Author (Read 7537 times)

vovkalex · « **on:** August 27, 2014, 11:07:39 AM »

Hello.
I'm working on a new playing cards Arсanum.
Expose them to the kickstarter in September.
Voice your opinion on my cards.
What should be changed?

Will W. · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2014, 12:52:21 PM »

I know some people are tired of skulls but I really like these . You have a good design, great artwork however I will defer the actual design tips to someone more versed in that kind of thing. The whole of what I see works for me... Nicely done.

vovkalex · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2014, 01:25:24 PM »

Thank you for this comment.

DJKroemer · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2014, 02:28:08 PM »

I think the artwork is well done. It looks like the indices are a bit small. I would base the size of those off of standard poker cards. I feel like the back design should be inversed of what you have. Not inversed in color, but basically right now the strong areas of your design are towards the edges, I think backs work better when they're strong in the center and work their way out towards the edges (if that makes sense). I also think your court faces would look stronger if the characters were enlarged and took up the majority of the card, and then have the flourishing just as a filler of whatever space is left. Right now there is a lot of unnecessary ornamentation around the characters, in my opinion. Cards are small enough as it is. It's looking pretty sweet though.

Leif · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2014, 08:10:50 AM »

I agree with DJKroemer in pretty much everything. The back looks like the action begins right at the edge. I would remove the ornaments from the courts altogether, and as he said, enlarge the art. Also the indices seems to be rather close to the edge, better check that with the printer before print begins.

vovkalex · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2014, 08:04:05 AM »

Younger version of playing cards. Given your comments.

vovkalex · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2014, 02:47:21 PM »

joker

Don Boyer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2014, 10:31:40 PM »

DJK gave a good assessment. I'll add that the pips in the spot cards should be uniform in size - it looks a little confusing when they aren't. Additionally, you'd better get a proof print before taking this to KS - much of the design details are in low contrast to the background they're presented in, and some deck printers are known for losing such details in the print process. You may find it necessary to lighten up the gray line work.

vovkalex · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2014, 03:07:24 AM »

Don, thanks for the recommendation.

vovkalex · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2014, 05:50:02 AM »

Unfinished design aces.

Will W. · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:36:48 AM »

I absolutely love the aces!

vovkalex · « **Reply #11 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:40:51 AM »

I'm glad! And here are my aces like?

vovkalex · « **Reply #12 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:42:52 AM »

And if, instead of the gold color, I use red or orange?

Will W. · « **Reply #13 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:46:26 AM »

I like the gold. You might experiment here and there though. Couldn't hurt.

vovkalex · « **Reply #14 on:** September 03, 2014, 02:19:23 PM »

one joker and aces

Don Boyer · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2014, 02:23:32 PM »

Quote from: vovkalex on September 03, 2014, 10:42:52 AM

And if, instead of the gold color, I use red or orange?

Red or orange for the red suits (hearts, diamonds) would be a good idea. Many uses for playing cards depend on the color differentiation.

Another thing to bear in mind - metallic gold always looks great on-screen when you're designing a deck because of how bright and shiny it looks. The reality, however, is that metallic gold ink can be really dark. The best way to use it against black is with bold, wide lines. Small detail work can practically vanish against the black. Theory11 destroyed nearly the entire batch of the original Monarchs print run because the idea for fine gold lines on black turned out to look worse than they thought it would, just dark on darker. In the end, they made a second run and ditched gold in favor of white.

Will W. · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2014, 02:26:24 PM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on September 03, 2014, 02:23:32 PM

Quote from: vovkalex on September 03, 2014, 10:42:52 AM
And if, instead of the gold color, I use red or orange?

Red or orange for the red suits (hearts, diamonds) would be a good idea. Many uses for playing cards depend on the color differentiation.

Maybe silver for the spades & clubs ?

vovkalex · « **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2014, 02:27:18 PM »

one joker

vovkalex · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2014, 02:23:50 AM »

ace of Clubs

vovkalex · « **Reply #19 on:** September 04, 2014, 03:20:47 AM »

ace of Hearts

publius · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2014, 09:33:08 AM »

Your faces are so friggin awesome, I feel the back doesn't do them justice. I love the back, don't get me wrong, but it's just that the faces really kick ass. Either the back should be super killer in the same way - or you could actually go extreme minimalist and let the faces do the talking for you. I could actually see an all black back with a simple small illustration of some sort in the center (think Rounders sort of). But what do I know? If you released it today as is, it would be awesome.

vovkalex · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2014, 10:04:49 AM »

ace diamonds

vovkalex · « **Reply #22 on:** September 04, 2014, 10:08:22 AM »

ace ace

Will W. · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:57:56 AM »

Quote from: publius on September 04, 2014, 09:33:08 AM

Your faces are so friggin awesome, I feel the back doesn't do them justice.

Agreed. The back needs either something more or something less... Not sure what but it's missing something.

Edit: I don't know... It seems the more I look at the back the more I like it. I will tell you that this deck is on my must have list.

vovkalex · « **Reply #24 on:** September 05, 2014, 03:20:36 PM »

new cards

vovkalex · « **Reply #25 on:** September 05, 2014, 03:21:02 PM »

new cards

Will W. · « **Reply #26 on:** September 05, 2014, 06:03:10 PM »

Yep. Loving the jacks too.

Justin O. · Quote from: touya on September 15, 2019, 03:53:04 AM

Where did the name come from? It doesn't fit he deck theme for me. However your art is excellent, I traditionally think skulls are tacky and overused and yet their use and design here are stellar.
I think you would do the pips, aces and courts more justice by removing the background 'filigree' on the face of the cards, and I might recommend trying a boarder on the backs. Just a black bar with your design creating a nice outline, or maybe gold? even if you just shrunk the back design to fit in the card it would create a nice central design you could then expand upon into the tops and bottoms of the back.

Really interested in this deck and love what I have seen so far.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #28 on:** September 06, 2014, 03:28:44 AM »

In most decks, the court characters usually are nearly as long as the card minus the border. These are kind of small. The art could be a bit bigger, 'cause right now it almost looks like you're more interested in showing off the background than the detail work that went into the courts. Remember, your end-result "canvas" will be a mere 2.5" x 3.5".

vovkalex · « **Reply #29 on:** September 06, 2014, 03:40:12 AM »

new cards

vovkalex · « **Reply #30 on:** September 06, 2014, 03:40:58 AM »

new cards

vovkalex · « **Reply #31 on:** September 06, 2014, 03:42:35 AM »

Thanks for the comments. I will consider in their work.

vovkalex · « **Reply #32 on:** September 06, 2014, 08:39:48 AM »

new cards

Will W. · « **Reply #33 on:** September 06, 2014, 09:45:31 AM »

I like the size of the courts. The smaller size makes them look more sleek to me.. Will the printing process lose some of the finer points and detail if they were to be kept this size?

vovkalex · « **Reply #34 on:** September 06, 2014, 09:58:56 AM »

We design studio from Ukraine, Kiev - Tortoise design studio. The two partners: Alex Vovk and Vladimir Kuksin.
This is our first project of playing cards.
September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

Our belief: Remembering our roots - we are still human beings.

We want people remembering their loved ones. Then in their life will have good luck and success.
We hope our cards will be a reminder of this.
Arcanum - mysteries connecting the living and the dead.

Will W. · « **Reply #35 on:** September 06, 2014, 10:32:28 AM »

One observation... Typically the king of hearts is the suicide king. This deck seems to have a suicide jack instead... The Jack of clubs. Nothing wrong with it. It is a transformation deck so you don't truly have to follow the norm as long as it is functional for its intended purpose/s..

Also, I look forward to the release date.

vovkalex · « **Reply #36 on:** September 06, 2014, 10:41:21 AM »

Thank you Will

vovkalex · « **Reply #37 on:** September 06, 2014, 12:30:08 PM »

September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

vovkalex · « **Reply #38 on:** September 06, 2014, 12:53:36 PM »

September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #39 on:** September 07, 2014, 12:04:48 AM »

Quote from: Will W. on September 06, 2014, 10:32:28 AM

It is a transformation deck...

Actually, that's a common mistake. The deck is custom, but not a transformation deck.

In a transformation deck, the spot cards would have a traditional, standard placement for the pips, but there would be a drawing of some kind that links the pips into the image - one possible example would be the three pips on the Three of Diamonds being drawn to look like three fish in a body of water.

If the pip placement is non-traditional and is altered to suit the image being presented on the card, that's a semi-transformation deck. Emmanuel Jose's deck designs are some of the finest modern work in semi-transformation decks today. The Curator Deck and Clipped Wings have just released and he's either recently launched or is preparing to launch a KS project for his third deck, Sawdust.

For the court cards, I'm not completely certain, but I believe that the transformation decks have a standard court set usually and semi-transformation decks can have traditional or custom. So don't quote me on that!

Without the drawings incorporating pips into the images, this is a custom deck, not a transformation deck of any kind.

Will W. · « **Reply #40 on:** September 07, 2014, 12:19:29 AM »

Thanks Don. I think I get it now. Any deck that uses anything other than standard faces is considered a custom deck but it's only a transformation deck if the pips are in the traditional pattern with illustrations created around or using them. If the pips are in an altered alignment then it's considered a semi-transformation deck. Correct?

Afterthought: The pips are customized and in what appears to be their traditional positions so would this not technically be considered a transformation deck?

Don Boyer · « **Reply #41 on:** September 07, 2014, 01:16:37 AM »

Quote from: Will W. on September 07, 2014, 12:19:29 AM

Thanks Don. I think I get it now. Any deck that uses anything other than standard faces is considered a custom deck but it's only a transformation deck if the pips are in the traditional pattern with illustrations created around or using them. If the pips are in an altered alignment then it's considered a semi-transformation deck. Correct?

Afterthought: The pips are customized and in what appears to be their traditional positions so would this not technically be considered a transformation deck?

If the pips are in an altered alignment AND there's a drawing that incorporates the pips, it's considered a semi-transformation deck.

If the pips are custom, traditional positions or not, and there is no drawing incorporating the pips, it is a CUSTOM deck, but not a transformation or semi-transformation deck. The pips would be part of an element in the drawing. Diamonds could be fish in a river dodging a fish hook, kites floating in the clouds, boxes stacked in a warehouse, etc. as part of a larger drawing; spades could be leaves fallen from a tree which is also pictured in the background; hearts could be the faces of little children seated at the dinner table; etc. If there's no drawing which uses the pips as part of the art, it's custom, period.

Rose · « **Reply #42 on:** September 07, 2014, 11:02:34 AM »

Overall great cards, the indices are way too small for me. I would love to see this deck in other colors, perhaps a stretch goal? Awesome, well done vovkalex!

vovkalex · « **Reply #43 on:** September 07, 2014, 11:22:27 AM »

Rose, thanks for koment, try to take everything into account. Over other colors work. I can not decide on the color, can you advise something?

sprouts1115 · « **Reply #44 on:** September 07, 2014, 11:39:19 AM »

Vovkalex - Keep your gold. It makes you distinctive. Hell, you're inclined for a silver deck. Ppl have mentioned you need some red to distinguish the suits. I agree. Looks like you have 2 options. Put red here around your courts or put a red border around your suits here. I would also put a red border around your pips to make them pop out. Please flip that top pip around and make your courts bigger. Flatten that feather and expand the courts. We want to see bigger skulls. It looks like you have the workings of a good deck.

vovkalex · « **Reply #45 on:** September 07, 2014, 04:00:24 PM »

the back of the card

vovkalex · « **Reply #46 on:** September 08, 2014, 03:25:37 AM »

September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

vovkalex · « **Reply #47 on:** September 08, 2014, 03:26:05 AM »

September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

Magasaki · « **Reply #48 on:** September 08, 2014, 04:13:43 AM »

I'm all over this, it looks great. When is it likely to launch?

vovkalex · « **Reply #49 on:** September 08, 2014, 06:05:59 AM »

September 10, we will present it to kickstarter.kom section design.

Magasaki · « **Reply #50 on:** September 08, 2014, 06:32:12 AM »

Yep, sorry I should have read all the comments.

On the plus side, launches on my birthday!

sprouts1115 · « **Reply #51 on:** September 08, 2014, 07:43:16 PM »

Your deck could be so much better. Oh well, You have the foundation of a good deck, but how many times will it work? https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steveminty/muertos-day-of-the-dead-playing-cards?ref=nav_search

vovkalex · « **Reply #52 on:** September 09, 2014, 02:34:48 AM »

Thanks for the comments. Decided to change the back of the playing card. These options were. Therefore postponed a week exhibiting at kickstarter.

vovkalex · « **Reply #53 on:** September 09, 2014, 05:20:27 AM »

Increased court card images

Will W. · « **Reply #54 on:** September 09, 2014, 05:41:52 AM »

You might try moving the indicies out and up onto the black border area and away from the background to better distinguish them. Just a suggestion...

vovkalex · « **Reply #55 on:** September 09, 2014, 05:51:15 AM »

Thanks for the suggestion.

vovkalex · « **Reply #56 on:** September 09, 2014, 08:24:23 AM »

Tomorrow I will try to show the new card back.

vovkalex · « **Reply #57 on:** September 09, 2014, 02:13:39 PM »

Novo back card. How about that?

Will W. · « **Reply #58 on:** September 09, 2014, 02:22:43 PM »

NICE !

vovkalex · « **Reply #59 on:** September 09, 2014, 03:02:26 PM »

ARCANUM Deck

Will W. · « **Reply #60 on:** September 09, 2014, 03:16:51 PM »

This deck has come together nicely... The tuck is the cherry on top.

vovkalex · « **Reply #61 on:** September 09, 2014, 04:26:29 PM »

Video playing cards ARCANUM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6qd-Eviw-Y&feature=em-upload_owner

Magasaki · « **Reply #62 on:** September 09, 2014, 06:26:27 PM »

I'm in for a few of these for sure. well done, I'm positive these will fund well

vovkalex · « **Reply #63 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:29:58 AM »

Presentation of our project playing cards Arcanum on Kickstarter.
http://youtu.be/0brHOvMSmzM

publius · « **Reply #64 on:** September 10, 2014, 09:17:16 AM »

I love these - and I HATE skulls. That's a compliment. Also, when that silver joker popped up in your video, I got rather excited. A silver edition of these would be pretty sweet as well.

vovkalex · « **Reply #65 on:** September 10, 2014, 09:59:51 AM »

In future projects, we will make the deck in silver.

vovkalex · « **Reply #66 on:** September 10, 2014, 11:47:03 AM »

Tell me how this color pattern?

vovkalex · « **Reply #67 on:** September 10, 2014, 02:50:41 PM »

joker gold

vovkalex · « **Reply #68 on:** September 10, 2014, 04:07:08 PM »

The first two positions on the proposals kickstarter

vovkalex · « **Reply #69 on:** September 11, 2014, 05:54:32 AM »

lady 1

Will W. · « **Reply #70 on:** September 11, 2014, 07:04:22 AM »

Is that actually an add on list or an early bird ? $1 for an uncut sheet add on seems crazy cheap.... Also, who will you be using to print these?

Edit: Never mind on the add on uncut sheet... I see now that it's actually $1 for the PDF file of the uncut sheet.

vovkalex · « **Reply #71 on:** September 11, 2014, 11:24:45 AM »

queen of Hearts

vovkalex · « **Reply #72 on:** September 11, 2014, 02:05:35 PM »

Stages of the work.

vovkalex · « **Reply #73 on:** September 11, 2014, 02:07:27 PM »

Stages of the work.

vovkalex · « **Reply #74 on:** September 11, 2014, 02:08:34 PM »

Stages of the work.

vovkalex · « **Reply #75 on:** September 11, 2014, 03:49:27 PM »

Tuckcase Uncut Sheet ARCANUM

Don Boyer · « **Reply #76 on:** September 11, 2014, 09:00:03 PM »

I took the liberty of changing the title of the topic to match the title of the deck.

vovkalex · « **Reply #77 on:** September 12, 2014, 02:07:21 AM »

Thanks Don

vovkalex · « **Reply #78 on:** September 12, 2014, 09:57:08 AM »

Thank you. Now we are considering where to print. The first question is - quality. In addition, all limited edition boxes gold foil:

Limited Edition ARCANUM Deck

Limited Edition ARCANUM Minis Deck

Limited Edition ARCANUM Plastic Deck

Don Boyer · « **Reply #79 on:** September 12, 2014, 01:36:36 PM »

Quote from: vovkalex on September 12, 2014, 09:57:08 AM

Thank you. Now we are considering where to print. The first question is - quality. In addition, all limited edition boxes gold foil:

Limited Edition ARCANUM Deck

Limited Edition ARCANUM Minis Deck

Limited Edition ARCANUM Plastic Deck

Plastic decks are prohibitively expensive - I've seen exactly one "custom" branded deck in plastic, the Karnival Death Heads, Armour Edition, and it sold for $25 a pack.

Mini decks are cute, but not essential. It also add an expense to the project. Consider it as a stretch goal, after getting a standard poker deck in a second color.

The best printers we see around here on a regular basis are

the Expert Playing Card Company (EPCC)
the Legends Playing Card Company (LPCC)
the United States Playing Card Company (USPC)

Two of those three companies have an official presence on this board, with company topics and a Discourse Agent to answer questions and distribute propaganda!

Those same two also have their own easy-to-find websites with information about how to place an order for a custom print run.

vovkalex · « **Reply #80 on:** September 12, 2014, 02:03:08 PM »

Thanks Don.

vovkalex · « **Reply #81 on:** September 13, 2014, 05:07:53 AM »

The reverse side of the cards.

vovkalex · « **Reply #82 on:** September 13, 2014, 07:34:35 AM »

That position, which will be on kickstarter:
ARCANUM Decks
Limited Edition ARCANUM Deck
Limited Edition ARCANUM Minis Deck
Limited Edition ARCANUM Plastic DESK
Uncut Sheet of Arcanum
Tuckcase Uncut Sheet Arcanum
We have an American partner with experience in publishing all kinds of playing cards. And successful projects kickstarter.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #83 on:** September 13, 2014, 09:22:58 AM »

Quote from: vovkalex on September 13, 2014, 07:34:35 AM

That position, which will be on kickstarter:
ARCANUM Decks
Limited Edition ARCANUM Deck
Limited Edition ARCANUM Minis Deck
Limited Edition ARCANUM Plastic DESK
Uncut Sheet of Arcanum
Tuckcase Uncut Sheet Arcanum
We have an American partner with experience in publishing all kinds of playing cards. And successful projects kickstarter.

First of all, how big is the plastic DESK? Student-sized or more like a real piece of office furniture?

Second, who's the American partner? If it's MPC, they're not really American - they're printed in China. The quality is decent from what I've heard, but doesn't hold a candle to the other printers I suggested.

vovkalex · « **Reply #84 on:** September 13, 2014, 10:39:07 AM »

Limited Edition ARCANUM Plastic DESK - 2,5 "x 3.5"
Print most likely will be in the United States Playing Card Company (USPC).
Partner - is not a company.