Best Printer for Tarot/Oracle Deck!:)

[reall]

Well I still think mpc/ps lack search engine & tgc provide best traffic,

BUT this italy printer could easy beat ALL mentioned here quality & shipping wise if only would they improve web interface & provide good templates & instruction!x// facepalm hope they fix that asap! will post moment I have some good news/updates!lolz

[reall]

just updated ludocards info adding Warning note about their possibly faulty pdf card size generator?x//

 

hopefully my decks are expect to be ready to ship 31 dec!:) so EU shop will start taking orders starting 2019!:)

 

mpc indeed say they can sell Tarot tins without their logo just need to ask for quote?:)

but i'll wait with these till I have confirmed ludocard print quality & box size!:)

 

so it's 2piece box for now!:) on bright side they seem to offer combined shipping so my EU shipping cost is same for 1 or all 4 decks I'm printing with them!:) will offer paypal invoice soon!:)

[gregory]

But don't ludocards have a minimum purchase requirement ? I can't get it to go below 5....

[reall]

But don't ludocards have a minimum purchase requirement ? I can't get it to go below 5....

yes! apparently you MUST purchase minimum 6 of your decks(I think?:) for them to print it for you, after that you upload your 3 pdf files; 1pdf with each card front img as page, 2nd pdf for back & 3rd(optional) box?:)

after that you can go *Shipping button to activate so called *Drop shipping option that let you insert shipping address & number of decks you are sending (any number from 1 to whatever you printed or have much your left unsold?:) Think they charge flat fedex shipping with tracking around 15Euros for EU? then you ask costumer service to combine it for you if you ship several different decks to same address?:)(this is what I did as I need 1 of each of my 4 deck shipped to reviewer in France!:)

 

l Will post my full review on ludocards moment I have my decks printed & shipping!:)

 

imo their service is different from standard POD (mpc/ps/tgc/dtc) as you(author) place your order & pay in advance for whatever number of decks you wish them print(minimum 6?:) & later ship those to your home address(free shipping!:) or ask them do drop shipping for you for each single deck moment it's sold!:)

 

their web interface could be better & require some time to get used to idea & wrap your head around & figure how their service actually work, but If they print my decks & boxes good quality & ship to EU without you(&other EU-ers) having to pay hefty charges to get it from post office I'll be hapy to work with them & spread the word to other Tarot/Oracle creators do same!:D

 

so fingers crossed I *prepared my print files ok & printing & shipping work without hickups!XD lol

 

will keep you update!:D

[gregory]

Well, I am happy with printerstudio, but I shall watch with interest. But I MUCH prefer to upload jpegs....

[reall]

Well, I am happy with printerstudio, but I shall watch with interest. But I MUCH prefer to upload jpegs....

& I prefer png!:D fact is you need *advanced program like photoshop/illustrator (or scribus I've used!) to prepare pdf, but there is also this tiny program called; ImageToPDForXPS you can use to get it simple & easy super compresed pdf!:) but not sure it would affect print quality?;) & don't want to order 6decks to *test that theory!x,x facepalm lol

[gregory]

I have photoshop. I can do pdfs just fine. I just don't LIKE them !

 

Do you not have photoshop ? I can give you a legal free version.

[reall]

I have photoshop. I can do pdfs just fine. I just don't LIKE them !

 

Do you not have photoshop ? I can give you a legal free version.

hm, i always had bad laptop(before my surface 3!:) that didn't work well with photoshop,

& last time I've tried downloading that free version it required creating acc & still did not let me download!x,x facepalm (or was this adobe?x.x) whatever may as well try again as all pro use it!:)

so link plz! may as well start my 2019 resolution list with *learn photoshop!:)

btw how hard do you find it to learn/use compared to my fav gimp & medibangpaintpro?;)

[gregory]

I have photoshop. I can do pdfs just fine. I just don't LIKE them !

 

Do you not have photoshop ? I can give you a legal free version.

hm, i always had bad laptop(before my surface 3!:) that didn't work well with photoshop,

& last time I've tried downloading that free version it required creating acc & still did not let me download!x,x facepalm (or was this adobe?x.x) whatever may as well try again as all pro use it!:)

so link plz! may as well start my 2019 resolution list with *learn photoshop!:)

btw how hard do you find it to learn/use compared to my fav gimp & medibangpaintpro?;)

Very easy indeed.

 

You have PM.

[reall]

I have photoshop. I can do pdfs just fine. I just don't LIKE them !

 

Do you not have photoshop ? I can give you a legal free version.

hm, i always had bad laptop(before my surface 3!:) that didn't work well with photoshop,

& last time I've tried downloading that free version it required creating acc & still did not let me download!x,x facepalm (or was this adobe?x.x) whatever may as well try again as all pro use it!:)

so link plz! may as well start my 2019 resolution list with *learn photoshop!:)

btw how hard do you find it to learn/use compared to my fav gimp & medibangpaintpro?;)

Very easy indeed.

 

You have PM.

OK!:)

ETA;been testing it yesterday & looks much like programs I use!:)

my only remark is interface buttons are tiny!XD also I'm having trouble finding some tools like select within closed line or bucket fill but I see it have great pdf & cmyk export settings so we definitely need this program mentioned in *creator topic as great way to prepare your pdf when required!:D

 

btw gimp can also export layers as single pages in pdf but require extra setting to do so cmyk!:)

[Guest]

i just had a deck made with drive thru. service is cool enough, the price was lower than the MPC deck i just ordered.

 

I use the adobe creative suite so jumping through Drive thru's printing specifications was pretty straight forward. anybody making cards digitally should probably  be using In Design or an equal program like SILE for their type setting. It is such a labor intensive process to proof and make changes to type and other settings that affect all of the cards, and using one of these programs helps with that immensely. they also offer numerous options for saving to PDF format.

 

the card stock from Drive Thru..I got the premium card stock low gloss...and it is ok. the edge cut is just awful. the edges of the cards roll back really easy, a rather soft card stock. to be completely honest it is just fine for proofing my cards and getting a deck in my hands quickly, but I wouldn't sell them to anyone unless i was going to make the bleed region of the cards white so that when the edges get dinged up it doesn't look awful.

 

I would have to say the stock of Drive Thru is about the same as the Universal Waite that was repainted by Mary Roberts, but the ink and other processing is less than ...

 

probably unfair to compare a us games deck to a POD, but it is what it is 

[reall]

whatsawhosit[/member] glad you tested drivetheucarda for yourself but like I said YOU NEED to pick *Embossed Card stock option!:) I've just got my test decks yesterday & noticed it seems even better than last time!^^ lol so *Embossed is definitely Big difference compared to *Premium you used that may end up chipped around edges?:)

 

& Scribus is free & best for preparing your pdfs once you figure how it works!:)

 

so post us your notes if you order again from dtc this time watch for Embossed card stock?:)

 

also dtc prices are now close to gamecrafter (again you need to look for Enable linen texture button!:) that is easier to use with only difference larger print drift?;)

[Guest]

thanks reall that sounds like a plan, i will give the embossed stock a try next time. to be honest I just use the POD services to proof my work and make my personal decks. so I have fun trying different companies each time.

 

I took a break from life to make the wife a deck and she has chosen The Expert Playing Card Company to print hers.

 

not for the faint hearted i assure you, i have had to double down on her "small" project art wise to make it match their process....it got a lot more serious than I planned  :bugeyed:

[reall]

You are welcome! experiment till perfect!^^ lol

 

Thanks for link! I see they do great job with playing cards & adding to our printer list!^^

 

oh, I'm reading their specification; vector only & min 1200dpi for playing cards?:)

http://expertplayingcard.com/#custom

not for the faint of heart indeed, be sure to share pic of your deck here!:)

& minimal quote 500 decks is more than most of us need!:)

 

that's why pod drivethrucards(this is what I use for all my test prints!:) & gamecrafter are my fav!:)

also ludocards may join the club if they got that promised *2piece rigid box next week so I can finally start selling my EU decks!:) will post my full review WHEN that happens!:)

[Guest]

EPC printed the uusi for it's kickstarter program, i would wager they still are the price never went down.

 

does MPC seem expensive? they definitely charged a bit more than twice for shipping than drive thru did...i haven't really shopped around if the price is reasonable I have been trying the service.

 

 

 

[reall]

imo mpc & printerstudio charge double for their card stock compared to what they used to charge 2016 & before they noticed it's popular with *selfpublishers & raised their card stock for no other reason but because they CAN! that's when I had enough I decided to STOP using their service & print with US based companies that charge less for same/better quality & costumer service you can actually count on to do job for you/drivethrucards Brian my fav!:)

 

you can compare price here;

http://oneblogshelf.blogspot.com/2018/06/print-on-demand-playing-cards-cost.html

 

& tell me what you think?:)

 

p.s I'm printing with ludocards now to let my EU costumers order decks without extra charges of VAT & post collecting fees!:) & just got words dtc is considering same!:) this may be great year for Tarot/Card community!:D

[Guest]

that is a cool run down. gives me a headache comparing all that stuff.

 

If one's intention is to sell POD as their finished product there is little doubt that drive thru has an excellent service.

 

I have had to use MPC to obtain the proportions and materials I want to try out. For instance they offer the "Trump" size card a 2.5"x 4" card that is the slightly smaller more manageable tarot card size that is used in French and Italian tarot games. a much easier size to shuffle and work with.

 

another thing I have found is that so many companies are now offering tarot card printing and then offer no way to get the little LWB done. Drive thru is digital only I think, MPC has this little folding booklet. Game crafter has what amounts to an almost "traditional LWB." Companies that are supporting people making their own decks but then limit your ability to pitch and describe your product are only doing half of their job, imo.

 

I have been searching for a printer to do a perfect bound LWB around 200 pages that is the same dimensions of the cards....I have a couple decks that came with such books, so it isn't a completely uncommon practice.

[reall]

agree about dtc!:) Think gamecrafter have all card sizes as well?:)

 

& drivethrucomics let you print your books as well!:)

https://www.drivethrucomics.com/

[Guest]

i think drive thru's smallest book is an A5 or roughly 5"x8" if I missed something feel free to shine a light. I got really tired of shopping around and just sorta decided to try each company I could.

 

trimming books down to spec is a normal step for a regular book publisher. But the POD publishers do not appear to be as flexible at this time. It does take a bit of human interaction to trim down the books to the right size.

 

 

 

[reall]

yes I think A5 is smallest you can get with dtc!:D imo you can probably have same size printed in your local print shop just ask for *2pages on each side of A4 paper size & folded as book?:) imo that & those DV boxed set are best!:)

 

personally i would always go without printed lwb but offer print your own instead & publish *actual companion book if I need one?!XD plan adding colloring book as well for my next project!:)

 

so do let us know if you find good printer for books?:)

 

[DevonCarter]

trimming books down to spec is a normal step for a regular book publisher. But the POD publishers do not appear to be as flexible at this time. It does take a bit of human interaction to trim down the books to the right size.

 

Yes - some standard sizes can come off the machines finished, while others (especially very small ones) have to be hand-cut which ups the turnaround time and pricing.

 

Also - if you go to a print shop, tell them the finished size of the book, how many pages, how you want it bound, and whether the cover is the same stock as the guts or heavier. Thats the finished folded trimmed final size - telling them you want an A4 folded in half 2-sided or whatever is likely to confuse things - the estimating software will figure that stuff out! And don't worry about putting it in printer's spreads, that slows things down, too. A PDF of the entire book, single pages not spreads, with crops and bleeds is perfectly fine. Two clicks in imposition and it's a book!

 

(I work for a print shop, am a graphic designer, and run a digital press - this is stuff I see daily. The more the designer tries to "help" in setting up things, especially books, the less efficient the printing will be. And if possible always check with the printer prior to the setup - they may be able to give you a template or pre-press checklist, or be able to save on costs by using house stock, or gang your file with someone else to save setup costs, etc.)

 

Good luck to everyone on their creations!

[reall]

DevonCarter[/member] thanks for heads up! happy we have someone from print shop to give us some tips!:)

agree about what you say about *print shop book, I did my that way just made regular A4 pages pdf then asked my printer to turn it A5 for me!:) & it ended up perfect!:)

[reall]

Happy to inform I FINALLY have my Tarot cards printed by ludocards!:)

check out img here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/qZ6dZc6J49nUdTVf6

& read my full review of this printer service here; http://creativenlight.blogspot.com/2019/03/ludocards-best-eu-based-pod-review.html

 

they even say they'll pack my decks in tins if I find tin provider but it'll had to wait next year until i figure out best Tarot tin size & provider!:)

 

p.s 1st post updated with extra info!:)

will add more if I find more good POD!^^ lol

 

[reall]

just to share ludocards Tarot size 7x12cm card & maching 2 piece sturdy box template i've used; http://fav.me/dd30ioa in case someone care!:)

 

updated 1st post as well!:)

[Day Soleil]

Happy to inform I FINALLY have my Tarot cards printed by ludocards!:)

check out img here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/qZ6dZc6J49nUdTVf6

& read my full review of this printer service here; http://creativenlight.blogspot.com/2019/03/ludocards-best-eu-based-pod-review.html

 

they even say they'll pack my decks in tins if I find tin provider but it'll had to wait next year until i figure out best Tarot tin size & provider!:)

 

p.s 1st post updated with extra info!:)

will add more if I find more good POD!^^ lol

 

Wow reall[/member] your decks and boxes look FANTASTIC!!!!!!  :thumbsup:

 

just to share ludocards Tarot size 7x12cm card & maching 2 piece sturdy box template i've used; http://fav.me/dd30ioa in case someone care!:)

 

updated 1st post as well!:)

 

Thank you so much for sharing your box template with us! I love how the insides match your deck backs <3