Hey guys,
I'm new to these forums, but would be very interested to find artwork that is high res enough for printing. I'm interested in making any power cards 5, 6 and 8 which were supposed to be part of the elusive "Marvel" expansion, but need good artwork in the style of the official Overpower cards. Does anyone have any good links?
Forgot to mention in our e-mails, the trading cards that were printed out in the same period as OverPower are excellent sources for card art.
I think he means trading cards like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-1995-Fleer-Ultra-X-Men-Mixed-Special-Cards-/260996860974?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc4a00c2e#ht_522wt_1270
The jumbo card back would print out quite well, it's the highest resolution image of the card back that I'm offering. All other cards are 500x700.
If you want ones with specific copyright years (at 500x700), I can provide a link, all distinct card backs are scanned in and available.
I've used Jack's site to print quite a few proxys and depending on how well your printer prints they come out looking quite nice. 8)
I gave Onslaught the image backs for his cards. The source was the same, I scanned him a 5"x7" place card. This was before I worked on my scanning project so the version he got was different.
You're not going to notice any difference with the file you received and the "source" scan. Effectively, you're getting a 400DPI image. Most people have problems differentiating between 200DPI and 600DPI images.
What are you trying to accomplish anyway?
In most cases, just printing out the front of the card would suffice for regular play. You should be using opaque card sleeves when playing OverPower because of the possibility of mixing in the 3 images of card backs or if you use any X-Men expansion cards.
Quote from: Allo on April 11, 2012, 10:01:14 PM
Jesse, did you use professional commercial printers? Do they look indistinguishable from the real thing?
I used a Laser Printer. Set aside from my color template being a little off on one set (i.e. the XMen Set's yellow border was a tad darker) they looked pretty good. I printed mine, then lamenated them (I dont like the 'paper' feel) and once in a sleeve it was difficult to distinguish the real cards from the proxy cards. I even had to do a double take on some of the Onslught cards once they were in the sleeve because they looked almost 100% perfect (almost becuase I can't cut 100% straight :P). Jack has a great set of quality scans so printing any of them with a reasonable printer will net you some good looking proxys. Even printing them on a bad printer should get you something nice to work with.
Can you post some photos of your results?
Quote from: mattkoz on April 12, 2012, 10:38:28 AM
Can you post some photos of your results?
Sure, but it will probably be monday. I've got two seperate birthday parties to attend this weekend (Starting tomorrow) so I will be crazy busy.
I will put the printed card next to the real one (if I have the real one).
I'll snap some pictures of some of my prints with the real card next to it.
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 11:40:39 AM
I'll snap some pictures of some of my prints with the real card next to it.
Out of curiosity what type of printer do you use Jack?
I'm using a colour inkjet printer. It's not the best in the world but the ink is ridiculously cheap at $1/cartridge with third-party refilled cartridges. The cartridges last me enough for at least 30 prints per change. The colour reproduction is pretty accurate once the settings have been tweaked.
Model: Brother MFC-5490CN
Application: Photoshop with finely tuned settings for accurate prints
I print on photo paper, thick enough so that if you back it with a (Bicycle) playing card (not an OverPower card) in a sleeve, it feels like the real thing. The photo paper I bought was $5 for 50 sheets, which is a steal as well.
I also made some prints using clear adhesive-backed acetate -- like window decals. I stuck them onto blank playing cards and they look pretty real from a small distance but noticeable "fake" if you hold it in hand.
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 11:53:56 AM
I'm using a colour inkjet printer. It's not the best in the world but the ink is ridiculously cheap at $1/cartridge. The colour reproduction is pretty accurate once the settings have been tweaked.
...
dang! $1/cartridge?! that's crazy good!
I have a decent printer, but it's pretty old so it seems to have a hard time warming up. the first several print jobs I do come out distorted, seemingly every time. Fortunately, I'm not too concerned with color accuracy - as long as the text can be read, I'm pretty happy.
(by the way, I print onto blank labels the size of name badges. then stick'em to super-common OP cards. If I stick it to a card from the same set, it usually looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself ;))
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 11:53:56 AM
I'm using a colour inkjet printer. It's not the best in the world but the ink is ridiculously cheap at $1/cartridge with third-party refilled cartridges. The cartridges last me enough for at least 30 prints per change. The colour reproduction is pretty accurate once the settings have been tweaked.
I use this really nice Laser Printer that they have at my office.....on the nights that I work late and everyone in my area goes home early ;)
Quote from: ncannelora on April 12, 2012, 12:02:21 PM
(by the way, I print onto blank labels the size of name badges. then stick'em to super-common OP cards. If I stick it to a card from the same set, it usually looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself ;))
I've read that from you before, and since the first time I read it, I've been looking for labels that would be large enough to cover a card and havent had much luck.... :-\
Laser printer would be nice as well though they don't usually accept photo paper and glossy laser printer paper is very expensive.
My printer, an all-in-one was bought for $80, down from $170. It was intended to be a scanner (it had an auto document feeder) for when I had to scan the binders with juicy OverPower information but it turned out to be a very good printer too.
I bought some 8.5x11 sheets from eBay, quite expensive at over $1/sheet but it looks pretty good for slotting in the Avenger's ID and AP teamwork in my binders as place holders. I bet you can get a similar effect with regular acetate and just hovering them over a card in a sleeve. Much cheaper and there's no mess of sticking it to a card.
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 12:14:18 PM
Laser printer would be nice as well though they don't usually accept photo paper and glossy laser printer paper is very expensive.
I've not tried using photo paper yet. So far I have just been printing off the proxys then I laminate them - with the lamination on them they come out to a pretty close thickness feel when compared to other OP cards (in a sleeve that is).
Lamination works good too, I just don't have access to a lamination machine or any pockets. I'll have pictures up in a bit, printing out cards from the 500x700 pixels instead of my usual 600DPI raw prints.
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 12:26:53 PM
Lamination works good too, I just don't have access to a lamination machine or any pockets. I'll have pictures up in a bit, printing out cards from the 500x700 pixels instead of my usual 600DPI raw prints.
Where I work they were actually throwing away a good desktop lamintor and about 2 boxes (few hundred) of sheets for it - b/c one guy said it was "outdated." That's fine with me! ;D I'll put up some of my prints with the originals as soon as I can so we can see the difference in yours and mine....yours probably look better since I'm using the fancy printer :P
Quote from: Jesse on April 12, 2012, 12:07:48 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on April 12, 2012, 12:02:21 PM
(by the way, I print onto blank labels the size of name badges. then stick'em to super-common OP cards. If I stick it to a card from the same set, it usually looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself ;))
I've read that from you before, and since the first time I read it, I've been looking for labels that would be large enough to cover a card and havent had much luck.... :-\
the labels I use don't actually cover the entire card. that's my comprimise for the convenience. It's really quick and very easy, but it's not going to fool anyone. But, they shuffle well outside of a sleeve, and certainly in a sleeve they do just fine :)
Quote from: ncannelora on April 12, 2012, 01:31:52 PM
Quote from: Jesse on April 12, 2012, 12:07:48 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on April 12, 2012, 12:02:21 PM
(by the way, I print onto blank labels the size of name badges. then stick'em to super-common OP cards. If I stick it to a card from the same set, it usually looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself ;))
I've read that from you before, and since the first time I read it, I've been looking for labels that would be large enough to cover a card and havent had much luck.... :-\
the labels I use don't actually cover the entire card. that's my comprimise for the convenience. It's really quick and very easy, but it's not going to fool anyone. But, they shuffle well outside of a sleeve, and certainly in a sleeve they do just fine :)
Yeah, thats what I mean, I can find those - but Im so OCD that I want something that will fully cover or closely cover ???
I forgot that green has a very difficult time printing on my printer.. anywho..
Left: Real, Right: Print
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/prints1.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/prints1.jpg)
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/prints2.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/prints2.jpg)
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/prints3.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/prints3.jpg)
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/prints4.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/prints4.jpg)
As you can see, the green is very bad.
My printing supplies:
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/ink1.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/ink1.jpg)
My set of papers, I like the Staples brand paper the most.
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/ink2.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/ink2.jpg)
My set of "to-use" ink cartridges. Some of these aren't $1/cartridge, but close to $2/cartridge.
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/ink3.jpg&size=640) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/ink3.jpg)
My set of unopened ink cartridges. $40 for 40 is an awesome price, compared to $13/cartridge when you buy the "official" ink.
Looks good Jack!
I notice some are slightly off on color- barely - thats how most of mine are.
Quote from: Jesse on April 12, 2012, 01:32:57 PM
Yeah, thats what I mean, I can find those - but Im so OCD that I want something that will fully cover or closely cover ???
well, I think you can also find full sheet labels (not quite 8 1/2 x 11). then you could custom cut them to size ;)
Quote from: ncannelora on April 12, 2012, 02:51:36 PM
Quote from: Jesse on April 12, 2012, 01:32:57 PM
Yeah, thats what I mean, I can find those - but Im so OCD that I want something that will fully cover or closely cover ???
well, I think you can also find full sheet labels (not quite 8 1/2 x 11). then you could custom cut them to size ;)
Yeah - but I dont cut straight ::) So I'm going for the lazier method of trying to find labels that are really close in size...
Impressive. Funny how the green ends up so differently while the other colors seem very spot on.
Quote from: mattkoz on April 12, 2012, 03:14:48 PM
Impressive. Funny how the green ends up so differently while the other colors seem very spot on.
One of the few benefits of being color-blind, they look great to me!
Quote from: Kal-el on April 12, 2012, 09:09:02 PM
Quote from: mattkoz on April 12, 2012, 03:14:48 PM
Impressive. Funny how the green ends up so differently while the other colors seem very spot on.
One of the few benefits of being color-blind, they look great to me!
LOL. I once heard that same statement from an electrician putting up new wiring......no joke!
Quote from: Jesse on April 12, 2012, 11:25:37 PM
Quote from: Kal-el on April 12, 2012, 09:09:02 PM
Quote from: mattkoz on April 12, 2012, 03:14:48 PM
Impressive. Funny how the green ends up so differently while the other colors seem very spot on.
One of the few benefits of being color-blind, they look great to me!
LOL. I once heard that same statement from an electrician putting up new wiring......no joke!
YIKES!! o.O
I forgot to post a picture..
(http://overpower.ca/thumb.php?file=uploads/blank_print.png&size=825) (http://overpower.ca/uploads/blank_print.png)
These are all printed cards using my adhesive backed acetate on blank playing cards.
Impressive. I imagine that in a sleeve you can't tell the difference.
Quote from: mattkoz on April 13, 2012, 09:09:42 AM
Impressive. I imagine that in a sleeve you can't tell the difference.
I concur! seriously good printing quality there!
Quote from: ncannelora on April 13, 2012, 12:43:30 AM
YIKES!! o.O
You're telling me! I work in Safety :o
Jack - you're printings make me sad :P I havent cut the round edges on mine - so they are still squred....yours look amazing.
Quote from: Jack on April 12, 2012, 11:53:56 AM
I'm using a colour inkjet printer. It's not the best in the world but the ink is ridiculously cheap at $1/cartridge with third-party refilled cartridges. The cartridges last me enough for at least 30 prints per change. The colour reproduction is pretty accurate once the settings have been tweaked.
Model: Brother MFC-5490CN
Application: Photoshop with finely tuned settings for accurate prints
I print on photo paper, thick enough so that if you back it with a (Bicycle) playing card (not an OverPower card) in a sleeve, it feels like the real thing. The photo paper I bought was $5 for 50 sheets, which is a steal as well.
I also made some prints using clear adhesive-backed acetate -- like window decals. I stuck them onto blank playing cards and they look pretty real from a small distance but noticeable "fake" if you hold it in hand.
hey jack...do you mind sharing how you tweak the settings? I've got the same printer as you, and want to get the most out of making some homemades and proxies...lemme know!
Not sure if Windows XP drivers are any different but I'm using the default Windows 7 drivers -- and not the ones from Brother or any updated drivers.
I print from Photoshop for maximum control for colours.
(http://overpower.ca/uploads/bestprint1.png)
(http://overpower.ca/uploads/bestprint2.png)
(http://overpower.ca/uploads/bestprint3.png)
(http://overpower.ca/uploads/bestprint4.png)
Ignore bounding box...
ive got windows 7 myself, so that'll work just fine..thanks!
and one more thing, while im at it...whats the coating on the powersurge-image cards? it seems the same as bicycle playing cards...is it a laminant, or a specific type of card stock that the cards were printed on to? do you or anyone know?
No idea.