Are you creating a board game, a party game or a role-playing game and looking for cards suited to your game mechanics? Press Start Cards can help you with the printing of customised cards in Mini and Square formats, from the first test version right through to small runs.
Whether you need equipment cards for a role-playing game, action cards for a board game or illustrated cards for a family game, choose the format that suits your project and bring your creations to life.
Two formats available:
- Mini: 44 × 64 mm, for compact, easy-to-handle cards.
- Size: 60 × 60 mm, for symmetrical cards that showcase the illustrations and symbols.
Customise your cards with your own artwork and choose the paper weight, finish and corner style from the available options. Thanks to print-on-demand, you can produce a prototype, test your game mechanics and refine your game without having to order a large stock straight away.
Why choose a Mini or Square card format?
Not all board games require large cards. For some projects, a compact format or a square shape allows for better organisation of information, helps to distinguish between different categories of cards, or creates a unique visual identity.
The choice of format depends, in particular, on the number of cards used in a game, the space available on the board, the amount of text and the way in which players handle the cards.
The Mini format is ideal for concise information, equipment cards and game effects. The Square format offers a symmetrical layout that is particularly well-suited to illustrations, icons and cards arranged around a central motif.
These two formats are useful for independent game designers who wish to experiment with different mechanics before finalising their production.
Mini cards, 44 × 64 mm: the compact format for your games
The 44 × 64 mm ‘Mini’ format is designed for projects where available space and ease of handling are particularly important.
Their compact size means they can be incorporated into a board game without taking up as much space as standard poker cards. They are particularly suitable for secondary cards, brief instructions and elements that players refer to regularly during a game.
Mini cards for board games
In a board game, cards can represent actions, events, resources, items or special abilities.
The Mini format can be used to create:
- Event cards to be drawn during the game.
- Resource and bonus cards.
- Cards featuring abilities or powers.
- Objective and mission cards.
- Game reference cards containing some essential information.
Imagine a management game in which each player has cards representing available resources or actions. A compact format allows you to keep this information close at hand whilst minimising clutter on the table.
For games with a large number of components, the Mini format can also make it easier to organise and store the cards in a game box.
Equipment, spell and item cards for role-playing games
Tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs), also known as RPGs in some contexts, are another natural application of the Mini format.
A game master can create cards representing magical items, weapons, potions, skills, spells or rewards. Players then keep the cards corresponding to their characters and can refer to them during the session.
For example, one card might show the name of an object, its illustration, its effect and a condition for use. Another might detail a spell, including its cost, range and consequences.
This system can make it easier to refer to the rules whilst playing and make the information more accessible to players.
The Mini format is particularly suitable for cards with concise text. If your spell or equipment descriptions are lengthy, ensure you use a suitable layout or consider a larger format.
Mini cards for prototypes and independent games
Developing a board game often requires several versions before a satisfactory result is achieved.
You can start with a few dozen cards, test the mechanics, tweak the values and effects, then order a new batch once you’ve made your initial adjustments.
Print-on-demand is useful when a game is still in development. It avoids producing large quantities of cards that may become obsolete following a change to the rules.
The Mini format is therefore ideal for independent creators, game design students and small studios wishing to present a playable prototype without immediately committing to an industrial production budget.
60 × 60 mm square cards: an original format for your games
The 60 × 60 mm square format is characterised by its equal proportions. It allows illustrations and information to be arranged in a symmetrical layout, without imposing a dominant vertical or horizontal orientation.
This format is particularly well-suited to games based on associations of ideas, symbols, images or card combinations.
Square cards for board games and family games
The square cards can be used in matching, memory, collecting or combination games.
These may include characters, animals, places, objects or elements from a fictional universe.
Imagine a game in which players must collect cards depicting the different parts of an ecosystem: animals, plants, natural habitats and resources. The square shape provides a uniform visual surface, which is ideal for creating series that are easy to compare.
Another example would be a family game in which players match symbols, complete combinations or collect sets of illustrations.
The square format is not necessarily suitable for all game mechanics. For cards that are held out in a fan shape for long periods, a rectangular format is often more natural. On the other hand, for cards that are revealed on the table, arranged in a grid or compared side by side, the square shape may be a suitable choice.
Illustrated and artistic cards
The square card can also serve as a creative medium for illustrators, graphic designers and freelance artists.
It enables users to create a collection of designs based on a theme: fantastical creatures, characters, landscapes, plants, objects or symbols.
You can design a set of illustrations, a collection to explore or a set of cards intended for use in a creative activity.
For independent game designers, this format also allows a category of cards within a larger game to be visually distinguished, provided that this distinction is consistent with the rules.
Square cards for educational activities
The ‘Carré’ format can be used to create learning cards based on images, recognition and associations.
A teacher can design cards featuring animals, geometric shapes or concepts to be learnt. A trainer can create cards depicting workplace situations, symbols or the stages of a process.
The square layout makes it easy to create a consistent series, featuring a central illustration, a title and a brief description.
This format is particularly useful when images play an important role in the learning process. If the cards need to include long definitions or detailed instructions, a larger format will generally be preferable.
How do I choose between the Mini and Square formats?
The right format depends first and foremost on the mechanics of the game, not just its appearance.
Choose the Mini format (44 × 64 mm) if you’re looking for compact cards designed to represent objects, actions, events, skills or brief pieces of information. It is particularly well-suited to equipment and spell cards for role-playing games.
Choose the 60 × 60 mm square format if you’d like to emphasise illustrations, symbols and visual associations. It’s ideal for games in which cards are revealed, sorted, compared or laid out on a board.
Before making your choice, please also check the amount of text to be included, the size of the illustrations, the number of cards used at any one time and the dimensions of the storage box.
If you use card sleeves, please check their exact dimensions: the ‘Mini’ size offered here does not necessarily correspond to all standard sleeves available on the market.
What finishes are available for your Mini and Square cards?
The choice of finish affects the appearance, stiffness and ease of handling of the cards.
Total weight: 300 or 350 g/m²
Press Start Cards offers two total grammages, comprising the printed substrate and the lamination layers.
The 300 g/m² option is suitable for prototypes and testing phases. It allows you to validate the mechanics, illustrations and layout of the information.
The 350 g/m² paper produces stiffer cards, which generally allow less light to pass through. This may be a good choice for cards used regularly or for a more polished prototype.
For board games and role-playing games, the best choice depends on how often the cards will be handled, the desired stiffness and the look you’re after.
Matt or gloss finish
The matt finish reduces glare and gives the cards a understated look. It is particularly suitable for cards featuring text, game aids and reference materials viewed under different lighting conditions.
The glossy finish enhances colours and contrasts. It can show off colourful illustrations, characters, fantasy creatures or promotional cards to their best advantage.
The cards are laminated on both sides. If your game requires a specific level of opacity or is subject to heavy wear and tear, test a physical copy first to ensure the finish meets your requirements.
Square or rounded corners
Depending on the option selected, the cards can be produced with square or rounded corners. Rounded corners offer a more familiar feel for a game that is handled frequently. Square corners may be suitable for certain visual applications, subject to the options available at the time of ordering.
In all cases, please prepare rectangular files in accordance with the template provided.
How do you prepare your card print files?
Proper preparation of the artwork improves readability and minimises cropping issues during the cutting process.
The finished dimensions are 44 × 64 mm for the Mini format and 60 × 60 mm for the Square format. Prepare your images in high resolution, ideally at 300 dpi, then use the template Press Start Cards to find out the exact dimensions of the document, the bleed and the safety margin.
A few important rules:
- Please ensure that titles, text, symbols and other important elements remain within the safety zone.
- Extend the backgrounds and illustrations right to the bleed when they need to reach the edges of the card.
- Please check that small text remains legible when printed.
- Please name the front and back files clearly to avoid any confusion.
- Check the images at their actual size before placing your order.
For role-playing games, pay particular attention to the legibility of characteristics, costs and effects. For association or illustration cards, ensure that the visual elements are large enough to be recognised quickly.
See the file preparation guide
From prototypes to small runs: print your game on demand
Press Start Cards supports creators who wish to bring their ideas to life without having to launch industrial production straight away.
You can print a few cards to test a mechanic, produce a complete prototype for a gaming session or prepare a small batch for your first users.
Print-on-demand allows you to refine your designs based on player feedback. You can amend the text, tweak the illustrations, correct the specifications or design new cards before ordering an updated version.
The cards are manufactured in the Loir-et-Cher region of France. You can choose the format, finishes and quantity to suit your project directly via the configurator.
Whether you’re a board game designer, game master, illustrator, trainer or running an independent project, you can start small and scale up your production as your project develops.
Bring your ideas to life with cards tailored to your game.