We're looking at a project that's going to go deep into overfunding territory, for certain. I look forward to seeing it happen!
DON!!
You are totally ROCKING this topic for me ( and I like it ).
OK, so in as much as you guys are way more tuned in to the materials and the long and dark history of said materials, what are your preferences?
Granted, many of the folks getting this particular deck won't care about one finish to the other ( or card stock for that matter ) they are just regular card folk who have a love for LEGO and Steampunk themes, I would certainly like to create the highest quality deck that I can since it's going to be a one time run.
What's your preferences when all is said and done?
I really like the feel of the Americana and Tendril decks ( they seem to have a feeling of Endurance about them ).
I also understand that CASINO GRADE paper stock is supposed to be more durable??
I am looking for some quality information that I can apply to the deck
many thanks!
Guy
Those two decks you mentioned both used Aristocrat stock with Magic Finish on them. If your cards are going to be heavy on the ink and/or use metallic inks, MF is the way to go.
There's two kinds of Aristocrat - though USPC may or may not 'fess up to this - they tend to be a secretive bunch. A prime example of this would be to grab a pack of the Aristocrat Banknote 727 reprint deck and a pack of Tally Ho with either back design (circle back or fan back). Both decks are made with Aristocrat stock, but the Aristocrat deck is decidedly softer. As a playing card, I love it; as a magician, I love it; card flourishers don't go them as much - a little too soft for their tastes. The Tally Ho deck has better overall performance and feels a bit more firm when riffled than an Aristocrat Banknote deck does. This difference is actually done at the factory - when the paper has been cut into sheets, they're stored at set temperatures and humidity levels. Altering these factors while the sheets are in storage will alter the characteristics of the cards made from that stock. Other factors that can have an effect are a little less in USPC's control - variable stock quality, percentage of recycled content, how much ink the paper absorbs during printing...
Tally Ho is arguably one of the most beloved decks of card flourishers, and many magicians and poker players swear by them - I love them myself and count them among my favorites. It's a shame they're so hard to find for most people, though - aside from online specialty shops, the only place Tally Ho is sold in stores would be magic shops or in New York City. USPC considers it a "regional" brand, with a very small region! (They have other regional brands - Mavericks are nonexistent in New York, but sold throughout the Southern states, and Aladdins are printed for sale primarily in Singapore, where they're as common as Bicycles are here.) It was first printed by A. Dougherty of New York City, later Consolidated Dougherty when they merged with the New York Consolidated Card Company, and eventually by USPC when they bought the company decades ago - but for much of the deck's history, it was actually manufactured in New York City as well.
To make life simple on yourself, if you want the firmer Aristocrat stock, just tell them, "Hey, you know those Tally Ho decks you make? I want THAT paper!"
Bee decks are more firm, and Bee Casino are firmer still. Some people really like a stiffer card, and the Bee decks do take a little while to break in. But it does create a more durable card in the end to use those stocks - however, it will also increase your production time and costs. The Bee stocks are more expensive and take a specially-made tuck box that they (for now) have been farming out to a third party. It could delay the deck's release date by up to two months or more.
Simonart mentioned that he's not very experienced at deck handling, but that he hates the Guardians and loves the EATCT deck ("Expert at the Card Table" deck - it's designed to look like a classic book of the same name, which is about gambling and cheating methods and is considered one of the first treatises to cover modern sleight-of-hand techniques). The deck he hates is actually one of my favorites - the Guardians are made from Bicycle stock, as far as I know, and just have the "standard" finish - in this case, using the traditional name Air Cushion Finish. The EATCT deck is made on casino-grade Bee stock and is also using "standard" finish. I don't recall if the finish is mentioned on the box, but it's considered a Bee deck and the standard finish for a textured Bee deck is called Cambric Finish.
Many people knock Bicycle stock, for much the same reason many people knock Bicycle cards (the basic model, sold in drug stores and newsstands all over the country). It's sort of a love/hate thing! But there are some very popular decks on the market right now that are using Bicycle stock with Magic Finish - among them would be all of the Crown Deck made by the Blue Crown and the NOC decks (pronounced like "Knock") from the House of Playing Cards (a Blue Crown subsidiary). I think they perform very well myself.
You could go with standard finish (in the case, Air Cushion, or whatever other name you want to dream up), but these days, if you're making a USPC name-branded deck (Bicycle, in your case), they'll throw in the Magic Finish at no extra charge (unless they'd changed the pricing from the last time I looked). There's also no price difference between using Aristocrat stock and Bicycle stock. Be advised that while most people love the smooth, slick feel of Magic Finish decks, some find them to be way too slippery - you will NEVER please everyone!
Possible overfunding upgrades: gaff cards, embossing/debossing on the box, metal foil printing on the box, metallic inks on the deck...more custom Legos...
Some designers will offer a stock upgrade, for people preferring Bee or Bee Casino, as an overfunding goal. Posters...stickers...the list goes on...
