Card back border size

[maiathoustra]

Hi!

I received a prototype by MPC which looks great, except for some registration problem on the cards back.

How can I minimize this? Will increasing the border size help with hiding misalignment?

I also am planning to print with WJPC. Do they have a good rep with borders?

Deck topic: https://www.unitedcardists.com/viewtopi ... 49#p264857

Thank you for the help!

Attachment: card on the left is good ; card on the right has a wider top border.

[kevork]

Every card manufacturer has a tolerance when it comes to cutting the cards. No printer will be perfect in this and some have higher tolerances that account for more discrepancies like this. Each printer has their own drawing template that you have to put the artwork within to account for these tolerances. There is nothing else you can do about it.

[maiathoustra]

Hi Kevork, thank you for your answer. I am aware that every manufacturer has their own card template and safe areas.

I probably didn’t word out my question well. I meant to say: would increasing the border size make misalignment less noticeable? Of course, it would still be there. But maybe 1mm is less jarring on a 5mm border than on a 3mm.

But I guess there is no real solution. I did notice, after seeing so many posts about USPCC, that my standard bicycle deck does have terrible registration.

Most of the MPC prototype cards are looking good though. I will increase border in the real run!

Thank you again for your answer

[GandalfPC]

Yes, wider border will better hide the misalignment, standard practice - if you need better alignment you can pay more for higher quality control and better printing machines I believe

[manu]

Agreed with what others have said, but want to add that a thick border can make a design look cheap—at least for me. It's a fine line to walk

Personally I’m more forgiving of minor alignment issues like the one in your example. Anecdotally, the WJPC decks I own have good alignment.

[Honeybee]

I agree manu, that example the OP has shown would be a 'dream come true' compared to some examples I recently received from a KS campaign printed by the infamous USPC.

I love the designer or else I would have returned them. He is very disappointed and has sent pics to USPC
I bought several decks and will sit down some time and see if I can make a couple of decent decks out of them.

[GandalfPC]

cards with marked edges like Butterfly’s require very good registration - so it can be had

[maiathoustra]

Then I will increase a little bit the border, as it came out thinner than I thought anyway.
But I see how too thick of a border looks inelegant!

I can understand the creator’s frustration when seeing that picture Honeybee shows, especially with the dark border, it’s so noticeable.

Thank you Manu for feedback about WJPC.

Thank you everyone with your input and kindness. I appreciate.