Duplex card

A duplex card, often referred to in the industry as a duplex business card, is a printed item created by bonding two separate sheets of paper together. This technique allows the designer to specify different physical characteristics for the front and back, such as contrasting paper weights, colours, or surface textures. For example, a designer might pair a thick, textured cotton stock on the front with a thinner, smooth coated stock on the reverse to create a distinct tactile experience.

The assembly process typically involves applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive or using a lamination process to fuse the two substrates. Once bonded, the resulting composite is trimmed to the final dimensions. This construction method requires careful attention to the total thickness of the combined sheets to ensure the card fits standard wallets and holders. The final product offers a higher level of material variety than a single-sheet card, allowing for unique design expressions through the juxtaposition of different paper types.

Sources

• ISO 2470:2008 Paper and board - Determination of grammage
• ISO 534:2011 — Paper and board: determination of thickness, density and specific volume
• Fogra 51-2016 Requirements for digital printing