Have you ever wanted to design your own deck of custom playing cards? Maybe you’re an artist or designer who wants to showcase your work. Or perhaps you want to create a personal deck for your weekly poker game.
Whatever the case, printing high quality playing cards at home is totally do-able these days thanks to modern printing technology.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional custom playing card printing manufacturer, I’m going to show you exactly how to create stunning playing cards with professional quality.
How to Print High Quality Playing Cards
Choose the Right Paper Stock
The foundation of any high quality deck of playing cards is the card stock you print on.
You’ll want paper that’s thick enough not to bend too easily…but thin enough to run through your printer.
In my experience testing dozens of paper stocks, 12 pt. card stock hits the sweet spot.
As far as paper weight goes, I recommend staying in the range of 120-130 lb. (60-70 lb. cover).
Heavier than that is too thick for most home printers. Lighter doesn’t have the same smooth feel of a high end deck.
One thing I really like about the Neenah card stock above is that it has a linen finish. This subtle texture helps the cards glide during shuffling and dealing.
Design Eye-Catching Artwork
With the right paper locked and loaded, it’s time for the fun part – designing the artwork!
When it comes to the aesthetic design of the cards, the sky’s the limit. You can create intricate illustrations of wildlife and nature like the National Parks deck below.
When designing your own deck, remember that the back design ties all the cards together.
So I recommend spending just as much creative effort on the card backs as the faces.
Prepare Print Files
Once your designs are complete, you need to prep the files for printing.
When it comes to sizing, standard playing cards are 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I suggest keeping the faces of the cards full bleed.
As far as format, you’ll want to export your designs as high resolution PDFs or JPEGs. 300 dpi is ideal, 600 dpi for maximum print clarity.
When you setup your files, each card should be on its own page. Make sure to leave a 0.125 inch bleed.
This bleed allows the ink to print to the very edge of the paper. And you won’t end up with annoying white borders if your cuts are a bit off.
Lastly, be sure to add crop marks on the printable sheet. Crop marks function as cut lines once the playing cards are printed.
Tweak Printer Settings
With your image files prepped and ready, it’s time to print.
If you have an inkjet printer, there are a few settings you’ll want to adjust for best results:
1. Alignment: Make double sure your printer alignment is spot on. Any misalignment will result in blurry prints. Not the look you want for premium playing cards! Run an alignment test print if you haven’t done recently.
2. Color Mode: For vivid colors, use the “Vivid Photo” or “Best Photo” printer setting. These printer color profiles really make the colors pop compared to standard settings.
3. Print Quality: Choose the highest print quality mode possible. On my Epson printer for example, this is called “Super Photo”. Higher print quality equals better resolution and detail.
4. Multi-Page Printing: Print only 1-2 card sheets at a time. Any more can cause paper jams. Also for best color consistency across your deck, print sheets one by one.
5. Dry Time: Give printed sheets 5+ minutes drying time before handling to prevent smudging. Some printers have longer dry times, so check your printer’s specs.
Alternatively, you can bring files to print at a local shop like Staples or Office Depot. Their commercial printers may yield better color accuracy than home printers.
Ask them to print on your paper stock if you brought your own. And request no scaling/fitting since your files are already properly sized.
Cut and Finish Cards
Once your card sheets are printed, carefully trim them with an x-acto knife and metal ruler. Remove the crop lines and cut precisely along the borders of each card.
A high quality guillotine paper cutter like the Swingline below ensures flawless cuts every time.
To really take your playing cards to the next level, round the corners with a corner rounder punch. This accent gives them a sleek, polished look and easier shuffling.
Consider applying a sealant spray or laminate to give your cards added protection from moisture and oils from handling.
Just make sure any liquid sealants are fully cured before playing! Nothing worse than a gummy deck.
And that’s it – you now have a set of stellar custom playing cards ready for your poker table or board game collection!
Additional Tips
Here are a few extra pointers when printing high quality playing cards at home:
- Store cards vertically in a box to prevent bending over time.
- Print 2-3 extra cards than needed in case of any miscuts.
- Print card backs first, fronts second for best alignment.
- Experiment with different paper types like linen, pebble, metallic.
- Consider plastic playing cards for ultimate durability and waterproofing.
Have fun unleashing your creativity on your own remarkable deck! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for DIY playing cards.