Bicycle 'Federal 52'

[Firthetic]

Here's his latest update -

"Thank you to everyone for all of your incredible support. I am super excited to release the first new card design, The Ace of Clubs. I am also exited to announce that with the release of each new Ace I will be making available 100 decks available at the $11 pledge tier, at 12pm Pacific. I will be calling these limited releases "Celebration Decks"

Just to be sure these are the exact same Federal 52 decks. There is nothing different or unique about these specific decks. It is just a way for me to say thank you to all of you out there who are supporting me, and encouraging me.

This is a list of the cards that when released, will be followed by a Celebration deck pledge tier. So when you get an update for these cards be ready for the release an hour or so later. I will be doing these at random times, so I can make it possible for backers around the world to take part.

Ace of Clubs / Ace of Hearts / Ace of Diamonds / Joker 1 / Joker 2"

I'd already backed Jackson's project, but I appreciate the chance to pledge at a lower price. US$18 for one deck instead of US$22. Gotta save wherever I can.

[sms69x]

Missed the $11 pledge...
Have to wait for the next!!

[CBJ]

Update!


"The Anatomy of a Queen.

When I committed to the idea of doing the bank note theme I was worried that I was going to run into a wall with the Queens. In the beginning I thought of widening the net of inspiration and including other countries currency. Sadly after a few tests I quickly realized that It just didn't fit. US currency is so iconic in it’s design, just like many other countries, that a likeness, for example of Queen Elizabeth, just didn't fit.

Another standard that I had set for myself right from the beginning was if I’m going to use the presidents and portraits that are on US bank notes I had to do it for all of the court cards. I didn't want to “make up” a character. I wanted to use every aspect of existing currency. Even though I have to redraw every single element so that it fits together, everything you see on all of the cards has it’s origins on some currency. The only time I give my self any leeway is with the clothing. The clothing is where I want to maintain the elements and design of traditional playing cards.

I had a breakthrough with the queens when I ran across old Military Payment Certificates. Military Payment Certificates were notes printed to give to troops over seas to use as currency. It was cheaper to just print new money over seas than try to ship money to the troops. On these military payment certificates I found a gold mine of a few really interesting female portraits. Some ranged from very Raphaelite, like the one pictured on the Queen of Diamonds to much more modern portraits of leading ladies of the time.

Below is a kind of breakdown of how I grafted elements from different currencies to create the Queen of Diamonds.

Thank you again to all of my supporters. It is because of you that I am getting the incredible honor of making these cards. I hope that you guys are as excited as I am to see them finished and riffling through my hands.













Man, I can't wait to add these to my collection.

CBJ

[JacksonRobinson]

Hey guys! Thanks again for all of your comments and feedback. I'm trying to put together a list of meaningful stretch goals for this projects. I don't really want to dilute my campaign with a bunch of "fluff" so if you guys have any ideas of really good stretch goals I would love to here it.


And you guys for sure can add to the list for me to change the backs and fronts to two way designs.

Thanks again,
Jackson

[SeanWhelan]

After looking at the queen photo, isn't that plagiarism?....

[Russell]

After looking at the queen photo, isn't that plagiarism?....

US money is not copywritten or trademarked. You can use it for 'art' or anything as long as you are not tricking people into thinking it is real money.

[SeanWhelan]

Wow did not know that. Thanks Russel!
I have to admit this deck is beautiful and very well done, however the artist lost my respect for taking material other than his own to make money.

[GBAllison]

I have to admit this deck is beautiful and very well done, however the artist lost my respect for taking material other than his own to make money.

Really? All of his art is personally hand-drawn, using elements from bank note engraving as an inspiration. It's not as though he was photoshopping a bunch of snippets together--he's re-drawing the whole thing. Every card is a completely new piece of art.

Just my opinion I guess.

[SeanWhelan]

I understand that but I have a strong feeling when it comes to taking other art and using it in your own. Whether it's one little snippet or a whole section....taking art and making money from it is just not ethical in my book.

[Kleetz]

This is literally one of the BEST designed deck I've seen. The Founders was really good, but this, this is on another level in my book. Jackson, you seriously have some talent! I don't mean to fluff this up too much, but damn.

I've backed and curious to see how far it goes. Pedale was a 100K card deck (and I hate playing with it), I hope this one is too!

Kleetz

[UtterFool]

I understand that but I have a strong feeling when it comes to taking other art and using it in your own. Whether it's one little snippet or a whole section....taking art and making money from it is just not ethical in my book.

Sean
I really hope this is sarcasm.

Because if it isn't ...
I noticed you have pips on your Lucent deck. These pips look very similar to pips on most other decks.
Also your "completely original" court cards look like all other court cards except for the " originality" of being purple. This all seems a lot like borrowed work.

[sprouts1115]

Flyers3003 - thanks for pointing that out. thats my dyslectic-a showing through. looks like a weird 75 now.

Jackson - no one has said this yet but your (Series), (2013), (A) and it's opposite; (looks like 30), (D)

is upside down. why must it be the same on both side? you can make it anything you what. it would still be considered a "1 way back"

your "corner suits badges" can i call them that? come to a "T" Magic ppl are not going to like that and they are right; listen to them; they are not going to want to see that 52 times. you have to start thinking about fans. USPCC charges $450 for a demo deck. their are other places. http://www.brahmaplayingcards.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

as for stretch goals. thats easy. you get a choice of air-cushion & magic finish. ppl will tell ya magic of course. Metallic inks up to ?; would be one. Bee stock is next. not confirmed, but (something about Q1 & Q2 quality). then lastly the big daddy.

"Inks: We use Pantone color inks and metallic inks.

--- MOD EDIT ---
Please do not discuss pricing quotes you have received. USPCC might have changed the price since then and the information can be out-dated. If anyone would like to know the current prices, ask USPCC.
--- MOD EDIT ---

metallic inks should be the first stretch goal. its up to you; set it high. you should make it quick. where are you at now?

next, you should be thinking about is shipping can you handle 4000 packages. Pendale did. your at 800 now; with how many days left? and expect a surge at the end on kickstarter.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/153 ... sign/posts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

do you have lots of friends cos me personally i think i'll just be doing 2000 backers maximum then i need to start looking for a ....any good ones out there?

[sprouts1115]

"what are you talking about" utter fool. everything is borrowed. that is how you make new inventions. it just so happens Jackson "didn't reinvent the wheel; he just put rockets on it".

[Kleetz]

@sprouts what I think @utterfool was saying is that Sean's design had "borrowed" concepts. Because Sean was frowning upon Jackson for "copying" the queen.

In reality, everything is in fact borrowed because no idea is original, there's nothing new under the sun it's never what you do, but how's it's done.

Also, good designers borrow, great designers, steal!

[walrus]

Yes after the bible and Shakespeare nothing new can be written but things are still written. I was all ready to back this deck but I could not pay eleven buck for a KS deck. Not that I can not afford it, it just seems a bit intense. Obviously many did not feel the same.

[Sharpie]

So glad some people responded to Sean, so I didn't have to.
Was having trouble wording my incredulity

[SeanWhelan]

haha hey guys it's all good and glad to see other reactions.
Don't get me wrong I love the deck and still do but for some reason it just gets under my skin when I see artist use elements that have already been created.

During one class of mine in college, our project for the day was to create a bag for a store. Could be any store we wanted. At the end we all showed our creations and gave each other a critique. Everyone's design was from scratch using photoshop, some were really nice and some were just like how did you get in this class in the first place! I remember the one bag that got the best reactions: the student create a mock up bag for salon products. All she did was take images from google, add filters, desaturated them etc etc and just placed them very well into the design. Everyone was stunned to see the final look of it and got the best grade in the class.

I just stood back and wondered to myself...how the hell did that people do so well if everything she used was not hers??
I guess this is the reason why I frown upon using images that are not yours. My moral was I went to college to learn, to create designs from scratch and to better myself as an artist. I've always wanted to prove that I can create what was in my head onto a final product.

As I mentioned before this deck is beautiful and hat's off to the design for creating the elements from scratch. I only got annoyed because if you did most of the deck from scratch, why not continue and do that to the rest? But hey that's just my opinion and you can choose to disagree. I understand almost everything these days are taking from old designs, ideas and turned into something better, something amazing to better ourselves.

I really do wish the best for this product and by the looks of it so does a lot of people : D

[Firthetic]

New update!

"Hey guys! Just wanted to show you the two way back design I have created. I will let you guys decide, which one you prefer. Leave a comment in this update. I hope you guys are as excited about this new back design as I am!




Thanks again for all of you support,
Jackson"

I'm having a tough time deciding which back I prefer - both look great!

[MagikFingerz]

That looks amazing! I'm pretty sure he would have no trouble printing and selling both of them.

[Ryric]

In the world of cards, it's two-way, all day, every day, without a moments hesitation. There is no other choice.

I think Paul/encarded summed this up nicely on the update. Great looking deck, just needs the two way back.

[samurai007]

The new 2-way back looks awesome! As much as I liked the original one, I like this one even better, it has a stronger "money" feel to it. The eagle with the 4 suits is especially cool. As was mentioned on the KS though, typically the direction of the words matches the direction of the art for that half of the card.

[Strag]

I understand that but I have a strong feeling when it comes to taking other art and using it in your own. Whether it's one little snippet or a whole section....taking art and making money from it is just not ethical in my book.

Or is he taking money and making art from it?

I wish I could back this, but just so damn expensive for Int'l.

[RandyButterfield]

I finally just pledged. It's all very beautifully done!
You can tell Jackson is a designer as well as an artist. Most "artist" decks lack any strong design techniques.
These have sweet illustrations and great designs.

thanks, Randy

[sinjin7]

This is so much better. It still stays true to his design concept but is now more practical and versatile for a broader group of people. I also like the splash of color the green seals bring to the table.

[MagikFingerz]

Sprouts is gonna be pissed

[volantangel]

Sprouts is gonna be pissed

indeed

[runit]

New update!

"Hey guys! Just wanted to show you the two way back design I have created. I will let you guys decide, which one you prefer. Leave a comment in this update. I hope you guys are as excited about this new back design as I am!




Thanks again for all of you support,
Jackson"

I'm having a tough time deciding which back I prefer - both look great!

Just my two cents, I think it would be better if the eagle is facing the same side as that of the ribbon below it.

[sprouts1115]

magicfingera - you shouldn't be thinking about me; you should be helping this guy out, but your right.

jackson - your "2-way back" is now in two parts. flip the eagle around. it makes more sense with the text "Novus Ordo Seclorum"; am i wrong?

you have to think about the card spread for a fan or poker match. you have chosen your "corner border badge" to be "Novus" which means "New" that is what your opponent will see in a poker match and he may see part of the eagle. top left is critical on the backs.

[Widdee]

I agree, flip the bird sotospeak so that the eagle is upright at the top of each card instead of the bottom. Really like the 2-way back Jackson, I'd buy both but the new design does broaden your base.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

love the new back better than the 1st one!

When I was an art major we learned all about "found art" it's a movement. I once saw an entire wall made out of post it notes that went to the ceiling. The artist didn't ever claim to have invented the post-it, but he used it to make new art.

I can't tell you how many modern artists do this. Not to mention Andy Warhol to name drop one famous guy. Art is all about taking from the real world and making something new from it. A new way of seeing something old. Adding a touch of your vision to God's.

Plus, nobody can define what art is - or isn't. Beauty is in the eye.... or something like that.

Plagiarism is when you take something and claim that it is 100% your original idea or concept, or when you try to pass something off without crediting the source. Looking past this thread, I don't believe that is what is happening.