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Create a grunge business card using the Gimp

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A while back I did a tutorial for making a business card using Inkscape.  This will be basically the same, but use the Gimp instead.

A business card is a great way to represent yourself and your talent level (especially if you are a designer and you designed your own card). Creating a business card in the Gimp is fairly fast and easy.

Step 1 - Get the Background Image


Imageabstraction.com has a lot of great grunge backgrounds.  Choose one you like and download it. I downloaded this one.  ©  Darren Hester


Step 2 - New Image
Create a new image in the Gimp. Standard business card size is 2" x 3.5"
I don't recommend you create a 2x3.5" business card as it will be pixelated.  I would scale up the image significantly to improve quality.  Also; when printing your business card, you will have printer bleed. Go to the website of the company you wish to have print your business cards and find out what they require for bleed.



Step 3 - Insert the Background

 Drag and drop.

Resize the background if necessary.


Step 4 - Darken the Background

 Create a new Black layer.

Change layer mode to "Grain Merge."


Adjust the opacity till you like it.


Step 5 -  Background for Text


Create a new transparent layer. Use the freehand select tool.  Hold the CTRL key when doing that to get exact angles.


Fill in the area using the paint bucket. I filled it in white and lowered the opacity.


Step 6 - Background Text

 Add your text.
 Rotate it so it fits.
 Select by color.

Select the text (you will probably want to select feather for selection.  I set mine to 4.


Find a grungy looking paint brush and erase your selection. (You will want to press the eye on the text selection so you can't see it. Make sure when you are erasing you are doing the background layer with the white paint).  Erase somewhat artistically.  You don't have to erase everything.


I like to apply jitter, then erase the background sides so it flows more.


Step 7 - Vignette
Use the gradient tool.  Foreground to opacity.


Make sure black is your foreground and apply the gradient till the sides are more black.  You will have to redo this step a few times to get every side.

 Step 8 - Add text

Add your new text.  You can optionally add drop shadows.

 Your grunge business card.
Conclusion:
After having done this in both Inkscape and the Gimp, I would recommend that you use Inkscape to do this. The quality is always going to be easier in vector and it will be easier to go back and edit different steps.

About McKay

41 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    complicated, but cool

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    hi

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    nice tut, thx

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    The effect is so classic.

    Thanx for the tut.

    Joseph

    ReplyDelete
  5. vasiauviFebruary 13, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    How you are rotating that text?? I'm trying but it's not rotating properly!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Great, but the background is a CC image: where do you reference the author?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Very nice, Most printers require Business cards to be 3.6 x 2.1 to account for bleed but it does vary a bit. I have done a few cards in Inkscape and it does work well the only problem is that we print(yes I'm a printer) in CMYK and Inkscape only produces in RGB. Scribus on the other hand can handle CMYK and is easy to use as well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. McKayFebruary 13, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    Marco. I just changed my post. All images from that site are from Darren Hester. Thanks for catching that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. McKayFebruary 13, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Thanks for the printing tip. I have used Scribus a bit. Good to know it works well for printing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. McKayFebruary 13, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    VasiaUVI; here is the documentation for the rotate tool.

    ReplyDelete
  11. academicMarch 25, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Very nice and interesting blog. I like it and so much thanks for sharing this nice post with us and keep posting.
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  12. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    Create a grunge business card using the Gimp are nice tutorial. i find a lot of information from this tutorial.
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  13. Business Card SizesJuly 7, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Freaking awesome business card. What types of business card sizes can this card be made into?

    ReplyDelete
  14. business card scannerJuly 20, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    WOW ! It is INCREDIBLE IDEA of creating business card using gimp. I am impressed. It is really excellent tutorial shared by you. I can't wait more. I am going to create new business card for my company. Thank You very much !!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Printing SamplesJuly 22, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    Excellent procedures! Those are impressive and really helpful in case of me that I like to design more using that software.

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  16. Printing CompaniesAugust 29, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    Freaking awesome business card. Very inspirational and full of creativity thanks for sharing..! Fantastic walk-through I appreciate this post.

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    Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, really liked this article you have posted. I will return back for any new updates.

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  18. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Superb editing a little complex but cool.

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    Really..It is awesome business card. The design is so simple and attractive. Let me try it. Hopefully, I am also able to create such a attractive business card for me :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Industrial LCDDecember 22, 2011 at 3:05 AM

    Business card is the identity of any business. It is as important as the logo of your company. That’s why the business card of your company should be clean, elegant and stylish. A business card is a great way to represent yourself and your talent level to front of anyone. I really like Gimp to create our business card. There is obviously a lot to know about this technology. I like to stress that you made some good cards by using Gimp. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousDecember 28, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    Thank you for the tutorial. I found another one with step-by-step instructions how to create a simple geeky business card with GIMP on http://www.inforbiro.com/blog-eng/how-to-create-a-business-card-with-gimp/

    ReplyDelete
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    Thanks for sharing. Its good to see fresh content always.

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  24. RickJune 11, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    I recently created some grunge-ish business cards and used GIMP for the graphics and Scribus for the text. Worked great.

    ReplyDelete
  25. McKayJune 12, 2012 at 7:18 AM

    That is great! If you have any links to your business cards I would love to see them.

    ReplyDelete
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