Always Always Always Get Hard Proofs
I keep learning this lesson the hard way. I just got my business cards back from Jakprints, and they look like ass. The blame lies with me, however, because I was in such a rush I opted for the digital proofs. There is no way for a printer to simulate exactly what your job will look like on paper, except on paper. It looked bright and as desired on screen, but once printed everything looked washed out and most subtle details were lost. I probably just choose too dark a palette to do on uncoated white paper. I should’ve either printed red and grey ink on black card stock, or gone with a matte coated stock. D’oh. $100 down the drain. Well, at least the important info is readable, even if I’m too embarrassed to give them out.
Pretty much the same thing happened to me last year; was in a hurry and went with the digital proof, messed up the bleed and ended up with 5,000 cards that look like I made them myself.
They turned out readable like yours, which made it worse. They’re too embarrassing to give out, yet I didn’t want to re-order because I dropped $150 and have a boatload of cards that are still technically usable.
And they’re still sitting in their sealed (save one) boxes in my bottom desk drawer. Still can’t make myself toss them…
Ugh same boat here, they totally look like I made them myself. The one side could be passable, if the other side didn’t have a bright red that’s totally faded looking.