The Ritual - Design Revision....help!

[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!

[52Ravens]

Awesome - except she's popped back into her frame

Haha you win.....um...I was testing you all! No, I just totally left it out!

See this is why I need all your eagle (raven) eyes

[52Ravens]

Queen of Clubs finished, 2 to go

[52Ravens]

One to go....

[Mike Ratledge]

REALLY starting to shape up to being a classic deck! Nice courts, and they are much improved, frankly. I've seen several bird-themed decks lately, but this one is superb.

[sprouts1115]

I still think your court cards can be bigger. Lets test the waters. Even with you extending the head of court you can still go higher up. This could be a really good deck. Just remember you can only go half into the dotted line in no mans land. As for the right and left of court if you want to keep it separate from the indices that is fine. Just trying to make you a better deck. Hell, whatever you have right now will make it on Kickstarter I think....

[52Ravens]

And here is the Jack of Diamonds. I think she has a fuller figure compared to the others but hopefully it won't stand out too much

I'll collate them all into one image so that they can be compared and you guys can pick away at anything that I haven't spotted.

[Levereno]

Great job on the design. Do you use Adobe illustrator?

[ecNate]

OK, I'm sold. I was kind of burnt out on 'dark' theme decks, they are almost 20-25% of my current collection. However, I can't look the other way on this one. Must have. Dang it!

[StanKindLee]

Great job on the design. Do you use Adobe illustrator?

I was thinking that I saw somewhere that Photoshop @ 1200 dpi is being used... correct me if I'm in error.

[52Ravens]

OK, I'm sold. I was kind of burnt out on 'dark' theme decks, they are almost 20-25% of my current collection. However, I can't look the other way on this one. Must have. Dang it!

Good to hear thanks!