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Prototype and Test Cards

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Desprez
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Joined: 12/01/2008

Sorry of this is discussed elsewhere. I tried a few searches and the results weren't really helpful.

I end up making a lot of cards for various tests.
What I want to do is streamline this process as much as possible.

Typically, I do most of the design work in Illustrator, then print cards using a laser printer (9 per page for standard size playing cards, 16 per page for small cards), then cut them out by hand.

Once the game starts to show promise and I start playtesting with other people, I generally print double-sided on 200g glossy paper, and cut by hand. This gives the cards a much nicer look and feel than standard 24 lb (90g) paper.

What I'd like to find is some thickish paper stock (200g) with perforations in the proper card sizes to eliminate the tedious cutting step.

Unfortunately, most of the paper stock I've found comes in business card and greeting card varieties, and neither of these sizes really suit my needs.

Anyone have any ideas?

Dralius
Dralius's picture
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Joined: 07/26/2008
This is what i do for

This is what i do for prototypes.

http://www.bgdf.com/node/3430

Its quick and easy, plus if you need to make changes you can replace a card on the fly.

Orangebeard
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Joined: 10/13/2011
Posterboard

I do the same thing as Dralius; if I run out of old playing cards, I just use posterboard from the local craft store. The posterboard is about 50 cents per sheet and I can cut it into ~70 cards.

Desprez
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Joined: 12/01/2008
Cutting with a cutting board

Cutting with a cutting board looks like the only real time saver here.

Using card sleeves takes longer than what I'm currently doing, and the thicker paper is already fine. It also isn't suitable for the smaller cards anyway.
I believe standard playing cards are 300g, so the 200g paper seems to work ok - which is good, because it's the most my printer is rated for.

It's be nice to print straight to poster board (for many things), but without getting $1000-$2000 printer it seems unlikely.

Orangebeard
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Joined: 10/13/2011
cutting boards

sadly, I cannot print directly to posterboard - wouldn't that be a great option, though?

The cutting board is a huge time saver; if you live in the U.S., craft stores like AC Moore and Michaels run a 50% off coupon every week which lowers the cost of cutting boards significantly; well worth the investment if you are making a lot of prototypes

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