Production of trading cards

[batch502]

I'm sure many of the members on here have played around with photoshop or another similar program before and made there own custom cards. However I was hoping to get some insight into how to properly design and manufacture trading cards?

Is it as simple as designing the cards using photoshop and having a printing company (similar to snap printing etc) produce the cards similar to how business cards are produced (however on different stock).

Not that i actually want to produce afl cards, however i am interested in the idea for another sport or for clubs to raise money.

Any help is appreciated, and im sure there are some members on afltcc who have had experience or good knowledge on the issue

Maybe if we get some good information on this thread we could create an article for the website.

cheers

[BarryRowlings]

l put cards together for my kids local footy club and they were a big hit. Helped raise money for the club...

PS allot of work is involved (takeing photos,photoshop, illustartor, etc...... There was a total of 180 kids and coaches...

But end result Fantastic... Will be hard not to do all again..

[tigerking]

l put cards together for my kids local footy club and they were a big hit. Helped raise money for the club...

PS allot of work is involved (takeing photos,photoshop, illustartor, etc...... There was a total of 180 kids and coaches...

But end result Fantastic... Will be hard not to do all again..

Once you done all the hard yards, how did you go about printing them?

These days you can get 6 by 4 inch digital prints for around 10 cents a print. You could fit 2 standard size cards onto that size paper.
But then you would need to cut the cards to size using a guillotine or Stanley knife. Again more work but would be fun to do.

[BarryRowlings]

Printing was done at work. We have a Fuji Xurox.
I stepped the cards up on A3.. Fitted 18 on a sheet, thick stock and the beauty was l printed on the back also...
The only thing with that is l had to cut the cards by hand... Allot of cutting, but all worth it to cut cost down..
I did show a collector and he thought they were the best his seen.. I thought so too

[batch502]

cheers guys, this is giving me some confidence that it can be done properly at an average price!

what does illustrator do? i have only used photoshop

keep the story's coming!!

[arkman]

Printing was done at work. We have a Fuji Xurox.
I stepped the cards up on A3.. Fitted 18 on a sheet, thick stock and the beauty was l printed on the back also...
The only thing with that is l had to cut the cards by hand... Allot of cutting, but all worth it to cut cost down..
I did show a collector and he thought they were the best his seen.. I thought so too

Hi..Have you any left as I would like to see them next time we bump into one another.

[BarryRowlings]

Printing was done at work. We have a Fuji Xurox.
I stepped the cards up on A3.. Fitted 18 on a sheet, thick stock and the beauty was l printed on the back also...
The only thing with that is l had to cut the cards by hand... Allot of cutting, but all worth it to cut cost down..
I did show a collector and he thought they were the best his seen.. I thought so too

Hi..Have you any left as I would like to see them next time we bump into one another.

.

Will do.. l do not want to flash these cards on forum as they are kids photos...

Not that l do not trust anyone here, its just a weird world we live in..

[DarkSamus]

I won't get to see seems I am stuck in QLD, but fully understand your reasoning

But congrats on not only doing it, but to acclaim!

Will watch this thread even just out of curiosity (Been learning photoshop these past few months so could maybe help with some concept designs you could use to add to your own)

[BarryRowlings]

cheers guys, this is giving me some confidence that it can be done properly at an average price!

what does illustrator do? i have only used photoshop

keep the story's coming!!

illustrator is a graphics program, where you can create your own artwork. Photoshop is for photo retouching, colour, etc.. Both great programs and expensive ( you know what l mean).

So the only cost for me was stock... My time was free...

[Select]

I am replying to threads here because I have a little time this morning. To produce AFL cards where you use the image of a player, a logo from an AFL club, or the AFL logo, you must first have a license from the AFL.
For your local footy club would probably be ok.
Di

[TheCardMan]

I am replying to threads here because I have a little time this morning. To produce AFL cards where you use the image of a player, a logo from an AFL club, or the AFL logo, you must first have a license from the AFL.
For your local footy club would probably be ok.
Di

The AFL must hand out these licenses surely?

It happened in 2003 and 2004 with the game worn guernseys... is it possible that Select will look into doing it again in the near future??

[BarryRowlings]

I am replying to threads here because I have a little time this morning. To produce AFL cards where you use the image of a player, a logo from an AFL club, or the AFL logo, you must first have a license from the AFL.
For your local footy club would probably be ok.
Di

Hi Di, yes l made sure that nothing on these cards had anything to do with AFL...
As l was helping the local club raise money, not be fighting with copyright issues....

[batch502]

Im not looking at making AFL/NRL/Cricket cards, however good to know.

Didnt teamcoach only get an official afl licence in 2008? or did they already have a licence, however in 2008 they became an official afl product?

[CardCruiser]

The type of card production I am familiar with would be the series that private
clubs or coaches organise to reward their team or as a fun exercise.
Barry Rowlings has produced a set,designing,individually cutting and finishing.
His comments were that such an undertaking is hard work,and requires some careful
thought to come up with something the whole team can be proud of.

I myself am a novice in this area,but can point you in the right direction.
BarryRowlings can give sound advice on this,it was worthwhile for him

I'd be thinking about these aspects:
-what skills of cardmaking would I be good at ,and what should be delegated to others?
-Do i want it to be collectable or "fun" to reward a local club?
-Where can I cut costs?
-What kind of card stock (thick,thin,glossy or plain do I want?
-can I make a container for a complete set to display them,or release them loose in some sort of box or packet?
-What will I do about errors,do another run or let them be?
-Am I prepared for criticism,even big groups like TC and select need to deal with this.
-Can I get sponsors to advertise on them to help pay for costs or do I want the cards free of company involvement?
-How many do I want in the set?
-can I copyright to maintain control if they become popular?
-Numbered or non-numbered?
-Is it possible to emboss with foil (silver or gold),or produce an "insert" series?

And lastly
:What is the motivation for doing this:

Presenting to a club at end of season
Giving collectors a trade or invest in
Putting AFLTCC on the map
As a challenge for personal reasons.
Research for a job in the card manufacturing industry

As I have said earlier,I am a novice in the design and nuts and bolts of it all
but hope that If barryRowlings and others are helpful
you will be able to answer questions like these so you can decide what suits you best.

The cruise

[batch502]

I have downloaded illustrator so I can begin playing around with card designs. Do you have any advice for illustator lou? or any other members who use it?
cheers

[BarryRowlings]

I have downloaded illustrator so I can begin playing around with card designs. Do you have any advice for illustator lou? or any other members who use it?
cheers

The download is a demo and will runout.... l have been using illustrator on and off now for 15 years, it's needed in my trade Pre Press.

To explain to use it is like me asking "How do l service a plane." l know the basic service of a car but plane!!

The Tutorial of the program is a good way to start...

OK Batch l hope l haven't scared you... Anyway l will give you another idea! Badges!!

I made them the year before and much easier. You can probably use any program, all you need is a photo of the kid and type their name...
Hire a badge maker and you are off..

These were also a big hit.

[SWINE]

I have downloaded illustrator so I can begin playing around with card designs. Do you have any advice for illustator lou? or any other members who use it?
cheers

To explain to use it is like me asking "How do l service a plane." l know the basic service of a car but plane!!

Going by some of those shows on TV, you might have a better idea then the Aero Technicians!!

[BorderMailSpecial]

I have downloaded illustrator so I can begin playing around with card designs. Do you have any advice for illustator lou? or any other members who use it?
cheers

The download is a demo and will runout.... l have been using illustrator on and off now for 15 years, it's needed in my trade Pre Press.

To explain to use it is like me asking "How do l service a plane." l know the basic service of a car but plane!!

The Tutorial of the program is a good way to start...

OK Batch l hope l haven't scared you... Anyway l will give you another idea! Badges!!

I made them the year before and much easier. You can probably use any program, all you need is a photo of the kid and type their name...
Hire a badge maker and you are off..

These were also a big hit.

Yeah, my dad has done a lot of badge making for his ministerial duties (don't worry he's a minister of the cloth, not a dirty pollie) and it is a sinch, cheap as well.

Don't worry Di, nobody here has intentions of starting their own AFL card brand, at least not to my knowledge. (though it would not surprise me if absti has some sort of global card domination scheme)
That being said, I hope that Select would not take issue with us designing cards for our own entertainment (not for sale or anything other than to keep myself), especially seeing as you never released enough cards of Robert Campbell, I'll have to make my own to expand my collection.

Copyright and branding laws tend to only be applied if money is changing hands anyway.

[absti3]

(though it would not surprise me if absti has some sort of global card domination scheme)Quote
Bordermail have u been reading my emails

[TheCardMan]

How about another year of Destiny Signature cards?

I would love to see Xavier Ellis feature in a few more cards, considering he didn't even get his own common last year