Custom Cards

[Pandemix]

I am really interested in making my own cards and have an idea of how I want to do it. Before anyone comments, yes I have read these threads:

http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=33383
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=31477
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=29957
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=37691
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=54543

I am thinking of trying to print on to the card directly. I know that this sometimes smears the ink because of the gloss on the card. I was wondering if anyone has tried this technique and knows of a way around this.
Also, I was wondering if there was a picture someone had of the card that showed its actual size when printing.

If this is not the best way to make cards, or if you know of one that has always worked for you, please let me know.

Also, as a reminder, the people at Steve Jackson Games would prefer if you did not discuss the specific content of custom cards and instead suggest them here (there's a sticky as to why)

http://www.sjgames.com/card-ideas/ca....html?munchkin

[Pandemix]

Has no one made cards before?

[emillang1000]

I'm... conflicted.

I'm aware of a process for printing on cards, and there are videos available to show you exactly how you can do it.

The problem is that those videos are for making Magic the Gathering proxies, and can also theoretically be used to make counterfeit cards. Thus, I'm not gonna post the links - you'll have to find them yourself.

What I CAN say is that you'll find a laser printer works much better than an inkjet printer. This is what I've heard from several people, and is likely true for Munchkin cards as well.

Either way, get a pack of blank Munchkin cards and try printing a group of 10 cards. You'll need to lightly tape the backs so that you have 2 columns of five cards laying horizontally, load them into a top-feeding printer; whatever images and words you want on should be designed at 300dpi or more on your computer, and should be larger than the intended print size.

While I personally prefer the look of inkjet images myself for my work, laser may be the better choice for cards, since the toner forms a molecular bond to the surface of the paper, rather than simply lay on and die the paper as ink does.

That being said, getting a whole new printer just for so is a little nuts - any decent printer, laser or otherwise, is going to cost in the hundreds of dollars. Therefore, my suggestion is: either find someone who has a laser printer that can do the printing for you, or experiment with the inkjet printer you have.

Be forewarned, though - the cards as you buy them are already tinted. The Door cards aren't a problem at all, since they're a very light-cream color, but the Treasures are very much golden-yellow. This means that any white colors or lighter colors very well may show up as the wrong colors on the Treasure cards. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to only print in black-and-"white" or sepia-tone.

[MunchkinMan]

Hmmmm. . . Last time I saw blank cards as sold in packs by W23, they were bare on the face, as in, no background or border printed on them. . .

[goodbunny2000]

I draw on my cards directly, but I know a lot of people print on clear labels and stick them to the cards

[emillang1000]

Originally Posted by MunchkinMan

Hmmmm. . . Last time I saw blank cards as sold in packs by W23, they were bare on the face, as in, no background or border printed on them. . .

Oh, really? Then those must be different than the ones packaged with the games now.

I do remember, when I lived in Rochester, the biggest game store in the area had a few packs of blank Munchkin cards, and those DID have both the border and the background color. Mind you, this was back a few years ago when Munchkin Fantasy was still primarily sepia-toned, so it very well may have changed.

Still, when I bought Munchkin Deluxe, the blank Door card that accompanied it did have a border and colored background; that may be just with full products, and not with the packaged blanks.

If the blanks are literally blank on the face, then you'll have little-to-no problems with printing on them.

Maybe Andrew would know what the blanks have on their faces now.

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by MunchkinMan

Hmmmm. . . Last time I saw blank cards as sold in packs by W23, they were bare on the face, as in, no background or border printed on them. . .

I think you're thinking of blank cards for other sets, not for Munchkin.

[MunchkinMan]

Originally Posted by Andrew Hackard

I think you're thinking of blank cards for other sets, not for Munchkin.

Maybe now. I'm looking at a set of Munchkin blanks that are blank on the face. These were bought a long time ago, however. Makes me sad I hadn't found a use for them, actually. . .

[Varok]

I considered myself as creative person, and I use to play Munchkin Game during lunch time at work (using House Rules for winning level for Lvl 5) so one day I decide to create couple of custom cards after I bought the Munchkin 2 Expansion and from there I decide to purchase the blank cards to create more custom cards

Here are some custom cards from experience with people, some other crazy ideas, gaming experience and wording humor.

Moderator edit: We expressly ask in the thread entitled "Critical Links & Useful Information -- READ ME FIRST!!!" that people not post card ideas on these forums.

[GranitePenguin]

With this bubbling to the top, it's probably worth mentioning crafting printers like the Cricut Air for custom "printing." It would take some patience (especially around getting the positioning right), but a lot of the newer systems use pens for drawing as well as a blade for cutting. You could place a card blank on the cutting mat (I'd recommend using one of the lighter stickiness mats) and use that to draw on the card.