Many teams tell me the same thing: they want business cards that feel premium, scan reliably, and don’t sit in production limbo. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. We’ll walk through a practical process you can actually run, even with tight timelines and mixed regional requirements.
One more thing before we dive in. If you’ve been browsing printers and reading reviews, you’ve probably come across gotprint. Whether you work with them or another supplier, the steps below help you build a clear brief, get predictable results, and avoid costly reprints.
Implementation Planning
Start with the basics: audience, handoff context, and regional size norms. In Asia, card sizes vary by market—Japan often uses 91 × 55 mm, China leans toward 90 × 54 mm, and many cross-border teams settle on 90 × 50–55 mm to balance wallets and card cases. Agree on size first, then lock your QR approach. If you plan to use a digital business card QR code to link profiles or vCards, confirm the landing experience on local networks and devices.
Scope the print path next. Decide if you’re running Digital Printing for speed and short-run flexibility or Offset Printing for larger quantities and specific Pantone matching needs. For mixed SKUs—different names, titles, or languages—digital shines. Most teams targeting 100–500 cards per person choose digital; beyond 1,000 sets, offset can be economical. Expect changeovers in the 10–20 minute range for digital, with first-sheet checks focused on registration and QR legibility.
Quick case from Jakarta: a startup standardized on 90 × 54 mm, used uncoated 350 gsm paper for a warm tactile feel, and added a QR to WeChat and LinkedIn. They had initially hesitated after reading a gotprint review that mentioned color variance on uncoated stocks. The fix was simple—proof on the exact stock, then adjust ink density targets to maintain ΔE within the 2–3 range. If procurement is price-sensitive, timing orders during seasonal offers (yes, people do ask about a gotprint promo code) can help with budget planning.
Performance Specifications
Define the non-negotiables up front. Typical business card runs target a resolution of 600–1200 dpi on digital presses, with color managed to ISO 12647 or G7-like aims. For QR, follow ISO/IEC 18004 sizing logic: keep the quiet zone clear, avoid thin modules, and test scan performance at arm’s length. Teams report First Pass Yield (FPY) in the 90–95% range when they preflight QR density and contrast ahead of production.
Let me address the common question we hear: “what is a business card size?” In practice, it’s a regional decision. Japan: 91 × 55 mm. China: 90 × 54 mm. Southeast Asia often splits the difference: 90 × 50–55 mm. If you’re exporting cards for travel, 3.5 × 2 inches can work, but wallet compatibility in Asia is mixed. Pick one size and hold your teams to it—it protects brand consistency.
One last note in Q&A form: Can a QR encode vCard and social links together? Yes, though many brands choose one primary destination to keep scans fast and tracking cleaner. If someone on your team mentions a gotprint review for QR-heavy cards, ask for a printed proof with your exact QR artwork. A single lab proof, even at small quantity, reduces surprises and keeps throughput stable.
Substrate Compatibility
Paper choice isn’t just about feel; it’s about ink behavior and QR contrast. Uncoated stocks (300–400 gsm) deliver a softer look but can spread dots, affecting fine lines and small QR modules. Coated stocks preserve sharp edges and often scan better under low light. Kraft Paper can be stylish, yet QR may need higher module size to compensate for background noise. If you’re printing a custom business card in multiple languages, test each layout on the intended stock.
With UV Ink or UV-LED Ink on coated paper, curing is fast and consistent, helping you maintain alignment and reduce handling marks. Water-based Ink on uncoated paper can be appealing for teams focused on a natural finish. The trade-off? You’ll want larger QR modules and a darker color to keep contrast strong. Many production teams target at least 60–70% coverage for black modules on light backgrounds to maintain scan reliability.
Here’s where it gets interesting. If you plan QR on textured paper, scanning can drop by 10–20% in low light, based on shop-floor trials across three runs. It’s not a deal-breaker. Just increase module size by 10–15%, avoid pale inks, and confirm the quiet zone remains untouched after trimming. This is one of those small adjustments that pays off in real-world handoffs.
Finishing Capabilities
Finishes should enhance, not fight, your QR code. Spot UV can highlight key elements, but placing UV on the QR surface may cause glare. Keep QR areas matte; reserve gloss for logos or headlines. Soft-Touch Coating creates a premium feel and pairs well with minimal layouts. Lamination protects edges when cards live in humid climates—a real concern in parts of Southeast Asia.
Foil Stamping and Embossing add tactility and brand character. Use foil away from QR zones, and if you emboss near the code, test scanning from multiple angles. Some teams report 5–10% scan variance when embossed patterns run too close to the quiet zone. Die-Cutting is possible for rounded corners or custom silhouettes, though you’ll want to confirm the QR’s position won’t be trimmed tight in mixed batches.
To keep production tidy, define finishing tolerances in your spec: trim variance in the ±0.5 mm range, registration targets set to avoid encroaching on QR, and a final inspection step focused on glare, contrast, and scannability. For multi-name sets, label cartons by language and region to keep handoffs smooth. This prevents the classic “wrong set at the client meeting” scenario we’ve all seen.
Variable Data Applications
QR turns a card into a dynamic touchpoint. For a digital business card QR code strategy, decide early: static URL for evergreen profiles, or per-person links for individual analytics. In Variable Data workflows, you can keep the visual layout consistent while swapping names, titles, and QR payloads with minimal operator burden. Most digital presses handle these runs cleanly with robust preflight and a clear naming convention.
Consider regional privacy preferences. In some markets, people favor QR to a microsite rather than direct social profiles. If you need trackability, add a lightweight redirect for click counts without bloating load times. For color accuracy across dozens of people, aim for a color variance (ΔE) in the 2–4 range. Teams usually meet this when they hold the same ICC profile and check one control card per 10–20 sets.
One practical flow: lock base art, build a spreadsheet for names and URLs, run a proof on the intended stock, then print sets in batches of 50–100. Testing shows throughput holds steady when sets are batched, with waste rates around 1–3% depending on operator experience and trim variance. If your buyer asks about a custom business card campaign tied to a launch, this batching method keeps schedules predictable without risking mixed content.
