Choosing Your Paper
The single biggest difference between cards that feel flimsy and cards that feel real.
Paper weight is measured in GSM — grams per square metre. The higher the number, the thicker and more opaque the paper. For card games, opacity matters just as much as stiffness: thin paper lets you see the back design through the front, which ruins any game that involves hidden information.
| Weight | Feel | See-through? | Home printer? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 gsm Standard copy paper |
Flimsy, papery | Yes — badly | ✓ Always works | ⚠ Prototyping only |
| 120 gsm Presentation paper |
Stiffer, better | Slightly | ✓ Usually works | 👍 Decent option |
| 160–200 gsm Card stock / cover |
Firm, satisfying | No | ✓ Most printers | ⭐ Sweet spot |
| 250–300 gsm Thick card |
Boardgame quality | No | ⚠ Often jams | 🏪 Use a print shop |
| 350 gsm+ Business card stock |
Stiff, professional | No | ✗ Will jam | 🏪 Print shop only |
Duplex Printing
Printing fronts and backs on the same sheet — the right way.
PrintPlay Studio generates your PDF with front pages first, then back pages in the same order. When you print duplex, the printer handles the flipping automatically. But you need to tell it which edge to flip on — and getting this wrong means your backs are upside down.
How it works
Most commonLong Edge Flip
The sheet flips like turning the page of a book. Use this unless your printer specifically says otherwise. This is what PrintPlay Studio defaults to.
Less commonShort Edge Flip
The sheet flips like a notepad — top over bottom. Some printers (especially A3 laser printers) use this for portrait pages. If your backs come out upside-down, try switching to this.
No Duplex Printer?
Manual two-sided printing — it works, just takes a little care.
Most home printers can print both sides manually — you just need to flip the paper stack yourself between passes. The trick is knowing which way to flip it for your specific printer.
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1Print odd pages only (fronts). In your print dialog, look for "Odd pages" or "Pages: 1, 3, 5…". Let the printed sheets cool for 30 seconds — warm ink smears more easily.
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2Take the printed stack out of the output tray. Do not reorder it. The pages need to stay in the same order they came out.
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3Flip the stack and put it back in the paper tray. This is the tricky bit — every printer is different. Print a test with a single sheet first: write a small arrow on the blank side before you flip, then see where it ends up after printing the back.
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4Print even pages only (backs). Pages 2, 4, 6… These are your back designs.
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5Check alignment on the first sheet before committing to the full print run. Hold it to the light — the front and back card outlines should line up.
Cutting Your Cards
The crop marks are your friend. Here's how to use them.
Every sheet generated by PrintPlay Studio has small crop marks at each card corner — those tiny L-shaped lines just outside the card edges. They show you exactly where to cut. Here's how different tools compare:
Long straight cuts, fast and consistent. Perfect for cutting rows and columns. Most offices and print shops have one.
Precise and clean on a cutting mat. Better than scissors for straight lines. Takes longer but gives professional results.
Works fine, especially for rounded or irregular shapes. Harder to keep perfectly straight on long cuts — guide along a ruler.
Optional but transforms the feel — rounds each corner to match commercial card stock. £5–£15, available on Amazon.
Finishing Touches
Optional extras that take your cards from "printed at home" to "did you buy these?"
💧 Laminating
Run your printed sheets through a laminator before cutting. Cards become waterproof, shuffleable, and feel significantly more premium. A basic home laminator costs £15–£25 and A4 pouches are cheap. Use 80 or 125 micron pouches — thicker gives a better feel.
🃏 Card Sleeves
Slip finished cards into standard card sleeves (poker size = 63×88mm, matching the default PrintPlay Studio card size). Sleeves protect against wear and make shuffling effortless. Dragon Shield or Ultimate Guard are popular brands.
⭕ Corner Rounder
A corner rounder punch rounds each card corner to a standard 3.5mm radius — matching commercial playing cards exactly. Takes about 30 seconds per card but completely transforms how the deck feels in your hands.
📦 Box & Storage
A small cardboard box, a rubber band, or a deck box from a game shop all work. If you laminated and have sleeves, a standard 100-card deck box from a game shop fits perfectly and looks great.
Professional Printing
When your home printer isn't enough — or you want 50 copies.
For thick card stock (300gsm+), large quantities, or just a truly professional finish, a print shop is the right choice. The PrintPlay Studio PDF is ready to hand over exactly as generated — no further prep needed.
Local Print Shops
High street chains with in-store print services. Hand them a USB drive or email the PDF. Good for small runs.
Upload online or walk in. FedEx Office has excellent card stock options and helpful staff for custom jobs.
Most cities have DTP/print shops that handle card stock printing. Ask for "300 GSM glossy or matte" and show them the PDF.
Online Print Services
Excellent for card printing. Upload your PDF, choose card stock weight, matte or gloss finish, quantity. Ships worldwide. Competitive pricing for runs of 25+.
Specialises in custom print runs. Higher quality than high-street chains. Good for making gifts or small commercial runs.
VistaPrint's business card ordering can work for small card decks. Upload as a business card size, order in bulk. Inexpensive for simple decks.
Specifically designed for indie board game creators. Upload card PDFs, choose tuck boxes, get proper game components. Perfect if you want to make a proper boxed game.
Quick Checklist
Everything in one place before you hit print.