<p>Artscow.com is the site I always hear about. I've never used it but it's constantly mentioned on boardgamegeek.com as the place to go for printing custom cards. See:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/card/multi-purpose-cards-rectangle-394">http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/card/multi-purpose-cards-rectangle-394</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-19T20:26:48.803Z
Artscow is pretty darn expensive for what you get (both quality of materials and quality of printing itself).
Charles Boyung
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T09:01:50.703Z
You mean the paper isn't good quality?
Klaim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-21T16:02:07.823Z
@Klaim - yes, the paper isn't a great quality. And the printing itself is much blurrier than I would expect for their price.
Charles Boyung
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-17T12:56:36.507Z
What makes Artscow worth it, in my opinion, is the promotions. You can often get things like 30% off or free shipping. Check their "Special Offers" page.
EagleV_Attnam
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-18T17:07:13.100Z
2011-04-18T17:07:13.100Z
Brienne Schroth
<p><a href="http://www.drivethrucards.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.drivethrucards.com/</a> does on-demand card printing, for card games and also arbitrary decks of cards and tiles that might be used in other games.</p>

<p>(disclosure: I used to work for this company)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T15:41:11.560Z
2013-12-03T01:24:28.330Z
2013-12-03T01:24:28.330Z
Sparr
<p>Are we talking testing, demonstration or production?</p>

<p>If this is just for testing gameplay I suggest you go for an even cheaper solution than Mark suggested. Assuming you some other cards in that size then just print yours on normal paper and sleeve them together with the real playing cards. At this stage all you need is a cheep way to test out potentially numerous revisions.</p>

<p><strong>EDIT:</strong> I recently discovered a card game by the name of "<a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/58281/summoner-wars" rel="nofollow">Summoner Wars</a>". It is self published by the designer (<a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/12953/colby-dauch" rel="nofollow">Colby Dauch</a>) using some card printing service (in China I think). You could ask him what service he uses or could recommend. You know, from designer to designer...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-19T09:20:12.397Z
I need production, I know I could use my own tools to make testing ones. My problem is more to get quality card printing, with curved borders (sorry for my poor english) and thought-for-cards paper.
Klaim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T18:34:51.807Z
@Klaim: I've edited in an idea that might help you.
Kempeth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T23:43:30.397Z
I have found that most folks in the hobby industry are pretty forthcoming about printing services and answering questions.  I've asked multiple folks at multiple small hobby companies this kind of question, so asking a designer seems like a fruitful approach.
jjb
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-19T06:29:53.127Z
2011-04-20T06:44:43.907Z
2011-04-20T06:44:43.907Z
Kempeth
<p>For small quantities (for example during beta testing), you can print using any photo-printing service. Two cards per 4x6 photo is a reasonable size, they're durable enough for a couple of games at least, and super-cheap. For even pilot production, you'd want a different solution, though.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-19T01:20:10.247Z
2011-04-19T01:20:10.247Z
Mark Bessey
<p>I looked at these sites and found them to be helpful.</p>

<p><a href="https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/7313/815">From the RPG site, posted by AceCalhoon</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A quick Google search reveals:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.thegamecrafter.com/home" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Game Crafter</a></p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.guildofblades.com/podcards.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Guild of Blades Retail Group</a></p>
  
  <p>From the sites, it sounds like there are some issues with producing cards on demand that lead to a slightly lower quality than traditional publishing.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-05-14T02:14:03.897Z
I have had good experience with The Game Crafter and it had much better prices than Artscow when I was looking.
TurqMage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T16:07:55.130Z
2011-04-20T16:07:55.130Z
2017-04-13T12:45:50.650Z
My Turn Yet
<p>I've been looking into this a bit myself, and Superior Print on Demand <a href="http://www.superiorpod.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.superiorpod.com</a> seems like a good candidate.  I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm probably going to be giving it a try soon.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-25T19:44:48.510Z
I was just looking at them and they now have the Tarot card size.  It's at the bottom of their Custom Card Decks section.
Granger44
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-07T15:18:59.653Z
@jjb: Did you try them out yet? What was the result?
Hennes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-10T05:10:01.820Z
@Hennes no, sorry, I haven't yet.  I've had some trouble with the artwork on that project and have gotten derailed.  I'm going to try and get another run at that project on January and will post here if I use this service.
jjb
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-16T08:19:55.290Z
I have used this service to print out a prototype of a card game just this past year. My experience was mixed, the construction and print quality of the card was very good. Unfortunately they had incorrectly printed my order twice, with one set of cards having the wrong backs. To their credit, they showed good customer service attempting to correct their mistake (twice) at no cost to me. As such, I would use them again.
ErroneousPlanet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T09:08:12.760Z
Seems interesting indeed. Too bad they don't have tarot card size yet.
Klaim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-20T05:02:15.813Z
2011-04-22T01:39:39.040Z
2011-04-22T01:39:39.040Z
jjb
<p>Printer Studio is a good source. they have file downloads onsite edition and previews for the whole deck before you order. <a href="http://www.printerstudio.com/unique-ideas/blank-playing-cards.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.printerstudio.com/unique-ideas/blank-playing-cards.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-16T04:57:07.193Z
2014-10-16T04:57:07.193Z
Trev
<p>You might consider <a href="http://www.makeplayingcards.com/" rel="nofollow">makeplayingcards.com</a>, they offer a variety of printing options as well as fully customizable fronts and backs of cards. You can choose a variety of materials for the cards as well as a number of different sizes. I used them a little while back to make a megaman themed deck of playing cards, but I have no doubt that they could also be used for CCG cards as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-16T17:01:22.970Z
2016-02-16T17:01:22.970Z
Robby
<p>I'm designing a card-based rpg game and I'm looking for an equivalent to <a href="http://lulu.com">http://lulu.com</a> but for printing online cards on demand.</p>

<p>The card would be either playing cards like Magic or similar, or Tarot cards (big cards).</p>

<p>Any suggestions? Any feedbacks on the suggested services?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-04-18T16:25:37.003Z
I originally posted there (see the comments) : http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/7313/on-demand-cards-deck-printing-service
Klaim
<playing-cards><game-accessories>
On-Demand Cards Deck printing service?
Klaim
# On-Demand Cards Deck printing service?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-04-18)

I'm designing a card-based rpg game and I'm looking for an equivalent to <http://lulu.com> but for printing online cards on demand.

The card would be either playing cards like Magic or similar, or Tarot cards (big cards).

Any suggestions? Any feedbacks on the suggested services?

**Tags:** playing-cards, game-accessories

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I originally posted there (see the comments) : http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/7313/on-demand-cards-deck-printing-service  

---

## 8 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-04-18. Score: 9

Artscow.com is the site I always hear about. I've never used it but it's constantly mentioned on boardgamegeek.com as the place to go for printing custom cards. See:

<http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/card/multi-purpose-cards-rectangle-394>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Artscow is pretty darn expensive for what you get (both quality of materials and quality of printing itself).  
> **username_0**: You mean the paper isn't good quality?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 - yes, the paper isn't a great quality. And the printing itself is much blurrier than I would expect for their price.  
> **username_3**: What makes Artscow worth it, in my opinion, is the promotions. You can often get things like 30% off or free shipping. Check their "Special Offers" page.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-12-01. Score: 4

<http://www.drivethrucards.com/> does on-demand card printing, for card games and also arbitrary decks of cards and tiles that might be used in other games.

(disclosure: I used to work for this company)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2011-04-19. Score: 3

Are we talking testing, demonstration or production?

If this is just for testing gameplay I suggest you go for an even cheaper solution than Mark suggested. Assuming you some other cards in that size then just print yours on normal paper and sleeve them together with the real playing cards. At this stage all you need is a cheep way to test out potentially numerous revisions.

**EDIT:** I recently discovered a card game by the name of "[Summoner Wars](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/58281/summoner-wars)". It is self published by the designer ([Colby Dauch](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/12953/colby-dauch)) using some card printing service (in China I think). You could ask him what service he uses or could recommend. You know, from designer to designer...

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I need production, I know I could use my own tools to make testing ones. My problem is more to get quality card printing, with curved borders (sorry for my poor english) and thought-for-cards paper.  
> **username_5**: @username_0: I've edited in an idea that might help you.  
> **username_6**: I have found that most folks in the hobby industry are pretty forthcoming about printing services and answering questions.  I've asked multiple folks at multiple small hobby companies this kind of question, so asking a designer seems like a fruitful approach.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2011-04-19. Score: 2

For small quantities (for example during beta testing), you can print using any photo-printing service. Two cards per 4x6 photo is a reasonable size, they're durable enough for a couple of games at least, and super-cheap. For even pilot production, you'd want a different solution, though.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2011-04-20. Score: 1

I looked at these sites and found them to be helpful.

[From the RPG site, posted by AceCalhoon](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/7313/815)

> A quick Google search reveals:
>
> [The Game Crafter](http://www.thegamecrafter.com/home)
>
> [Guild of Blades Retail Group](http://www.guildofblades.com/podcards.php)
>
> From the sites, it sounds like there are some issues with producing cards on demand that lead to a slightly lower quality than traditional publishing.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: I have had good experience with The Game Crafter and it had much better prices than Artscow when I was looking.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2011-04-20. Score: 1

I've been looking into this a bit myself, and Superior Print on Demand <http://www.superiorpod.com> seems like a good candidate. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm probably going to be giving it a try soon.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Seems interesting indeed. Too bad they don't have tarot card size yet.  
> **username_10**: I was just looking at them and they now have the Tarot card size.  It's at the bottom of their Custom Card Decks section.  
> **username_11**: @username_6: Did you try them out yet? What was the result?  
> **username_6**: @username_11 no, sorry, I haven't yet.  I've had some trouble with the artwork on that project and have gotten derailed.  I'm going to try and get another run at that project on January and will post here if I use this service.  
> **username_12**: I have used this service to print out a prototype of a card game just this past year. My experience was mixed, the construction and print quality of the card was very good. Unfortunately they had incorrectly printed my order twice, with one set of cards having the wrong backs. To their credit, they showed good customer service attempting to correct their mistake (twice) at no cost to me. As such, I would use them again.  

---

### Answer by username_13 on 2014-10-16. Score: 1

Printer Studio is a good source. they have file downloads onsite edition and previews for the whole deck before you order. <http://www.printerstudio.com/unique-ideas/blank-playing-cards.html>


---

### Answer by username_14 on 2016-02-16. Score: 0

You might consider [makeplayingcards.com](http://www.makeplayingcards.com/), they offer a variety of printing options as well as fully customizable fronts and backs of cards. You can choose a variety of materials for the cards as well as a number of different sizes. I used them a little while back to make a megaman themed deck of playing cards, but I have no doubt that they could also be used for CCG cards as well.


---

