Upcoming 3.0 Release plan

[Chris Aguilar]

It would be interesting to know what the Pantone values of Bicycle Blue and Red are.

I have no idea what exact color values used by USPCC, which is OK, since I'm not trying to exactly match their color anyway.

Inkscape doesn't (by default) use pantone values/names, so for the vector backs, I've basically scanned/sampled (or eyeballed) colors from real cards, basically looking for values that look (and likely print) nicely.

I've seen cards printed before (from my vectors) using these values (specifically blue and red) and it looks great. Since the vector backs are not meant to be mixed into any other kind of commercial deck, I'm not trying to matching anything exactly here. The red/blue mix on commercial decks seems to vary, sometimes widely, so it's kind of a fools errand to attempt matching something that not even the big boys can match consistently.

Of course, since the vectors are infinitely editable, changing the values to anything one desires is really easy/quick.

[Chris Aguilar]

That being said, if one actually requires pantone colors (rare if self printing via one of the print on demand deck sites) it's very easy to add those values to Inkcape as a custom palette. I've tested this and it seems to work as described.

http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=14045
[quote]Unzip the attached zip file and place the palette file "pantone.gpl" in the Inkscape/Palettes directory.

Start Inkscape and select from the little black arrow on the palette bar.

Pantone_Inkscape.png

[Chris Aguilar]

Here's a link to more Pantone palettes for Inkscape that might be even more up to date than the above.

[Chris Aguilar]

Researched Pantone values and found a claim (unverified) from the big green cesspool, that that values for commercially available cards are:

---
PMS 286 Blue
PMS 186 Red

The packaging is PMS 287 Blue and PMS 186 Red.
---

The values I use are sampled from a scan of a real card so if the above are correct, my sampled values should be close.

After testing (my scanned samples vs. the above values) I will say that they are very close, with the only difference being that using the Pantone values (as above) basically gives the same color with more saturation. This would make sense, as some saturation is lost when printing on card stock, which matches the slightly more desaturated values I favor.

It's neigh impossible to truly judge colors on user's home monitor as most of us (not being graphics pros) do not have color calibrated monitors.

[Bill Mullins]

Thanks!

[Chris Aguilar]

Will also offer a gold/yellow variant for all backs, as the blue and black backs don't contrast as much as I'd prefer.

[Chris Aguilar]

I made a huge amount of progress toward packaging up the public 3.0 release this last weekend. I had to recreate (from scratch) a bunch of stuff that uses the faces as basis (e.g. the many color face variants) and clean up a bunch of other offerings that are split out (joker variants, ESP cards, pips/numbers/etc.) and happily, that is done now.

In terms of the actual release, except for a few things (which I suspect will take me 7-10 days) I'm very close to putting it all together 3.0 in one .zip file for release by Oct.31, '17.

I've already started a separate project folder for the upcoming "magican's only" set, which will be a nice superset of the public offering. Once Oct. 31 flies by, I look forward to adding the features previously mentioned for this different set.

I've given it a lot of thought and am seriously considering making this set (which will include a bunch of tools/elements not available on the public version) a conjurenation members exclusive item. Free for all members but also available (on a restricted basis) to those who can make a case that they'll actually use them.

[Chris Aguilar]

I'm definitely planning on creating (by march/april '18 or sooner) some youtube "how to" type videos showing some of the basics in terms of card creation. Specifically how to use the two templates (Pip Placement and Basic back design) I will eventually provide as part of the magician's set.

Some other topics might be how to easily create flowing curves/flourishes and how to use the mirror (symmetry function) in conjunction with graphic elements to get good consistent results. Minimally, these will be unlisted videos and perhaps some videos will be on a purely private channel (which has a 50 person share limit, which actually might work). Using these tutorials will assume some basic knowledge of Inkscape which I will help provide via links to what I consider to be the best learning resources (web and video).

I'm also making a mental list of gaffs I will provide.

For sure, split faces, split backs, double enders, Deland type gaffs, Mis-pipped cards, perhaps a King's Quartet (all four kings on one card), etc. Since USPCC no longer provides a poker ranking card, I really want to create one of those for the magician's set.

On a purely selfish note, I'm motivated to create the gaffs and magician's set, as I look forward to creating / printing custom gaffed decks for myself via makeplayingcards.com or one of the other similar sites. Jeff Haas showed me some samples from that site and they were quite good, very acceptable for my needs.

I would really appreciate any further suggestions for gaffs so I can start a list to work through once I get release 3.0 (public) out on Oct. 31st.

[Bill Mullins]

While you're at it, perhaps a set of Zener faces? (circle, cross, wavy lines, square, star).

[Chris Aguilar]

While you're at it, perhaps a set of Zener faces? (circle, cross, wavy lines, square, star).

The current set actually contains some decent Zener graphics. I've already updated them a bit, basically made them the right size for a poker card printing, and they're already good to go for the upcoming 3.0 release. Pairing them with the improved backs should produce a nice result (with possible customization of course).

[Chris Aguilar]

I'm really excited to be pushing out the 3.0 (public) release soon, as that will free me to do the really fun gaffs, create exclusive card backs, etc. for the magicians set (still planned as a "CN members only" offering).

Before I do that, I'll have to adjust the current set to more closely match the pip spacing of standard decks so that the face gaffs will work well. That process will frankly suck, but once it's done, it'll be full speed ahead on gaffing and so on.

[Jeff Haas]

How goes the release?

[Chris Aguilar]

I've had a change in my thinking concerning the public release, which entails me making some changes that I want to finish before I tackle the magicians set. I'm about half done with that public offering currently, which is mostly tweaks to the sixteen face cards to make them a bit more unique (unlike the magician's set) from other cards out there.

For the magicians set, my main goal is to have enough goodies for rollout by the spring. This includes at least two completely nice backs (in addition to the one and its variant that I've already completed) in various colors (4-6). Once I do that, I need to standardize the gaffs I want to include. Minimally, mispipped cards, split faces (vertical and diagonal) with some specialty gaffs (52 on 1 which is pretty much done, poker ranking card - etc.).

I might change my mind, but the magician's set will probably only be offered on a "request only" basis with first (and perhaps only) priority given to members of the forum who can give me some idea how they want to use them.) Though I will provide some guidance on how to use them, I don't want to be inundated with basic support requests on how to use inkscape to edit them. That being said, I did find (and successfully test) a very nice screen recorder (open sourced) program that I can use to create a few basic youtube videos (which will be on a private, not unlisted channel).

Long term goal that I've added is to create enough backs (with color variations) to be able to print up a nice (and original) rainbow deck. The only deck of this kind that I've been happy with is the one from magic makers (yeah, I know) which uses a nice mix of USPCC backs. I wouldn't mind something of equal quality with original backs, but that' s going to be a more aspirational goal once I get the main set up (two backs to start). I could create a lot of generic backs (in various colors) very quickly (sort of like the Josh Jay rainbow prism deck) to accomplish this, but I'm not terribly fond of that look either.

Holidays are killing me time-wise right now.

[Chris Aguilar]

My other goal (for the backs I'm creating) is to have at least two of those (probably the first two) have clear elements that can be easily replaced with custom text/graphics. Would be nice for pro magicians I think, who might not have the time/money to create a more custom deck for themselves.

[Bill Duncan]

i would vote for light/medium gray or tan or even orange over black. I've had Bicycle black backed cards that were almost indistinguishable from standard blue in normal room lighting. In a darker venue the difference would be pointless.

As for designs, I've always been partial to the World Poker Tour look: bordered Bee style backs with a logo in them. It might be fun to make a couple fo casino logos with magic references in the names.

[Chris Aguilar]

i would vote for light/medium gray or tan or even orange over black. I've had Bicycle black backed cards that were almost indistinguishable from standard blue in normal room lighting. In a darker venue the difference would be pointless.

As long as they're not ugly, I'm open to any colors in the default set. I think I've already got 4-5 that are locked. I'll keep black (in addition to blue) because the blue can be lightened if one wants to use them at the same time. Otherwise I see instances where one might want to use black in lieu of blue or vice versa.

As for designs, I've always been partial to the World Poker Tour look: bordered Bee style backs with a logo in them. It might be fun to make a couple fo casino logos with magic references in the names.

Like these? (pattern would vary a bit, as I won't copy any existing pattern, but this would be really easy to create otherwise).

KEM-WPT-SM.jpg

I actually already have multiple patterned backs (white bordered) that are ready to go and would just have to add the areas (which I could probably shape more nicely that the simple WTP test box) for the customized text. I'll probably only include the simplest of these patterned back in the public set and the best ones will be reserved for the magician's set.

[Chris Aguilar]

I haven't quite figured out how to do it nicely yet, but I'm trying to create a patterned back, where the pattern fades gently into the white border. Thought it would be easy, (which it is in photoshop or gimp but it's still kinda stumping me in Inkscape - which is where it needs to be).

[Jeff Haas]

Something looked odd to me about those WPT cards - I realized those are the KEM kind, which are all plastic and only a single color. The ones I've got have a few more colors on the back, like this:

[Bill Duncan]

That's my jam right there. The best looking and handling cards since the foil wrapped Arrcos back in the 80s

I really like the deeper red of the WPT cards, and if you're worried about people wondering if you're using a trick deck, WPT cards seem more legit than Bicycles.

[Denis Behr]

Hm, I never liked text on a back design. I find it distracting. Also, with multiple colors on the back one has to be very careful (see all those ugly design decks), but the red-blue-black WPT back is not too much in that regard.