anyone ever print custom cards here?

[milkit1]

I was hoping someone would have a suggestion. I'm trying to print out a custom card set and seem to be having trouble with thickness. I've made a card set for a movie from the 70s and am trying to get it printed to look similar to 70s cards. It seems here in my howmetown the thickest I can get it printed on is 14 point paper. Does anyone know a reasonably priced place that can print on at least 15 point paper if not thicker?
Thanks

[Leon]

Originally Posted by milkit1

I was hoping someone would have a suggestion. I'm trying to print out a custom card set and seem to be having trouble with thickness. I've made a card set for a movie from the 70s and am trying to get it printed to look similar to 70s cards. It seems here in my howmetown the thickest I can get it printed on is 14 point paper. Does anyone know a reasonably priced place that can print on at least 15 point paper if not thicker?
Thanks

Scott Forrest has made a set of Old Judge reprints that came out really nice. From what I remember I think he cut his finger really bad cutting them off strips though. Maybe he will chime in or you can reach out to him.

[milkit1]

Awesome looking forward to hearing about it. I'm having a heck of a time getting these to look right at a reasonable price.

[rdwyer]

I do cards every year for my 4th. graders. We use a canon color copier. If you want thick cards, you'll have to use a 4 or 6 color press. That can be very expensive. They generally want to print multiple sheets, though. You can use a power cutter to cut the cards. Most printers have one.

The biggest problem with printing cards is making sure the registration is perfect. The canon copier is great for this. Only drawback is that you have to print on thinner cardstock. We use 10 point coated two side paper.

[Runscott]

Leon got the story right.

I didn't respond because you said you were looking for someone to print for you. I have no experience with that.

Doing it yourself isn't that difficult - it just involves a lot of planning, testing and patience. I've cut thousands of things since those OJ's, and haven't hurt myself badly since.

[milkit1]

Thanks guys!

Scott did you have to settle with thin paper?

[D. Bergin]

I used Vistaprint to make up a very nice postcard sized, glossy front, two sided card set for the opening of the Bareknuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, several years ago. I also made up a custom envelope for them to go in.

I'm not sure they would meet the specifications you need though. You'd have to go through their options. I basically designed them myself using the tools they provide on-line and submitted them. Lots of trial and error.

Since each card has to be designed individually and ordered separately, it might not be cost effective if you have a large set of say 100 cards. Mine was only a 10 card set.

I've also done some very nice custom two-sided business cards with them.

It's been years, but I think I was limited to a few standard sizes like: Business card sized, postcard sized. I don't know if you could do a standard Topps card size with them.

I'm not sure of the thickness, but the set I made up is pretty solid. Modern Postcard type stock, plus the glossy fronts gave them a bit more rigidity.

[rdwyer]

I've been doing them since 2004. Sorry, had to blank the faces to protect the children. They get better each year.

[Runscott]

No, Sean. For the ones that I sold, I glued photo paper to watercolor paper.

[pgellis]

I was going to use VistaPrint to make a Pre-War Baseball Card Calendar, but my scanner is a piece of $#)^! and I couldn't get high quality images. I also only collect T206 and they are all graded, so makes it even more difficult.

I was going to suggest that "we" should put together a Pre-War Card Calendar. A nice layout each month of a different issue would be awesome. Maybe it could be a collaborative effort and they could be sold right here on the sight (much like the Net54 T shirts).

Thoughts?

[milkit1]

Great cards!
Scott I considered doing that but I have front and backs. Would love to do it that way though.

[CowboysGuide]

Originally Posted by milkit1

I was hoping someone would have a suggestion. I'm trying to print out a custom card set and seem to be having trouble with thickness. I've made a card set for a movie from the 70s and am trying to get it printed to look similar to 70s cards. It seems here in my howmetown the thickest I can get it printed on is 14 point paper. Does anyone know a reasonably priced place that can print on at least 15 point paper if not thicker?
Thanks

I've been making custom football (and a little basball) cards for a couple years now with great success. Contact me and I can send you some samples of my work.

[Bob Lemke]

I print my customs on two sheets (fronts and backs) of Avery #8255 full-page labels, then attach them to a cardboard core. You can print 9 modern (2-1/2" x 3-1/2") cards on an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet.

Getting fronts and backs aligned is critical and cutting into singles is an exacting process, but the results are decent.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by pgellis

I was going to use VistaPrint to make a Pre-War Baseball Card Calendar, but my scanner is a piece of $#)^! and I couldn't get high quality images. I also only collect T206 and they are all graded, so makes it even more difficult.

I was going to suggest that "we" should put together a Pre-War Card Calendar. A nice layout each month of a different issue would be awesome. Maybe it could be a collaborative effort and they could be sold right here on the sight (much like the Net54 T shirts).

Thoughts?

Love the calendar concept...that would be fantastic!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by milkit1

Great cards!
Scott I considered doing that but I have front and backs. Would love to do it that way though.

As Bob said, getting the fronts and backs aligned is critical - it is not easy.

I've only done backs on two different sets. The first time, I thought I had the alignment perfect, and it turned out I was completely wrong.

The second time, I nailed it. Some remember that I created a sheet of 'backs' that I included with each OJ reprint set. I also created a single prototype set with the backs actually on the cards. It wasn't easy, but it worked. I abandoned that plan because the backs with stats just looked too modern. I still have the prototype set - I'll create a couple of scans and post at some point.

You've gotten me fired up about this again. Thinking I might re-start the card set project, but give it a twist (not OJ's this time around).

[milkit1]

Thanks Bob! That would save me a lot of money if I could get that right but I have a feeling aligning them would be a nightmare. What cardboard do you use?

Scott - Glad to hear it. let us know what you do

[Bob Lemke]

I should have provided more details originally. Here's how I align fronts and backs.

1) Print 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of fronts on full-page label
2) Attach sheet to 8-1/2" x 11 sheet of cardboard
3) Cut the resulting piece down to the borders of the cards. I have cutting marks at the corners on my various (8-card Topps, 8-card Bowman, 9-card Topps, etc.) templates.
4) Cut the sheet of backs to the borders of the cards.
5) Attach backs to the cardboard.
6) Cut into single cards.

It is critical that you attach the back sheet to the front/cardboard assembly so that it is on squarely, otherwise you will get misaligned or diamond-cut singles.

The cardboard sheets I use are rather generic. A label on back identifies the maker as Pacon Corp., Appleton, Wis., "104225 White / Economy". I buy it in 22" x 28" sheets at a local craft shop. Hobby Lobby has similar sheets. I don't know what "weight" the sheets are; I just handle them in the store to get a feel for what seems to fit the vintage format.

For some of my cards I print the fronts on Avery #8383 Glossy Postcard stock, and attach the label sheets with the backs. I use this for my 1954-55 Topps cards and 1955 Bowmans. These are actually too thin to closely replicate the vintage cards, but in a top-loader you wouldn't notice it.

I have in the past printed the fronts on the glossy postcard stock, glued it to a cardboard core and attached the backs label, but have found that the glue too often finds it way onto the fronts.

I've been at this for nearly 10 years and am still learning, tweaking my techniques.

[Runscott]

My method's a bit different:

Each sheet of cards has vertical 'cutting' marks along the top and bottom of the sheet, and horizontal 'cutting' marks along the left and right borders. These marks extend all the way to the borders. All you have to do is line them up on both the back and front sheets (and optionally, with a sheet between them). If you have a problem doing this, trim through the cut marks on the thicker sheet, all the way around. There are other issues you may encounter that I can walk you through - all easily solvable.