How to make a Card Game / Tarot Deck
You can watch a tutorial about how to download templates for your game here: https://youtu.be/VggD1_mTlmY
You can watch a tutorial about how to design images using our templates here: https://youtu.be/8IDecwxMakY
You can watch a tutorial about how to load your images into a game here: https://youtu.be/fFQcLH5yTiE
You can watch a tutorial about how to order your game here: https://youtu.be/ual0FnfQcMI
All our cards are made from 12pt 320gsm black core card stock. Currently, we do not have other material options available for cards.
Selecting a card size for the deck
When you click on a item, it will take you to that product's page. There, you can download the template for that card.
You can watch a tutorial about how to download templates for your game here: https://youtu.be/VggD1_mTlmY
Info You Must Know to Use our Templates/ Site
You can watch a tutorial about how to design images using our templates here: https://youtu.be/8IDecwxMakY
When designing images for our cards, you will want all important information to fall within the blue dotted safe zone. All information between the blue dotted safe zone and the red cut line (where we will cut out the item) is not guaranteed to be printed. Everything outside the red cut line is the bleed zone. You will need to create the background of your image to fill the bleed zone.
Here are examples of cards that have full bleed beyond the red cut line and where all the important information is within the blue dotted safe zone. If drift of 1/8" were to occur, then it will not be as noticeable compared to a card that has uniform borders. Borders often exaggerate the drift that can occur.
Cost of the cards
A sheet of cards is how many cards are printed on one page at a time. This number can vary depending on the size of the cards. While you are not required to use the entire sheet, we will use the whole sheet for your order.
You always pay for the full sheet for all components, because we can't process part of a sheet. We don't send you the blanks because generally, people don't want blank components in their games, especially when selling them.
Example: If your game contained 25 cards, you will be charged for 2 sheets because it goes into the next sheet of cards.
Selecting a box
A 20-page booklet takes up the thickness of 4 cards in a box.
You can see all our box options here.
Each box has a total card limit in the description of the box.
You will want to download a box template that works for your deck.
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Meanings Booklet/ Document
When selecting a booklet, you will want to make sure it will fit in the box you selected.
If you choose a Document {8.5 x 11 in}, it will be folded to fit into any box you select. In a tuck box, a 1-page folded document takes up the space of 9 cards.
Booklets come in a variety of sizes and page limitations:
- Jumbo Booklet {8 x 10 in}-Max Page Count 40 pages
- Large Booklet {5 x 8 in}- Max Page Count 20 pages
- Medium Booklet {3.5 x 5 in}-Max Page Count 20 pages
- Small Booklet {2.5 x 3.5 in}- Max Page Count 20 pages
- Tall Booklet {4.5 x 8 in}- Max Page Count 40 pages
- Tarot Booklet {2.75 x 4.75 in}- Max Page Count 40 pages
- Digest Perfect Bound Book (8.39 x 5.38 in)- Minimum page count 40- Maximum page count- 200
- Letter Perfect Bound Book (8.51 x 11 in)- Minimum page count 40- Maximum page count- 200
When you load pages into the booklet the first page you load will be the cover and page 1. Every image you load is a page. A 20-page booklet means you are able to load 20 images, with the first image and last image becoming the front and back of the booklet.
Booklets are printed in sets of 4 pages at a time. If the number of pages you load is not divisible by 4, then you will have blank pages in the booklet.
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Estimating the Cost of the Deck
The best way to find the cost would be to start a new game in our system, add the desired number of items to it, then view the pricing by quantity.
Here are the steps involved:
1. Create an account on our site.
2. Click on "Make" at the top of the screen, then click on "Games" under the My Creations section of the drop-down list.
3. Under "Add a Game," enter a game name (it can be anything) and click on "Create Game."
4. Click on "Add Custom Component" at the right of the screen.
5. You can click on a component type, search by keyword, etc. For example, if you're making a card deck, click on "Cards," then on "Add to Game" next to the card size you wish to use.
6. Scroll down and click on the "Add a Card" button.
7. Update the quantity for the new card to the total number of cards you'll include in one copy of the game (for this exercise, it doesn't matter whether the actual cards will use different designs, be in different decks, etc.--the cost will be the same).
8. Scroll back up and click on the game name.
9. Click on either Cost Each or Bulk Cost Each on the right side of the screen (they both lead to the same page).
10. On the Cost page, you'll see the cost breakdown for the game, as well as the cost by quantity.
You can watch a tutorial here: https://youtu.be/fFQcLH5yTiE
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Making the Images Using the Templates
You can see our list of recommended image editing programs here: https://help.thegamecrafter.com/article/31-design-tools
You will want to open the template directly into the editing program then design on top of the template using layers. That way the base image size is correct.
When finished export each image as either Jpg or Png. We are not able to accept any other file types.
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Loading Images Into the Deck
We use the term "game" for where you will load your images.
Think of a "game" more like a basket where you tell our system what you want to have sent to you. What you add to that game does not need to be a full game--you can just add 1 card and we will send you that 1 card if you order that game.
You can watch a tutorial about how to load your images into a game here: https://youtu.be/fFQcLH5yTiE
First, you will need to make an account on our site or log into your account.
You will click on "Make " at the top of the screen, then select "Games."
There you will see the option to Create a Custom Game.
Clicking on the Create Game button after you name the game will take you to the edit area of the new game you've created.
You will see four main sections:
Make: This is where you will select components for your game and load your images.
Sell: This is where you will load images for your shop page, set the MSRP for the game, and publish your game for sale.
Test: This is where you can enter your game into an art test or sanity test.
Crowd Sale: This section is for filling out the information for submitting your game for a crowd sale.
Click on "Add Custom Component" at the right of the screen.
You can click on a component type, search by keyword, etc. For example, if you're making a card deck, click on "Cards," then on "Add to Game" next to the card size you wish to use.
Scroll down and click on the "Add a Card" button.
If the image follows our template, you can click on the green "Approve" button. Then you will be taken to the next image that needs approval.
You can watch a tutorial about how to design images using our templates here: https://youtu.be/8IDecwxMakY
You will need to proof each face image using the same process as the back. As you hit approve on an image it will automatically take you to the next image that needs to be approved.
Ordering the Game
You can learn about placing your first order, as well as issues new designers often encounter, here: https://help.thegamecrafter.com/article/429-how-to-order-your-game
To buy a copy of your game you will need to add it to your cart.
In your "Edit Game" screen, you will find the "Add To Cart" button.
You can also add a game to your cart from the My Games screen.
Here is a step by step tutorial of how to order your game after you have loaded all your images and proofed them: https://youtu.be/ual0FnfQcMI
After you add the game to your cart you can go to your cart in the top right to go thru the checkout process.
Note: We also have a standard waiting period of 3 days between your first order of your own, custom printed game and being able to place a second order. After the three-day waiting period, the system will no longer show you as a first-time customer and will lift the restriction.
There is also a limit of $250 on your first order of your own, custom-printed game.
These limits are in place for your protection we encourage game designers to review the printed copies of their games for errors prior to publishing, or ordering multiple copies of a game.