I am also VERY curious about how people feel about the damask/elite finish 
Overall, Knowledge (LPCC classic) rated very high and so did Nine Lives (EPCC master finish) - (I know, my family and friends are a loyal bunch...). Thing is, the Elite finish received very mixed reviews, which made me unsure about whether it's one of those finishes that people either love (like me) or dislike? I really want to get everything right with this deck - so any thoughts or insights you have are most welcome
Hi Annette. First of all, congratulations on the work you've done in designing VIZAĜO. I checked out the thread you reference, and was blown away by the gorgeous images! I love your unique style, which is evident on everything, from the court cards, the Aces, the card backs, and even the number cards. Outstanding work, and I wish you great success with your Kickstarter! As part of that, choosing a good quality playing card that is going to do justice to your amazing artwork is well worth the careful consideration you're giving it, and I hope that you'll also be successful in marketing your campaign to help it stand out from the many inferior projects that are constantly emerging.
As you probably know, the Legends Playing Card Company and Expert Playing Playing Card Company use the same factory in Taiwan, so their decks are of the same quality, although they give the different finishes their own names. But the quality is excellent. You may be interested to read my detailed review of Legends Playing Card Company and their range of finishes here:
Pictorial Review: Legends Playing Card Company - Legendary playing cards.
They offer three main finishes, which I'd summarize as follows:
1. LPCC's Diamond Finish = EPCC's Master Finish (examples being your Nine Lives deck, and the Legends Egyptian deck). This is the thinnest and least-embossed paper stock, which makes it feel somewhat oily/plastic-like, but it is also the stiffest and longest lasting finish, being very hardy/durable, and the cards have a real spring to them. The embossing is similar to Bicycle's "Air Cushion Finish".
2. LPCC's Classic Finish = EPCC's Classic Finish (examples being the Rome Anthony & Caesar decks, and the Knowledge deck): This is a thicker paper stock, which has more of a matte look, feels softer and more papery, and is not as stiff as the Diamond finish. The embossing is also similar to Bicycle's "Air Cushion Finish". Of all the finishes, this has an overall feel that is arguably closest to a Bicycle type deck.
3. LPCC's Elite Finish = EPCC's Damask Finish (examples being the LUXX Palme deck): This uses a similar paper stock to the Classic Finish, but uses a different and deeper embossing pattern on the cards, making them feel even softer yet. It's not as commonly used yet, but reviews I've seen about it have been fairly positive.
In addition, LPCC (and not EPCC) offers the following finish:
4. LPCC's Emerald Finish (example being the Porcelain deck). This is made from thin paper stock with minimal embossing and with a slick coating, giving it a similar feel to the Diamond Finish but with a stiffness falling somewhere between that and the softer Classic Finish. Unlike the other three finishes, this is produced in a factory in China rather than Taiwan, and normally has standard Casino-cut edges rather than the superior Diamond Cut used for the other three finishes.
My thoughts would be as follows, taking them in reverse order:
- Emerald Finish: Are they quoting you a cheaper price for this as opposed to the Diamond finish? I have compared the two, and it seems to me that they have a similar feel, but the Emerald deck is just a bit more cheaply made overall. I'd be inclined to skip this one, and stick with the Diamond one as the superior of the two.
- Elite/Damask Finish: I haven't seen enough reports of the Elite/Damask Finish to be able to comment on that from personal experience, but are you saying that you personally had mixed reactions to it? If so, that might already tell you enough.
- Classic Finish: This seems to be the choice of most magicians and experienced card handlers that I've talked to and corresponded with. It's the finish that is most like a USPCC produced deck in terms of feel and handling, but the cards themselves are of a higher quality (e.g. the clean cut of the edges is definitely superior!). They're not as stiff as the Diamond/Master finish, and yet the cards themselves are a little thicker, having a feel that more closely resembles a traditional deck.
- Diamond/Master Finish: There's no doubt that these are super durable. But they also feel very different from the kind of deck most people are used to. The cards are thin, but durable and very stiff, many people even find them too stiff for doing riffle shuffles. Plus they feel quite smooth, glossy, and almost plastic like - it takes some real getting used to, and not everyone likes it. Most magicians and card handlers don't really care for them, because they feel too different, even though they are obviously good quality.
My advice would be make a choice between the Classic finish or the Diamond/Master Finish. And I'd only go with the Diamond/Master finish if you're really convinced it's better and preferable to the Classic Finish. While the Diamond/Master finish is a very good product and high quality, I find that there are some people who just don't care for it, but I've not come across people who don't care for the Classic finish, so perhaps that is the safer option, without sacrificing quality.
I'd love to see more reviews on the Elite/Damask Finish though, because I think the jury is still out on how it compares with the Classic finish. Some do speak of it very highly. Hopefully some more people will post in this thread about their experiences with it, and how it compares with the other finishes.
How do the four finishes that LPCC offers compare in terms of pricing, by the way? All the best in finalizing your decisions, and preparing for your Kickstarter campaign - I'd love to hear what you end up deciding, and the reasons for your decision.
For further reading, you may also find the following article I wrote helpful:
Analysing the quality/handling of a USPCC deck vs EPCC decks: four key elements.
