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Hello UC First off, I'm incredibly nervous finally sharing this here, but I have been lurking for a few weeks and decided it's time to post.

This is my first time working on a custom playing card deck, and is my first solo project of this type.
The inspiration behind it is the hypnotizing beauty and fascinating qualities that merfolk and the deep sea have.

Each of the pips are made from seashells. Each suit will have it's own 'race' of merfolk displayed on the court cards.
I would love any feedback that you guys & gals might have.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my project.


*****EDITED WITH UPDATED PIC--- new font and lightened mermaid silhouettes (also flipped vertically) ******

Don't know what you were nervous about. Those look fantastic!

if you'll forgive the pun, this is all uncharted waters for me... first time deck, first time (eventual) KS project... I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row here. I heard through many many friends that this group is one of the most knowledgeable around when it comes to custom cards, so what better place to get feedback.

Have you any sketches for the back?

Feedback will pour in soon enough. A few things I would mention though:

The indices: take care to not make them too elaborate so as to make them hard to see from a distance.
I think the design could work better without the small mermaid under each pip.

I haven't worked on the back yet, but I'll be sure to post what I come up with
but yeah, I've already gotten a few notes on the current font I've been using. I'm not overly attached to it, so I imagine it will change at some point once I find one that strikes me as the right one.

Wow these are awesome! Love the artwork! I agree about the font. Perhaps something a little simpler.

Thank you I'm happy you like it so far. I will make my main goal tomorrow to finish the aces, start sketching back ideas, and find a new font that works with the theme but isn't too hard to recognize. Thank you both for the input. I'm glad I finally posted here.

Welcome to UC Galen!

Perhaps something more sinuous, the current font looks jagged from a distance.

Will the joker be a scuba diver?

Welcome to the zoo, Galen. Quite a fabulous concept and theme you are working on!

Sorry for the confusion: back where it started: "Drafing board"...

Eoghann wrote:Have you any sketches for the back?

Feedback will pour in soon enough. A few things I would mention though:

The indices: take care to not make them too elaborate so as to make them hard to see from a distance.
I think the design could work better without the small mermaid under each pip.

Yeah, the mermaid doesn't quite work underneath the index pips. Otherwise, fantastic artwork! Can't wait to see the back. I hope you're making it 2 way and

MagikFingerz wrote: Thinner borders!

those look great! thanks for sharing

I'm glad to see you all dig the concept. I'm working on the card backs right now, it's almost finished, just doing some fine tuning.

Do you guys think it would look better without the small mermaid silhouette altogether? or perhaps just lighten the opacity by half or more? or maybe move the position? The concept is that each suit will have it's own race of merfolk represented on it... and I wanted to have something to illustrate that on the numbered cards as well, not just the courts. In the OP pic, they all have the same silhouette on them, but in the finals, each suit would have a different one. Thoughts?

I'm leaning towards removing it because it might look too busy. But that idea could be interesting as well. Maybe flip them over and have them holding the pip instead of swimming away from them?

Eoghann wrote:Maybe flip them over and have them holding the pip instead of swimming away from them?

I think I just might try that

Finally got to finish up the artwork for the card back

also edited op with new pic

I really like how it looks like the mirrored mermaids are holding the mirror for the other mermaid.

Oh snap! Mirrored back!

I'd really like to see a version without the frame. It can still have white edges without being "borderless", but some designs look much better without the "hard" borders. I think this is one of those. As an example of what I mean, take a look at the Medusa deck:

MagikFingerz wrote:I'd really like to see a version without the frame. It can still have white edges without being "borderless", but some designs look much better without the "hard" borders. I think this is one of those.

I will work on a version of it like that soon

Eoghann wrote:Oh snap! Mirrored back!

Mirrored with real mirrors!

StanKindLee wrote:I really like how it looks like the mirrored mermaids are holding the mirror for the other mermaid.

Thank you!

Although I like how clean the back looks, I also appreciate an awesome fan. Some seashells, waves or even full bleed would look wonderful with this deck. And the rotated "pip mermaids" look better and with more purpose now. Can't wait to see once the placeholder mermaid goes and you put proper silhouettes there.

Rotating the mermaid looks better; It's an improvement. I think your ok to go for your Kickstarter. I don't see anything wrong with theses cards. I like the blue and purple colors for the suits. It's different. Have fun in the wormhole. I like it when a person comes here gets critiqued and make a great deck.

Hey Galen, what design software do you use?

Malcolm K wrote:Hey Galen, what design software do you use?

I'm working with Photoshop cs5. These are all developed using the USPCC die templates, in CMYK @ 1200dpi.

I'm sorry I've been kind of MIA lately, but I've been working on the artwork for the court cards, the tuck box, and a few other goodies that will go along with this project.
I still need to finalize the new silhouettes of the separate merfolk for their suits, but that will be done very soon. I would like to share one of the court cards with you: the suicide king.



Everything is in order, other than finishing up some of the other court cards and the jokers/gaff cards and this project will launch on Kickstarter this Monday!

Awesome! Your suicide king looks great!

Looks good, but I think maybe just having the harpoon just go behind the head would look better, like on the normal Suicide King. As it is, it just kinda disappears into his cheek. Shouldn't be a problem to just cut it off at the back of the head/neck instead. The blood can still be there for the extra shock-value. Also blue hearts are weird, but it depends on the other colors I guess.

Have to agree with with MagikFingerz. The harpoon needs to go behind the head not in the cheek. Keep the blood. So your going with blue for Hearts and Diamonds and indigo with clubs and spades. That's your choice. You're the creator. Sometimes different is good.

Taking note and making the change I truly appreciate the input, guys.