On-demand printing for small projects
Professional printers are not interested in ‘small projects’, let alone small print runs for the creation of playing cards or TCG. You therefore have to either start off on a small scale with low-quality products or spend a considerable amount of time producing a usable product for testing or selling in small quantities.
It was this realisation that led to the creation of Press Start Print, a service offered by Press Start Cards: to provide attractive prices on small runs whilst maintaining a professional standard of quality.
Cards from €0.07 to €1.23 each
Press Start Print therefore allows you to create your own TCG, with orders ranging from 1 to 4,000 cards at discounted prices depending on the quantity and finishes requested. For example, the cost of printing a single card is €1.23 (incl. VAT) and drops to €0.07 (incl. VAT) per card for an order of 4,000 cards. This allows you to test your concept risk-free before moving on to larger-scale production with industrial suppliers.
High-quality cards
Although artisanal, Press Start Print offers a high-quality service and cards. To see for yourself, you can either print a single card as a test or buy a ‘Press Start Cards’ booster pack.
Here’s a quick comparison: Magic: The Gathering vs Press Start Cards
| Press Start Print | Magic: The Gathering | |
| Total grammage | From 240 g/m² to 350 g/m² | 300 g/m² |
| Paper weight | from 80 g/m² to 190 g/m² | 290 g/m² |
| Lamination / Coating | 80-micron lamination on both sides | Light varnish, approx. 5 microns on both sides |
| Printing method | Photo inkjet | Industrial offset |
| UV filter | Yes | No |
| Paper | 80g, 140g, 160g matt/gloss | Blue Core (opaque) matt 290 g/m² |
| Ink type | DYE | Offset |
| Cutting quality | Max. 2 mm offset | Perfect |
Verdict: which is better?
Well, neither! They’re hardly comparable, but I’ll try to explain why.
In terms of weight and sturdiness, the ‘Press Start’ Print cards are stiffer and, paradoxically, more resistant to handling whilst being more flexible when folded.
In terms of feel, the thin varnish on Magic cards provides an incredible, unrivalled soft touch!
As for resistance to water and moisture, Press Start-Print cards have a thick lamination layer, so they’re not affected by moisture or splashes in gaming bars. Magic cards withstand moderate moisture well but don’t cope very well with splashes.
As for UV resistance, the offset ink used offers better resistance than the dye-based inks used in inkjet printers. That said, the cards do not cope well with intensive UV exposure and tend to lose their colour quite quickly. The lamination on ‘Press Start’ Print cards features a UV filter, making them slightly more resistant to this type of exposure.
As for print quality, it is similar; there is no noticeable difference in the finish or colour quality. However, thanks to their offset printing, Magic cards offer much greater consistency in their finish, which will always be identical. Press Start-printed cards may vary slightly from one to the next. That said, colour variation is kept to a minimum and is virtually invisible to the naked eye.
Cutting quality. Industrial cutting machines are unbeatable in terms of sharpness and precision. Press Start-printed cards may have a slight misalignment of 1 to 2 mm at most, which is why it is important to include a bleed and a safety margin in the image templates provided. Cutting is carried out using a professional guillotine and pressure die-cutting.
Final verdict:
Press StartPrint cards are prototypes with excellent visual quality and exceptional durability. However, they do not match the ‘gamefeel’ and precision of Magic cards.
Playing cards Made in France
The cards aren’t made in China or on the other side of Europe! They’re made in France, in the Loir-et-Cher (41)!
Unparalleled support for your orders
All your files are checked at no extra cost before printing. If there’s a problem, we’ll contact you to help you correct your file. Any order can be cancelled right up until the moment of printing.