So I have a question for the group - I've been visiting Vegas now for business trips and picked up some - I guess you'd call them 'canceled' - decks from the hotel/casinos. These are the decks that have been cut on the corners. I think they are a great, cheap way to remember your visit to Vegas and was wondering if anyone else picks these up. The boxes they come in are pretty banged up and don't look too nice on a shelf - but with the announcement that MakePlayingCards.com is now doing custom tuck boxes with no minimum, I was thinking of creating a generic tuck box for my small, but sure to grow casino decks . . . thoughts?

-pmk

Really glad everyone seems to be getting a lot out of this thread . . . haven't had a chance to check out the responses in a while as I am deep into production on Foto Grafis!



Some of the things I list with my decks is if they are still sealed or opened. Purchase Price and a "Seen on eBay Price" - that last one is a range of prices - for instance, the Rarebit deck goes from between $75.00 and $150 - while that is just an asking price, it shows the potential value in the deck. Serial numbers if there are any (Fed 52, Part 2 for example) . . . in the notes section, I'll also list if any items came with the deck - coins, poker chips, post cards and the like.

what else do you guys list?

-pmk

1,100?? I've seriously gotta step up my game!

800+ . . . wow!! I'd love a look at that!!!

I thought it might be fun to show off my own collection of playing cards - many of these decks are directly from Kickstarter campaigns like my own . . . And as you can see, I have a special spot reserved for when Foto Grafis gets printed!!

Thanks so much, Rob . . . very gratifying to see that efforts have been recognized. Being positive is really the only way a creative professional can stay the course. In a month where I've been involved with 3 different publishing projects:

Weird NJ #41 (Contributing Photographer): http://weirdnj.com/weird-news/weird-nj-issue-41/

Weird NJ Home State Hauntings (Designer and Contributing Photographer): http://weirdnj.com/digital-media/home-state-hauntings/

American Movie Palaces (Cover Photo): http://www.amazon.com/American-Movie-Palaces-Shire-USA/dp/0747812829/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383837756&sr=8-1&keywords=American+Movie+Palaces

Plus two gallery shows . . . and the Foto Grafis cards . . . it's been quite a whirlwind. And you are so right about going up against some juggernauts. Heck, I've backed most of the ones you listed myself. Some really cool stuff out there. Very proud that I managed to get as far as i did and that pride is going to fuel the relauch - if as the numbers suggest - I won't make it this time around. Plans are well underway to launch in January 2014 with a lower goal, new printer and a tweaked tuck box . . . Perseverance is how I thrive . . . Foto Grafis will happen!!

Thanks again for all the encouragement and kind words!! More soon!!

-pmk

Sparkz . . . no offense taken at all. Love your idea and just might shoot them both ways and have backers vote. I've got some wiggle room now to figure it all out. Planning on a January relaunch if a miracle doesn't happen in the next couple days . . . which I am not expecting, but nice to think about . . .  . . . Love the idea of the more abstract representation of the court cards. Certainly lends itself to my style. Thanks so very much for the kind words and the encouragement . . . Narrowing in on a printer - now I just have to see samples.

-pmk

Don - Wonderful insight and thanks for sharing. Like Sparkz said, I couldn't agree more . . . I've got samples coming from a couple different printers and looking forward to seeing the quality of the stock and printing. Will keep everyone posted!

-pmk

Sprouts . . . thanks for the interest. Here's a look at the back design - It won the Bicycle Club 808's Design-a-Deck competition back in May of 2013.



The horizontal positioning of the pips on the top are designed to give the images more space on the card . . . optimizing the viewing of the photography.

Thanks again for your interest.

-pmk

Hey all!

So I am really excited to have launched Foto Grafis yesterday on Kickstarter . . . completely blown away by the response - 32% in a little over a day of launching! Have a bunch planned for this deck - including my first update this Friday. I'll be announcing the first "no-obligation" add-on - that basically means free stuff!!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pmkane/foto-grafis-a-photographic-twist-on-playing-cards

This deck's genesis started over at Club 808's "Design-a-Deck" contest, which my card back design won! That gave me the confidence I need to go ahead and delve fully into creating a whole deck. The card faces feature my photography . . . all in black and white to create a visual consistency . . . and I am shooting models for the court cards. The Kickstarter launch give potential backers a peek at my Queen of Spades - she sets the tone of what the rest of the court cards will be.



As a photographer, I strive to transform the ordinary or mundane into the extraordinary and spectacular. My goal is to fill my images with astounding textures and unexpected depth. It's what I am trying to do with these cards - turning an everyday, run of the mill deck of cards into something very special. Pocket sized fine art!



Hope this peek inspires you to take a look and at the campaign . . . Lots more on the Kickstart page . . . having a blast with this!!

Thanks for your consideration!!

-pmk

Rob - thanks for the update . . . totally blown away by the numbers. Woke up to over $2,500. Feeling very good about the whole thing!!

And have to thank you for that Steven Wright quote . . . gave me a good chuckle this morning!

Very strange, Don . . . first I am hearing of it . . . all the JPGs have been converted to RGB. Anyone else having an issue?

-pmk