How to Build Better Business Cards

Business cards are an important tool for getting your name out there and building a client base. Creating unique, attention-grabbing business cards can be a challenge, but if you do it right, you can showcase your artwork and make a lasting impression, which means more clients who want your work.

In this article, we’ll break down the big things you’ll need to know before you open your own studio

In this article, we’ll explain how to create business cards that stand out, including:

  • How to choose a design
  • Steps for drawing your card design on Procreate
  • What information to put on your business card

Procreate Business Card Tutorial 

Whether you’re creating business cards for the first time, or just want to revamp your existing design, these steps will help you build cards that set you apart.

1

Choose Your Size

Create a new canvas in Procreate. On the Screen Size menu, tap the icon in the top right corner to choose the dimensions for your cards. Standard-size business cards are 3.5 inches by 2 inches. You will be able to change the orientation and zoom in and out manually.

By choosing dimensions that are proportionate to the size of your cards, you can ensure that your design won’t appear warped or stretched when it’s printed.

Note: 

You can easily upload your design later to printing sites like Vistaprint, as they will have all the standard sizes available.

2

Brainstorm Ideas

When deciding what design to use on your cards, consider the following questions:

  • What tattoo style are you best at?
  • How can you make your design unique to you?
  • What design elements will best showcase your skills?

Consider creating a design that’s personal to you– in our example, that’s a self-portrait. Additionally, use a drawing style that you feel comfortable with. If you’re talented at realistic portraits, putting one on your business card will show off your skills. 

Sketch out a few very basic design ideas on different layers and see what you like best. You can hide or delete the layers you don’t like later.

3

Create a Basic Outline

Once you’ve decided on your design, sketch a rough draft

Tips for Creating a Rough Draft

  • When working with colored lines, add dots of each color to the top of the layer you’re working on. This will make it easy for you to match colors, especially as you move into your final design.
  • Use different layers for each element of your design. In the example of a self portrait, the head, face, body, hands, and any other elements should each have their own layer. You can then erase and edit small pieces without having to fix or redo the entire design.
  • Avoid putting a lot of intricate detail near the top and bottom of your card. This is where you’ll want to put your name and contact information. If there’s too much going on in the background, it could make the information hard to read.

4

Create a Final Design

When you’re happy with your design, it’s time to create the final outline. Turn down the opacity on your sketch layers and create new layers to work over top of them.

On this step, focus on creating clean, precise lines and shapes. This will eventually be the outline that you shade and color for the final design of your business cards.

5

Shade and Color

Add colors that will make your design pop. Again, use different layers for each piece of your design. That way, if you change your mind and want to use a different color, you won’t accidentally erase your line work.

Be creative and don’t be afraid to use all the space available. In our example above, there was a lot of white space behind the design. We went back through and added some black to the background to take full advantage of the space.

6

Add Contact Information

Finally, add your name and contact information to the design.

Tips for Adding Contact Information

  • Choose a color that won’t appear washed out or hard to see.
  • Use a writing style that will stand out and enhance your design.
  • Whether you include a phone number, email, or social media handle, make sure you give potential clients the best method of contacting you. You may think an email address appears more professional, but if you never check your inbox, it won’t be helpful.

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Creating your own business cards is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.

Looking for a tattoo apprenticeship?

Tattooing 101's Artist Accelerator 90 day program is the closest thing to a real apprenticeship

  • 500 video modules
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  • Private mastermind community
AUTHOR
Nathan Molenaar

Nathan is a licensed professional tattoo artist with over 8 years’ experience working at studios across the globe, including Celebrity Ink, the world's largest tattoo studio chain.

When he's not tattooing, he spends his free time sharing his experience and knowledge with aspiring artists who dream of pursuing a career in the tattooing industry.

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