Please tell me about tarot card finishes and boxes you like / dislike and why!

[lilahunnisett]

Hello all, I want to eventually release a deck but I am a fair way off but I’m doing a bit of research about what users like and dislike to inform the process.

What would be really helpful is if people could tell me what card finishes they like and dislike and why. And what kind of boxes? What edges? How thick should the cardstock be? Size of cards etc.

For example, I see so many cards with gold edging, or some that are quite thin, some with a smooth plasticised finish (called matt laminate) – do people like these things or not? Are some harder to shuffle?

Also for boxes, what do you like and dislike? I like the look of the magnetic ones but I realise there are loads. I’m into eco friendly but also durability is important so may impact choices.

For the booklets do you prefer something larger and separate detailed with longer card descriptions, or a small one that fits in the box so you can keep it all together?

Would love any thoughts overall about what works and doesn’t work for you. Thank you!

Discussion

[tarotoftheorganism]

In terms of material quality, the best deck I have is one that was printed on playing card stock.

Beyond that —

Avoid high gloss/finish as it’s both a fingerprint magnet and it can make the cards stick together more, making them harder to shuffle.

Gold/silver trim looks lovely, trends to chip and flake with even gentle shuffling, and as for size remember that larger hands can work with smaller cards, while smaller hands will struggle with larger cards.

The plastic card stock feels fine, and it shuffles really well, but there’s a very different tactility to paper and plastic; it feels very different.

I tell pretty much everyone looking to launch a deck this, but you should decide now whether or not you want it to be an altar/show piece deck, in which case the material quality can be garbage as long as the art/design looks good, or is this deck intended for regular use and readings, in which case, material and card stock quality is undisputed king.

But the short version is to just print it on playing card stock. Playing card printers have been fretting over type, texture, size, feeling while shuffling, and everything else for a long, long time.

[blueeyetea]

For me, the best card-stock is what was used for Benebell Wen’s Spirit Keeper’s Tarot. It’s thin, with just the right amount of slick that it shuffles like a dream and doesn’t end up playing a game of 78 pick-up.

I don’t mind coloured edges, but hate gilding. As far as I’m concerned I could do without both it brings down the cost.

I like a sturdy box, two piece or clamshell, but not tuck box. I’m not fussy about it except that it does the job of protecting the cards. Inside printed decoration of the box is a neat feature, but leave it out if it increases cost.

As for guidebooks, I find way too much attention is put towards explaining tarot to the beginner when people forking out the higher $$$ of indie produced decks already have the basics. Explanations are required the further away you move from standard tarot systems like the RWS. If you decide to depict the 3 of Wands by splotch of red paint on a yellow background you need to explain why you choose those symbols to depict the card. If it’s just a clone of a guy standing on a beach watching ships in a bay, well, a standard interpretation will do.

Just an example of what I mean is that I recently unloaded a tarot deck based on plants. Each card depicted vector art depicting a certain plant for each card. The guidebook only gave the divinatory meaning of the card, a couple of keywords essentially. No explanation of why eucalyptus was chosen to represent Temperance for example. Cost of printing a more comprehensive guidebook probably figured into it, but imho, putting the 3 keywords on the card itself would have been more useful when the imagery gives nothing away as to the meaning of the card.

Sylvain or Sylvain’s Deadly Sins on YT had a lot to say about the guidebook for the Penumbra (sp?) tarot, and how the explanations were so personal to the creator that it turned him off to the deck. It’s a good video on this.

[dewayneestes]

Black core playing card stock with a linen finish is my favorite by far and what I used for my deck. I like the cards to have a tactile feeling that provides a bit of feedback when you handle them.

I really like gilt edged but not the kind that easily flakes off or looks textured. A true gilt metal edge should shine, and be cool to the touch but then warm up as you handle the deck.

I didn’t use a magnet box because I didn’t think the hinges felt very sturdy. I did a 2 part slide box for this reason. One issue with the slide box though is that if you pick it up by the outside it slides out too quickly and ends up on the floor now and then.

I still use the first deck I bought in 1988. The box gave out years ago as did the guidebook but the cards have held up. My experience with this deck has helped me make choices about my own deck that I published last year.

The most important thing is to spend time and money on making prototypes so you feel what the near final product will be like. Shuffledink in the US and Make Playing Cards in China are both good sources for doing prototypes.

[ToastyJunebugs]

I like cards that are slightly larger than regular playing cards. They’re still east to shuffle, but it allows the pictures to have more space to pop. My least favorite box is the regular card box. It never shuts properly, a card always gets stuck, and it’s easily damaged. I like the magnetic flip open boxes, and the two peice (lid the size of the box that lifts up) boxes. I like boxes large enough to fit the booklet, but not so huge that it takes up a ton of shelf space. my favorite deck in terms of card size, box size, and booket info, is the Oriens Animal Tarot, if you wanted an example.

[wildweeds]

lots of deck reviews on Amazon talk about poor card stock that bothers people. maybe browse to see what people are saying there too.

[MetaverseLiz]

The #1 complaint I get from people I read for is that the cards are too big to shuffle well. It happened so much that it became part of my Tarot spiel. “…and yes the cards are a bit large, so shuffle however you want.”

Your standard issue RWS deck that you can get almost anywhere is about as large as I go, if I want to actually use the deck for reading. The perfect size (for me) is slightly bigger than a deck of regular playing cards. The con for that size is that the detail is smaller, and the bigger the deck the easier it is for clients to see the cards from where they are sitting.

As far as finishes go- if you’re intending this deck to be used regularly for readings, then something slippery is best. If the cards are large it is easier for people to shuffle with that type of finish.

For boxes- I put decks I use for readings in their own little bag. I lose a lot of deck boxes that way. For decks I like to keep just for the art (not to read), the cards and the booklets live 99% of their time in the box on my bookshelf. For me, it’s not so much box durability as box art.

Booklets : I’d prefer they to be small enough to fit in the box because otherwise I’ll loose it.

[fluffycow34]

I really like what Three Trees Tarot does with their decks. It’s super eco friendly with packaging, manufacturing, and even the ink used. My favorite part is that the booklet is digital. This way it uses less materials and the creator can put as much as they want in it. I prefer longer booklets because I like to see the creator’s thoughts and how they interpret the symbols.

I like cards that are a decent weight and a soft matte finish. I want it to be nice to hold in one hand, so not too big that its awkward to shuffle. I dont like the gold edges, because most rub off and I feel like I have to be super careful when handling the cards.

Magnetic boxes are really nice, but just a cardstock one is fine too. You can also sell a matching deck pouch for a little more protection! I got a velvet pouch for one of my decks and it had embroidery that matched the theme of the deck.

I really like the feel of Children of Litha by Xia Hunt. The cards feel really soft and its nice to work with. This is also the one with the pouch.

[juicyfizz]

That’s awesome! Once you get something out there on kickstarter or wherever, let us know! I love supporting artists.

Here are my favorite details:

– box: not overly big but also not a tuck box. My favorite deck boxes I have are the Prisma Visions tarot by James Eads (flip-top clamshell box) and the Crow Tarot (clam shell). I love the Fydor Pavlov tarot (and the box quality) but the box itself is too big, imo. It’s to accommodate the very robust guidebook that comes with it, which I get.

– card size: I don’t like the pocket size that are smaller than a deck of playing cards (I have the pocket version of the Wild Unknown and I thought I’d enjoy it but it’s too small. I love them bigger than a deck of playing cards because I love space for the art/symbolism. I love the card size of the Crow Tarot, which is my largest size deck, but I definitely wouldn’t get cards bigger than that. I also think the finish of the cards has to work with the deck size. Larger decks are harder to shuffle (for me, anyway), but I can side shuffle them where they drop without a bridge because the finish of the cards means they don’t stick together.

– card material/finish: The Crow Tarot is my favorite finish – not sure the material is – not listed on the website or Amazon (sorry that’s not more helpful, haha). I also got a vintage looking deck on Etsy that is such a pleasure to shuffle and holds up well. I know we can’t link on here, but if you search TarotCardsDarkForst shop on Etsy, it’s the “Tarot Deck Vintage with Guidebook”. Those are thinner than other decks I have but the quality is so great that they hold up so well. Also agree with other posters about hating a high gloss finish.

– details: I am partial to the gold/silver edging. Some of them are harder to shuffle at first (the Cosma Visions deck comes to mind), but Luna Soleil deck edges are great. I think there’s gotta be a balance between card thickness and the edges if you go with an edging

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Salt-Dependent1915]

I like big guidebooks because the tiny ones hurt my hands, but printed stapled paper like Lo Scarabeo is fine. I prefer slim, flexible, weightless cardstock for the same reason, like the Gustave Doré Tarot and Spiritsong Tarot. I like colors, so glossy cardstock is my favorite, although I understand that most people prefer matte, especially professional tarot readers that give online or video card readings. As for packaging, anything that keeps the cards protected is good for me, from thick tuck boxes to magnetic closure ones. Packaging that separates the cards will go as decoration on my bookshelf, and I will make a tuck box for my deck. Don’t like guilding on cards. It always falls off eventually. In the end, you won’t be able to satisfy everyone, so make the choices you feel right.

[-DitchWitch-]

I have 50+ decks, (don’t worry… I have been reading a long time, it is only like 2 a year).

So, these are some thoughts…

Card Stock – I don’t know how to gage card stock, but my favorite thickness to work with is that of the **Lightseer’s Tarot by Chris Anne**. the block of cards is about 3.5 cm, and it is still flexible enough I can riffle shuffle.

— USA Games /Lo Scarabeo decks are too thin, and **Modern Witch Tarot** is too stiff.

Linen finish is my favorite, but I do Like a lot of matte finish decks, like **The Spread Machine Cards**…. They tend to not stick to each-other like most decks which are high gloss.

Gold Edging is a huge draw for me, something that I will actually seek-out and buy without looking at the cards first… “Golden Tarot by Kat Black” has the most amazing gold edging.

I am not a huge fan of gold (whatever ‘metallic’ highlights) on the cards, they are seldom done right…

I think decks like **Ethereal Visions** by Matt Hughes look cheap. The gold overpowers the images, and the images themselves are not colour balanced to the gold. **Golden Thread Tarot Deck** is all gold on black is nice, and there are lots of RWS re-do’s in gold and black, but not something I jump to.

Please make sure your **image quality and colour matching is good for printing**, there are a lot of decks I have and don’t really use because the printing and colour correction was done poorly. Ostara Tarot, Golden Tarot come to mind.

*Bordlerless*!!! or at least if you have a boarder work it into the design or make it so you can cut it off.

Please do boxes with a side flap and magnet closure. (like the big box for wild unknown, or Everyday Witch,)

Boxes need to fit the guide book, but should be able to be taken out, not a huge book with the deck in another smaller box in a box or just held into a big box with spacers please!!!!! Some of my favorite decks to use like **Wild Wood** are in the worst designed boxes.

I have grown to hate lids… (Golden Thread Tarot, Quantum Tarot, Tarot Art Nouveau, etc) lids always come off in my bag, I just keep them at home now, and don’t use them as much.

I hate boxes where I need to slide the deck out, cards always get stuck going in and coming out. I need something to grab (at least a piece of ribbon).

Don’t make it too big, smaller the better. I love the Plant Oracle, Druid Craft and Next World Tarot, but I like to do big spreads and they just don’t work for that.