How to Print Your Own Card Deck

Create customized playing cards by printing your own card deck.

Creating a custom card deck using a PC and home printer can give you the ultimate control of the look of each of your deck's cards. From the pattern on the back of the deck to the look of each card's face, every aspect of deck creation is in your hands. While the creative aspects of deck design can be as complicated as your vision allows for, the actual printing process for the deck is a fairly simple process that remains unchanged regardless of the look of the cards involved.

Things You'll Need

• PC
• Desktop publishing software
• Card stock
• Color printer
• Clear-coat spray
• Paper cutter

Instructions

1. Create a new file in your desktop publishing program sized to the dimensions of the card stock.

2. Split the work area of the file into equal sections according to the number of cards you're printing onto each sheet of card stock. Design the front, or face, of each card into the sections you've created using your desktop publishing software. Save the multi-card design.

3. Create a card design for the rear of the deck by opening a new graphic file using the dimensions of the sheet of card stock that you're printing the cards onto. Divide this single sheet into equal sections, each the size of an individual card that you'll print onto the other side of the sheet. Design the pattern you wish to use for the rear of the cards in one of the divided card sections. Copy and paste that design into the other card sections so that you have a sheet of separate but identical card back patterns for each card being printed onto the sheet. Save the rear card pattern.

4. Set the print for draft and print a test sheet onto a regular piece of paper to check for size and appearance of the cards.

5. Load the card stock into the printer and then print the cards onto the card stock. Flip the stock over and print the reverse pattern onto the blank side of the card stock.

6. Spray the print with a thin layer of clear coat to protect the print from smearing or fading with use. Do not soak the card with the clear coat as this will cause the card to warp or the ink to run. Allow the clear coat two hours to dry.

7. Cut the cards from the card stock using a paper cutter along the edges of the cards.

Tips & Warnings

• Include 13 card designs for each of the four suits of cards in a standard playing deck. Decks should include numbered cards from 2 to 10, an ace and face cards consisting of a jack, a queen and a king. Suits should include clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds, as well as two joker cards.

References

• The World of Playing Cards: Some Guidelines for Producing Small Editions of Hand-Made Playing Cards

Resources

• Custom Playing Cards