Card coatings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lee	24 Jan 2004
This is something I've always been clueless about. Could someone explain what exactly are the various coatings we find on commercially printed decks? I'm assuming the very shiny ones like the Cosmic Tribe or the Glastonbury are liquid varnishes applied to the cards, but other than that, I have no idea. Are the U.S. Games decks varnished, or is it some kind of plastic coating? Thanks in advance! :) -- Lee

HudsonGray	25 Jan 2004
When I was looking at the printers for my deck I asked him about it--it's a spray varnish, almost a plastic, that they use, it's sprayed on the cards after the cards are printed, but before they're cut. Card manufacturers (those who make the standard playing cards) are about the only place you can get this stuff put onto card stock, and they have a minimum job order of 5,000 decks--so those of us who are looking at self publishing are left out in the cold on this 'perk'. Ah well.

Astra	25 Jan 2004
Hey, Hudson Gray, http://www.delanoservice.com has a 1,000 minimum, and Carta Mundi has a 3,000 minimum - just in case you're interested.... (I know, this isn't the creation forum, but...) Edited to add: My apologies to the moderator - next time I'll think about it first and use a PM

HudsonGray	26 Jan 2004
1,000 decks is double what we did with the Ferret Tarot, I wasn't up for putting $3,500 on my credit card this past year. Still, they'd be worth contacting in the future. I bookmarked it, thanks!

Melvis	26 Jan 2004
This is a great thread topic, Lee, as I'm also clueless about whether a card is coated, or plastic, or varnished, or whatever! I read some of the deck reviews on sites like Tarot Passages, and when they start talking technical about the cards the only words I really understand are 'flimsy' and 'sturdy'! :D So is there just one main kind of varnish for cards, then? Reading the reviews makes it seem like there are different types of finish. Are some cards actually plastic, or are they all coated paper (card) stock? Thanks again, Lee, for the opportunity to show my ignorance! :D I just love learning new things, especially about tarot cards! ;) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Lee	26 Jan 2004
Thanks, folks! So, what accounts for the different looks of different decks, i.e. the shiny Glastonbury or the soft, non-reflective U.S. Games? Are they just different kinds of spray varnish? -- Lee

baba-prague	31 Jan 2004
Yes, there are different kinds of varnish. Certainly, you can choose between different levels of shininess. Personally I don't like the very shiny varnishes, to me they look and feel very like plastic. But Alex knows a lot more about this than me - he's the print person of the two of us. It's a subject close to our hearts right now as we are trying to work out what card stock and varnish we want for the new deck (and for the looking likely second version of Tarot of Prague too - if it happens). I like cards that show their age - gracefully. But I know some people don't, and prefer something that is kind of wipe-clean.

contrascarpe	31 Jan 2004
I like the finish on your cards baba. They do fit the deck. It may not be as appropriate on your next deck, but hopefully they will not be too plastic feeling. Dan

M-Press	31 Jan 2004
I have a couple of decks which are published by Chronicle Books (not Tarot?they don't do Tarot), but they are cards. (eg: the Relax deck) They are laminated- both sides (I think), a very nice, thin, matt lamination. The colors look bright and beautiful. It makes the cards a bit thicker (a deck of 50 cards equals in "fatness" one regular deck of 78 cards. The die-cut is from "top down", giving a littel bended edge to each card (not crazy about this...) I was considering it for my own deck, but i think it would be very expensive. Still, I like it, and it is super-durable , coffee wise and all..

The Card coatings thread was originally posted on 24 Jan 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.