Butterfly and Dagger business Card

Details of why your card looks like this would be nice. But I went to your website and somewhat discovered why it looks like this.

My first impression was that you were a new school tattoo artist (big bold colors) with a taste for some of the old school qualities (Sailor Jerry). If any of this is true, I don't know. But that is the feeling I get.

I actually really enjoy the design. The back side (pool of blood side) is really eye catching. My only real criticism is that your phone numbers and email look too close to the edge of the card. And if the printer is even slightly off from the trim, it would end up looking really unprofessional.

I also checked out your website and the card seems appropriate to your shop where you sell jewellery and t-shirts. I agree with calvincarl the email and tel nos are too close to the edge. Also I really like the handwritten grungy type on your website header, I wonder if you could incorporate that maybe on the back of the card going through the blood or use it on the front for your address details or both.

I like the back and the front, but they seem quite different in your treatment of them. The front looks pretty grungy with some hard lines where as the back even with the blood looks a lot softer. Hopefully you get what i am trying to say. You have some great elements on your website, so why not use them in the card to keep the theme consistent.

The company is actually directed towards tattoo artists and tattooed individuals. We are trying to create lines of apparel with individual tattoo artists art on apparel. I agree with the type being to close to the edge. I will fix that.

I definitely agree with the above about the type.

However, although I like your creation of the pool of blood, I think it's incorrect. Meaning, and I know this may seem gross, I think if a blood splatter specialist looked at it, it would appear wrong. Not that you would have one looking at your card, necessarily. But I would think you'd want it to appear as realistic as possible, correct?

For starters, right now the giant pool of blood doesn't coincide with the few droplets beside it. Not that I am an expert on blood splatter, mind you, but I have watched my fair share of Forensic Files to have an inkling of what to look for.

I would almost make it either splotchy—with several different droplets—or a spray effect, which happens if you were to "beat" something or someone. I know this is sickening, and I apologize. Or when blood dries over time, it coagulates—meaning it changes to a solid or semi-solid state, which appears darker in color (more of a brownish-red). Right now it's a little TOO red. It could also add new life to the look and feel of the blood, too. Plus, there isn't a drop of blood on the blade, which is inconsistent if you want to appear as though the blood has been dripping from the blade. It's wiped clean!!! So, add some blood to the blade and I think that will make it look even more realistic.

Since you really didn't describe what you were after in your critique, I am just guessing that since you do have this pool of blood with a blade, that it's supposed to appear realistic. Am I wrong?

Right now, as much as it looks really cool, it looks kind of cartoony. Which could be what you're after, as well. Which is fine. But since you didn't say anything about it really, I am just guessing. Good luck!

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer

That is something to think about. Although I think the real blood would look cool, I am almost going for a type of comic book looking blood. like sin city meets some sort of anime. I will play with it though.

if you're market is tatoo apperal... what might be cool is make the splatter on the back of the card in the shape of a butterfly, rather than a round generic pool of blood. You may also want to change the color from red to maybe a blue (old-school tatoo ink color).

I would also downsize your type to give a little more breathing room from the black box and edges.

The other thing I'm missing from your logo is the "dagger", actually barely see it. I would upsize it so you can see it.

Cool card! Are you going to put a spot UV on the blood part? Or maybe a resin dome effect.

What did you use for the pictures on your website to move? Flash ?