Create a business card in Adobe InDesign

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a professional business card using Adobe InDesign. Whether you're a novice graphic designer or just looking to enhance your creative skills, this step-by-step guide will help you design an effective business card that reflects your brand identity.

Step 1: Set Up Your Document

• Open Adobe InDesign.
• Create a new document:
  • Go to the Print tab and click "View All Presets."
  • Select the US Business Card preset.
  • Change units to inches.
  • Uncheck the "Facing Pages" option.
  • Set the number of pages to 2.
  • Set margins to 0.125 inches and add a bleed of 2mm.
• Click "Create" to finalize your document setup.

Step 2: Adjust Ruler Units

• Change the ruler unit to millimeters:
  • Right-click on the horizontal ruler and select "Millimeters."
  • Repeat for the vertical ruler.

Step 3: Establish Guidelines

• Use the Rectangle Tool to create a rectangle that extends left to right, including the bleed.
• Drag a guide from the vertical ruler to the center of the rectangle.
• Extend the rectangle to touch the top and bottom of the artboard including the bleed.
• Drag another guide from the top ruler to the center of the artboard and delete the rectangle.
• Set guides at 10mm from all edges, adjusting for the 2mm bleed space.

Step 4: Create Design Elements

• Use the Rectangle Tool again to create rectangles for the left side:
  • Center align using the guide.
  • Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) and drag to copy the rectangle to the top.
• Use the Pen Tool to connect the corners of the rectangles.
• Fill the shape with a color of your choice (e.g., rusty brown).
• Copy and paste the shape, then flip it horizontally to position it on the right side.

Step 5: Duplicate and Flip Design Elements

• Select the shapes and copy them.
• Paste them in place and flip them vertically to fit the bottom of the artboard.

Step 6: Create Background and Adjust Opacity

• Create a rectangle covering the entire artboard and send it to the back.
• Lower the opacity to around 88% for a subtle background effect.

Step 7: Add Text to the Card

• Use the Type Tool to create a text box in the center and type your name (e.g., Andrew Garcia).
• Change the font color to white and select a serif font (e.g., Sticks General).
• Center-align the text and adjust the size to 14 points.
• Add another text box below for the job title (e.g., Property Officer), using a smaller font size (8 points) and a different serif font (e.g., Baskerville). Center-align this text box as well.

Step 8: Prepare Second Page

• Copy all elements from the first page and paste them onto the second page.
• Center align the elements.
• Create a new rectangle in the center and send it back.
• Use the Eyedropper Tool to match the color of the outer shape for the new rectangle.
• Change the company name and address text accordingly, adjusting sizes and alignment as necessary.

Step 9: Final Adjustments

• Review both pages and make any color adjustments to ensure consistency and appeal.
• Use the preview mode (hit W) to check your design.

Conclusion

You've successfully created a business card in Adobe InDesign! Feel free to experiment with different colors, fonts, and layouts to make it your own. Don’t forget to save your project, and consider exploring other design elements or creating additional branding materials. Happy designing!