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All,

I recently started designing decks. First one stalled due to licensing. So here is my first design without those restrictions. Inspiratio comes from my job and some other graphic design projects I've done. Pips and general layout are done, but haven't complete any one suit yet. Probably some minor issues, but I can touch those up. Courts are still pending and will feature work from my other major project. Back design is also still in works.

Interesting concept. I would eliminate the binary (ones and zeros) at the top and bottoms of the cards. Maybe drop the digital and just go with a world mapping theme. What are you going to do for court cards?

The digital part comes from my work managing geographic information system ('digital mapping') data and a logo I designed for others I work with called "data monkey." This theme will be reflected in the courts (JoS example attached).

I also worked out a possible AoS layout as well.

First, I've named the project now - Cartographica. Second, I've made alterations to the pips, indices and the binary. I've also drafted a back and started working on the tuck case.

@ivanrogov - You placement of the indices is good. Pips usually don't have a border, but the courts cards do.
Custom pips are good. Most of the time they also reflect them on the larger pips.

I trying to understand your theme. Maps of the world. That's a hard sell. It seems kind of boring...

Actually, some of the most beautiful graphics I have ever seen are the maps of the ocean floor which were included in National Geographic magazines. Beautiful and fascinating to see underwater mountain peaks and valley depths, some of which have still not been seen with the human eye, only sounded. We still don't know all of what lives down there.

ivanrogov, you could perhaps make a deck that is half above water and half below, changing the colour between the earth and the sea (though it is all one surface).

dazzleguts wrote:Actually, some of the most beautiful graphics I have ever seen are the maps of the ocean floor which were included in National Geographic magazines. Beautiful and fascinating to see underwater mountain peaks and valley depths, some of which have still not been seen with the human eye, only sounded. We still don't know all of what lives down there.

ivanrogov, you could perhaps make a deck that is half above water and half below, changing the colour between the earth and the sea (though it is all one surface).

Damn dazzleguts are you smoking the same stuff I am? I like that idea. So, I'm guessing above ground hearts and diamonds and ocean floor map clubs and spades? Basically, to fix the back of card he just has to have one Antartica. So He has a center and 2 mirror elements. Seems simple. Red? I don't know....

Here's a go at using the ocean floor for the spades. I might be able to do something similar for the reds using terrain.

Cool Ivan, I can see actual formations in there. They are very fine though, will they print well?

The red pips might work better if the land masses were given a faint sepia or rust colour, while the ocean floor could be a faint blue or teal. Would jazz the deck up a bit too. Is your cartography work all done in black and white?

Sprouts, you and I often think alike, I just don't voice my thoughts as much as you do
I understand what you want to happen with the back, but I can see why he used 2 Antarcticas - to fill the space better and make it a simple 2-way back. How would you mirror Antarctica and still have it look the right shape?

I do keep wanting to move the major land masses further towards the ends of the card backs, to better fill the space. Also, those corners on the back are very plain and wouldn't look good in a fan, or held in the hand during a game. Perhaps some small embellishment there?

Did some color for the black cards. Still working out the red cards, which will show land terrain.

Everything looked better with borders on the number cards and solid pip colors.

Here's a variation with solid pips and border.