adobe InDesign, but it is in fact possible to get by with just our trusty old Photoshop.

Amission

The print firm I use produces business cards at 91,88 x 53,78mm, (3,618 × 2,118 in) with 3mm bleed. Start work by opening up Adobe Photoshop and creating a new document or download blank business card template. Everything is in our first tutorial Click here

Step 1

Our design is going to be based on a dark background Paint Bucket Tool (G) fill it with Color: #191919

Step 2

We’re going to go for some large type Horizontal Type Tool (T) on the card, here enter your initials in the fabulous Birch Std, adjusting the tracking and sizing (365 pt).

Step 3

Click on the layer with the text, then press Ctrl + T move and rotate the text like the image. Text should be cut from the top and the bottom

Step 4

Next, apply these layer styles. You can mess around with the colors to get the effect and tone you wish to achieve. Right-click on layer > Blending Options

Step 5

Turn off first text layer. Make a new layer with text Horizontal Type Tool (T) color #151515. Write the full name of your choice and center it on the screen. In this case I wrote “John Smith ” with the Acens font at a size of 48pt.

Step 6

Apply these layer styles.

Step 7

Turn on the back layer invisible and move the layer below the initials.

Step 8

Once again for the front I’ve added a bit of text with my Web address and Email address. First you have to do is move in and out as the text in the image. Here we go Ctrl + T

Step 9

Now you want to draw the small flat square shown below.

Make new layer Ctrl + Shift + N So grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).

Step 10

Once you have the shape, fill it with Color: #b7b9bb and go to Blending Options

Step 11

Now I added a bit of text with Web address and Email address with this Blending Options and color: #898989

Step 12

Anyhow so there’re my simple little business cards. They look kinda neat and modern be ready to print. In the sample files you’ll find both the back and front as well as the PSD file. I used to render the texture of the freshtextures.com.