How To Make Playing Cards #1: Techniques To Design Playing Cards

The humble playing card – a canvas for centuries of games, magic, and artistry. But what if you could transcend the pre-dealt and conjure your own unique deck, a testament to your imagination and skill?

 

This guide unlocks the secrets to crafting your own masterpiece, from conceptualizing its theme to wielding the tools of digital design and embracing the magic of professional printing. Let’s jump into part one about how to make playing cards: techniques to design playing cards.

 

I. Design Techniques For How To Make Playing Cards

 

 

 

The first step in creating your own custom playing cards is to design them. This is the most creative and exciting part of the process, as you get to explore the endless possibilities and considerations when designing your deck's theme, narrative, and visual style.

 

In this section, I will share with you some design techniques and tips that will help you craft a captivating and cohesive deck of cards.

 

1. Choose a theme and style

 

The theme and style of your deck are the foundation of your design. They determine the overall mood, tone, and message of your cards, as well as the visual elements and details that you will use.

 

A theme is the main idea or concept that your deck is based on, such as fantasy, horror, or historical. A style is the way you express your theme through the use of colors, shapes, patterns, and textures, such as cartoon, realistic, or abstract.

 

To choose a theme and style for your deck, you need to consider your purpose, audience, and personal preference.

 

What is the goal of your deck? Who are you making it for? What kind of themes and styles do you like and resonate with? These questions will help you narrow down your options and find a theme and style that suits your project.

 

For example, if you want to make a deck of cards for a children's game, you might choose a theme that is fun and playful, such as animals, fairy tales, or superheroes. For the style, you might choose a cartoon or colorful style that is appealing and easy to recognize for kids.

 

On the other hand, if you want to make a deck of cards for a horror-themed board game, you might choose a theme that is dark and scary, such as zombies, vampires, or ghosts. For the style, you might choose a realistic or gritty style that creates a sense of tension and fear for the players.

 

2. Tell a story and inject your voice

 

 

 

Once you have chosen a theme and style for your deck, you need to tell a story and inject your voice into the card faces.

 

This means that you need to create a narrative and a personality for your deck, and convey them through the use of images, symbols, and words. This will make your deck more engaging and memorable, as well as reflect your unique vision and perspective.

 

To tell a story and inject your voice into your card faces, you need to consider the following aspects:

 

- The characters: Who are the main characters or figures in your deck? How do they relate to your theme and style? How do they look, act, and speak? What are their roles, motivations, and goals? How do you represent them on the card faces?

- The setting: Where and when does your story take place? How does it relate to your theme and style? How does it look, feel, and sound? What are the main features, landmarks, and events in your setting? How do you represent them on the card faces?

- The plot: What is the main conflict or challenge in your story? How does it relate to your theme and style? How does it affect your characters and setting? How do you resolve it? How do you represent it on the card faces?

 

For example, if you are making a deck of cards based on the theme of Ancient Egypt, you might choose to tell a story about the pharaohs, the gods, and the pyramids.

 

You might choose to inject your voice by adding your own twist or interpretation to the historical facts and myths, such as making the pharaohs into superheroes, the gods into aliens, or the pyramids into spaceships.

 

You might represent your characters, setting, and plot on the card faces by using images of hieroglyphs, statues, and artifacts, as well as symbols of power, magic, and mystery.

 

3. Provide examples of successful themed decks for inspiration

 

To inspire your creativity and give you some ideas for your own deck, we will provide you with some examples of successful themed decks that have been printed by Acelion.

 

ACELION's Silence Playing Cards feature opulent tuck boxes crafted from a unique double-layered paper stock. The second tuck case is particularly noteworthy, as it facilitates easy retrieval of the cards from the side.

 

The artwork on each card is entirely customized, embracing a captivating Gothic style that exudes both beauty and darkness. Adding to the allure, the tuck case is adorned with striking hot silver accents. Take a closer look, and you'll discover a celestial display within the tuck case, featuring a gleaming moon and stars.

 

 

 

Cyberpunk: Origin by ACELION presents a mythical and epic style of playing cards that seamlessly blends magic and science fiction elements.

 

The tuck case follows Acelion's signature double-deck box design, featuring an open-top for easy access. Players can effortlessly retrieve the internal card box from the top.

 

In the standard version of the tuck case, laser gilding is employed, causing the words and circles on the card box to exhibit a mesmerizing array of colors when illuminated.

 

 

 

These are some of the most popular and acclaimed decks that have been praised for their originality, quality, and beauty. You can use them as a source of inspiration, but do not copy them exactly. Instead, try to learn from their techniques and apply them to your own theme and style.

 

OK, take a break. In the next part, we will offer practical advice on designing individual card elements like faces, backs, pips, and indices.

 

----Elements About Designing Playing Cards