Chicago, IL, September 25, 2005 - Gone are the days of three-week turnarounds, multiple copy negatives and crafty-looking photo business cards. With the advent of digital imaging and the affordability of real photographic prints from digital files, photo business cards have become a quick and inexpensive way to market your company.

According to Larry Bloom, founder of ATI Graphics, a Chicago-based graphic and Web design firm rooted in the photographic industry (312-909-4716, www.atigraphics.com), “today’s photo business cards are an example of how digital imaging has revolutionized our business.”

When Bloom began producing photo business cards 13 years ago for his clients, the process was both time-consuming and complicated. It required a number of steps including making inter-negatives and film overlays. Limitations of the technology at the time also impeded the quality of the final product (dust was always a problem when sandwiching two pieces of film together), so photo business cards were not often the choice for photographers looking to promote their work.  Today, quality is not an issue and turnaround time is a fraction of what it used to be. Cards can be designed, printed and delivered within days, not weeks.

“Anything is possible when it comes to photo business cards,” says Bloom. “Basically, the only limitation is the size of the card itself.”

Bloom notes that there is a temptation to print photo business cards at home using high-quality photo ink-jet printers, but he cautions that they cannot compare to true continuous tone photographs. “When it comes to picture quality and cost, ink jet printers just don’t cut it,” adds Bloom, who uses digital lab equipment to print his “real” photo business cards.

For photographers, artists and others in the creative field, a photo business card is a cost-efficient and portable marketing tool that helps clients associate your work with your name. “In a stack of business cards, yours will clearly stand out because of its unique feel and design.”

Photo business cards from ATI Graphics start at $70.