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I really dig this deck. I feel like a "Day of the Dead" deck can justify having skulls on it. HOWEVER, as much as I like the Jack pictured here, I HATE that it's one-way. In fact, that might be the deal breaker for me.

I really like this one!

I like the fact that they used the different Bicycle style box

The tuck reminds me of the 125th Anniversary one but other than that, looks nice.

Bikefanatic wrote:The tuck reminds me of the 125th Anniversary one but other than that, looks nice.

That was my initial thought too. And also: MOAR SKULLS!

Seriously though, the theme is thorough and fully customized. Not a big fan of one-way courts, but it's not as big of a caveat as one-way backs are. I'd like to see more courts though, when only one or a few is shown I'm always afraid they'll repeat the court designs (all jacks are the same etc).

Very excited about this deck - I am a big fan of Posada's work. I like how the designer opted to use the old Bicycle logo as well.

Since I make prints myself I am confused as to how the woodcuts are being made. He says the images are being made with scratch board but is issuing woodcut prints.

MagikFingerz wrote: Seriously though, the theme is thorough and fully customized. Not a big fan of one-way courts, but it's not as big of a caveat as one-way backs are. I'd like to see more courts though, when only one or a few is shown I'm always afraid they'll repeat the court designs (all jacks are the same etc).

Same about the court cards - hope they don't repeat.

Hey guys, I'm the designer of the Calaveras deck. Just wanted to let you know I really wanted to make the faces 2-way, but the detail was going to be sacrificed and also the skulls would have ended up being really small.

Also, about the prints, here's a quick run down on how I'm making the cards and prints. I'm starting first with scratchboard to create the initial artwork. Once that's locked down, I scan and convert to vector - often tweaking a bit here and there on the computer. For the prints, I take the final artwork file and have my buddy with a laser etcher, etch wood blocks for me to ink and print.

Also saw a post about repeating royals - they will not repeat. I'll be creating 12 different royals.

Hope that helps to answer some of your questions. Feel free to hit me up with any more

Welcome to our forums and community Chris. We always enjoy chatting with the deck creators

BACKED! This is my kind of deck!

Thanks guys, glad to be here!

Glad you accepted the invitation Chris. Interesting process on the woodcuts/etchings. I have used a dremel to cut a wood block, and liked the line it gave, but your method will probably give finer detail than I got. Do you print them in a press or simply use pressure from the back with a tool?

For the samples I used a baren and spoon to pull the test prints. But I'm thinking that it's going to be a little much to do that for all the prints so I've been looking into making a bottlejack press:

http://nataliamoroz.com/studio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

People swear by the print quality off of these types of homemade relief presses.

The only downside to laser etching that I've run into is that the laser needs to be run over the wood twice to remove enough material. I'm luck because my buddy has no problem doing this for me on his machine, but a company would likely charge extra to run it twice.

very happy with what I see

A thoroughly modern labour saving process. Satisfyingly graphic scratch board that is digitally perfected, carved by laser, and, printed using a DIY hydraulic press.

I have to look at how much the laser etching costs. If I can afford it I would love to have a laser carved plate made to set next to the traditionally carved woodcut plate someone brought me back from Japan. A laser cut plate next to a method that goes back over 2000 years.

@Ovdiyenko
Is the shipping to Canada going to be the same as the international?

Definitely a labor saver for a project like this

I'll ask my buddy for his pricing with shipping to Canada, he charges me $40 a plate for 12x14". I also found this site, but can't speak to the quality (though it's pretty pricey):

http://www.etchpop.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think I need to leave the pricing to Canada the same as everywhere else - sorry, I know it's pricey, but shipping (esp. int. shipping) is just crazy expensive.

As much as I like this deck, and am backing for now, international shipping looks high compared to other decks on KS.

Verloren wrote:As much as I like this deck, and am backing for now, international shipping looks high compared to other decks on KS.

Yeah we shipped 6 decks for an extra $18 and he is at $25.

Thanks!

Nice work; Backed for a couple.

Would have gone more, but the shipping is exorbitant.

Glad to hear there will be 12 different royals. I understand the attraction of two-way but if there's a good design reason for it, I can live with one-way. I have enough decks that when I want to play a game of cards I do have other choices Some decks are worth having just to admire.

Watching the video on his KS page, he breaks down the types of courts he'll be using and why he choose the tuck box type. This would be the first one-way court deck I'll have.

Just wanted to send a note re: int. shipping. It's a lot, I know, and I'm not happy about it. The issue behind the pricing is that I have no way of calculating the shipping based on where you actually are. For instance, shipping to Canada is way cheaper than shipping to Macao or Kazakhstan. But I've already gotten orders from all three countries. There's no way for me to ask those three backers to add on the rate that applies to them with KS. I know this sucks, but I also have read posts about people going in the red trying to fulfill on their shipping:

http://albinodragon.com/shipping-call-i ... ckstarter/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hope the high prices don't dissuade anyone from backing the project who really wants these cards, but I have to be careful and I hope folks in other countries can understand the reasoning behind the at-first-blush insane pricing. I imagine you're probably as frustrated by it, if not more so , than I am.

You could have done like this guy is doing. Read the bottom paragraph.

I have been wishing for a day of the dead theme deck for a while, I am backing this project.

chess wrote:I have been wishing for a day of the dead theme deck for a while, I am backing this project.

Same here, just put my pledge through.

MagikFingerz wrote:You could have done like this guy is doing. Read the bottom paragraph.

+1
It's in the matrix hey MF?

Ovdiyenko wrote:For the samples I used a baren and spoon to pull the test prints. But I'm thinking that it's going to be a little much to do that for all the prints so I've been looking into making a bottlejack press:

http://nataliamoroz.com/studio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

People swear by the print quality off of these types of homemade relief presses.

The only downside to laser etching that I've run into is that the laser needs to be run over the wood twice to remove enough material. I'm luck because my buddy has no problem doing this for me on his machine, but a company would likely charge extra to run it twice.

Welcome to UnitedCardists Chris! Your deck is beautiful and well thought out. Do you have plans to have muertitas as the queens?

muertitas are awesome - but like sugar skulls they don't fit the time period and the work that Posada did. The queen's are going to be amazing though - I'm working one up now and will also do one as an homage to the famous "big hat" catrina that posada did:

https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/files/p ... %20300.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm liking this design, not that I'm big on skulls, but the artwork is really good and the old logo really stands out and fits the theme nicely. The price per deck is high, but I think I'll have to end up grabbing a few of these.

charlie

Emmanuel wrote:
Welcome to UnitedCardists Chris! Your deck is beautiful and well thought out.

Ditto Chris! Cool deck. I'm in.

This deck is sweet!

nice job Chris, can't wait to see the rest of the courts.

I'm a backer!

Thanks guys! I'm working on the queen of diamonds - should be ready to release it Monday. Thanks again!