The Ritual - Design Revision....help!

[Sher]

Yup. I'm definitely backing these.

[52Ravens]

Finished the Jack of Spades today, thanks again for your feedback

[Godzillian]

Would you consider getting rid of the dirt & random specks/dots on the front of the cards? I think it'd make the deck classier and cleaner.

EDIT: Same suggestion goes for the backs. Also, JoQ looks sick.

[MagikFingerz]

Would you consider getting rid of the dirt & random specks/dots on the front of the cards? I think it'd make the deck classier and cleaner.

EDIT: Same suggestion goes for the backs. Also, JoQ looks sick.

Jack of Queens?

I think I agree though, you could at least do it on some of the cards and make a side-by-side comparison.

[montecarlojoe]

I think there are two textures here - the foxing, dirt and water spotes are in teh background - underneath everything else - but there is also a sort of worn stone texture aplied to the main design and indexes.

I quite like it but maybe that stone texture could be toned down a bit - it's much more noticable on the black suits.

[52Ravens]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I've given some options below for you to look at.

I kind of like the dirty dots in the corners as I feel it gives it a bit of character, but below I have the dirty and clean versions. What do you think?



Then there is the matter of the texture on the colour section of the cards being too prominent. I think you're right, below are the examples, but looking at them side by side, I think I'll keep the red as it is and use the new black version but bring it back a little towards the original as I think it looks too dark.....but what do you guys think?





Ps, its one background texture, the card image design is used as a mask to manipulate the background texture beneath to be red/black. Haha some "behind the curtain" insight for you there!

[Godzillian]

Would you consider getting rid of the dirt & random specks/dots on the front of the cards? I think it'd make the deck classier and cleaner.

EDIT: Same suggestion goes for the backs. Also, JoQ looks sick.

Jack of Queens?

I think I agree though, you could at least do it on some of the cards and make a side-by-side comparison.

LOL! Not sure what I was thinking, haha.

I do prefer the cleaner version, but I also think it's personal preference. I can't tell the difference between the "Original" and "Darker" versions either, but maybe it's my computer screen or my eyes. Maybe someone else can offer critique on that?

[montecarlojoe]

I agree - the cleaner version looks good - I also agree that the original red texture looks fine and the darker blacks match better.

Looking sharp!

[sprouts1115]

I'm for cleaner/darker. Also lets see one with the stripe suit on the right side and and solid on the left. I'm thinking it might be easier to read them when looking at them in a spread or in a peek position. I think your getting close to having a final product.

[montecarlojoe]

Very valid point there Sprouts

[52Ravens]

Thanks for the help, so it looks like we are going with clean, the original reds and the toned back darker blacks!

you are right. I've been looking at this and can't decide, what do you guys think? Strips on the left or the right?

(Sorry, had my stag party saturday so I've been a little preoccupied)

[52Ravens]

Thanks for the help, so it looks like we are going with clean,

Clean he says, just realising that I've used the old background!

[montecarlojoe]

Hehe

[sprouts1115]

Might I also suggest you can extend into no mans land with your courts. MagikFingerz loves smaller borders as so do I. It also leaves more room for your art. Don't be scarred just do it. I would love to see more hood on the QoH. Remember we are always tying to test the boundaries and you have plenty of room. No Mans land is Halfway pass the dotted USPCC die to the cut border. Believe me, I have asked many of times they will not give me an exact distance. Your indices are are right on the no mans land just expand your courts. I'm trying to give you a better deck....

[MagikFingerz]

I like solid outwards/stripes inwards better, makes it more balanced and as sprouts said it's more functional. Not sure about how borderless courts would work, since they're very traditional and work very well with the borders. Only one way to find out though

[52Ravens]

Ok, so below we have the QoH expanding into the no mans land, and though its only a little thing I think it'll stay, you're right it does break it out and it remains traditional. I did look at the ravens busting out of the border too but I think that it'll be distracting when fanning the cards, the hoods are at the top and I doubt they will impact much when it comes to handling.

We also have quick tests for almost borderless and borderless layouts. I'm liking the almost borderless but I think the no mans land version is just enough to give it that little something.

Let me know what you think, thanks for your options

[montecarlojoe]

I like them all - but the middle one least. Instinctively I'd say the first is the winner - the other's I think would need the same treatment on the sleeves to avoid looking cut off by an invisible border.
Of the two borderless I like very much the 8 point star motif of the last design - looks cleaner.

[Eoghann]

What Joe said. Number one with borders or number three but with elbows drawn in so it doesn't look cut off.

[Sher]

What Joe and Dan said.

[52Ravens]

I think I'm going to go with the border version for no other reason than I like them most haha, Maybe it because they seem more traditional that way

Today I have the Kind of Diamonds for you...4 to go! I think once they are all done I'll post one image that has them all on so that we can all compare them to one another and hopefully spot some final amends. Jack of Heart coming next

[SuicideKing]

I must say that I like this deck more and more each time at look at this topic! And I too prefer the border version of the court.

[Eoghann]

Excellent decision! And that King is gorgeous!

[sprouts1115]

Yep #1 looks pretty good. Ppl like the traditional borders around the courts. Besides we would not want to lose the shadow shading like in your #3. Just know, you can make your courts a bit bigger if you want too. You have the room, but If you do so you might have to modify your side art. Just make sure it's the same in your courts and pips. This guy is doing the same thing, but his art runs to the cut border which is fine because his art is the same in his pips and courts. Just know you have that option...

[montecarlojoe]

That's kinda Lee's signature feature on the Empire decks though.

Honestly I think this is one of the few designs I'd look at and say don't worry about squeezing the border... Tom?

[MagikFingerz]

That's kinda Lee's signature feature on the Empire decks though.

Honestly I think this is one of the few designs I'd look at and say don't worry about squeezing the border... Tom?

Well, as long as it's just the faded grey background that bleeds over the edge, I wouldn't mind it at all. Would improve face up fans a lot without being too "edgy" (no pun intended). Lee has the actual back design doing that, which is much more risky.

[Sher]

This is shaping up to be a really awesome deck! Love the new court!

[52Ravens]

Yeah, I certainly don't want to be stepping on anyones toes, but having said that, the star is as big as I'd like. I had thought of going into the bleed but I want the completed star.

I think if the stars went into the bleed area and were cut off, it might look a little strange. To create balance you would have to have something coming in from the side as Empire deck does...and I think this deck could survive without it.

Loving the feedback and ideas guys, really appreciate it

[52Ravens]

Hey, thanks again for all your feedback, I have the Jack of Hearts for you to look at today, let me know what you think

[montecarlojoe]

Awesome - except she's popped back into her frame

[Mike Ratledge]

Hey, thanks again for all your feedback, I have the Jack of Hearts for you to look at today, let me know what you think

Looking better every day!