A comp card (also called composite card, z card or set card) is a marketing tool for actors and especially models. They serve as the latest and best of a model's portfolio and are used as a business card.
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History
Peter Marlowe in London invented models composites in 1965, then printed on paper to an A4 format [1][2][3]. The format was changed in 1972 to an A5 card format, for filing purposes, and a few other companies started publishing cards for the model industry under different trade names since Peter Marlowe had registered the Trade Mark “Model Composite” in Europe and the USA. Amongst these was Sebastian Sed who traded under the name Sed Cards, which are sometimes mis-pronounced as Z ("Zed") or Set cards. The publishing house of Marlowe Press stopped trading in 1990 and the words "models composites" and "comp cards" became generic within the model industry. Comp card databases and creation tools have moved online in recent years see #External links. e.g. Most of the composites published by Marlowe Press are online at www.modelscompsites.com
Format
A comp card typically contains a minimum of two pictures — cover page with full size portrait and a second page with a selection of representative shots from the portfolio — and the model's basic stats — typically height, weight, three sizes (bust, waist, hips), shoe size, eye and hair color, nationality and contact information — printed on both sides of an 8.5" x 5.5" piece of card stock (12 pt stock) (US) or A5 (Europe, Asia).
Use
Comp cards have been around for many years as the essential marketing tool for a model and are likely to retain this standing because they are an inexpensive way to effectively and professionally showcase a model's ability. Composite cards are used on three major levels—they are used by models, agents and the agent's clients.
Production
Currently, models have many different options of creating comp cards. They can ask their photographer, create their own on their computer using today's selection of image editing or graphics software. In addition, with technology's increasingly strong influence in the digital market, many printing companies have looked to the internet to facilitate the ordering process. Comp card printing prices can vary depending on the number of pictures used on the card, the type of paper stock used, and the general printing quality. Different layout styles are available or can be created.
External links
- myZed.info - Comp Card creation tool for both online and print.
- Comp Card Express - Comp Card database, creation and printing.
References
- ^ “Model” (1995) by Michael Gross p.284
- ^ Barbara Molyneux (April 1989 & May 1989) Marlowe Press - The Story, Model Journal, p.3
- ^ http://www.modelscomposites.com/history.htm
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