Notes for deck creators
Printing, files, and finding your people: the practical half of self-publishing a deck, written plainly.
Tarot deck proof: do you need one before printing?
Yes, always order a tarot deck proof before your print run. Here is what a physical proof catches, what it really costs in 2026, and how to order one right.
Best cardstock for tarot cards: linen, weight, core
The best cardstock for tarot cards is a 300 to 350gsm black-core stock in linen or smooth finish. Here is how weight, core, and coating change the feel.
MPC vs Game Crafter vs DriveThruCards for tarot decks
MPC vs Game Crafter vs DriveThruCards for your tarot deck: real per-deck cost at 1, 100 and 500, card stock, boxes, and which printer ships decks for you.
Tarot deck printing cost: real 2026 per-deck numbers
Tarot deck printing cost in 2026, with real per-deck prices at 1, 100, 500 and 1000 copies across five printers, plus hidden extras and two worked budgets.
AI tarot deck disclosure: should you tell buyers?
AI tarot deck disclosure builds trust and costs nothing when your work is human-made. Here is why hidden AI backfires and how to tell buyers cleanly, up front.
Copyright a tarot deck: what's protected and what isn't
Can you copyright a tarot deck? Your art and guidebook text are protected automatically. Here's what copyright covers, what it doesn't, and when to register.
Market an indie tarot deck without paid ads
How to market an indie tarot deck the honest way: skip paid ads, share the work as you paint it, and build a small, loyal audience that actually buys.
How to price a tarot deck (what indie decks sell for)
How to price a tarot deck the right way: start from your all-in cost per deck plus fees, not the printing quote, and land in the band buyers already accept.
How to self-publish a tarot deck (the whole path)
How to self publish a tarot deck stage by stage: prep print-ready files, pick a printer, order a proof, write the guidebook, fund it, price it, and sell it.
Tarot deck structure: the anatomy of all 78 cards
Tarot deck structure explained for deck makers: 22 Major Arcana plus 56 Minor Arcana equals 78 cards, and the single pip choice that sets your workload.
Where to print your indie tarot deck (2026)
Where to print your indie tarot deck: real 2026 per-deck prices, minimums, and who ships decks for you across MPC, Game Crafter, DriveThru, and PrintNinja.
Print ready tarot cards: the pre-flight checklist
A maker's pre-flight checklist for print ready tarot cards, covering 300 DPI, bleed, size, card backs, and color so your deck prints clean the first run.
Is your deck print-ready? The three checks that save your print run
300 DPI, bleed, and aspect ratio explained in plain artist terms: how to check your tarot or oracle card files before sending them to any printer.
Nobody is waiting for your deck (yet): how indie creators find their people
Why paid ads fail for indie tarot decks, and what actually works: sharing work-in-progress, weekly card reveals, and owning your follower list before launch day.