Tarot de Paris --> the quality

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ophiel	15 Dec 2002
Do you have Tarot de Paris? The images on the Tarot of Paris certainly captured my attention and I made the plunge today and bought the boxed set. I was...quite disappointed, but not in the images. The boxed set sells for $30 here in the U.S. and had I known a silk cloth and hardbound book was included, I might have thought twice. The images are washy, pale, which really isn't that bad, but the card seems to have a thin coating. I prefer something that will stand up to shuffling, though I mostly wanted this deck for my collection. I have a WRS deck with a glossy coat, and another with a matte finish. That isn't to say the protection level of this Paris deck isn't sufficient, only that it doesn't look like it is. But what was most disappointing for me was the cutting edges on the cards. There are mini-knobs all over, as if the cutting blade was meeting on the edges of the cards. At first I thought it was some Braille feature...but just for a second. Perhaps the cutting blade had a nick? This will detract from the value of this deck, not that I'm collecting them for that reason. Still, I wouldn't buy a new comic with a slash across the cover, or ripped up edges, that would be a more appropriate comparison here. Anybody else have this deck? I'm debating returning for an exchange, or just returning it period.

truthsayer	15 Dec 2002
i was satisfied with the quality of my tarot de paris. however, my cards had a good cut job on them. if i was you, i would either contact the publisher of the cards or return them to the store you bought them from. other ppl at aeclectic have had success contacting publisher about fixing deck problems. results have ranged from getting a whole new deck to replacing missing cards. recently, i lost a card from my animal wise deck. i emailed the publisher and got a response the same day that they would send me another card if i sent a SASE. jewel got a whole new deck when she had problems with her first cosmic tribe deck. maybe if you complain to the publisher, problems with cutting the cards would be corrected. you aren't the first person at AT who's complained about the poor cut job on this deck. it's the squeaky door that gets the oil!

Ophiel	15 Dec 2002
Thanks, Truthsayer. I was wondering if anybody had the deck! The imagery is dreamy and wonderful, and I feel better knowing that I am not the only one who has had this problem (I searched "Tarot de Paris" and did not find any threads that obviously discussed the card cut problem) but concerned that I'll get another of the same if I reorder. I bought it from a store that I know will take it back. That I will do...as I just ordered the Dummett book on the history of the occult tarot, a favorite topic of mine. I am sure somewhere, some time, I will get this deck again. I've never been to Paris, until I saw the deck!

truthsayer	16 Dec 2002
you can also buy a signed edition directly from the author. he includes a larger print of a specified card. i think it's $35 at his site. i don't know if postage is extra. i would hope decks from his website would be better than the one you got. you're right about the feeling of paris being so deep in this deck. to me it has more of a masculine feel about it. the creator spent about 20 years putting this deck together and polishing it up. the photos themselves are grade A. i'm just sorry the card quality doesn't match. i haven't had chance to play with mine much but should have more time over the holidays.

Keslynn	16 Dec 2002
Ophiel, I know what you mean for the most part. I got my copy from the artist's website, along with the extra print (breathtaking!). I personally do like the artwork although I can see how you might consider it washed out. Usually I like bright colors but I don't have problems with this deck, probably because the images are just so gorgeous. I did have similar issues with the cardstock. No matter what sort of shuffling method I use, the cards clump together. It doesn't seem like a problem that will get fixed with use either. Perhaps with this one it would be easier to fan or just choose your cards randomly out of different places in the deck? I should try that. I don't read often with this deck because of the shuffling problem, but I would never give it away because it's so beautiful. Oh yeah, I have similar "nubs" on mine. I think it's just the way the deck is manufactured. *shrug* It's really up to you whether to keep it or not. I love mine despite it's problems though for you, the cost might outweigh the benefits. :) Kes

Jewel	16 Dec 2002
I purchased my copy from the artists web site and I am satisfied with my deck. I have no numbs (to my recollection). I purchased this deck more as a collectors item so I have not yet tried to shuffle the cards. I echo Truthsayers recommendation to contact the publisher.

Violet Gargoyle	16 Dec 2002
I got mine via Amazon. I have to admit I use the silk cloth for a head scarf sometimes. I have this thing that I like my cards to be on a wood surface. No nubs that I can see on mine, but I am also another one who got the deck more for the artwork (I like good collage mediums). If the publisher doesnt give you an answer, you can always trim those nubs with an exacto knife. Treat it like spuds off the potato.....

Ophiel	16 Dec 2002
NO thanks about trimming them myself. I'd never get it right and it would bother me. No, I'm not a Virgo, but I'm really funny that way about books, CDs, Tarot, etc. I returned them, regretfully. I will, however, get the deck. It is a gorgeous deck and I was quite moved by the imagery.

JPT	16 Dec 2002
I've just joined this Forum after several months of travelling to promote this deck. Re: Deck quality - I am very concerned about the quality of the final product as it reflects heavily on my years of work invested in the creation the images. Firstly let me explain that the production of any book or deck is usually 100% controlled by the publisher. The author or illustrator rarely has any decision making capacity in the process. The Publishers maintain that they know what's best for their target market. In my contract, I negotiated some degree of control and stipulated the cards be printed on a particular weight card stock and with a particular varnish surface. I am somewhat limited in what I can say without breaching my contract BUT....... 1. The cards are printed in China. 2.I am not all that pleased with the final quality of the cards. 3. As such I notified the production company in London in October about the problem with the edges. 4. Your complaint is well justified. 5. You will not find any relief in waiting for a replacement deck. They are pprobably all the same. However there is a very simple solution. I try to do this on all the decks I send out personally. Simply take a small piece of 300 - 400 weight sand paper (not emory or wet and dry). Bind ALL the cards together tightly with a rubber band. Then use somthing flat like a small ruler and wrap the sand paper around it. Next - just sand the deck's edges and they will become very smooth with little effort. Do not sand across the edges - sand it by following the length of the edges. You may also try this on other NEW cards for a nicer feel. I have been assured by the production company that this has been fixed in the next shipment. But for now, this process is much easier than waiting till next year for that next shipment of decks. I hope that the scarf and the box are suitable. I created the silk screen separations myself to assure that the scarf came out nicely. Once again thatnk you for having had the interest to purchase the Tarot de Paris. It is my sincere hope that you will now be able to "read " with these cards. Objectively speaking..........they have much more to offer than just a pretty face in a collection. They truly speak and often very frankly. Aloha from Maui, JPT

Keslynn	16 Dec 2002
Wow! I love that so many deck artists come here to chat with us about their wonderful creations. Welcome, JPT. :) I will definitely have to try your suggestion about the sides of the cards. That and the finish were the only real complaints that I had about the deck. The scarf is lovely. I keep almost all my other decks in bags, but the Tarot de Paris is neatly wrapped in the scarf and I do all readings with the deck on it. :) Kes

truthsayer	16 Dec 2002
thanks for your commentary, jpt. i just love having feedback from the creator of a deck. i'm yet to hear from one that is totally satisfied with what has happened to a deck once the publisher took over. i have found the quality of the box and scarf to be good. my cards cutting seemed to be okay. perhaps i was lucky in the batch i got one from. i can't always use a box to store a deck on my book shelf but i can the tarot de paris. i am a graphic design student and photographer. as part of my learning i have been studying photographic decks. i like this the best of those i have worked with. i'm not trying to flatter you either. the photography is excellent and i hope to eventually share this deck with my instructor. thanks for your hard work on this deck! i haven't had chance to work with it much but now that the semester is out i hope to work with it over the holidays.

Ophiel	17 Dec 2002
Greetings. And thank you for posting your message to the group. Regarding your fix of the burr problem, I regret that I didn't make myself clear. There were burrs on the cards, yes. But the cutting blades were misaligned or something. I don't know how the cards are cut, but about half way across the short side of the card, there was a very small indentation, like an overlap of two cutting blades that didn't align or something. What I'm saying is there flaw was subtractive, not just a little knob of extra paper (additive.)

baba-prague	17 Dec 2002
HI, Just to say that this is a very useful discussion for all us makers/designers of cards. Since we've been working on our deck - (the Tarot of Prague - www.baba-prague.com/tarot and no, we didn't know about the Tarot of Paris until recently, but the two approaches are very different so I think it's not a problem, in fact for us it's really good to see another view of a tarot based on a city) - we've been worrying a lot about card quality. In my past life I designed cards for the British Design Council among others, and we often had considerable trouble getting the quality we needed, so I know how much of a headache it can be. I'll be frank, we have also been a bit shocked sometimes to see the quality of the "Big Publishers" decks. Some are very good, but some are really quite poor in my opinion, both in terms of print and cut. I would guess that printing in places that are cheap, rather than high quality, may be becoming the norm, just to save money. It's understandable, but a shame. So - we have decided to work here with the print company who is the premier printer of art books (they work for the National Museum here among others). They have done several artists' catalogues that we have worked on, and the quality is usually superb. However, catalogues are not cards, and so we are already having meetings with them in which we take along examples of cards we think are good and discuss how to get better! We also do ALL the colour separations ourselves, we have everything drafted in example print-outs (very important, as otherwise you can get some nasty surprises about colour balance) and we will actually be present at the printers throughout the day - we hope in February 2003 - when the printing is done. I know this all sounds obsessive and time-consuming, but as we've seen, quality just can't be guaranteed any other way. I'll of course come back to the forum in March and let you know how we got on (fingers AND toes crossed!). If we can then pass on experiences and any advice we gather along the way, we will. I really feel for any artist/designer who doesn't get print/cut/card quality that properly represents their work. A tarot deck is such a huge undertaking and personal commitment, and it deserves to look as great as it can at the end of all the work. All I can say is, don't be afraid to watch over every step of the process. A good printer will only respect you for it. ps - the Tarot of Paris is still a lovely deck in my opinion. Karen

Jewel	17 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by JPT I try to do this on all the decks I send out personally. Simply take a small piece of 300 - 400 weight sand paper (not emory or wet and dry). Bind ALL the cards together tightly with a rubber band. Then use somthing flat like a small ruler and wrap the sand paper around it. Next - just sand the deck's edges and they will become very smooth with little effort. Do not sand across the edges - sand it by following the length of the edges. This certainly explains why I have no nubs :) ... thanks for the extra effort JPT. It is wonderful to have you with us, there are other threads on the Tarot de Paris that I hope you have found by now. The deck is very beautiful.

Logiatrix	11 Mar 2003
i LOVE my tarot de paris! love it, love it, love it... love the work, love the book, love the cloth... i even love the nubs!

The Tarot de Paris --> the quality thread was originally posted on 15 Dec 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.