Make your own custom cards?

By Feanor79, in X-Wing Painting and Modification

Hi All, I am interested in making some of my own custom cards to hand out at local x wing events to boost participation. Unfortunately, I am not too savvy with computers or photoshop programs. Nor do I even know which provider to use. So, if someone here has made cards before, would it possible to provide some guidance (or point to a thread where this is already covered - yes, I did try searching to limited avail).

Ages ago, (Wave III Era) there was a Photoshop template kicking around that was designed for "drop and place" of text and images but it used the standard art format. Kicker is you'd need Photoshop...

As a TO that does custom cards, your players and events will grow considerably with custom cards. It's been a huge boon to our group and I highly recommend!

A P RECAUTIONARY M EASURE : be sure to clearly state the cards are freely provided to players at your events. You don't want FFG to see you as profiting off of creating alternatives using trademarked material. I ensure that 100% of the cards I custom make are provided freely and without the exchange of goods, services, or denominations of abstract wealth and that the players and FLGS are aware of this (I have had an FLGS try to waive my entrance fee at an event in compensation for these cards. I refused that offer citing not wanting to risk them getting in trouble - they were reasonable and appreciative of the caution).

[To that end I do not condone those that make custom cards and sell them on eBay, Etsy, etc. - it's a wonder they don't get cease and desist orders...especially with the number of acrylic token makers that got tagged for using the evade and focus icons on their tokens and/or calling them focus and evade tokens.]

Thanks! I will look into this. I have no desire to make any profits. Just like the idea of having a smattering of unique Alt Art cards to give out at local tourneys. Hopefully I can figure this out... I don't want to have to pay out of my nose (a FB guy quoted me 2 dollars a card, which seems a bit steep).

Follow up - recommended printing service?

Edited by Feanor79

I use this place . Order these for pilot cards and I recommend at least 330gsm (superior smooth) card stock, the rest of the default settings are fine. I usually try to order multiples at once so I'll get one "deck" made that has different 7 pilot cards in quantities of 18/each. My typical order (for a 126 card deck) comes out to 0.248 cents per card.

The interface is efficient. The minimum resolution allowed is 816x1110pixels at 300DPI. I build my templates to 866x1160pixels at 300DPI and then add an additional 50pixels to the height and width in the form of a black border. In this way the border gets cut off when printing and 100% of the art ends up centered in the "Safe" zone. Any stats/boxes/text should absolutely be within that safe zone or you risk it getting cut off by up to 1mm.

On 2/22/2018 at 9:14 AM, thespaceinvader said:

I was going to put this on here and then saw you rpost! This is probably the best card creator I have found.

Here's one more that can be kind of confusing, but can be okay for quick cards: http://cardcreator.atelierdufaucon.com/

On 2/23/2018 at 9:39 AM, ZealuxMyr said:

I use this place . Order these for pilot cards and I recommend at least 330gsm (superior smooth) card stock, the rest of the default settings are fine. I usually try to order multiples at once so I'll get one "deck" made that has different 7 pilot cards in quantities of 18/each. My typical order (for a 126 card deck) comes out to 0.248 cents per card.

The interface is efficient. The minimum resolution allowed is 816x1110pixels at 300DPI. I build my templates to 866x1160pixels at 300DPI and then add an additional 50pixels to the height and width in the form of a black border. In this way the border gets cut off when printing and 100% of the art ends up centered in the "Safe" zone. Any stats/boxes/text should absolutely be within that safe zone or you risk it getting cut off by up to 1mm.

What size do you recommend for the upgrade cards' borders?

Edited by impspy

If you go with Strange Eons, you’ll also need the X-wing plug-in.

@impspy , I have not tried upgrade cards yet...they do have the correct size cards. My plan was to make my cards 100x100pixels oversize and leave no border to get cut. As long as my image and text is within the safe zone it should do fine. Will ipdate when tried.