cc_banner
 
Card history reveals things you had no idea of
Having derived from China the cards travelled all over the world acquiring interesting features and changing its main colors, suits and pictures.

Production methods for Cards

Over the years, several changes have occurred in the way the playing cards have been manufactured. With the rise in demand, people came up with quicker and inexpensive methods of production. They switched to paper instead of parchment and learn how to make multiple copies of the same card rather than hand painting each one.

Various alternative processes had been developed and wooden blocks were soon made to print cards faster, stencils were also used along with several other techniques. Today, highly advanced machinery is being used to print playing cards.

Long time ago

In the earlier centuries, the royalties used cards that were made from expensive material like gold leaf or enamel and were decorated with precious stones. Several expensive cards were made with the images engraved in copper with the help of skilled artisans. Such cards usually have great attention to detail and were often given as gifts to newly married couples or were handed down from generations since they were considered to be quite valuable. Several people are also known to collect such unique card packs for display.

However, there were only very few people who enjoyed the luxury of using such unique card packs. The hand painted luxurious cards was mostly available to Royalties who played various card games with their select friends and family. The general public used the mechanically produced cards or the printed versions which were often had low quality designs and were not known to last longer.

The various designs that were used by craftsmen depended on the particular tradition of the area as well as the era in which the cards were made. Skilled artisans were often known to have a collection of designs and models in their own sketch books from which they selected and worked on designs. The popular images were often copied by several other artisans, which is how several of the images and designs that we know of today have been wide spread.

Over the years, much of the original designs have been copied with errors and have subsequently changed a lot from the original version. In the earliest playing cards the images that were used in the designs were mostly based on natural elements. It was common to find flowers, birds, animals and plants in most types of playing cards. Often, miniature designs and elaborate court scenes were also painted on the cards. Scenes from everyday life in that era were also very widely used. Several card packs are also known to have been playful, with elaborate scenes in amusing style being depicted on the cards.

Nowadays

Today, a typical deck of cards is printed on sheets of card board or on plastic, which then go under a varnishing process to bring out their brightness and to make them long lasting. Several high quality products are also being made today in which specific treatments are being utilized for manufacturing like linen finishing and calendering.

The designs are printed on large sheets, which are then cut and arranged before they are assembled in new decks. They then go for the final process for rounding the corners and finishing. Finally they are packed and wrapped and are inserted in their respective casing.

 
 
 
 

Card Countries

China Japan
   
India Spain
   
England Germany

Contact us

To send us a message please fill the form below.

Name
E-mail