Without a doubt some of the most interesting details about how a deck of cards is made are obscured by uncertainty.
This thread is here to once and for all put a rest to some of the myths that circulate the community about cards. Have a myth you want debunked? Submit them to aethercards@gmail.com.
MYTH1 |
Card production expenses are through the roof! FALSEWith the USPCC, production costs are reliant on so many variables that it will take decades to list them all. However, here are some basics that everyone should be aware of:
1. As of this post, Arrco faces cost significantly less - it costs more to use Bicycle faces, and even more to customize them.
2. Different stocks cost different amounts of money.
3. It actually costs extra to print under the Bicycle brand, but it can cost more to print without it if you choose to have custom face cards.
4. Metallic inks really are luxury! They cost significantly more per deck to use. Same goes for embossing and custom seals.
5. A huge chunk of spending of any good deck of cards is used on creating proofs/prototypes of the decks. Each prototype costs exponentially more than a deck of your standard cards. For example, the Vortex prototypes cost $250 each.
6. The more you print the cheaper it gets per deck! This one is pretty obvious, because quantity discounts apply to pretty much any business.
So as you can see, card production costs are only through the roof so long as you opt for high quality products. The higher quality you want, the more originality you create - it's very easy to drop over $10,000 on production. Likewise, for small businesses that want quality promotional items such as a deck of cards, it's also possible to spend half that for a simpler product with the USPCC.
MYTH2 |
The reason decks aren't fully customized more often is because of legal issues! FALSEMore customization means more money spent, but it also means a longer development time. USPCC has all the obvious legal restrictions that center around copyright, but also allow for 100% custom decks to anyone that wants them.
MYTH3 |
Clipart decks take under a week to develop, and are created for the sole purpose of ripping off collectors! TRUEThe unfortunate reality is that many "custom" decks being released now are made in just a few short hours, and don't use any real custom art. The purpose of these decks is to suck in anybody that is looking for a sweet, limited set of cards.
MYTH4 |
The USPCC is responsible for all of the horrible decks we see! This is their doing! FALSEThe USPCC goes to great length to actually keep horrible decks from polluting our market. However, they are a client-oriented company and do what the client requests. If you see a horrible deck from them - it's not their fault. Blame the person that made the deck.
MYTH5 |
Cards can be signed underneath the cellophane! FALSEDecks are wrapped in cellophane in the production plants and then shipped out. There is no way to not damage the cellophane to get a signature underneath it.
MYTH6 |
Q1 quality control is a real thing - it ensures that decks are printed without any huge mistakes! TRUEQuality control is a huge must-have for any deck creator. Centered backs, smooth edges - all these things are the result of quality control. It works in a very simple way: all decks that don't meet X standard are chucked. That means it costs more money to print because the higher quality you demand, the more you end up chucking.
Here are some things quality control is NOT:
- Q1 is not a special machine made for those who have the money to print perfect decks.
- Q1 has nothing to do with how your cards handle with the exception that it ensures even edges.
- Q1 is not sheet-fed press vs. web-fed press. These two things have to do with the quantity of decks you're printing, not the quality.
MYTH7 |
Web-press is far better for a deck than sheet-press! FALSEThe Web vs. Sheet battle has been going on for ages and it has actually been settled a while ago. The sheet-fed press at USPCC is not lower quality, and as of late many people have been arguing that sheet-fed cards have better quality-control standards. This is a myth I'll be investigating at a later date.
You can learn more about the
Web Press and
Sheet Press by clicking the respective links here.
MYTH8 |
Ohio decks are always better than Kentucky decks. Quality has just gone down the drain lately! FALSEIt took a little while for the factory in Erlanger, Kentucky to begin printing high quality decks like its Ohio counterpart, but we are now at a point where Kentucky decks are actually superior in terms of quality control. For most of the higher-end decks, gone completely are rough and uneven edges. Backs are much more centered now as well, and the available stocks are optimized to last and are absolutely wonderful. In fact, unlike the old Ohio decks which had a nasty tendency to "bow" and create a U-shape in the deck (making flourishing a nightmare), Kentucky decks are known for how flat the cards are. No bowing, no contortions.
MYTH9 |
The USPCC minimum run for a custom deck is now 5,000. TRUEThe number of decks that is a minimum requirement from the USPCC for printing is changing constantly. As of now, this minimum is 5,000 decks. Special deals are often arranged with the USPCC and you can print less but it costs significantly more to do so, and not as many options are available.
MYTH10 |
The new "Standard Bicycles" are simply nowhere near as good as the old "Rider Backs" from Ohio! TRUEThe "Bicycle Standard" decks have a much lower quality control than their old counterparts. Riderbacks are still made in mass production with high standards for quality, but you aren't as likely to find them in your local department store anymore.
MYTH11 |
The USPCC offers tons of different finishes! FALSEContrary to popular belief, the USPCC does not offer a large variety of finishes. Actually, there are only two kinds of coatings you can use on a deck of cards manufactured by the USPCC: Magic finish and Air Cushion finish. Cambric, Linoid, Linen, 909 Premium, Plastic Coated - these are just written on the box but either no longer exist (Linoid), or never existed in the first place (909 Premium). Unless you print a deck under the Bicycle brand, the USPCC actually allows you to write any made up finish name on the side of your box.
MYTH12 |
The "finish" on a deck refers to the "dimpling" pattern pressed into the cards! FALSEThe finish on a deck of cards actually refers to the type of coating used on the cards in question. The dimpling has no real name, and a deck of cards either has the dimpling or does not. Cards that do not have the dimpling are commonly referred to as "smooth finish" despite the fact that the coating/finish applied can be Air-Cushion as well.
