Tech Skulls (KS)

[badpete69]

A few $3 decks left for EB

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/820320834/tech-skulls

[Don Boyer]

Every time I think that decks can't get any worse, something like this appears...

Not worth it even at three dollars.

[PurpleIce]

Every time I think that decks can't get any worse, something like this appears...

Not worth it even at three dollars.

It gets worst as you scroll down. I thought the court cards were bad enough until i reach the number cards...

[Rose]

Well it seems I may be alone in saying this but I don't mind these at all. The pips are custom, the concept of skulls and tech is confusing/quirky, but it is original so I can appreciate that.

[badpete69]

V2 now live

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/820320834/tech-skulls-playing-cards-v20

[Don Boyer]

Still looks like something out of a no-budget sci-fi movie...

[_Daniel_]

Have to say, I like the look of the background of the back design, the computer chip look I guess? I could see that being used quite effectively on a different deck with a different theme I suppose but this deck certainly doesn't seem worth it to me.

[DarkDerp]

I like the use of adobe text effects. A web press can print that, right? I do like the new backs. But the faces and glass text is ew.

[Rose]

I like the use of adobe text effects. A web press can print that, right? I do like the new backs. But the faces and glass text is ew.

I think the new pips/numbers are really hard to read. Yes the glass effect is ew from me too.

[Don Boyer]

I like the use of adobe text effects. A web press can print that, right? I do like the new backs. But the faces and glass text is ew.

It's unlikely that a web press would be used to make this deck.  The minimum order is 10,000 decks.  There's also no increase (or decrease) in quality.  This, like most short-run custom decks, would be made on the sheet-fed press.

Back in the early days of the current wave of custom decks, people debated and argued over sheet-fed press versus web press.  Every designer wanted to get decks made on the web press.  Here's the truth of it.

Before the switch to the Erlanger plant, there was a certain truth to the web press being better, but it had more to do with the sheet-fed press being in serious need of an overhaul, an overhaul that USPC wasn't interested in investing in since they were buying brand new equipment for the new plant.  Now that all the equipment is relatively new and in good repair, the only difference between the two presses is that web press is designed for large-volume print runs while the sheet-fed press does shorter runs more effectively.

The web press uses the giant rolls of pasteboard created after the two layers of paper have been glued together - one roll makes about 11,000 decks, or roughly 10% over a 10,000-deck run.  It's where that whole "plus or minus 10%" part of the print contracts comes from.  The roll gets cut into sheets after being printed on the web press.  For the sheet-fed press, the roll is cut up first, then goes through the press for printing, so it's not so difficult to deal in smaller print runs, though the set-up costs don't change so the per-deck cost tends to go higher.  Print a massive run like 50,000 or 100,000 decks and you'll pay a pittance for the decks on a per-deck basis, but it's a fat chunk of change in total.

[DarkDerp]

What if they ran their .asl file as a spot color, could it print on the web press then?

Also. Running a job on a web press has the advantage of inline finishing. This decreases the number of hand touches, which means less mistakes. There are different QA levels set on the amount of automation. Print quality is the same, product... depends on the day.

[Leif]

I kinda like the design of the skulls. The back is also rather nice. The rest, not in my liking.

[Don Boyer]

What if they ran their .asl file as a spot color, could it print on the web press then?

Also. Running a job on a web press has the advantage of inline finishing. This decreases the number of hand touches, which means less mistakes. There are different QA levels set on the amount of automation. Print quality is the same, product... depends on the day.

The simple fact remains that USPC won't do a web-press run for less than 10,000 decks.  I'm nearly certain that at that point, they'd be insisting on increases in units of 10,000 decks as well, due to the size of a paper roll.  A single paper roll, start to finish, makes about 11,000 decks providing them their 10% margin of error on the plus side.  Once the web press starts rolling, nothing short of a disaster on the floor will stop that run before the roll runs out.

In theory, when ordering 10,000, they're making 11,000 then removing anything damaged, misprinted, whatever, as well as uncut sheets, which I imagine are a challenge (though not an impossible one) on a continuous press like the web press.  This means they can remove as much as 2,000 decks from the run for quality control or whatever other reasons and still meet the contract requirements.

Companies like Ellusionist, The Blue Crown, Theory11, David Blaine, Dan and Dave, etc. tend to deal with USPC in these numbers for their staple decks or limited-run decks where the quantity isn't public knowledge.

As far as inline finishing, what would make you think that the process isn't done on the line for the sheet-fed press?  They're using a modern Heidelberg press - damn thing can practically tie little bows around the cards if you wanted it...

There is exactly one advantage to be had with the web press - speed.  But the increase in speed isn't that much faster from the perspective of the designer/producer - start a print run on either press at the beginning of the day, it'll be done long before the day is over.  It only makes a difference to USPC, in terms of how many runs they can squeeze into a day.

[DarkDerp]

I have never seen a sheet fed press with inline finishing. A uv light for the coat and maybe some embossing , but not a full on automated bindery system. Not saying there isn't a company crazy enough to try, but I can't imagine it being efficient or cost effective.

Also. What if they made the skulls scarier, could they print them on the web press then?

[Don Boyer]

I have never seen a sheet fed press with inline finishing. A uv light for the coat and maybe some embossing , but not a full on automated bindery system. Not saying there isn't a company crazy enough to try, but I can't imagine it being efficient or cost effective.

Also. What if they made the skulls scarier, could they print them on the web press then?

Bindery?  What?  Have you ever seen a pack of playing cards with a binding?  I haven't.  Why you busting my chops?  Seriously, it's an embossing (or not, if the deck is smooth) and a laminate, that's it.  Nothing fancy beyond that.

Hell, if he wants to blow the cash and make lots of them, he can make the skulls twice as scary and get the web press.  But not three times, that's too scary... 

Here, USPC is likely using something in the triple-digit model numbers and some of the accessories, especially something like FoilStar.

http://www.us.heidelberg.com/www/html/en/content/overview1/products/sheetfed_overview-qg

[DarkDerp]

Yeah, I was having fun. Wanted to see how far I could get.

As to the bindery comment, It is a term we studs in print use for the department that does the  finishing. bindery would be any finishing that requires a hand touch or finishing off the press. A webpress dedicated to a specific type of media can essentially skip the Bindery department and hit shipping.