Playing cards are a fun and versatile prop that can be used for games, magic tricks, party activities, and more. While you can buy printed playing cards, making your own custom decks allows you to get creative and personalize cards for any occasion.
The good news is that it's easy to custom playing cards printing in Word even if you've never tried it before. With just a few simple steps, you can design and print a professional-looking deck of cards without spending lots of money. This straightforward tutorial breaks the process down into five easy-to-follow parts so you can quickly create custom playing cards from scratch.
Step 1: Design the Faces and Backs in Word
The first step is to make the faces and backs for your playing cards. You'll want to start by setting up your Word document to the correct specifications.
Go to the "Layout" tab and click "Size." Select "More Paper Sizes" and input these dimensions: 3.5" x 2.5". This matches a standard poker card size.
Still under "Size," input 0.1" for all margins. This maximizes the space you have for designing card faces.
Now you're ready to create! Make a new blank page for each card value/face (Ace, 2-10, Jack, Queen, King). You can find free royalty-free card graphics online or create your own suit symbols and arrangements.
When designing custom playing cards in Word, keep a few tips in mind:
Stick to large, clear fonts for maximum visibility
Include index values so suits and numbers are clear
Make graphic elements bold and simple
Allow 0.125-0.25" bleed space around edges
The back design can be simple or complex. Just copy/paste to duplicate it across pages so each card back matches.
Step 2: Set Up Suit Pages in Word
Instead of printing every unique card individually, you'll set up suit pages with one copy of each card value. This approach saves time and effort.
Start a new blank page and insert your card faces for a single suit, arranging them sequentially from Ace to King. Duplicate blank space between cards and set even margins across the page.
Repeat this for the remaining suits, changing the card face graphics accordingly. You should end up with four suit pages (one each for Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades).
Step 3: Print on Cardstock
For durability, print your finished playing cards on heavy cardstock paper. Regular multipurpose paper is too flimsy for card gaming.
When sending the pages to print, be sure to select "Actual Size" for scale to prevent unwanted resizing. Cardstock paper also tends to feed better manually one sheet at a time rather than automatically from a paper tray.
Set your printer settings to the highest quality option. This helps ink permeate and prevents smearing. Glossy photo paper works great but matte finishes also suffice.
Step 4: Cut Along Guides
Carefully trim off any white margins from around your printed playing card pages using an x-acto knife, rotary cutter or scissors. Take care not to cut into the card graphics.
Next, cut between the individual cards of each suit page to separate them. You can trace along the dividing margins between cards with a ruler. For easier guiding, consider printing a dashed middle line between cards too.
Go slowly during this process to end up with smooth edges. Rushing increases the chance of jagged cuts and injured fingers!
Step 5: Laminate (Optional)
While homemade playing cards printed on quality cardstock work great on their own, you can optionally laminate them for extra durability and enhanced aesthetics.
Protective film laminate makes cards smoother, more resistant to marking and spills, and gives them an attractive glossy look. Lamination pouches are inexpensive and the application process is easy – just insert cards and feed the pouch through a laminating machine according to the product instructions.
Once your playing cards are laminated, trim any excess laminate from the edges for a polished finish. Corners can be rounded for safety and easier shuffling or left square.
Enjoy Your Custom Playing Cards!
Learning how to print playing cards in Word opens up lots of creative possibilities. You can now design decks featuring photos, personalized graphics, unique themes, or just about anything imaginable!
Making your own playing cards does involve some upfront effort but saves money over ordering small batches of professionally printed cards. DIY playing cards also make wonderful homemade gifts for card game lovers.
The next time you host a game night, impress everyone with unique decks you printed yourself. Deal out your homemade playing cards and get ready for fun!  |
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