Create and print your own tarot or oracle deck with Press Start Cards. Whether you’re a card reader, tarot reader, illustrator, independent designer or coaching professional, bring your creations to life with personalised card printing, starting from just one copy.
Design a card-reading deck that reflects your personality, a guidance oracle, a set of illustrated cards or original educational materials. Choose the format that suits your project, prepare your artwork and select your finishes to receive cards that are ready to use, display or sell.
Our printing solutions:
- Tarot format: 70 × 120 mm.
- Oracle format: 89 × 146 mm.
- Total weight of 300 or 350 g/m².
- Matt or gloss finish, square or rounded corners.
- Single-sided or double-sided printing, depending on your project.
- Manufactured in our workshop in Loir-et-Cher, France.
- No minimum order: print only the cards you need.
What are the differences between a Tarot deck and an Oracle deck?
Tarot and oracle decks are two types of card game used in particular for readings, personal reflection and various forms of cartomancy. Whilst they may share a symbolic and artistic dimension, their structure is not necessarily the same.
Tarot: a game structured around the arcana
A traditional divinatory tarot deck generally comprises 78 cards, divided into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Each card has its own symbolism that forms part of a coherent whole.
Creating your own tarot deck therefore involves developing a consistent visual identity whilst ensuring that the symbols, titles and details specific to each card remain clear and legible.
You can reinterpret the arcana, create an original visual universe or design a game tailored to your reading style.
The printing of personalised tarot cards is particularly suited to professional tarot readers who wish to offer their own deck, as well as independent authors and artists developing a themed collection.
L’Oracle: greater creative freedom
Unlike traditional tarot decks, an oracle deck does not follow a standard number of cards or a universal structure. You can design a deck of 20, 40, 60 cards or more, depending on the requirements of your project.
Each card can feature an illustration, a keyword, a statement, a question or a message. This freedom allows you to create oracle decks dedicated to nature, the seasons, animals, mythology, introspection or a particular artistic universe.
The Oracle format Press Start Cards, which is larger than the Tarot format, offers more space for illustrations and text.
It is therefore particularly useful if you wish to combine a detailed image with an explanatory message, or if your method requires in-depth visual analysis.
Who might want to have a personalised Tarot or Oracle deck printed?
Print-on-demand meets the needs of various categories of creators and professionals.
Freelance card readers and tarot readers
Do you practise cartomancy or tarot readings? Design a deck that reflects your approach, your symbolism and your professional identity.
A personalised tarot deck can be used during readings, as part of introductory workshops or as a complementary product for your customers.
You can also produce a small batch to test your game with your consultants before considering wider distribution.
Creators of oracles and wellness professionals
Are you developing a personal method of reflection, introspection exercises or positive affirmation cards? A personalised oracle deck allows you to bring your texts and illustrations together in a physical format that’s easy to use.
These cards can be used in group workshops, coaching sessions, personal development activities or guided exercises.
Your game can be designed for use by a professional, given to a participant or sold as a standalone product.
Freelance illustrators and artists
Tarot or Oracle decks can also serve as a medium for artistic creation.
Imagine a collection of 44 botanical illustrations, a series of fantasy characters or a game inspired by your own visual style. Each card becomes a miniature work of art that you can bring together into a cohesive whole.
This approach allows you to offer an original collection to your community, gauge public interest or develop a spin-off product based on your artwork.
It is also suitable for comic book authors, children’s book illustrators and creators of imaginary worlds.
Teachers, trainers and educational materials designers
Cards aren’t just for fortune-telling. They can also be used to impart knowledge, organise activities and aid memorisation.
A larger format provides more space for an illustration, a description and an example. The Oracle format is therefore suitable for certain educational cards, whilst the Tarot format may be better suited to games requiring a great deal of handling.
Some examples of applications:
- Illustrated vocabulary cards for learning a language.
- Flashcards for revising key concepts.
- Question-and-answer games for vocational training.
- Activity cards designed for creative workshops.
- Visual aids to explain a method or outline a procedure.
You can design your own sets and print only the cards you need for your group.
Which format should you choose for your personalised cards?
The choice of format depends on the number of cards, the space required for text and illustrations, and how the game will be handled.
Tarot format: 70 × 120 mm
The Tarot format is suitable for games with predominantly illustrated cards, drawing cards and materials that need to be comfortable to hold.
Its vertical layout allows for the inclusion of a main illustration, a title and some additional information without overloading the design.
Choose the Tarot format for:
- A personalised divination tarot deck.
- A traditional card-reading game with a modern twist.
- Illustrated cards designed to be handled regularly.
- Drawing games featuring titles or symbols.
- Artistic series in portrait format.
Oracle format: 89 × 146 mm
The Oracle format offers a larger surface area. It is suitable for projects that prioritise imagery, contain more text or require a generous visual layout.
This extra space can make it easier to include detailed messages, instructions or educational information. On the other hand, the cards take up more space on a table and are less compact to carry.
Choose the Oracle format for:
- An illustrated oracle deck with a message on each card.
- Affirmation or inspirational cards.
- Educational cards featuring text and illustrations.
- Large-format artistic cards.
- Resources for reflection and workshop facilitation.
The formats listed correspond to the dimensions offered by Press Start Cards. If you already have a box or card sleeves, please check their dimensions before choosing your format.
Which finishes should you choose for a Tarot or Oracle deck?
The finish enhances the visual appeal and makes the cards comfortable to handle. All our cards are double-sided laminated, with a range of weight and finish options available.
Paper weight: 300 or 350 g/m²
The total grammage includes the printed substrate and the lamination layers. It affects the stiffness and the feel in the hand.
The 300 g/m² paper produces relatively flexible cards. It is suitable for initial prototypes, graphic design tests and projects where budget is a key consideration.
The 350 g/m² stock produces stiffer cards that are less translucent. It is an attractive option for a game that you wish to handle regularly or present in a professional setting.
For frequent print runs, you should also consider whether your game needs to be easily shuffled, laid out on a table or used by several people during a workshop.
Matt or gloss finish
The matt finish reduces glare and gives the cards a understated look. It is particularly suitable for games played under direct lighting, for delicate illustrations and for designs that favour a subtle aesthetic.
The glossy finish enhances the vibrancy of the colours and the contrasts. It can really bring out colourful illustrations, fantasy worlds and artistically detailed designs. However, it does produce more glare and is more prone to showing fingerprints.
For collectible cards, a matt finish is a good choice if you’ll be handling the cards under different lighting conditions. For an art collection, a gloss finish can enhance the visual impact of the illustrations.
Square or rounded corners
Rounded corners give playing cards a more traditional look and can make them pleasant to handle. Square corners are suitable for certain design choices or for formats that do not require the same presentation.
Whatever you choose, please provide rectangular files: the final shape of the corners is achieved during production.
How do you create and print your own Tarot or Oracle deck?
The production of your game takes place in several stages.
1. Define the structure of the game. Determine the number of cards, their roles and the information that needs to appear on each design. For a tarot deck, maintain a consistent structure across the different cards. For an oracle deck, feel free to define the categories required for your concept.
2. Design the illustrations. You can use Canva, GIMP, Photoshop or another graphics programme. Ensure a consistent layout for titles, text, numbers and illustrations.
3. Prepare your files. Export your artwork in high resolution, ideally at 300 dpi, and refer to our guide to ensure you adhere to the required dimensions and margins for cutting.
4. Choose the finishes. Select the Tarot or Oracle format, the paper weight, a matt or gloss finish, and square or rounded corners. Also specify the front and back designs if both sides are to be printed.
5. Order a single copy or a small batch. This allows you to check the colours, readability and feel of your cards before producing a larger quantity.
Print-on-demand offers a flexible solution for independent creators: you can refine your illustrations, correct the text and test different versions without having to order several hundred games straight away.
Create art cards and illustrated collections
Tarot and Oracle decks can also be used for purposes other than card reading.
Are you an illustrator, painter, photographer or graphic designer? Turn a selection of your creations into a set of artistic playing cards. You can put together a collection based on a theme, a character, a period or a visual technique.
The cards can be designed as a collection to discover, a gift, or a way to showcase your work.
For independent artists, printing small quantities allows them to experiment with different concepts without immediately committing a large budget to a large-scale production run.
The Oracle format is particularly well-suited to designs where the artwork takes centre stage. The Tarot format offers a more compact alternative, ideal for vertical collections and games where you want to handle or shuffle the cards more easily.
Design your own educational cards and activity materials
Educational cards are resources that can be used in classrooms, training organisations, associations and professional workshops.
They can link an image to a definition, a question, an instruction or a problem to be solved. Players handle the cards, sort them, compare them or use them to carry out a task.
For example, a trainer can design a set of 40 cards on project management: each card presents a situation, a risk, a method or a question for reflection. A teacher can create illustrated cards for learning vocabulary, recognising animals or memorising concepts.
For these purposes, opt for a format that allows the text to be read easily and important information to be clearly distinguished. The Oracle format offers more space, whilst the Tarot format provides a middle ground.
You can also design an identical reverse side to make shuffling easier and prevent the content from being identifiable when the cards are turned over.
Preparing files for printing your Tarot or Oracle deck
The quality of the final product also depends on how the artwork is prepared.
For cards in the 70 × 120 mm Tarot format, a file measuring approximately 827 × 1,417 pixels at 300 dpi corresponds to the finished dimensions. For the Oracle format (89 × 146 mm), allow for approximately 1,051 × 1,724 pixels at 300 dpi.
These pixel dimensions are for guidance only and correspond to the finished size, excluding bleed. To prepare your order, please refer to the template and the configurator preview, which specify the margins and cutting requirements.
A few essential recommendations:
- Use high-resolution images to ensure that illustrations and small text remain clear.
- Keep important elements, such as titles, symbols and text, within the safety area of the template.
- Extend backgrounds and illustrations to the bleed when they need to reach the edge of the card.
- Prepare the front and back of each card, using a consistent naming convention.
- Please check the positioning of each image before confirming the print job.
See the file preparation guide and templates
Why choose Press Start Cards for your Tarot or Oracle deck?
Press Start Cards supports creators who wish to print their own cards, from the first prototype through to small-batch production.
Our service is particularly well-suited to independent projects that require flexibility, adjustable quantities and the ability to update designs over time.
You can place an order with no minimum quantity, select the format and finishes to suit your game, and receive a physical product based on your own designs.
Printing takes place at our workshop in Loir-et-Cher, France. Orders are configured online and the price depends, amongst other things, on the format, finishes and number of cards.
Whether you’re a card reader, an oracle creator, an illustrator or a trainer, your project can start with a small run before being developed further based on feedback from your users.
Bring your world to life: create your own Tarot deck, Oracle deck or personalised card game.