Design 101: Designing Business Cards For Your Business

Posted on by aidenjbarry

Your business card can be the face of your company so it’s importance cannot be questioned. Perhaps the most important aspect of your business card is that it should seamlessly be part of your branding package. That is, your logo, letterhead, envelope and other stationary and branding is consistent to create product (or service) brand recognition. To expand on that even more, it is proven that successful branding generally comes from what the company’s beliefs are, their mission and how customers and stakeholders view the company from the outside.  So, it is critical that your graphic designer knows some important information to create a successful brand for you.

photo: Anemone LetterpressIf you’re unsure with what you should be giving your graphic designer, you aren’t alone. You could be requesting that your graphic designer designs a logo for your company and, generally speaking, you’ll need a stationery package (business card, letterhead, envelope, etc) as well.  If so, here’s a list of a few things you should certainly be telling your graphic designer:

  • What your company provides and (just as importantly) what don’t you provide?
  • Who are your competitors – how do you differ?
  • How do your customers perceive your company? What’s iconic about it?
  • Who are the customers you provide for?
  • How likely is it that your brand changes in the near future?

These questions are not only relevant to your logo design but also to design business cards. It will influence stock, printing techniques and quality of the business card.

The process will continue to the point where you and your graphic designer will collaborate to come up with professional business cards for your organization.

Business Cards Design Styles

There are plenty of design styles out there, but lets just run through a few of them:

Graphic vs. Photograph Business Cards

photo: osde8info

Using macro photography to highlight the nature of the business

Largely this will depend on your company, but photographs are very difficult to get ‘right’ on a business card. Because of the physical size of the business card, generally the photo will be unclear. There are exceptions though, a macro photo (close up of an object) that takes up the entire side of the card which focuses on a texture can be really attention grabbing. If you’re a lawn mowing business for example, a macro photo of grass blades could be effective.

Illustrations On A Business Card

If appropriate, an illustration or two can really appeal to a niche market. Unless you’re an illustrator, I wouldn’t overload the card with illustrations but they can still be nice in conjunction with a suitable font.

photo: ElegantePress

A minimalistic business card using embossed printing

The Minimalistic Business Card

Clients tend to get wrapped up in the design process. They’ll sometimes feel like they’ve hired a graphic designer for the purpose of making graphics – and lots of them. However, ‘white space’ can be just as effective on a business card than graphics, if not more effective. So, if you’re graphic designer presents you with a solid color and some text on it, this isn’t a bad thing.  Generally it’s easier for your customers to read and much more presentable. In this case, the font choice is highly important and needs to be unique, yet subtle. And the layout of the card needs to be well thought through.

photo: Thomas Rockstar

A minimalistic business card using photography

Customizing The Card With A Die Cut

A custom die cut (having the business card in a unique shape) is an option for your business card. Typically a business card will measure 3.5” × 2”  (88.9mm × 50.8mm) in the US but the opportunity for this to change is a simple process.

photo: elod beregszaszi

A very elaborate die cut business card

I certainly wouldn’t recommend a business card bigger than your country’s standard size for convince to your customers but a smaller size could be considered. In terms of the cards shape, rectangular, horizontal orientation will always be the safest and conceivably the best.  Rounded corners on your business card are also an option.

Types of Finishes, Stock, and Materials

It’s difficult to decide whether matte or gloss is a better finish for your business card without knowing specifically what your company does and the uses for the card. So, definitely discuss this one with your graphic designer as they should have a good idea as to which is better for you. Matte tends to look a little bit more professional and also allows customers to write on the card if need be. On the other hand, glossy cards allow the printed colors to be more vibrant, ideal for cards with a photograph on them. Both have their pros and cons so this is certainly a case-by-case evaluation.

photo: ThomStoodley

There are also a number of printing options such as foil printing that is used to highlight the text

Lets turn to what materials you can print your business card on. Paper is the most common material due to how readily available is, the ease of printing methods and how quickly it can be printed on. The gsm (thickness) of the stock (paper) will usually be 300 – 350gsm. This gives a nice feel and is durable. White paper is the choice of stock but there is a range of other colors (including metallic shines) and textured stocks to add an uniqueness to your card.

Other materials for printing business cards are plastic, wood and metal. Plastic is really the only viable option (other than paper) for large amounts of business card printing.

How To Make Business Cards: Getting Started

You’ll need a graphic designer to design your business card for you. They’ll most likely have a printer or two in which they can contact to get you a quote if you don’t want to do it yourself. As per any industry, you aren’t expected to know how the process works so ask as many questions as you like. If you have the wrong file for a logo, for example, the graphic designer will be able to pick up on it in the design process. You should be prepared with how many you want printed, what you wish to have on the card (contact details, names of staff and their positions in the company, etc) and also describe to them a bit about your company as discussed earlier.

To find a designer, your country may have a design association you can get in contact with. They might give you some contacts or ask for a designer to contact you. Also, your local area most likely has qualified graphic designers too so they should be an option if you want to talk to someone face to face (although not essential). You can always, of course, search the Internet for a suitable graphic designer. Preferably find one with credentials so they know what they’re doing and how to execute the project properly.

Designing Business Cards Online

Websites such as oDesk.com, Freelancer.com and eLance.com are good places to start and you can also search through creative sites such as deviantART.com and Behance.com for individual styles that may interest you and contact the designers directly.

Printing Your Business Cards

In terms of printing, your graphic designer should have some contacts but you can find alternatives online. Zazzle.com is a popular option and so is PrintPlace.com. Prices can start from as cheap as $10 for 25 prints but the price will differ depending on print quality, stock type, shipping, and other factors. My personal opinion is that you find a graphic designer who you have confidence in and use their contacts for a printer. The graphic designer should know what style you’re after and what’s best for you. Otherwise, work the other way (if you know a printer) and they can outsource a designer for you.

Like I mentioned from the start, it can be one of the first impressions of your company that your customer gets so it is an important procedure. In the end, if you can find a graphic designer who you’re confident with, then the process will be much easier.

Author Description: Chris Koch is a qualified freelance graphic designer based in Melbourne, Australia. He runs CKGD (http://www.ckgd.net his professional designs can be seen here (business cards showcased on this article are from other designers)) and CKGD blog (http://blog.ckgd.net) and can be contacted at chris@ckgd.net if you have any feedback or questions!

photo: *spo0ky*

photo: lucas.leite

A striking illustrated business card design

 

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Essentials To Starting Your Career: Makeup Artist Business Cards

Posted on by aidenjbarry

An important tool for a makeup artist will be their business card. Not only will it contain the contact details but it can also showcase your work as a makeup artist. Unlike other businesses, the design of your business card from the font choice and layout to the card type, is highly important. People will link the design quality of your business card to the design skills you have as a makeup artist. Here is how you can design professional makeup artist business cards.

photo: Joao Faissal

Your business card should reflect the style of work you do

The Design of Your Makeup Artist Business Cards

When it comes to the business card style, the best option is a photographic business card. There are options to have a minimalistic (only type), or an illustrative/graphic business card, but these will not be able to showcase your work. You want to have a professional or semi professional photograph of your makeup work displayed on the card. A generic picture of a makeup brush or lipstick is second best.

When it comes to the layout of your makeup artist business cards there are really only 2 styles. There is 1) using the whole front of the card to display the picture and have the contact details on the back or 2) a cheaper printing option is to print on only one side and have a third of the card (left or right) displaying the photo.

Two recommended makeup artist business cards templates include:

makeup business card template

Either have the photo of one of your makeup clients on the left or right, with your contact details on the opposite side.

Makeup Business Card Option 2

In this template you take up the full front of the business card with your client photo and have your details on the back.

The All Important Photograph

When it comes to the photograph that you want to display of your work there two options. You can have a photograph for example that is of the whole face. A better option would be to use a closeup of one particular area of the face such as the eyes, lips, or eyes and cheek. This way the quality of your makeup work can be seen up close.

All The Printing Options For Your Makeup Artist Business Card

There are many card materials, colors and printing types to choose from. Here it is best to keep it simple and let the photograph of your work do the talking. Choose a thick card to print on, as a thin business card feels cheap and flimsy. You want to have it glossy rather than matt, as well as it being a black card. This will highlight the picture better (Designing A Black Business Card). Because of this you will ideally want your makeup photograph to be taken with a black background. If this isn’t the case and it can’t be changed then you will need a card with the same color background as the photo.

If you don’t have a photograph you can use of your work then it would be best to get a bit more creative when it comes to the printing of you business cards. For example, there are textured cards to choose from as well as foil stamp printing that is used to highlight text.

A glossy, black, thick business card that has a picture of your makeup work – that is the ideal makeup artist business cards design.

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Standing Out With Custom Plastic Business Cards

Posted on by aidenjbarry

This ability to print your business card design on plastic is becoming a popular alternative to traditional paper stock. Not only does it allow your business to stand out, it’s unique and it’s also far more robust than a typical business card.

Let’s start off with which companies should go down the path of considering a plastic business card. Typically, it’ll be companies who have one on one contact with their customers. It should be personally handed out rather than having them all piled up where the customer can take as many as they’d like. Mainly, this is due to costs but we’ll get onto that later. Boutique and high-class companies are most likely to want plastic business cards – the cards should reflect their product or service. It’s definitely not limited to those industries, but it wouldn’t recommend a budget or low socio-economic company to use plastic business cards.

When it comes to colour and design within the card, what is possible on a business card becomes more adventurous with clear plastic business cards. The colours don’t tend to fade as quickly as a paper stock card to start with. This isn’t because of any special use of colour (you aren’t limited in colours used) but purely due to the material.

A plastic card also opens up the possibility of transparency, which is extremely popular when using plastic. It will have a nice feel, look contemporary and be memorable. On the other hand, it’s harder to find ways to use both sides of the card and the opposing side will read backwards if printed on. The use of bold, flat colours work far better than gradients and light colours on clear plastic business cards. It will give the card a bit more punch, which can be lost due to excessive use of transparency. So, try and incorporate at least 25% of colour to a transparent business card.

Frosted plastic business cards are an option to consider. This gives the card an added texture and feel to it.

With the costs of producing plastic business cards reducing quite quickly due to the increase in popularity, it sounds like a process that should really be considered.  You’ll save costs which otherwise could be used for marketing – the likelihood of plastic cards being discarded are less than paper stock business cards. So, they’re fantastic for promoting your business in both the short and long term.

However, every product has it’s flaws and custom plastic business cards are no different. Costs involved in producing them are the most significant – both environmentally and monetary.

Environmentally they won’t decompose as easily as a paper stock business card and most likely will not be recycled. For your company, depending on how strongly you stand behind environment conscious, making green business cards would be a better option.

From a monetary point of view, the process involves more risk and with more risk comes more mistakes. Being more expensive to print to start with, any errors that occur will escalate that cost. Be careful and calculate costs of design print and postage fees before making any final decisions. It will also take longer to print, so that will be a factor too. Also, discuss with a graphic designer whether or not they believe a plastic business card is right for your company – it could save you a lot of time and money if it’s not!

As mentioned before, a plastic business card will also reduce the printing space to essentially one side of the card. So, if you’d like to include your logo, name, address, phone number, website and so on, space will become limited.

Here are some companies online that you can look to print plastic business cards:

Andreoni Cards – 500 for $575 (unit cost $1.15)
Mi-Cards – 500 for $290 (unit cost $0.58)

Cheap clear plastic business cards, cheaper than the others:                           Taste of Ink – 500 slightly frosted for $250 (unit cost $0.50)

Overall, if I were to recommend a plastic business card to a client, I’d hope that it’s something that they’ll be distributing for a long time to come. What that specifically means is no changes to contact details, branding or direction in the company for at least the short term because the card will then be deemed invalid. It should also work in conjunction with their company’s style and in what method the business card will be distributed.

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Creating Clear Plastic Business Cards

Posted on by aidenjbarry

Clear, plastic material for your business cards is an increasing trend in business card design.  However, it is still unique enough to separate your card from the rest. It’s typically stronger than paper stock too so it’s going to stand the test of time.  As with anything, it does have flaws so lets take a look at some of the positives and negatives of creating custom clear plastic business cards.

With a material like plastic and its cost compared to traditional paper stock, clear plastic business cards are a long-term investment. It’s extremely important the design is setup correctly so the colours will still appear vibrant.  This type of business card will suit companies who are selling a high end product or service and will distribute their cards individually, by hand, to their customers.

The Layout

Use of space within the card is important too. Because they’re clear, what is seen on one side will also be mirrored on the other side when turned over. Clients who want a clear business card will generally just print on the one side to reduce confusion when viewing the business card.  This is usually a good idea but it will depend on the design of both sides.

Frosted clear plastic business cards are nice to touch and with the addition of it being clear, it can also be a very modern looking business card. Advertising fees can be reduced with a clear business card because customers will retain the card more so than a paper stock business card.

Costs For Clear Plastic Business Cards Online

Costs of clear business cards are going to be more per unit when compared to paper stock business cards. Prices are going to vary, but here are a few companies where you can buy clear business cards online.

Andreoni Cards – 500 for $575 (unit cost $1.15)
Mi-Cards – 500 for $290 (unit cost $0.58)

For cheap clear plastic business cards take a look at: Taste of Ink – 500 slightly frosted for $250 (unit cost $0.50)

Of course, cheapest isn’t always the best. Look out for different criteria such as double sided printing, thickness of the cards, printing type (four colour process or spot colour), card dimensions and of course any other fees like shipping costs. All of the three companies mentioned above have websites online so take a look and see which is the best for you and your company.

Clear plastic business cards are more expensive than standard card to produce and any mistakes are going to be costly both from a monetary and time perspective. Be sure to discuss with your graphic designer if a clear business card is suitable for you company. They may suggest a different material and it could save you unnecessary expenses.

Information displayed on a custom clear plastic business card would have to be long term along with the company’s direction in terms of branding. A clear business card would have to be suitable with the company’s style and service for it to be worthwhile.

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Design Options For Premium Business Cards

Posted on by aidenjbarry

A premium looking business card can influence your company for the better. What it will do is show your potential customers that you take pride in what you do, you’re a professional company and that your service is likely to be of a high standard. In addition to that, it will also show that your product or service could come at a higher financial cost than your competitors. As you may know, this can be a good or bad thing for your public image depending on what you’re offering. Discuss in depth with your graphic designer what your company is and who your customers are (as per any job with them) so they can get a good idea about whether a premium business card is suitable for you. If it is, you have a plethora of premium design options.

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Thick stock + spot printing

Premium Business Cards Material Options

A premium business card will typically have features such as a higher gsm stock (thicker paper), two sided special printing and may even have a special die cut. Having a custom die cut typically costs more to create as it’s a process that cuts your business card into a different shape (as opposed to a standard rectangular shape). It can also incorporate folds that you may want your business card to have. Die cuts for premium business cards are best used for rounding the edges of a rectangular card if it fits your business’ style. However, a custom shape could make a definite impact at a trade show where you really want to stand out from the rest. Again, it depends on what sort of service you’re providing, and if executed poorly, it can be a negative image for your company.

Another temptation could be to have a business card, which isn’t even made from paper! Wood, metal and plastic can be alternatives. The costs and timing in getting these made will increase. It would be best to consult with a graphic designer to get the most out of using alternative materials. There are also many options to create premium business cards online.

Black business cards with silver writing done in foil stamping

Black business cards when designed right will give an instant impression of luxury and elegance.  Black business cards work well with foil printing, and for the daring there is the option to design a black on black business card using spot printing.

Printing Options For Premium Business Cards Design

Spot UV varnishing is another popular method to draw attention to a certain element of your business card.  Because it’s a varnish (and can come in gloss, matte, texture and so on) it’ll create a nice feel and visual appeal of having two textures on your business card. A highend look would be to combine gloss UV varnish on a matte business card. I find that, depending on the light source, this can ‘hide’ or ‘reveal’ the spot UV element, which is a nice touch. It also gives the card the impression of depth and more contrast. Another way of creating depth and texture is to have embossed premium business cards, whether it is your logo or contact details or both.

The Layout Of Your Premium Card

You might ask yourself, if I’m paying for a premium business card, I may as well include every bit of information I can on it. But, just because you’re paying for a high-end business card to be produced, it doesn’t mean that the information on it should be excessive. A minimalistic approach is recommended as this would be a sign of premium business cards design. To have your logo on one side of the business card, with a UV Spot varnish over the top of it with a plain coloured background, is going to visually stand out, with your necessary contact details on the other side.

Going Around The World

A business card isn’t globally a certain physical size. The dimensions of a standard card differ from country to country. So, if you’re visiting different countries, you may want to have the specific size for that country printed. Let your graphic designer and printer (if you’re working directly with a printer) that your premium business card needs to be printed for a use in a specific country.

The Importance Of Typography in Premium Business Cards Design

Finally, the direction of your company and who your target audience are will effect your graphic designers font selection for the contact information on your premium business card design. The use of type and information displayed on your card is very important part of creating a premium look and has to be solved by your graphic designer. Every company will have a different direction and the font, the way the type is set and its size, will be influenced by what your company does and it’s direction as a business.

From the materials for the card, the types of printing finishes, to the font/typography and layout, there are many options when it comes to premium business cards designs. This means that you will need to work on finding the right style that fits with your business. It would be best to invest in using a graphic designer that is able to design to the standard that you want. Once you have the premium business card design, this can stay with you and be cost effective in the long run.

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Going Eco-Friendly With Green Business Cards

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These days, companies are trying to be more socially responsible than ever before which is beneficial for the world we live in. So, what better way than to show this to your customers with eco-friendly green business cards? If it’s possible to print on recycled paper produced from post-consumer waste (PCW), then why not? Let’s run through a few of the benefits of investing in environment friendly green business cards and what to look for in an eco-friendly business card.

Firstly, 100% PCW is typically the most eco-friendly paper stock you can print your business cards on. Some companies will claim that their paper is 100% recycled, with 30% post-consumer waste. The other 70% is pre-consumer waste. Post-consumer waste is paper already used by the consumer – paper that’s been put into recycling bins. Pre-consumer waste is paper that never made it to the consumer for example printed magazines and newspapers that weren’t purchased.

However, 100% PCW paper is harder to find and are generally more expensive to produce than reduced percentages. And, you shouldn’t purely look at the percentage of PCW as a guide for how eco-friendly the paper is either. Other factors such as where it’s produced, how it’s produced at the processing plant (wind energy, solar power), how many times it’s been processed and so on are factors to be considered. So, consider a lower percentage of PCW if you’re willing to dissect how the paper has been produced and compare. Generally speaking though, the higher the PCW, the better.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper is renowned for its highest social and environmental standards in the market and carry a strict policy on using their logo on their paper. They set lofty standards to change the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide in which it has been applied in 57 countries around the world. They’re highly recognizable in the industry so to be able to state that the paper you’ve used is FSC-certified is a benefit. There are other environmental certifications and labels such as TCF (Totally Chlorine Free), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Nordic Swan.

It’s also worth considering the type of ink used if you decide to go green business cards. Soy inks are environmentally beneficial as opposed to petroleum-based inks, which are produced using a non-renewable resource and released Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), which reduce the indoor air quality. The benefits of soy inks are simple enough to understand. They are more sustainable, some release zero VOC’s and paper printed with soy inks can be deinked easier making it easier to recycle discarded business cards. From a design point of view, spot colours can still be used in your logo and colours can appear more vibrant. However, metallic and fluorescent colours have to be produced using petroleum-based ink if that’s what you desire.

An eco-friendly green business card should be a process to consider for your business. It’ll cost more than regular paper stock, but it helps save the planet and portrays a better image of your organisation.

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Interior Design Business Cards: How To

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As an interior designer, generally you’ll have a certain style and direction for your clients. This could be from ultra-modern to a very traditional implementation of the space.  To have the perfect interior design business card for your business, it should be complimentary to your style.

Firstly, analyse what your general style is for your clients and whether or not it’s consistent enough to build upon. Using criteria similar to this, define where your business card should be heading:

  • Are the spaces I generally design bright and colorful or do they have soft, muted tones? Is there a general theme (Asian, European)?
  • Do my clients have a budget usually tight? Or relaxed?
  • Am I restricted in the style of interior I design for?

In designing your interior design business cards, they should now follow the above criteria. So, for example, if you do generally work to achieve a bright and colourful space, have a business card that reflects it through the use of type, colour, and layout. It’s recommended that you select a glossy business card so the colours are bold and striking. If you’re getting the business designed by a professional (which is also recommended), they should be able to convey this message clearly for you.

A stock with texture (non-glossy) would be a nice way to tell your customers that you’re a more classical and down to earth interior designer without even having to say it. In addition to this, ask for muted colours from your graphic designer with whites and pale colours to compliment your style.

However, your business might not be as specific as the two above examples. At this point you have to ask yourself whether or not you’d like to head in a specific direction with your business card or if you’d like to have a wide-ranging approach. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be ambiguous, because a high gsm (thick card), matte finished card (non-glossy) can still illustrate that you are a professional in what you do.

In terms of use of space within an interior design business card design, I would recommend your company logo on one side, with your personal details on the other side. This will keep both sides clutter free and will show a professional design eye, even with business cards.

The correct use of fonts and your branding implementation on your business card will be just as critical as the type of card selection and style business card. The two should compliment each other so the design of the business card design is consistent with your work style.

 

 

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Designing Black Business Cards: Are You Bold Enough?

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A black business card can allow your company to focus in on a niche market. As black is a very powerful color and is often associated with power, elegance, strength and authority, traditionally this market will be a premium business selling a very particular product or service. However, it can be a very restrictive color to use so let’s run through a few of the positives and negatives of distributing black business cards to your customers.

Depending on the type of paper you use, black is going to appear different as glossy vs. matte black business cards. Using matte, it’ll be very earthly, and textured black or even a dark-gray shade. A glossy stock of paper will make black look more vibrant and energetic. To say which one will look classier than the other is difficult to say. Both can achieve the same effect if used in the correct manner.

If you’re using a secondary color like red or orange, the card will have a sense of aggression. Generally, a bright secondary color will allow the card to stand out more. Pink and black business cards are memorable for any dynamic type of business. White is also a good choice to compliment a black business card. If you would like black business cards with silver writing, to get the best look you will want to look into a matte stock with metallic silver ink, an added bonus would be to have the lettering embossed.

Black on black business cards done with spot printing

For the daring, there is also the choice of making black on black business cards. This is done by using an off-black matte stock card, and spot printing black onto it. As you can see from the picture, this is a much higher grade of design, making the business card look extremely dynamic, and elegant.

An issue with black business cards is that customers won’t be able to write on your business cards. So, don’t use black (or any other dark color / shade) if your business cards’ purpose is to have important dates and information written on it. Keep in mind that it’s not essential to have both sides of your business card in black. Having an opposing background color on the alternate side is a solution and will also emphasize the black side.

It’s possible with any color business card, but to have an additional finish on your black business card is very effective provided it’s used tastefully. Three popular techniques are foil stamping,UV varnishing and embossing and each will portray professionalism, excellence and a premium service / product.

Black business cards with silver writing done in foil stamping

Foil stamping provides a metallic gold or silver layer onto a certain element of your business card. It’s commonly used on a logo, text or other design element to attract the eye before any of the other elements.

UV varnishing

UV varnishing is an effective process which, when used on matte black business cards, is going to create a layer of gloss wherever it’s been assigned (a logo or text for example). At different angles, the UV varnish will disappear so it’s quite an understated effect.

Embossing is going to create a nice feel to the card and is subtler than foil stamping.  It creates a raised feel that extrudes from the business card itself (similar to Braille). Embossing will be used mainly on a standalone logo on one side of the business card.

Black business cards are going to be for a very specific type of brand and when used effectively, they can create a very refined style. With the addition of a finish, they can be some of the most memorable business cards going around.

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