What Are Silk Business Cards

Your business card is extremely important, because it is part of the equation when potential clients form their first impression of you and your company. Therefore, a high-quality, professionally-printed card is critical. This is not an area for self-service; always hire a reputable printing company to produce your business cards.

Top-notch business card printers typically offer a variety of cardstocks to choose from. One such cardstock option at the high end of the quality scale is silk, sometimes referred to as silk-satin. This is one of the classiest and most elegant cardstocks you will ever see.

Silk Lamination

First and foremost, lets talk about what exactly the silk is comprised of. The silky coating is accomplished via silk-lamination, typically on 10pt or 15pt cardstock. This laminate coating is completely unnoticeable and invisible unless you try to tear the card. If you try and rip a silk business card, you will see the ultra-thin, transparent layer of silk-laminate peel away from the card.

It is this lamination which gives silk business cards their uniqueness. For one, it makes the cards more durable. The laminate coating makes the cards a little more difficult to tear, and helps minimize the possibility of corners and edges getting frayed.

Additionally, the silk lamination is completely writeable, meaning you can write on the card with pens, pencils, and markers with ease. This is a nice feature and is something that is not possible with glossy business cards. This attribute works well for jotting down appointments, so it is particularly appropriate for doctors, dentists, attorneys, or similar professionals.

No-Gloss Elegance

Another key attribute of silk cards is that they are non-glossy, which eliminates the common inconveniences associated with glossy business cards such as fingerprinting, streaks, smudges, and the cards sticking together.

Glossy business cards are coated with a varnish-like substance known as glossy UV (ultra-violet), which is completely different from the lamination associated with silk business cards. It is this glossy varnish that creates the aforementioned inconveniences. Conversely, non-shiny silk lamination eliminates these types of problems.

Additionally, the non-shiny look is more upscale and elegant. Many people correctly perceive glossy UV business cards to be a relatively low end business card product. The non-shiny look seems to be in these days, which positively influences peoples perception of quality.

Enhancements

Finally, the durability and composition of the silk cardstock make it the best choice for business card enhancement features like spot UV, embossing, and foil stamping.

Spot UV business cards in particular offer a unique look, as the areas treated with the spot UV are slightly raised and shiny compared to the non-shiny silk cardstock. Thus, the treated areas jump off the page and provide a striking visual impact. It would not be possible to produce spot UV business cards on an inherently glossy cardstock.

Embossing also works better on silk business cards. Embossing is the process of raising certain design elements by virtue of them getting pushed through from the backside. The net effect is similar to the account number on a standard credit card, where the numbers are raised on the front and recessed on the back. As you can probably guess, embossing is a delicate process that puts much stress on the cardstock, and thus is a more appropriate enhancement feature for durable business cards like silk.

Summary

To sum it all up, silk business cards are laminated, durable, writable, non-glossy, and support enhancement features. Outside of metal business cards or plastic business cards, silk cards are generally considered the highest-end business cardstock in the market today. They have an elegant look and feel, and do not have the same inconveniences as glossy business cards.

When To Use Embossing, Spot Uv And Foil Stamping On Business Cards

Business card enhancement features like spot UV, embossing, and foil stamping can truly help differentiate your business in the minds of your customers and clients. But which one is the best? Read on to find out.

Embossed Business Cards

Embossing is where certain elements of your business card are raised by virtue of them getting pushed through from the opposite side of the card. The effect is similar to a credit card, where the account number is raised on the front and recessed on the back.

Embossing works well for text or even a water seal type of logo effect, however it does have limitations.

For one, you do not want artwork in the embossed area; you want the embossed areas to be clear of artwork on both sides or else the artwork and embossing will become jumbled and will look awful.

Additionally, most printers are not able to precisely line up embossing with ink. The exact embossed areas could shift 1/16 1/8 during the production process. So for example, if your card has a black background, the embossed areas must be black as well. You would not be able to have, say, white text embossed because it is not feasible for the embossing to line up with the underlying white text perfectly every time.

If you want your business card enhancement feature to allow for color that is different from the cards background color, consider either spot UV or foil stamping.

Spot UV Business Cards

Spot UV is where specific areas of your card are treated with a glossy coating. This effect does not impact the underlying color, it only makes the treated areas slightly raised and shiny relative to the non-glossy business card stock.

Typically, spot UV does not have the same alignment problems as embossing. With todays technology, spot UV can be precisely lined up against any ink-based design element. So here, if you had a black background with white text, you could have the text treated with spot UV so that it is shiny, raised, and white.

Spot UV works only on non-glossy cardstock, as doing spot UV on glossy business cards will not create a visible effect (everything is already glossy). Silk business cards are the best option for spot UV, because they are non-glossy and extremely durable.

Foil Stamped Business Cards

Foil stamping is where specific parts of your card are coated with a layer of metallic foil. It is typically offered in gold, silver, green, red or blue.

The foil stamped areas are not limited to only the cards background color like embossing. However, although color can be utilized, you are limited to the foil colors offered by the printer.

Also, foil stamped business cards are usually subject to the same shifting that could occur with embossed business cards, so it is important not to have any artwork in the stamped areas.

Which One Should You Use?

Generally speaking, none of these enhancements are available on glossy business cards. All 3 are most effective on silk business cards, so if you plan on utilizing a silk cardstock, your options are wide open.

Of the 3 options discussed, embossing is typically the least preferred because of the aforementioned color and artwork limitations. Additionally, embossed business cards are usually the most expensive of the three.

Foil stamping is also relatively expensive, but at least this feature offers more color options. The downside is that the foil can sometimes flake, peel or appear blotchy. Additionally, foil stamped business cards tend to become worn at an accelerated rate as they get pulled in and out of a wallet.

Most often, spot UV business cards provide the best bang for your buck. This option is by far the least expensive of the three, offers the full gamut of color availability, and is not subject to the same flaws as foil and embossing.

Browsing Through The Best Sunglasses From Van Heusen

You may have sat at an office meeting on Friday and wondered what it is that makes your manager look so different from how he looks on other days. Your boss is dressed in a T-shirt and the best sunglasses in his collection. Those boyish looks and that masculine body makes you feel like you are talking to a college friend. The stiff collar is what makes a difference to a person’s appearance while at work, an invention by the brand of clothing that was the main preference of the Buckingham Palace for its elegance and sophistication, Van Heusen. And it is not just clothes. Van Heusen also has a collection of the best sunglasses to make you look cool and sophisticated when you drive to work.

Whether you are a manager at the top position or a fresher out of college, Van Heusen has all that you need to make you look professional and sophisticated at your workplace. And while you take care of all the details on your wardrobe, don’t forget that your accessories also play an important role in giving your colleagues an impression of yourself. Sunglasses are an important accessory that can make a difference to your appearance. Client meetings and other official meetings are some of the reasons for which you would have to travel from your office. These are some of the occasions when you may have to pull out your sunglasses while you drive with your colleagues in the car.

Van Heusen also has a collection of the best sunglasses in different styles to suit the shape of your face and personality. The glasses come in different shades to suit your convenience apart from making you look very smart and professional while at work. The following are the things you have to consider when you are browsing through the collection of the best sunglasses from Van Heusen.

What Do You Need The Sunglasses For? Sunglasses are mainly worn for three reasons, the first being protection to your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, the second being comfort while you are outdoors and the last being style. You need to determine what you need them for the most. Do you drive late in the morning when the sun is already shining brightly? do you walk from one office building to another to attend another meeting? Polarized sunglasses are the best if you want to relieve your eyes from the glare of the sun. Choose glasses with complete UV protection if you feel like you are exposed to the rays of the sun often. Mirrored sunglasses can make you look very stylish at all times.

What Is The Shape Of Your Face? Sunglasses with large, round lenses may look very hot on someone with an oval face, but your round face can look rounder with a pair like this. Something rectangular would work wonders on your face. Oval and round sunglasses are ideal if you have a square or rectangular face. Oversized sunglasses would draw good attention to your jaws if you have a heart shaped face.

Find The Best Sunglasses From Van Heusen Online You can have a look at the range of the best sunglasses from Van Heusen Sunglasses online. Browse through the different kinds of lenses, shades and styles and pick a pair that suits your style and comfort.

Wholesale replica sunglasses Perfect blend of style and affordability

We see this beautiful world through our eyes but what if our eyes are damaged by harsh sun rays? In order to save our eyes from UV rays of sun, we prefer to wear sunglasses but with the changing times, sunglasses are prominently known as the essential fashion accessory. A lot of brands have started manufacturing designer sunglasses which are heavily priced, so to offer you affordable option, wholesale replica sunglasses are there to enhance your personality. Many manufacturers are now manufacturing low quality wholesale replica sunglasses with branded labels which can be purchased at cheap prices and this also allows them to enjoy more profit margins. This fantastic range of wholesale replica sunglasses not only suits the style and the charm of original sunglasses but also offer the desired protection to the eyes.

Though these wholesale replica sunglasses are affordably priced but the creators of these shades make sure that they dont compromise with the quality of the lenses which incorporate 100% UV protective coating. You can find number of online stores from where you can procure this beautifully carved our collection of wholesale replica sunglasses. But one has to be extra careful while purchasing replica sunglasses because the authority of the seller has to be ensured so that you dont pay for illegal sunglasses. So, if you want to adorn your style with designer sunglasses, then nothing can beat the charm and the affordability of replica sunglasses. You can find big brands under the comprehensive range of wholesale replica sunglasses including Armani, Gucci, Versace, Ray Ban and many more.

If you search for replica sunglasses in the wholesale domain, then you can avail of heavy discounts. Each and every pair of wholesale replica sunglasses is a masterpiece in its own way and you cannot differentiate between the replica sunglasses and the original designer collection of sunglasses. These sunglasses resemble the original branded sunglasses and suit the styles of many who follow the fashion of their favorite stars and the designers. Just like other branded pair of sunglasses, the elegant and sophisticated line of wholesale replica sunglasses is available in all the latest trends of the fashion industry. If you are fan of a certain designer brand, then you can also find their logos on your wholesale replica sunglasses. So, if you are on a buying spree, then dont forget to consider these wholesale replica sunglasses because it allows you to wear a style conforming to your budget.

John Rivera is a professional in lifestyle accessory studies, specializing in sunglasses and provides his expertise on sunglasses at

What Type Of Lens Is Rayban Using On Their Sunglasses

Ray-Ban uses four different types of lenses for their sunglasses. The B15 XLT lens, the G15 XLT lens, polarized lenses and normal lenses, which we won’t discuss here because there’s nothing special about them (they just come in different colors).

B15 XLT Lens Ray-Ban B15 XLT lenses are brownish in color, block 100% of all UV rays and allow only 15% of the visible light to pass through them (that’s an 85% reduction!). These brown lenses also offer a bit more contrast by cutting down on the amount of blue light, as opposed to a G15 lens (which is described in the next paragraph). Blue light is very easily captured by the eye and has the effect of softening other colors that are harsher to our vision. In other words, by reducing the amount of blue light, the differences between colors and brightness of objects are more pronounced.

G15 XLT Lens The G15 XLT lenses have the same properties as the B15 XLT lenses; however they’re of grayish/greenish color. The G15 lens is the original aviator lens that the military requested Ray-Ban to develop. The challenge was to design a lens that was “color neutral”; in other words, a lens that filters light like the human eye does. If you want a lens that offers a little less contrast between colors, then the G15 XLT lens is for you because it offers similar color-sensitivity to the human eye. With a lower contrast lens, the difference in color and brightness of objects will be dampened. This means that the colors you see through these lenses will be natural and soft on the eyes.

Both the B15 and G15 XLT lenses are made of impact resistant optical glass that is naturally scratch resistant. Quality and stability are remarkable and over time you will notice virtually no fading whatsoever in the color.

Polarized Lens Polarized lenses essentially cut down the amount of glare produced by reflective surfaces like water or other semi-transparent objects, and even some metallic surfaces. Glare refers to the difficulty of seeing in bright light.

Sunlight, for example, bounces off surfaces in all directions (i.e. vertically, horizontally or diagonally). For people who are active in the “horizontal plane”, it means that the bright sunlight bounced horizontally enters the eye in a similar fashion. This causes the pupils to constrict and significantly reduce contrast. That’s why drivers have difficulty seeing the road ahead of them if they’re driving in very sunny conditions (if the sun is ahead of them).

Polarized lenses have a laminated surface with vertical stripes that create a filter, which effectively cuts out the horizontally-polarized light and allows only vertically-polarized light in. In other words, if you happen to be on a clear lake you can probably see under the surface or if you’re driving, you can now see the road ahead.

Some limitations to polarized lenses are that LCD displays may become distorted or you may notice a “rainbow” effect if your car’s windows are tinted.