Printing guidance

Print My Deck

Cardivity gives you unlimited PDF and deck downloads for home printing or taking files to a local printer. This page is for creators who want to go a step further and explore specialist services for professionally printed card decks.

You've designed your deck in Cardivity. This page helps you take the next step: turning those digital cards into real, physical decks using popular third‑party printing services.

We're not affiliated with the printers listed here (unless we clearly say otherwise). These are commonly used services in the custom card community, shared to help you compare options and avoid common mistakes.

A lot of creators reach the same point: the deck is designed, the rules feel good, and the artwork looks great — but getting from a digital design to a printed deck can feel confusing.

This page is designed to reduce that friction. We've collected popular printing options, high‑level comparisons, and practical setup tips so you can move from "I'm done designing" to "I'm holding real cards" with fewer surprises.

We're not claiming to have personally tested every provider on this list. Instead, we're sharing services that are commonly used for custom card printing, and we'll update this page over time as we learn more from our own orders and from user feedback.

We're actively learning as we go. For example, we've placed an order with MakePlayingCards and will publish a more detailed review once that deck arrives and we've tested it in real use.

Popular Card Printing Options

These services are commonly used by creators who want to print custom card decks. We don't control these platforms, but this overview should help you decide which ones are worth exploring.

MakePlayingCards

Best for: Custom card decks, prototypes, and small-to-medium runs

A well-known online printer that many creators use for custom card decks, prototypes, and small production runs.

Possible pros

●Popular with indie creators for custom decks
●Wide range of sizes, finishes, and packaging options
●Generally considered good for both prototypes and premium-feel decks

Possible cons

●International shipping times and costs can vary
●Interface can feel detailed or technical if you are new to print setup

Review coming soon — we've placed an order and will share our hands-on notes once it arrives.

We recommend reviewing their specs, card stock options, and shipping details before placing an order.

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PrinterStudio

Best for: Budget-friendly decks and simple custom card projects

A commonly used online printer for custom cards and photo products, often chosen for budget-conscious projects.

Possible pros

●Often used for more budget-friendly runs
●Offers a variety of card formats and photo products
●Can be a good option for early prototypes or casual decks

Possible cons

●Quality and finish options may feel more basic compared to some premium-focused providers
●As with any printer, colour and finish can vary between batches

We recommend reviewing their specs, card stock options, and shipping details before placing an order.

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Future Provider

Best for: To be confirmed

Placeholder for additional card printing services we may add in the future as we learn more from user feedback and our own testing.

Possible pros

●Structure is ready so we can easily add new providers later

Possible cons

●Details will be added once we have enough reliable information to share

We recommend reviewing their specs, card stock options, and shipping details before placing an order.

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High-Level Comparison

Use this as a starting point for your research. The labels below are qualitative and intentionally broad — always check the latest details on each printer's website.

Provider	Best for	Typical quality level	Turnaround	Notes
MakePlayingCards	Custom decks & higher-quality prototypes	Often considered premium or near‑premium for indie projects	Varies by region; commonly used for small-to-medium runs	Popular with creators; good range of finishes and sizes
PrinterStudio	Budget-friendly decks & simple custom projects	Good for casual use and prototypes	Varies; often chosen when cost is a primary factor	Commonly used for early prototypes and personal decks
Future Provider	TBD	TBD	TBD	Placeholder for future recommendations and reviews

Tips for the Best Printing Outcome

A few practical guidelines that can make the difference between an "okay" deck and one that feels great at the table.

Pick a standard size

If you want a familiar playing-card feel, choose a standard poker size. Many printers label this clearly in their size guides.

Choose the right finish

Linen, matte, or game-card style finishes often feel more like real game cards than very glossy photo finishes.

Respect trim and safe areas

Keep important text, icons, and rules well inside the safe area so they are not clipped during trimming.

Check bleed settings carefully

Make sure your exported image files match the printer's bleed and trim specifications before uploading. Use the 'Export for professional print' option in Cardivity for poker card size output with bleed.

Start with a small test run

Order a small deck first to confirm colours, finish, and card feel before you commit to larger quantities.

Compare stock, finish, and shipping

Look at card stock weight, finish type, and shipping options together. The cheapest unit cost is not always the best overall value.

Transparency & How We May Evolve This Page

We are not affiliated with any of the printing companies listed on this page unless we clearly say so in the future. Links are provided for your convenience so you can explore options that other creators commonly use.

Please review each provider's specifications, pricing, shipping, taxes, and sample options before placing an order. Print quality can vary between printers, stock types, and even batches, so it's always worth starting with a smaller test run.

In the future, we may add more structured reviews, "best for" badges, and possibly affiliate or partner links. If we do that, we'll mark those relationships clearly so you know exactly what is editorial and what is a paid or partnered recommendation.

Designed your deck already?

Compare printing options, choose the one that fits your goals, and then come back to keep iterating on your next game.

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