You’ve channeled your vision, artistry, and intuition into a unique tarot deck. Now, you stand at the most critical junction: the tarot card printing process that transforms your digital designs into a tangible, professional-quality deck you can sell, share, and be proud of.
This is where creators often feel overwhelmed. Questions about card stocks, finishes, file formats, and order quantities can feel like a barrier to launching your project.
This guide eliminates that barrier. We will walk you through every step of the tarot card printing process, from expert-level decisions on materials to the business logistics of selling your deck online. By the end of this page, you will have the confidence and the tools to bring your deck to life.
Ready to Create? Choose Your Custom Deck Type
Custom Tarot Cards
The classic 78-card format, brought to life with superior durability and professional finishes for daily handling and shuffling.
Oracle & Affirmation Cards
Your vision, your rules. Ideal for unique divination systems, guidance decks, and flashcards. Fully customizable in size and card count.
Custom Tuck Boxes
Give your deck the retail-ready presentation it deserves. Our Dynamic Tuck Box automatically adjusts to fit your specific card count perfectly.
Curious about the difference between Tarot and Oracle Cards? Check out our Oracle Cards vs Tarot Cards: Which One Is Right for You? blog for all the details.
Step 1: The Anatomy of a Professional Tarot Deck
The look of your cards is your art, but the feel is our craft. The right materials separate a good deck from a cherished heirloom. Here’s what you need to know.
Card Stock: The Heart of Your Deck's Quality
This choice affects durability, shuffle-feel, and opacity. We use professional-grade stocks with internal core layers to ensure they are not see-through and can withstand repeated use.
- Premium Standard (300gsm): A robust and smooth stock with a blue core for opacity. It offers a fantastic "snap" and is an excellent choice for any project.
- Casino-Grade Elite (350gsm): Our top-tier stock, featuring a dense black core for 100% opacity and superior rigidity. This is the professional's choice for Kickstarter projects and retail decks that need to feel substantial and last a lifetime.
Surface Finish: Protecting Your Art & Perfecting the Shuffle
The finish is a laminate applied after printing that protects the ink and defines the card's texture.
- Matte Finish: A modern, non-reflective finish that gives a sophisticated, silky-smooth feel.
- Gloss Finish: A shiny finish that makes colors appear vibrant and saturated.
- Linen (Air-Pocket) Finish: A premium textured finish that creates tiny air pockets, allowing cards to glide effortlessly over one another for the smoothest shuffle possible.
For a deeper dive into the technical details, see our complete guide on How to Choose Card Stock.
Step 2: Preparing Your Artwork for Flawless Printing
Submitting print-ready files ensures your vision is perfectly translated to the physical card. Whether you're using a tool like Canva or the Adobe Creative Suite, these principles are universal.
- Color Mode: Set your design files to CMYK, the standard for professional printing, to ensure color accuracy. RGB files used on screens can look different when printed, so this step is crucial.
- Resolution: Export your artwork at 300 DPI for sharp, high-definition results.
- Bleed Area: Extend your design 3mm beyond the final card edge. This "bleed" is trimmed off, guaranteeing your art goes edge-to-edge with no white borders.
Actionable Resource: Don't guess. Use our official Card Templates to build your designs with the correct dimensions and bleed area from the very start.
Step 3: Common Mistakes to Avoid (How We Help You Fix Them)
As printing specialists, we've seen the common pitfalls that can delay a project. Here’s how to avoid them:
- Mistake #1: Designing in RGB. Most design software defaults to RGB (for screens). Printing in RGB can lead to dull or unexpected colors.
- Our Solution: Our POD Design Tool automatically flags RGB files upon upload, giving you a chance to convert them to CMYK for accurate color representation.
- Our Solution: Our POD Design Tool automatically flags RGB files upon upload, giving you a chance to convert them to CMYK for accurate color representation.
- Mistake #2: Low-Resolution Images. Artwork below 300 DPI can look blurry or pixelated when printed, undermining the quality of your deck.
- Our Solution: We provide free, pre-sized templates. When you upload your art to our tool, we provide a "print quality" warning if the resolution is too low.
- Our Solution: We provide free, pre-sized templates. When you upload your art to our tool, we provide a "print quality" warning if the resolution is too low.
- Mistake #3: Text or Borders Too Close to the Edge. Important elements within the 3mm bleed area risk being trimmed off during production.
- Our Solution: Our templates include a "safe zone" guide, showing you exactly where to keep critical elements to ensure they appear perfectly on the final card.
Why Creators Trust QPMN: Our Commitment to Your Vision
Choosing a printing partner is critical decision for your business. You need a partner with proven experience and a process you can trust.
- Over 40 Years of Specialized Experience: We aren't a general printer. For four decades, QPMN has focused exclusively on helping independent creators, artists, and publishers produce professional-quality card decks. We've printed over 500,000 decks for creators worldwide.
- Technology You Can Feel: We invest in the same technology used by major game and card publishers.
- Our digital presses ensure rich, consistent color, while our precision cutting and laminating machines deliver a perfect finish on every single deck.
- A Partner in the Creator Community: We live and breathe the creator world. We've been the trusted fulfillment partner for over 100 successful Kickstarter tarot projects. We understand the deadlines, the quality expectations, and the logistics needed for a successful campaign.
The QPMN Advantage: Built for Modern Creators
We are more than a printer; we are a platform built to help you succeed. This is how we’re different.
- True Print on Demand (No MOQ): The phrase "no minimum order" is our business model. Test your market with a single prototype deck without any financial risk.
- FlexiBulk™ Savings: Ready to scale? Our unique program gives you bulk discount pricing starting from just one unit, even if they have different designs. It’s the perfect solution for Kickstarter fulfillment.
- Powerful POD Design Tool: Our free, user-friendly tool is your personal tarot card maker. Easily upload your designs, see a live preview, and prepare your product for sale.
- Full E-commerce Integration: We connect directly to your store. With seamless integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy, orders from your customers are automatically sent to us for printing and fulfillment.
- Global Warehouse & Dropshipping: You focus on creating and marketing. We print, pack, and ship directly to your customers anywhere in the world.
Trust the Process: Hear from Creators We Partner With
Frequently Asked Questions about Tarot Card Printing
- How much does it cost to print a custom tarot deck?
The cost depends on card stock, finish, card count, and quantity. With our "no minimum order" model, you can print a single prototype deck for a very affordable price to test your design. - What is the standard size for tarot cards?
The most common tarot card size is 2.75" x 4.75" (70mm x 120mm). We offer free templates for this size and many others to ensure your designs are perfect. - Can I print just one copy of my tarot deck?
Absolutely. This is our specialty. We are a print-on-demand service with no minimum order quantity (MOQ). This allows you to order a single deck for personal use, as a prototype, or to test the market before committing to a larger run. - What's the difference between tarot and oracle cards?
Structurally, nothing! The difference is in your content. Tarot decks traditionally follow a 78-card structure. Oracle decks are more freeform and can have any number of cards with any theme you envision. We print both with the same professional quality.
Your Tarot Deck is Ready to Be Real
You have the vision, the guide, and the perfect partner. The final step is to take action. Bring your tarot deck to life with professional quality, unparalleled flexibility, and a team dedicated to your success.
Written By
Susanna is a digital marketing professional with over 4 years of experience specializing in SEO, SEM, and content marketing. Her career began at a global digital PR agency, crafting press releases and advertorials. Her storytelling roots guided her from PR to coding, where she honed data analysis skills to enhance SEO through user behavior and keyword insights, ultimately thriving in the vibrant field of digital marketing. Guided by her motto to "Stay positive and work 110% in life," Susanna brings a dedicated and energetic approach to every project. Originally from Canada, she spends her free time vocal singing, scuba diving, yoga, running, and capturing her travel adventures through photography.