This Friday Loop Cuts launches It's Summer campaign that includes Three releases.  We are dropping by the Discourse to reveal the Clear Mechanics gallery exclusively. 

The Clear Mechanics concept was developed about 7 months back when we were playing with a few new ideas.  We had seen a few artists on YouTube featuring similar concepts to help teach artists how to utilize a technique.  The simplicity of revealing the handling behind card sleights to aid others was a huge benefit for new magicians & cardists.  This was something that we really wanted to share and improve on.

Playing card technicians spend years mastering there craft.  The study of processioned placement and execution, hidden in plain sight, is there art of motion.

Clear Mechanics offers, both student and teacher, complete transparency when it matters most. A mirror for the student and a superior tool for the study of motion.

(NOTE: The gallery is featuring lower quality images than what will be featured on the site)

Hey Gang.  I've been working on a deck report since the one here is hard to keep up with.  It's hosted on Loop Cuts because the forums won't support a proper layout that is manageable long term.  I've not made it public yet on Facebook so please don't share it yet.  I would like everyone to check out the report as it is right now and let me know what they think.  Please keep in mind that it is still in development and that more content will be added before it goes live.

Thanks

http://loopcuts.com/deck-report/

   <--- That's about how I feel after a labor of love that has lasted a year.  As I'm preparing to celebrate a 1 year anniversary for Loop Cuts, the data crashed for no reason!  The pages, blog posts, media, and plugins for my site have vanished.  Support says the files are in the data base but it won't show up.  This is a nightmare!  They want me to pay to have a back up and I simply cannot afford it during this time of year. 

Not feeling very good right now...

Fiddling around with a new clip concept,  Your thoughts?

Ellusionist is well known for there extreme eye for detail and flashy tuck boxes when it comes to there playing cards. We’ve seen some heavy production efforts from them in the past regarding decks such as Arcane and Infinity. This time around they seem to be taking a more layed back approach with there newest addition to the E line up, the Executive Deck. They were filled with an overwhelming amount of inspiration for a trailer but decided that the cards should speak for them selves this time.

Loop Cuts received the Executive playing cards today and wanted to offer up our first product review that we’ve ever done.

When first pealing off the cellophane I noticed that they have continued there recent style of sporting there decks with no seal. I personally enjoy keeping the box in tact rather than pealing back a seal to deal with as the box ages. Once it was free from its wrapping I did what most collectors and enthusiasts do, I examine the box for a brief moment. At first glance I focus in on the darker shade on the box that resembles a letter “X”. I like the accent style for drawing out the eXecutive in the deck. Keeps a thought of class with some edge when it rolls off the tongue. It’s all a personal appeal but it appeals to me. Once I got past that initial glory stair, I turned the box a bit quicker to examine each side. To my surprise every side is blank besides the dark stripped pattern that surrounds the box. Simple and refreshing and it all caught me off guard. On the bottom, of course, was the standard info you’d find on any Ellusionist deck along with there logo.

I opened the box and at this point I was not surprised by the blank flaps but notice they are using a Radiant White stock for the tuck box. When I removed the deck, the letter “X” hit me again as it was featured on a blank face in the center of the card. The other side was an Ellusionist ad Card. The Backs were simple at first glance with a two tone color. After taking the design in my eyes focused and found more detail in the design including the word “Executive” that was tracing the inner border of the design. Over all a very solid design with some nicely distributed negative space. The Court Cards all feature an “X” in the center of the card to carry the theme to the faces. I find the Courts to be unique, classy and yet they keep some classic elements from the standard English design. You’ll find some nice contrast on the diamonds and hearts. They really pop and will suit magicians nicely for color changes. The face cards all feature similar aspects of the back design within the pips that are featured on each card.  The Indexes feature a modern bold font that keep things up to date. The Aces are simple and as classy as the rest of the deck.  The Ace of Spades is of course featuring a unique spade as most do.  Jokers feature a Stud or Horse in a rather classy suit and makes me wonder if there is any correlation to there Chess reference on there product page.

“Executive is not the next move in playing cards. It’s full Checkmate”

The Handling of the cards are no different than any other deck that you’d find in the Ellusionist product line.  Slippery when first out of the box and smooth fanning.  The deck faros on both sides nicely which will allow for a very wide of shuffling techniques.  With the box remaining simplistic and true to its theme, it did not list the stock and finish.  One can only assume they coated the card stock with there exclusive “Performance Coating”.  The deck feels smooth in the hands but not flimsy and would feel safe to assume its printed on a Bicycle Casino stock.

Ellusionist has once again taken us by surprise with a new deck of cards.  Some would say that it would seem impossible for them to continue to entice us with what would be considered new.  Yet again Ellusionst proves why there such a major player in the playing card industry.  This deck is a perfect match for anyone’s repertoire so don’t miss out on the Executive era.

I've been very stand offish about posting anything here about the Loop Cuts deck in progress with so much still in development but we have reached a point where I think it is safe to share.  Loop Cuts team has been working on a deck for the past 3-4 months and it has taken many forms in the process of it's creation.  The deck will go to Kickstarter this summer in hopes of reaching the goal to have a 2500 print run.  The deck is at this time known only as Loop Cuts Playing Cards but is still in debate over a Bicycle Brand.  It will sport the standard Bicycle stock with a Magic finish. The Box is still in development along with the jokers.

Cheers

I have a wonderful and healthy debate for us to get into! 

Not long ago, dear Alex made a short post about the fact that ink to stock ratio is a myth and does not exist.  I am the person that came up with the theory and still believes in it today.   I think it would be great to challenge Alex and anyone else’s opinions to reexamine the so called myth to determine if in fact it is one.   My end goal is to put this theory to bed once and for all.  If a sufficient amount of logic is introduced against the theory, I will officially stat it is a myth and will encourage its demise.  However, if the theory logically proves to seem logical by the end of this debate, I would like to encourage the spread of the concept to change how people review a deck. 

let the fun begin!   

My fellow cardists and magicians...I think this diserves to be here so that everyone can see it and support those who lost their children today.  Truely one of the Darkest days in US History.  20 Children were killed in an Elementery School today by a 24 year old guy.  I've changed my Facebook avatar and all group covers to a Half Mass flag. 

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/14/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school/?sr=fbmain

Hey everyone, I've had a ton of free time on my hands lately so I've been working with somone on various little projects.  I thought I would share my favoriate to date.  It should ring some bells 

I'll post some new pics as I continue my work.  Let me know if you have any requests, I might just help.

Everyone keep the cardists & magicians in the North East USA in your prayers as they endure the frankenstorm.