Trogon Posted September 18, 2017 Posted September 18, 2017 So, I haven't actually worked out the ratio for a deck size for a Tarot deck. But that's an easy enough calculation. What I'm wondering is, for those who have created Tarot decks, or other printed works. Do you work with your image in a larger size, but at the same ratio ... or do you start out with the images at the finished size? (Mine will be done on the computer using public domain & free government photos.)
TarotOrat Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 I draw mine by hand, and I can’t draw things as tiny as they would need to be to fit on a standard tarot card. I also don’t paint huge canvases that would be hard to reduce while keeping detail, though! I usually work on 5x7 paper.
Bodhiseed Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 I also did my drawings larger than card size. Just don't forget that all cards that are printed will have a bleed zone - an area that may get cut off in production. So make sure you have extra along your edges!
Little Fang Posted October 10, 2017 Posted October 10, 2017 I would search online for tarot card print templates for one. Also I would do the artwork in a high resolution, being mindful of scaling down details. You'll get a clearer looking image that way in the end! I always work in a large size at 300dpi
Trogon Posted October 15, 2017 Author Posted October 15, 2017 Thanks for the suggestions! They're all a big help.
gregory Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 I worked (with photos) in 8 x 12 inches at 300 dpi. and reduced when I was done. Ratio of the finished product - check with the printer you plan to use. Printerstudio has many options: http://www.printerstudio.com/unique-ideas/blank-playing-cards.html they have a shedload of templates that are easy to use. http://www.printerstudio.com/pops/pc-temp-guide.html They show the bleed area and the area that is safe to use and so on. If you want borderless you need to make sure that anything outside the green line is image that you are OK to lose.... Oh and if you want COLOURED borders or a pattern - just fill that space with whatever you want and let it bleed out.
Trogon Posted November 20, 2017 Author Posted November 20, 2017 Thanks for the links Gregory! Also very helpful!
DevonCarter Posted November 20, 2017 Posted November 20, 2017 if you have a printer in mind, definitely check with them first. Generally you want photos to be a minimum of 300dpi at the final size they will print. Text should be higher resolution IF you are working in a raster program like an image editor. I'd suggest putting the cards together in an actual layout software if you can - collaging backgrounds and and such in Photoshop but adding text in a page layout software such as InDesign - you want type to stay vector if possible, and page layout software will let you have one file with all the cards, each on a separate page. You can even set up consistent borders or guidelines (or anything else you want on all the cards, or groups of the cards like suits) there on master pages which will save tons of work. If we were printing it at the shop I work at, I'd ask you for one high-quality PDF at the actual size, with crops and bleeds, that has all the pages in it - bleed is 1/8 inch extra all the way around that will be cut off (so in photoshop, you'll need to make it 1/8 inch bigger on ALL SIDES - 1/4" extra total - and remember that outside bit will be cut off). Crops should be offset by .125" - this is not the default for most software but it's always best to keep the crop marks outside the bleed. If you can do bleeds but not crop marks, that should be totally fine - I know all of our imposition software puts in it's own crop marks, it's just helpful to have them on the file to double check that the salesperson told the pre-press people the correct final trim size! Printers will take 78 different files, of course, but they'll probably charge you to put them back together. The closer to print-ready you have it, the cheaper the costs will be for you. Also, though I haven't actually done an imposition to check, I'm fairly sure the reason most decks have 2 extra cards, is that there will be 2 extra spots left on the press sheet (to make 80, an even number). You're paying for that stock and it's going through the press/printer, so you might as well print on it! Remember to work in CMYK mode! I'm a graphic designer/digital press operator at a print shop, and have some "knowledge flyers" we use that I could send you if you'd like. I'm not sure where you're starting at so I apologize if you already knew all that stuff above! Also, I'm in the US - info should be similar elsewhere of course, but the measurements would be metric most places... I'm not sure what those are. Some shops might still work in points and picas, but those are really out of date in my experience. We work in inches.
Trogon Posted November 22, 2017 Author Posted November 22, 2017 Wow Devon! Thanks! I've not worked with anything for professional printing before, so all of that was helpful. I'll pm you my address for those flyers.
reall Posted May 26, 2018 Posted May 26, 2018 I work with Gamecrafter universal templates tha works for most printers!:) Tarot size is 900x1500 pxl with 300dpi or 3x5 proportion if you are working traditional media!:) just remembernot to place any important art/elementsclose to border!:)
DoNotDelete Posted December 8, 2018 Posted December 8, 2018 So, I haven't actually worked out the ratio for a deck size for a Tarot deck. But that's an easy enough calculation. What I'm wondering is, for those who have created Tarot decks, or other printed works. Do you work with your image in a larger size, but at the same ratio ... or do you start out with the images at the finished size? There are some POD printers that will let you download their template card before you start your deck. Each of the companies I tried used a different sized card, so it helps to know the company you want to use. All printers will want digital art files that is at least 300 DPI in resolution. It's best to work with a larger size image as it's easier to scale down and you wont lose any of the quality.
Ravena Noir Posted December 11, 2018 Posted December 11, 2018 I've heard 350 or 600 dpi is good as well but I honestly don't know what that means other than it is similar if not the same as resolution So, I haven't actually worked out the ratio for a deck size for a Tarot deck. But that's an easy enough calculation. What I'm wondering is, for those who have created Tarot decks, or other printed works. Do you work with your image in a larger size, but at the same ratio ... or do you start out with the images at the finished size? If your thinking about using a POD service you can download their template card before you start your deck. Each of the companies I tried used a different sized card, so it helps to know the company you want to use. All printers will want digital art files that is at least 300 DPI in resolution. It's best to work with a larger size image as it's easier to scale down and you wont lose any of the quality. Sent from my SM-J700P using Tapatalk
DoNotDelete Posted December 11, 2018 Posted December 11, 2018 Hi Ravena Noir, The well known big publishers may ask for larger size images as you've mentioned, but for POD printers it's usually about 300 dpi and it does the job. I have saved some images at 600 dpi and i find them to large to scale down, as you said there isn't much difference with the image quality.
Guest Posted December 19, 2018 Posted December 19, 2018 DevonCarter about nailed it. It is a nice concept to work at a higher resolution, but it takes so much longer to do the work while so much detail is lost during the scaling process. If I am making the card digital i will start at the actual resolution and design each card, at that point print a proof and decide which if any images need more detail. i have wasted years of my life painting pictures too big :bugeyed: Going to In Design or some other lay out program for the type set is very important the art needs to be at it's final scale adjustment at the point you are doing the type setting. If for instance you make each image in photoshop and change your resolution for the image the type will not follow proportionally and you will be re-setting all the type.
queenofswords853 Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 I am interested in making my own deck and have found several places online that advertise printing services any you guys recommend? thank you!
reall Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 I am interested in making my own deck and have found several places online that advertise printing services any you guys recommend? thank you! drivethrucards & gamecrafter my fav in US!:) & ludocards for EU & Hi quality prints!:) check our full list & more info here; https://www.thetarotforum.com/deck-creations/best-printer-fortarotoracle-deck!)/ & feel free to ask if you need any help, i'm pro selfpublisher by now!^^ lol Best luck with your Tarot project!:) reall/Irena
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