The Interesting Evolution of the Business Card
Most of us take the presence of business cards for granted. They are an excellent means to make our professional presence known and they are great tools when attending networking events. Not only are these cards able to provide the recipient with important contact details, but they are often utilised as a proactive form of branding. While the digital age offers a host of additional marketing tools, the simple fact of the matter is that these cards are indeed here to stay. Having said this, many individuals will be surprised to learn that this form of marketing has existed for hundreds of years. Let’s take a look at their unique history as well as how their traditional functions continue to influence these modern times.
From Decidedly High-Class Roots
The first formal “business cards” actually had very little to do with business. They were instead used to highlight the arrival of aristocratic individuals such as royalty, property owners and politicians during the 16th century. They were initially the size of what would today be considered a playing card and their designs were highly ornate in nature.
Thus, it only stands to reason that average individuals could hardly afford such novelties. This was partially due to the fact that the printing process and the paper itself were both rather expensive. However, things began to change thanks to the notion of mass production first adopted during the Industrial Revolution. As the price of these cards began to drop, they became available to those governed by limited budgets. By the latter half of the 18th century, these cards were thought to be quite vogue and some were even considered to represent collectable items.
Into the 21st Century and Beyond
As travel began to increase during the 18th and 19th centuries, it became apparent that one of the most powerful marketing mediums could be found in these cards. In order to reduce costs, they became smaller. This also enabled them to easily fit within wallets and billfolds. However, their diminutive size did not limit the associated advertising potential. Design features began to take on a decidedly ornate tone; the type of lettering and paper employed often used to reflect the quality of the business in question. It can even be said that many of these cards reflected the artistic movements of the time.
As printing machinery continued to evolve into the 20th century, business cards became universal marketing methods that were espoused even by the smallest of businesses. Although some of their design elements became slightly more spartan, they still contained all of the required information (such as a name, telephone number and address). In fact, many of the cards produced during the first half of the 20th century would be perfectly relevant within today’s marketplace.
While digital media has begun to reshape the business community, it is an undeniable fact that these cards are here to stay. Used by large corporations and smaller freelance firms alike, their presence continues to offer invaluable advertising potential.
How to Take the Perfect Group Photo
Are you and your significant other planning a wedding in the near future? Do you wish to capture the images associated with an upcoming retirement party or have you been looking to celebrate a new addition to the family? If so, it’s important to know how to take a stunning and aesthetically pleasing group photo. Let us examine some professional suggestions as well as why working with the team at Reed Digital is always a good idea.
All About Aesthetic Balance
Aesthetics is arguably the single trait which separates an average photo from one which will turn heads for years to come. We are referring to visual balance in this sense. Try to make sure that all of the participants are wearing similar garments. Arrange the members in a symmetrical manner and be sure that the photo is centred. Aesthetics play a key role in any image and this is even more crucial when dealing with a number of individuals.
Let There Be Light
It’s also crucial to take into account the present lighting situation. Light is essential in order to capture the small details of your group. If you are dealing with close-up shots or should a light source be found directly behind the group, it is often wise to use a camera equipped with a flash. Should you be shooting outdoors, make sure that the sun is not shining directly upon the participants. During extremely dim situations, it may be better to augment the surroundings with artificial light sources so that the resulting image is not underexposed.
Consider the Background in Advance
The background is another element which can never be overlooked when dealing with group photography. While there are indeed times when a scenario can compliment the image, backgrounds that appear too “busy” will naturally detract from the participants themselves. If you are concerned about such a scenario, it could be better to employ a neutral backdrop; particularly if the group photo is intended to be used for professional purposes.
Practice Makes Perfect
Photography is just as much of an art form as a science. This is why even the experts rarely get it right the first time around. Be sure to take plenty of pictures so that you can subsequently choose the most attractive. It is also prudent to experiment with different poses as well as to rearrange the participants. The good news is that modern digital cameras and smartphones will allow you to snap dozens of photos. These can then be edited as you see fit.
We can now see that a number of variables need to be taken into consideration when snapping an eye-catching group photo. If you have additional questions or should you wish to procure the services of our team, please do not hesitate to look into our professional imaging services as well as to contact a team member directly. We will be more than happy to provide you with further assistance.
How Digital Printing Has Evolved Over The Last 15 Years
The digital printing industry has changed a lot over the last 14 years, and it’s as alive as ever. We’ve been operating as Reed Digital Ltd since 2006, and before that we were known as Reed Reprographics. There’s been a lot to learn about digital printing over the last 14 years; in this blog, we’ll have a look back at how it has evolved and maintained its importance in the printing industry.
We all know that the internet has changed the world in the last couple of decades, and how consumers and companies have embraced this new technology; this, along with digital cameras and smartphones, have had a huge impact on digital printing. The printing industry has had to constantly evolve to keep up with this tech. One of the most important adaptions is the rise in digital printing services, which have ensured that printing providers have kept up with what customers need in the increasingly digital world.
Traditional methods are still used a lot for certain things, but digital printing has brought about so many benefits for both individual customers and large customers that it has ensured it’s popularity. Digital printing has evolved to offer:
- Faster printing speeds. Traditional printing methods produce great copies but take a lot of time to prep and print. Digital printers massively speed up the process, with a simple procedure of sending or uploading an image file to be printed. This actual printing process is also much faster, taking less than 30 seconds in most cases. Large orders can be quickly printed in bulk, so time is saved whether you’re printing a few photos or an entire set of promotional materials.
- Low costs. Digital printing doesn’t need as much preparation, so costs are a lot lower than traditional methods. There are fewer materials needed and much shorter turnaround times, making it the most cost-effective choice for both small and large printing projects.
- A wider choice of materials. Digital printing also offers the benefit of a wider choice of materials and surfaces. Different surfaces, like cotton or vinyl, offer unique looks and finishes for your prints that make them stand out and adaptable to plenty of uses.
The rise of digital photography
Digital photography has had a massive effect on the digital printing industry, being one of the biggest causes of its evolution over the years. The first consumer digital camera was released in the early 1980’s, but it wasn’t until the late 90’s to early 2000’s that they were widely used, thanks to a higher number of megapixels and a more affordable price. With the 2003 release of the first affordable digital SLR camera by Canon, and mobile phones featuring cameras a few years after, digital photography was ubiquitous. The printing industry had to adapt.
It did so by offering digital printing services to consumers and businesses that needed everything from their personal photos to their promotional materials printed quickly, with high quality, and on a choice of materials.
Since 2006, customers throughout Ipswich and the surrounding area have had their digital printing needs met by us at Reed Digital. From brochures and flyers to postcards, to architect plans, both individual customers and local businesses have benefited from the fast printing speeds, cost effectiveness, and huge variety of options that we offer with our digital printing services.
You can find a full range of our products and the types of printing that are available on our website. Get in touch with us today here for more information or give us a call direct on 01473 216333.
Ed Sheeran Made in Suffolk Exhibition
As you may already know, this weekend will see a 4 day extravaganza from the one and only Ed Sheeran in Chantry Park in Ipswich, Suffolk.
Ed is local to the area, and tickets are selling fast for this once in a lifetime show. You can see him performing from 23rd August to 26th August, supported by The Darkness and Lewis Capaldi.
Due to the enormous popularity of this musical legend, his father and local council member John Sheeran has decided to create a very special exhibition.
From today (20th August 2019) to 3rd May 2020, you can visit the “Ed Sheeran Made in Suffolk” exhibition at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich.
We were one of a small handful of very lucky businesses to be asked by Ipswich Borough Council to help with the creation of some of the wall graphics and photographic prints.
Our own handy work will be shown in the main gallery alongside an original painting by Damian Hurst, portraits by Colin Davidson, photographs by Mark Surridge and memorabilia from Ed’s Family.
You can find out more about the exhibition via the Made in Suffolk website:
https://www.made-in-suffolk.co.uk/
Last night we were invited to the pre-launch party for this incredible exhibition. Below are some images from the evening:
STUDENT LAST MINUTE.COM
Well its been a frantic 3 days for some of the students at UCS , with dissertations and A2 and A1 posters of Algorithms all needed by today..good luck to them all.
Dont forget last minute is possible
WYLIE DESIGN
Hi Andrew/PeterJust a quick note to say thank you for such an excellent and quick job you did with the presentation visuals you prepared for us for our meeting yesterday. My colleague was really impressed with the quality and finish and also the potential clients were very complimentary of how good they looked.Chris CheneryWylie Designwww.wylie.co.ukSuffolk IP4 2BN
ANOTHER HAPPY CUSTOMER
Dear ReedDigital
Thank you for your excellent service. The photo collage was delivered within 24 hours of ordering (with your standard postage – very impressive turn-around) and was really good quality. Thanks Helen
REED DIGITAL PLAY PART IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH WOODLAND CARBON
Here at Reedhome Digital, we fully understand the importance of protecting the environment for generations to come, which is why we have recently become a part of the Woodland Carbon scheme to reflect our desire to address an environmental issue close to home. This is an accredited and award winning scheme that has been set up under the Government’s 2011 Woodland Carbon Code and is one that we are delighted to be involved in.
5 Reasons Why Business Cards Are Still Important
In this day and age, emails have become the most common method of communicating with clients and prospective customers. However, there are still some so-called old school businesses that rely on business cards. If you are sceptical about getting business cards printed for your organisation and employees, think twice as you could be losing out on a business opportunity if you are not using them.