Aligning images correctly is crucial for playing card printing. Misaligned faces and backs will ruin your deck. Fortunately, with some handy tips, you can print perfectly aligned custom playing cards every time. As a professional custom playing card printing manufacturer, I will share all these tips to you!
Why Image Alignment Matters
When printing playing cards at home or via a print service, aligning the card faces and backs is vital. Even slightly misaligned prints will be visible and make your deck look unprofessional.
Proper alignment ensures:
- The card backs line up correctly with the faces
- Borders are precisely the same size on both sides
- Images and elements layout cleanly without splitting across edges
Botched alignment ruins the usability and aesthetics of playing cards. Nothing screams “amateur project” more than a deck with visibly skewed sides.
Take the extra effort upfront aligning your files. You’ll thank yourself later when you print a immaculate deck!
How to Align Playing Card Images for Printing
Printing aligned playing cards is straightforward when you follow three key steps:
1. Set up Guidelines in Your Design File
Whether you use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or other software, setup guidelines for easy alignment:
- Create 2-3mm bleed area
- Add crop marks to show cutlines
- Input guidelines at exact card dimensions (eg 2.5 x 3.5 inches)
With clear visual guides in your editing software, accurately aligning design elements becomes much simpler.
2. Use Alignment Tools
Next, leverage your software’s alignment tools like grids, rulers, and snap-to-grid to easily line up objects. Key elements to align:
- Card borders should be precisely the same size
- Template elements like suit icons must line up across cards
- Imagery and text should align across card faces and backs
Take advantage of every alignment feature available while crafting your card designs.
3. Print Separate Test Sheets
Before final printing, print test sheets of the card fronts and backs. Carefully check alignment and make adjustments in your file as needed.
Leave one side with borders and guidelines to align the other side against. This avoids compounded alignment errors.
Repeat test prints until both sides lineup flawlessly. Then proceed to full printing.
In Conclusion
By rigorously following these card alignment best practices, you can create stunning custom decks every time. With precise alignment, your playing cards will look and feel professionally produced.
Give special attention to prepare the files properly before sending to print. Resist the temptation to rush the design process – nailing the details sets superior deck designs apart.
Of course, slight variances in amateur printing may still occur. But starting with pristine alignments in your files gives the best chance of printing an exceptional custom deck.
Have you created your own aligned playing card designs? Share your experiences and finished results! We’d love to celebrate your unique decks and pickup any extra tips.