Printing custom playing cards used to be an expensive and time-consuming process. You’d need to work with a professional printer to create plates and set up a printing press. But thanks to modern technology, now anyone can design and print custom decks right from their home computer.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional custom playing card printing manufacturer, I’ll show you exactly how to create your own custom playing cards, from start to finish.
Why Print Custom Playing Cards?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, you may be wondering:
Why print custom decks in the first place?
Well, here are just a few reasons why creating personalized playing cards can be worthwhile:
Make Beautiful Gifts
A custom deck with family photos or a heartfelt message makes for an incredibly meaningful, personalized gift.
Promote Your Brand
Add your company logo and contact info to build brand awareness. Hand out decks at conferences, networking events, or to clients.
Create One-of-a-Kind Artwork
Unleash your creativity! Design stunning original artwork or photography across the faces and backs.
Support Fundraisers
Sell custom decks to raise money for charities, schools, clubs, or other causes important to you.
The possibilities are endless. Time to learn how it’s done.
How to Design Custom Playing Cards: Step-By-Step
Designing a playable, print-ready deck from scratch can be tricky. Here’s an overview of the process before we get into the nitty-gritty details:
Step 1) Brainstorm your ideas
Step 2) Create the card faces
Step 3) Design the card backs
Step 4) Establish bleed and safe zones
Step 5) Finalize print layout
Step 6) Export print-ready files
Now let me walk you through each step of designing printable playing cards.
Step 1: Brainstorm Concepts and Ideas
First, ask yourself:
- What is the purpose for these custom cards?
- What style or theme should they have?
- What design elements do you definitely want to incorporate?
Jot down any initial ideas. Sketch some rough drafts. At this early phase, let your creativity run wild!
Step 2: Design the Card Faces
Most playing card decks have unique illustrations or numbers on each card face.
Start with the ace cards. In a standard 52 card deck, there are 4 aces (one per suit).
Then design numeral cards from 2 through 10. Each number will show up twice per suit (8 cards total per number).
Next create the face cards: jack, queen, and king for each of the 4 suits.
Finally, draft the jokers if your deck includes them.
Make sure any text and important design details sit well within the printable area (see step 4).
Step 3: Create the Back Design
The card backs can showcase a complementary design. This is a chance to establish cohesion through repeating:
- colors
- symbols
- patterns
- themes
- fonts
Or you can purposefully make the backs contrast heavily from the face artwork. Keep in mind that you often glimpse the card backs while playing, so this real estate holds visual importance.
Step 4: Set Up Bleed and Safe Zones
Print projects use two guides to direct content: bleed zones and safe zones.
Bleed ensures that printing ink will reach all edges of the paper after cutting.
Add 1/8 inch (3.175mm) bleed around all sides.
Conversely, safe zones guide inner alignment.
Keep text/details 1/4 inch (6.35mm) in from edges.
Set these up in your design program before finalizing layouts.
Step 5: Arrange Files for Print
You must submit cards to printers as a package called collective layouts:
- One PDF for card fronts
- Second PDF for card backs
Proof and arrange pages accordingly:
For the fronts PDF, place your Jokers first, then sort remaining cards by:
Suit → Aces → Numbers 2-10 → Face cards
For backs, the order doesn’t matter since they’re all the same.
See my custom cards video tutorial for a visual guide on setting up sheets properly.
Step 6: Export High Res Print Files
Finally, export each collective PDF as high resolution files:
- 300 dpi
- CMYK color space
- Include bleed zones
- Enable crop marks
And your personalized playing cards are ready for printing!
How to Print Custom Decks at Home
Of course, step 6 submits your files to a professional printer for mass production. But you can also print custom decks yourself straight from a desktop printer.
Let’s look at that process now:
Print With Heavy Cardstock
For viable playable cards, print onto heavyweight cardstock. Look for 32lb to 60lb sheets with thickness of 176gsm to 250gsm.
My favorite affordable option for home printing is Neenah’s 65lb Textured Cardstock at 176gsm. The texture really makes printed cards feel substantial.
Single Sided Printing
Print only the fronts initially. Trying to perfectly line up card backs is extremely tricky (basically impossible) with common printers!
Instead, apply a back design in next steps…
Adhere Backs Manually
Print or glue pre-made papers onto card backs:
- Photos
- Scrapbook papers
- Wrapping papers
- Colored construction paper
- Patterned printable sheets (I’ll link some free resources below)
Carefully align and smooth paper onto each card’s backside.
Laminate For Protection
An optional but useful step is running printed cards through a laminator using 3mil or 5mil pouches.
Lamination makes cards more spillproof plus adds thickness and durability for easier shuffling/handling.
Hand Cut Cards
Use an X-Acto knife and metal ruler or try a rotary paper trimmer for super sharp edges.
Finally, round corners slightly with a corner rounder punch for authentic playing card feel.
And that’s it – design, print, and craft totally custom decks from home!
Top Resources for DIY Playing Cards
To recap key supplies:
- Cardstock to print playable cards
- Laminator for durability
- Paper trimmer and X-Acto knife for smooth cuts
- Corner rounder for finishing touches
For awesome printable backs, check out these sites:
- PrintPlayGames
- Clear Bags (their pre-printed card backs are great!)Inkscape and GIMP are two 100% free alternatives for designing cards if you don’t own paid software.
That wraps up this complete walkthrough on making custom playing cards at home or professionally!
I’d love to see your finished card designs so please tag me on social if you use this tutorial!
And as always, drop any DIY card printing questions below!