I did a write-up on these which I'm sharing below. You'll have seen some of the images already. But the animated GIFs from the project that I've included towards the end do an especially good job of what we can expect from this project.
TCC Fashion Playing Cards by TCC (Kickstarter)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tc ... ying-cards
Four extraordinary decks with rainbow holographic foils, lenticular printing, embossing, and color-changing UV ink
Kickstarter ends: Monday, August 21, 2023
TCC has been in the playing card industry for over a decade, and besides playing cards they've also made contributions in the area of playing card storage and display boxes, and other accessories. So they aren't an unknown creator coming out of nowhere.
This project features four different decks, and one of the goals is to showcase new features and options in playing cards, including rainbow holographic foils, lenticular printing patterns, embossing, and UV color-changing ink. The four decks are:
● Rainbow HOLO:
Rainbow and HOLO foil dances in perfect equilibrium
● City of Mirrors:
Illusion of two distinct cities within the same plane
● David:
Paying homage to sculptures with elegant embossing
● Lithography:
Hidden circuits to reveal as light shines
All the decks are standard poker sized (62mm x 88mm), and come with 52 playing cards, plus two custom jokers, and two ad cards. Each of them showcases a different technological feature available in the printing process: the Rainbow HOLO deck uses holographic foils for the box and the cards; the City of Mirrors deck uses lenticular printing for the box; the David deck uses embossing for the box; and the Lithography deck uses color-changing UV ink for the box and cards.
Here's some information about the four decks, and the features that are unique to each:
1. Rainbow HOLO Playing Cards
Ad copy: "
Experience the enchanting fusion of rainbow colors and holographic foils, combined with modern geometric designs. The gradient spectrum spreads across the cards, creating a mesmerizing display."
The holographic foil that is the chief feature of this deck starts with the tuck box itself, which shows a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors, depending on how you hold it up to the light.
Foil is also used for the the card backs and card face, to ensure that the cards themselves also dazzle. But a particularly unique feature is the choice of color: both the backs and faces don't have the same color, but rather a rainbow spectrum. So as you riffle through the entire deck, you're going to see a full spectrum of changing color that produces a gradient effect.
2. City of Mirrors Playing Cards
Ad copy: "
The Steel Forest, a city forged by human civilization, is a marvel to behold. Using lenticular printing, you'll witness a futuristic cyberpunk city illuminated by neon lights."
This deck is inspired by the dystopian sci-fi of the Cyberpunk genre, and evokes the images of towering skyscrapers in a cityscape with neon lights, and to fit with this the main color used throughout is purple.
An interesting feature of the tuck case is the use of a lenticular printing pattern. This means that as you slowly rotate the angle in which you are viewing the deck, it creates the illusion of a changing image, with one illustration morphing into another. So one building will disappear, while another emerges.
The card backs take details and colors from the tuck box, while the faces continue to evoke the cyberpunk genre, blending cityscapes and technology.
3. David Playing Cards
Ad copy: "
This deck embodies purity, much like the familiar statue of David. Paying homage to the art of sculpture, the exquisite embossing on the tuck case is a true masterpiece."
The deck pays homage to iconic sculptures like Michelangelo's famous David and other classic works of art. Since this deck is inspired by the art of sculpture, it's no surprise that the color white dominates, evoking the pure white marble of classic sculptures.
Intricate and elegant embossing is the noteworthy feature of this deck's tuck case. This is hardly the first time we've seen an embossed tuck box in the world of playing cards, but what's special here is that special embossing plates are used that that are 2mm higher than conventional ones, creating a stronger sense of carved marble.
Various famous sculptures appear on the court cards, such as Michelangelo's David and Milo's Venus. Silver pantone ink is used on the cards to add a sense of luxury and to strengthen the theme.
4. Lithography Playing Cards
Ad copy: "
These cards feature special ink that transforms under UV light, resembling the process of chip manufacturing in a lithography machine. We've tested it under sunlight, and the effect is incredible."
This deck draws inspiration from the world of microchips and electronic information technology. The deck is named after the photolithography machine, which is the production equipment that empowers chips with endless possibilities. The artwork is geared to convey the sense of a computer microchip filled with electronic components, with the use of silver foil enhancing a metallic lustre and technology feel.
The unique feature here is the use of color-changing UV ink, which is found on every aspect of the deck. When illuminated with a UV light source, hidden circuits are revealed. The goal has been to use inks that show some of this effect even under natural sunlight outdoors, without needing a UV light.
Expectations
The TCC playing cards I personally own already have been quite satisfying in quality. These decks are being manufactured in China, and are billed as having TCC's exclusive M23 Finish. I don't personally have experience with this finish and stock, but I do know that in the last couple of years Chinese playing card manufacturers have been upping the bar on their quality. Many creators have opted to print at the Chinese factories used by LPCC, EPCC, and WJPC, with excellent results. If these are any indication, then there is good reason to be optimistic about the quality and handling performance of the TCC Fashion decks.
Of the decks pledged for so far, the Rainbow HOLO deck is proving the most popular individually. It's not hard to see why, and that's the one I'm the most looking forward to see.
What to expect: Rainbow HOLO deck
But the most popular pledge option is the set that includes one of all four Fashion decks. Another good option some backers are opting for is to get all four Fashion decks in a brick of a dozen decks. There's no doubt that each of them offers something different in the way of a stunning visual impact.
What to expect: City of Mirrors deck
What to expect: David deck
After these decks are produced and hit retail, they're going to be around the $12 price point. But this Kickstarter gives backers the chance to get each deck for just $7-8 each (depending on the number you buy).
What to expect: Lithography deck
It's hard to do justice to the changing visuals that all four of these decks promise. So you really need to check out the project page where you'll find many more images, and GIFs that showcase the impressive changing look of the cards. Here's an indication of the visuals we can expect.
Kickstarter link
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tc ... ying-cards
@playingcardophile
