Hamburg - In this digital age, there are still plenty of opportunities, private and professional, to exchange business cards.

Companies generally print standardized business cards for their employees. But the self-employed often find the costs of printing sufficient numbers too high. Making your own cards on your PC is a cheaper alternative.

There are a variety of programs to create business cards. Office supply and software companies like Sigel, Avery, Zweckform and Data Becker offer sets of card-creating software and special paper with pre-punched cards. These easy-to-use programs also come with a variety of fonts and graphics.

"These programs can be a big help to non-professionals who don't need business cards that often," says Daniel Buerger. But the freelance graphic designer from Dortmund also warns people to keep some creative urges under control when making business cards.

"It's best to avoid colorful clip art or pixelated pictures," he says, as they can make a card appear unprofessional. Instead, he recommends monotones and strategically placed lines. "The card should have a well-thought out design and be easy to read." It's also important to pick and stick to one font style.

Christian Ulrich, a freelance graphic designer from Hamburg, also advises against using "all the colorful possibilities" offered by programs. "Before you sit down at your PC, you should try and imagine what you want the card to look like." Ask yourself three questions: who will receive the card?; what should it say?; and which impression should it leave? Don't think about colours, fonts and other graphics before answering those questions.

Most software packages offer some ready-to-print card styles. But using those won't give you an original card, Ulrich warns. "You should remember that everyone has access to these same pre-made cards."

"Professionally designed business cards are a must for mid-sized companies and large firms," says Angelika Bartschat of the Bremen-based German Federal Association for Secretarial and Office Management. But small businesses and freelancers often can't afford the cards or make use of large print runs. "That makes these business card packages from office suppliers attractive," she said.

Even if a card is for personal use, the design should be clear and structured.

Alongside programs designed expressly for creating business cards, there's also the option of using vector drawing programs or DTP software, which let computer users create individualized cards. Some of these programs can even be downloaded for free.

Peter Koenig of the Hanover-based c't magazine based recommends freeware like Scribus and Inkscape. Using these programs means computer users have to manually configure the text, graphics and size of the card. But he says it isn't too difficult.

INFO-BOX: Creating business cards with Office

You don't need a special program to make business cards. Sometimes the contents of your Office package will do. There's Word, part of the fee-based Microsoft Office, but also programs like the free Open Office. Both let you manipulate text windows and print out multiple business cards in the size you want, says freelance graphics artist Daniel Buerger of Dortmund. Additionally, whichever Office package you use, free templates can be downloaded from the internet. (dpa)