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Playing Card Chat ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ => Playing Card Plethora => Topic started by: Msp062 on January 13, 2018, 12:09:15 PM

Title: Borderless back designs
Post by: Msp062 on January 13, 2018, 12:09:15 PM

Hi everyone,

Right now I am loving back designs that have simple repeating patterns that are borderless.  Examples are:

Bee
Republic No 2
Vintage Plaid
Silver Arrow Poker Back

One design element that I do not like however, is when that simple pattern is interrupted by a logo such as casino decks or the roadhouse deck by ellusionist.

I would love it if any of you can list other decks similar to the four decks above that have a simple repeating patterned borderless back design.

thanks,
Mike

Title: Re: Borderless back designs
Post by: Don Boyer on January 14, 2018, 02:06:03 AM

I know what you mean - they're the decks that tend to not stand out as much because of the seeming simplicity of the pattern.  Often they form a sort of optical illusion when you spread them, making it hard to tell where one card ends and another begins.  It's one of the reasons why they're a favorite of card sharps and sleight-of-hand artists - it makes certain stunts of pasteboard legerdemain a little easier to get away with!

One that stands out right away is one that I consulted on for the designers - Pagan by Uusi.  It was initially released in brown and ivory backs, then last year a special printing was made with a blue back as a partner deck to their Pagan Otherworlds tarot deck.  I specifically counseled them to size the pattern to match the size of the Bee Diamond Back pattern to better produce that same illusory effect.

Another is a long-standing classic - Steamboats 999 by USPC.  They're not in print now but they're not too hard to find the most recent reprints if you know where to look.  It's a rather attractive pattern, in my opinion.

There's another interesting feature about borderless backs that have a simple, repeating pattern like you described.  They have to be very precisely cut - if not, the resulting pattern can actually be read as a one-way design.

Title: Re: Borderless back designs
Post by: Msp062 on January 14, 2018, 08:10:45 AM

That is exactly what I mean Don.  Thanks for describing it a little better.  I love the uusi pagan back design and had forgot about that one!