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To trim or not to trim, that is the question...


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Posted

Well, I've bought the scissors and the Japanese corner rounder...

Posted

Well, I've bought the scissors and the Japanese corner rounder...

You can do it. Just take your time. Doesn’t have to be done in a day...

Posted

Well, I've bought the scissors and the Japanese corner rounder...

You can do it. Just take your time. Doesn’t have to be done in a day...

 

Thank you for your encouragement, my dear.  <3

Posted

My most successful outcome with deck trimming was during a thunderstorm many years ago, when the electricity was out, and I trimmed an extra copy of the Thoth that I had lying around by candlelight, using scissors. No, the outcome wasn't uniformly perfect. But the deck feels warm and personal. And I knew I had little to lose going into the process; I have other copies of the Thoth.

 

I've trimmed a couple of other decks but with varying results. I ruined an oracle deck once by not paying close enough attention to what I was doing; luckily, it was an inexpensive mistake.

 

But I'm not a die-hard deck trimmer, and I've never blinged a deck as some do (with inked edges and so on). For the most part, I like decks with borders.

Posted

My most successful outcome with deck trimming was during a thunderstorm many years ago, when the electricity was out, and I trimmed an extra copy of the Thoth that I had lying around by candlelight, using scissors. No, the outcome wasn't uniformly perfect. But the deck feels warm and personal. And I knew I had little to lose going into the process; I have other copies of the Thoth.

 

I've trimmed a couple of other decks but with varying results. I ruined an oracle deck once by not paying close enough attention to what I was doing; luckily, it was an inexpensive mistake.

 

But I'm not a die-hard deck trimmer, and I've never blinged a deck as some do (with inked edges and so on). For the most part, I like decks with borders.

 

I bought the scissors, bought the Japanese corner cutter. Even trimmed one of the extra cards, but I think I might wait until I buy another Mary-El before I inadvertently butcher one of them. LOL Then, I might muster up the courage to actually do it.

 

I appreciate your (and everyone's) feedback, Annabelle. [emoji4]

Rose Lalonde
Posted

I trimmed my 78 edition of the Mary-el, and I'm far happier with it trimmed. (Those black borders were massive!)  Had posted it back at AT. Lemme see if I can copy and paste details...

 

Sorry if I missed it being posted when I was reading through posts, but the index of trimmed deck info at AT is at

https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=165283

 

There are other ways of trimming the Mary-el at link above. (I left thin black borders around and the card titles while other trimmers chose to remove them.)

 

Tools:

 

Fiskars Softouch spring action scissors

Sunstar Kodomaru corner rounder (3mm side)

Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap distress ink pad

 

 

As you can see, a little irregularity in the edges when stacked. Not enough to bother me.

 

 

t025vrxc.c3t.jpg

Posted

I trimmed my 78 edition of the Mary-el, and I'm far happier with it trimmed. (Those black borders were massive!)  Had posted it back at AT. Lemme see if I can copy and paste details...

 

Sorry if I missed it being posted when I was reading through posts, but the index of trimmed deck info at AT is at

https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=165283

 

There are other ways of trimming the Mary-el at link above. (I left thin black borders around and the card titles while other trimmers chose to remove them.)

 

Tools:

 

Fiskars Softouch spring action scissors

Sunstar Kodomaru corner rounder (3mm side)

Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap distress ink pad

 

 

As you can see, a little irregularity in the edges when stacked. Not enough to bother me.

 

 

t025vrxc.c3t.jpg

 

They're beautiful, Rose! You did an amazing job.  <3 I've seen all trimmed except the left border, too. I might invest in another Mary-El and will do it with that deck. Right now, I'm waiting for Chris Leech's Shakespeare Tarot and following the advice of one of us, here, am going to write the name or number of the cards in gold pen somewhere on the cards to make things easier.

The Mary-El[/b is such an interesting Tarot. Thank you for chiming in and naming your tools.  <3 I seem to have two of your tools, except my Fiskars are long and I don't have the Tim Holtz ink pad.

CharlotteK
Posted

Liberating my 1995 edition of the Crystal Tarots of its heinous borders.371385979ae6b6a06ac5e3f80dab1319.jpg

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

 

Posted

That is gorgeous, Charlotte. I have the deck, but borderless really takes it to another level.

Posted

Absolutely lovely, Charlotte! [emoji4] Those borders really did need to be removed. I wish more deck creators and publishers would embrace border less.

CharlotteK
Posted

The difference is stunning. I have never read with this deck it was just too ugly, it never appealed to me. Now I do think I will actually use it. Here is the spread for the deck interview, which I will type up into my journal at some point soon. But just to show how beautiful these cards are now.0e5c8c27a0d3f57daaba68adf0110594.jpg

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

 

Posted

Wow! I wish I was a confident trimmer....

CharlotteK
Posted

I think I have a trimming addiction!9297dfd07fd76a848fb37296a925afb5.jpg

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

 

Posted

The Crystal Tarot looks beautiful trimmed! I wish they would do a borderless version.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posted

You trim so expertly, Charlotte.  <3 I haven't had the courage to trim any of my decks, yet, and I don't think I'd ever be able to the kind of job you've done with the Crystal, but when I see your cards, they are so beautiful, I could kick myself.

 

I'm like Flaxen. I wish every deck would be borderless.

EmpyreanKnight
Posted

I don't want to end up mutilating my decks so they'd have to stay as they are

Posted

I have so small hands, so large cards are so hard to shuffle. I find the white border around them just useless! So I have wanted to trim my cards.

 

Do you find it changes them in any way, except them getting smaller, of course?

Court de Gébelin
Posted

Odd, but borders on cards has never bothered me.  In fact, the thought of trimming them never occurred to me.  I suppose now, I'll start looking at my decks a little differently.  But, I doubt that I ever want to trim any of them.

Posted

l have trimmed several decks that were just too large for my small hands. The latest being the Everyday Enchantment.  It does look much better and the images stand out really well.  l would never use scissors, never been able to cut anything in a straight line  :))

 

l use a sliding trimmer and round the corners with a 5 corner rounder.  Never had any hiccups doing this.

 

Posted

I've trimmed one, my Llewellyn, not because the borders bothered me, but because the cards were so big. I was very pleased with the results.

 

Currently fancy doing another deck, but not sure which yet - just want another go!

25120831512_03028930ea_z.jpg.b40a8180085ae8af901e5b96b1d71134.jpg

Posted

I haven't yet found a deck I want to trim, but if I do... luckily I work at a printer! We have two computerized guillotine cutters, so I'd just have the bindery guys do the cutting for me. I'd have them put a couple pieces of chipboard on top and bottom - the top can get clamp marks and the bottom sheet can get rough edges. We have printed playing cards, and this is exactly how those were cut, and is likely how the decks were cut at the factory when they were made. I'm not sure if I'd round the corners, we have a corner rounder but it does only a small stack at a time and you have to trim each corner twice or there are little pieces that stick out. It'd depend on the deck, I guess. I'd go with a small radius round, though. The cutting would take less than 2 minutes, the rounding probably 15-20 minutes or so depending if the die has to be switched or not.

If you have a deck you want trimmed, but are a bit afraid, maybe check with a local printer - especially a smaller one that's not a chain. You'll want to be very specific about dimensions and what you want, and request they use chipboard top and bottom when cutting, but it's likely they'll do it. I'd expect we would charge maybe $10 for trimming, more for corner rounding, if you left it and came back to get it in a couple days. Probably more for while-you-wait, which isn't always possible. That's off the top of my head, but I know we've cut other things before in that range.

Posted

I took my Radiant RWS to the printer to be trimmed and don't regret it. It's still my go-to deck when I want a no frills, traditional deck. It's beautiful borderless and the rounded edges make it easier to fit in my hand. Definitely recommend taking it to a printer. Only cost me about $10.

Posted

Thinking of trimming my spare Cat People tarot.

 

But the image on the back doesn't line up with the image on the front. And do I want to keep the titles?

 

And it's the very plasticy reprint, I'm wondering what that's going to be like to trim. I'm thinking not as easy as the Llewellyn.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

In the meantime I've edged my Shadowscapes in silver ink and it's looking lovely  <3

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