On Line Card Printing Services

Well, hooray, I've figured out how to lay out the graphics for my cards, and have collected quite a bit of the artwork (yes, I'm being very careful about copyright issues), so before I go too much further I need to make a decision about where to get them printed. I'm not intending to sell decks in the immediate future, I just want a few copies for my own use, but I want them to be fairly nice. I'm not a deck collector, or even an experienced cartomancer, so I haven't got a lot of opinions about cardstock, finishes, packaging, etc. I honestly don't think these things are going to be as important to me as they might be to some of you here. I would hate really crappy printing, though!

Right now I'm leaning toward these guys http://www.printerstudio.com/personalized/large-print-custom-card-decks.html

I like the idea of this size of card, and their process appears to be straightforward.

However, if anyone would like to make other recommendations, offer warnings or share experiences, that would be great.

Thanks in advance!
Kris

good luck with this! Let us know how it goes, regardless of who you choose. I do like the idea of the larger card size option you have here.



Davina

Hi! Kris...

I just received my order for:
1. a large sized (jumbo) tarot deck
2. a poker sized tarot deck from the www.printerstudio.com

This was the tarot deck I just recently finished ('All Bears Tarot') here on AT in the creation forum.

What I think of their service and their quality:

1. They used the exact same card stock and process that they use for 'casino type' of playing cards.
There is no lamination, but there is a nice matte with a slight sheen coating over the card...
maybe it is in the actual ink they use, but they are very nice looking. The cards are both flexible
and excellent true to color quality. I am so pleased with the colors. They shuffle very nicely.
(excellent quality) They were cut and 'centered' perfectly, both fronts and backs.
The corner rounding cuts were also perfect.

2. It is extremely easy to upload your images on their web site system and is fun as well.

3. The shipping was free for me by using the code on their home page (on the top left).
You have to order $30 or more to get the free shipping. I don't know how long they will offer that.

4. Once you upload your images you can save them in a folder on their web site for any
future orders you want to place with them.
(There is a simple link on your account page when you want to reorder your deck)

The downside is: It took approximately 2 1/2 weeks to get my order delivered to me.
This company is located in HongKong. Another thing is that you do not get a tracking number
unless you pay a large fee for that. I don't know what happens if your package gets lost
in the mail or through customs. I live in the usa and I assume that it is the same for everyone
that lives in the usa.

If you don't mind waiting the 2 1/2 weeks for delivery, then this is a very good place to
have your tarot decks made. Oh, they only have poker, bridge, and large (which is a jumbo size) tarot card options.
They do not have the 'regular' traditional sized tarot cards option.

Would I order from them again? Yes, if I plan on ordering several decks at once and IF I don't
mind waiting so long for delivery AND IF I don't mind if they happen to get lost in the mail or
during customs screening.

They do have a drop shipping service there. So you can order a deck and have it shipped to
anyone you want to. However, the shipping won't be free UNLESS the order is $30 or more and
as I already mentioned, I don't know how long that free shipping offer is good for.

I am very pleased with their quality.

Good luck with your deck!
HUGS and Blessings of Love and Light
tarotlyn

Really useful information, tarotlyn, thanks so much!!

Gamecrafter is of interest, I find their site a little harder to navigate. Do you happen to have a link to their card templates, if the offer these?

Thanks again!

Still interested to hear from others.

They offer them - look around their site.

https://community.thegamecrafter.com/publish/getting-started

You will NOT get many international orders if you go that route. It costs $40 to send a small deck costing $22.99 from them to the UK. They seem to have little interest in discussing this with the postal services; they just say it is all done automatically. Since it is also clearly WRONG, they need to deal with it. A fixed rate international box that holds three of their decks costs $16.95 to send anywhere in the world - but this seems to be an option that doesn't interest them.

And if you do run with them - make VERY sure to ask for a bag or tuck box, or they use a 12 inch square game box, which ups the postage even more.

(tarotlyn - that is not the right link; it takes you - somewhere else entirely.)

Hi Kris. I can not help with your question re printing, I want to say that if you are going to offer your deck here, I would be a starter! I loved the reading I had from you and know someone whom i would LOVE to give this deck to as it would resonate very strongly with who they are and their façon de vivre....(way of life). So if sometime in the future you want to offer this deck, i would love to purchase one

Guys - I'm sorry to disappoint you, but for the time being, my deck is not for sale! However, my readings are.... better not say any more!

gregory said:

They offer them - look around their site.

https://community.thegamecrafter.com/publish/getting-started

You will NOT get many international orders if you go that route. It costs $40 to send a small deck costing $22.99 from them to the UK. They seem to have little interest in discussing this with the postal services; they just say it is all done automatically. Since it is also clearly WRONG, they need to deal with it. A fixed rate international box that holds three of their decks costs $16.95 to send anywhere in the world - but this seems to be an option that doesn't interest them.

And if you do run with them - make VERY sure to ask for a bag or tuck box, or they use a 12 inch square game box, which ups the postage even more.

(tarotlyn - that is not the right link; it takes you - somewhere else entirely.)

Click to expand...

Gregory - thanks for the link, I will check it out. I'm not quite clear from the rest of your post, whether the "they" you are referring to is gamecrafter or printer studio. Perhaps you could clarify.

...sorry I had added an 's' to gamecrafter...LOL...

gregory got it right...thanks for catching that gregory! I really do appreciate it.

HUGS
tarotlyn

Kris Hughes said:

Gregory - thanks for the link, I will check it out. I'm not quite clear from the rest of your post, whether the "they" you are referring to is gamecrafter or printer studio. Perhaps you could clarify.

Click to expand...

Gamecrafter. I know nothing of printer studio as I have never tried to buy fmr them. But gamecrafter's international postage system does not work properly, and costs us outside the US an arm and several legs. Twice the cost of the deck for postage is not OK.