ON-DEMAND PRINTING OF CUSTOMISED CARD GAMES
PROTOTYPES AND SMALL RUNS

“Press Start Cards prints game cards in France for prototyping, playtesting and validation of board games or TCG.”

Press Start Cards is a French service specialising in the printing of customised playing cards, focusing on prototyping and small runs for creators of board games and collectible card games (TCG).We are not an industrial operation but a small-scale, artisanal business. This service allows you to print playing cards on demand, with no minimum order, and with a flexible volume ranging from a single card up to around 100,000 cards per month. It is designed to meet the needs of independent creators who wish to test, refine and validate a game before moving on to potential industrial production.

A SERVICE DESIGNED FOR GAME CREATORS

This playing card printing service is primarily aimed at:

• Board game designers
• Independent creators TCG
• Game studios in the prototyping phase
• Game design students
• Project developers wishing to test a concept or gameplay
• Trainers or teachers: training cards, educational cards, teaching aids
• Card reading: Tarot, Oracle

It is particularly well-suited to projects requiring small print runs, a high degree of flexibility and the ability to quickly print multiple versions of the same game.

Unlike industrial printers, Press Start Cards does not rely on high minimum order quantities or fixed print runs. Each print job is produced on demand, based on the actual requirements of the project.

WHY CHOOSE PRINT-ON-DEMAND FOR A CARD GAME

Creating a card game often involves numerous iterations: rule adjustments, balancing, graphic changes and user testing. Traditional industrial manufacturing is generally unsuitable for these stages, as it entails high costs and offers little flexibility.

Printing card games on demand allows you to:

• produce only the number of cards required
• quickly test an idea or a game mechanic
• customise the design without any major commitment
• keeping costs down during playtesting phases

It is now the preferred solution for prototyping card games and small runs intended to validate a project.

PRINT VOLUMES AND CAPACITY

The service offers printing of:

– from as little as a single card
– up to around 100,000 cards per month
– with no restrictions on the number of decks

There is no minimum order quantity. A single card can be printed, which allows you, for example, to check the print quality or use it as a physical proof. Conversely, larger orders are possible within the limits of monthly production capacity, with lead times tailored to the volume.

AVAILABLE CARD FORMATS

Currently, printing is available in the following formats

• Standard poker cards: 63 x 88 mm
• Bridge: 57 x 89 mm
• Tarot: 70 x 120 mm
• Oracle: 89 x 146 mm
• Square: 60 x 60 mm
• Mini: 44 x 64 mm

Possible cutting tolerance of plus or minus 1 to 2 mm

Ideal poker format for TCG and collectable cards

This format is the most commonly used for card games and TCG, and offers a good balance between readability, usability and compatibility with standard sleeves. Ideal for most board games, it is fully standardised and well known to the general public.

Perfect tarot and oracle decks for card readers

Tarot and Oracle card formats are ideal for practitioners of divinatory arts such as cartomancy

Mini cards and square cards are ideal for board games

Need different card sizes for your board game? Often used alongside standard poker-sized cards, square and mini cards are often invaluable additions.

Cards must strictly adhere to the template provided, including bleed areas and safety margins. Slight misalignments may occur during printing and cutting; these constraints are normal in a prototyping context and must be taken into account during the graphic design process.

PAPER, FINISHES AND OPTIONS

A range of materials is available, depending on the desired finish and the level of durability required:
– 140 g photo paper + 160 g gloss or matt lamination = 300 g/m²
– 200 g photo paper + 150 g gloss or matt lamination = 350 g/m²

All products are laminated as standard to ensure greater durability and comfortable handling during testing. Rounded corners are available as an option.

These features make this service a suitable solution for intensive playtesting, whilst remaining focused on prototyping and pre-production.

FRONT, BACK AND FILE REQUIREMENTS

The cards can be printed:

• double-sided
• or printed on one side only, with a blank reverse side

Files are always checked before printing. If a problem is detected (resolution, margins, inconsistencies), the customer will be contacted by email or by telephone if you provide us with your number when placing your order. Please also note that the order configurator, which allows you to customise your game, will highlight any errors detected. I am not a graphic designer, so I will not make any changes to your files or designs.

You have the option to print a single card, which allows you to check the physical result before placing a larger order.

PRODUCTION TIMES

Delivery times may vary depending on the quantity ordered and the number of orders currently being processed. To avoid disappointment, please place your orders as far in advance as possible. The delivery times shown on the website are for guidance only and do not account for unforeseen circumstances such as machine breakdowns or postal service delays.

A card game printing service in France

Press Start Cards is a France-based service offering card game printing for French and European designers. Printing takes place in France, in the Loir-et-Cher department. We are not a Chinese printer!

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE AND DELIVERY

The service is currently available in France, European Union member states and Switzerland.

Orders are dispatched via Lettre Verte with tracking or Colissimo with tracking.

FROM PROTOTYPE TO FINAL VERSION

This card-printing service is primarily used in the run-up to industrial production. It enables customers to validate a concept, test gameplay and refine a design before proceeding to large-scale manufacturing.

The files used for prototyping can then serve as the basis for industrial production, without any loss of the work carried out during the testing phases.

CUSTOMISE YOUR CARD GAME PRINT JOB

The service allows customers to precisely customise a personalised deck of cards, based on the number of cards, finishing options and project requirements.

It is aimed at those who wish to make tangible progress in creating their own game, with a flexible, accessible solution designed with the realities of prototyping in mind.

Customise your playing card print order

You can configure your personalised card set directly on this page, based on the number of cards, printing options and your specific requirements:

Preview of the final result for a TCG

To get an idea of the final result, you can either order a single card to serve as a proof for less than €4 including VAT (postage included). Or order our Press Start Cards which we publish :).

If you need further information or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly or check out our FAQs (they’re really quick to browse and easy to read!!!)