Ever wanted to make your own custom card game but without the hassle of a craft knife, a rotary cutter, or a paper guillotine? How about making your own proxies to playtest your favorite TCG?
You can do it all with the press of a button and a cutting machine! And I can show you how!
If this is your first time here, check out the tutorial! Please join our Discord server too!
Watch me cut 104 cards in 26 minutes without breaking a sweat!
The purpose of this repo is to enable you to use a Silhouette cutting machine to create card games and proxies. Proxies are only intended to be used for casual play and playtesting.
Proxies should be easily identifiable as proxies. You may not use this repo to create counterfeit cards to deceive people or to play in sanctioned tournaments. You are only permitted to sell cards if you are the full privileged copyright holder.
- documentation
- tutorial
- supply list
- create_pdf.py, a script for laying out your cards in a PDF
- offset_pdf.py, a script for adding an offset to your PDF
- clean_up.py, a script for clearing your card image directories
- cutting_templates/, a directory containing Silhouette Studio cutting templates
- calibration/, a directory containing offset calibration sheets
- examples/, a directory containing sample games
- plugins/, a directory containing scripts for streamlining card image acquisition
The most common card sizes for games are:
standard, for standard TCG cardspokerbridge
Other notable card sizes include:
businesseuro_businesscreditphoto, for K-pop photocards
The table below shows all possible paper and card size combinations and the layout of the cards.
| Format | letter |
tabloid |
a4 |
a3 |
arch_b |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
standard |
4x2 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 4x2 (8) | 6x3 (18) | 6x3 (18) |
poker |
4x2 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 4x2 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 6x3 (18) |
bridge |
4x2 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 3x3 (9) | 6x3 (18) | 7x3 (21) |
american_mini |
4x4 (16) | 9x4 (36) | 4x4 (16) | 9x4 (36) | 10x4 (40) |
bridge_square |
3x4 (12) | 4x7 (28) | 3x4 (12) | 4x6 (24) | 4x7 (28) |
business |
2x5 (10) | 4x5 (20) | 2x5 (10) | 3x7 (21) | 3x8 (24) |
catan |
3x3 (9) | 7x3 (21) | 5x2 (10) | 7x3 (21) | 5x5 (25) |
credit |
2x4 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 2x5 (10) | 3x7 (21) | 3x7 (21) |
domino |
5x2 (10) | 5x4 (20) | 5x2 (10) | 8x3 (24) | 9x3 (27) |
domino_square |
4x5 (20) | 5x9 (45) | 4x5 (20) | 6x8 (48) | 6x9 (54) |
euro_business |
3x3 (9) | 3x7 (21) | 3x3 (9) | 3x7 (21) | 3x7 (21) |
euro_mini |
4x3 (12) | 9x3 (27) | 6x2 (12) | 8x4 (32) | 9x4 (36) |
japanese |
4x2 (8) | 4x4 (16) | 3x3 (9) | 6x3 (18) | 7x3 (21) |
jumbo |
2x1 (2) | 4x1 (4) | 3x1 (3) | 3x2 (6) | 3x3 (9) |
micro |
7x4 (28) | 7x9 (63) | 5x6 (30) | 11x6 (66) | 12x6 (72) |
mini |
5x3 (15) | 8x4 (32) | 4x4 (16) | 8x4 (32) | 9x4 (36) |
standard_double |
2x2 (4) | 4x2 (8) | 2x2 (4) | 3x3 (9) | 3x3 (9) |
tarot |
2x2 (4) | 5x2 (10) | 2x2 (4) | 5x2 (10) | 4x3 (12) |
70mm_square |
3x2 (6) | 5x3 (15) | 3x2 (6) | 5x3 (15) | 5x4 (20) |
The table below shows each card size, sorted by size.
| Card size | Inches | Millimeters | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
jumbo |
3.5 x 5.5 | 88.9 x 139.7 | 0.6364 | |
standard_double |
3.465 x 4.961 | 88 x 126 | 0.6984 | Magic: The Gathering oversized
|
tarot |
2.75 x 4.75 | 69.85 x 120.65 | 0.5789 | |
poker |
2.5 x 3.5 | 63.5 x 88.9 | 0.7143 | |
bridge |
2.25 x 3.5 | 57.15 x 88.9 | 0.6429 | |
business |
2 x 3.5 | 50.8 x 88.9 | 0.5714 | Business cards |
domino |
1.75 x 3.5 | 44.45 x 88.9 | 0.5000 | |
standard |
2.48 x 3.465 | 63 x 88 | 0.7159 | AKA euro_pokerMost standard TCGs
|
japanese |
2.323 x 3.386 | 59 x 86 | 0.6860 | |
credit |
2.125 x 3.375 | 53.975 x 85.725 | 0.6296 | Credit cards
|
euro_business |
2.165 x 3.346 | 55 x 85 | 0.6471 | AKA photoEU business cards K-pop photocards |
catan |
2.126 x 3.15 | 54 x 80 | 0.6750 | |
70mm_square |
2.756 x 2.756 | 70 x 70 | 1.0000 | |
euro_mini |
1.732 x 2.677 | 44 x 68 | 0.6471 | AKA mini_euro |
mini |
1.75 x 2.5 | 44.45 x 63.5 | 0.7000 | |
american_mini |
1.614 x 2.48 | 41 x 63 | 0.6508 | AKA mini_american |
bridge_square |
2.25 x 2.25 | 57.15 x 57.15 | 1.0000 | |
domino_square |
1.75 x 1.75 | 44.45 x 44.45 | 1.0000 | |
micro |
1.25 x 1.75 | 31.75 x 44.45 | 0.7143 |
The table below shows each paper size, sorted by size and standard.
| Paper size | Inches | Millimeters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
letter |
8.5 x 11 | 215.9 x 279.4 | AKA ansi_a |
tabloid |
11 x 17 | 279.4 x 431.8 | AKA ansi_b |
a4 |
8.268 x 11.693 | 210 x 297 | |
a3 |
11.693 x 16.535 | 297 x 420 | |
arch_b |
12 x 18 | 304.8 x 457.2 |
You can find all the cutting templates for Silhouette Studio in cutting_templates/.
Plugins streamline the process for acquiring card images for various games.
The Magic: The Gathering plugin supports various decklist formats, including Archidekt, CubeCobra, Deckstats, MPCFill, MTGA, MTGO, Moxfield, and Scryfall formats.
The Pokemon plugin supports Limitless TCG format.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! plugin supports YDK and YDKE formats.
The Altered plugin supports Ajordat format.
The Arkham Horror: The Card Game plugin supports ArkhamDB format.
The Ashes Reborn plugin supports Ashes and Ashes DB formats.
The Bushiroad plugin supports Bushiroad Deck Log format for Cardfight Vanguard, Shadowverse: Evolve, Weiss Schwarz, Godzilla Card Game, and hololive.
The Digimon plugin supports Digimoncard.app, Digimoncard.dev, Digimoncard.io, DigimonMeta, Tabletop Simulator, and Untap formats.
The Echoes of Astra plugin supports AstraBuilder format.
The Elestrals plugin supports Elestrals format.
The Final Fantasy plugin supports OCTGN, Tabletop Simulator, and Untap formats.
The Flesh and Blood plugin supports Fabrary format.
The Grand Archive plugin supports Omnideck format.
The Gundam plugin supports DeckPlanet, Egman Events, ExBurst, and Limitless TCG formats.
The KeyForge plugin supports Master Vault (including Decks of KeyForge links) and Archon Arcana formats.
The Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game plugin supports RingsDB decklists, RingsDB fellowships, and RingsDB scenarios, using user-supplied local back scans.
The Lorcana plugin supports Dreamborn format.
The Netrunner plugin supports bbCode and Jinteki formats.
The One Piece plugin supports Egman Events and OPTCG Simulator formats.
The Riftbound plugin supports Piltover Archive, Pixelborn, and Tabletop Simulator formats.
The Sorcery: Contested Realm plugin supports Curiosa format.
The Star Wars Unlimited plugin supports Melee, Picklist, and SWUDB formats.
create_pdf.py is a CLI tool that layouts your card images into a PDF with registration marks that can be cut out with the appropriate cutting template in cutting_templates/.
Create a Python virtual environment.
python -m venv venvActivate the Python virtual environment.
Terminal (macOS/Linux):
. venv/bin/activatePowerShell (Windows):
.\venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1Download Python packages.
pip install -r requirements.txtPut your front images in the game/front/ folder.
Put your back image in the game/back/ folder.
Run the script.
Letter size paper:
python create_pdf.pyA4 size paper:
python create_pdf.py --paper_size a4Get your PDF at game/output/game.pdf.
Note: When printing the PDF with duplex printing (double-sided), use long side flip (flip on long edge) to ensure proper front and back alignment.
To create double-sided cards, put front images in the game/front/ folder and back images in the game/double_sided/ folder. The filenames (and file extensions) must match for each pair.
If your card images have rounded corners, they they may be missing print bleed in the PDF. Because of the missing bleed, when the cards are cut, they may have a sliver of white on the corners.
The --extend_corners option can ameliorate this issue by filling the corner regions beyond the corner radius arc with pixels sampled from the arc edge. This generates bleed that matches the rounded corners.
python create_pdf.py --extend_corners 3.5mmYou may need to experiment with the corner radius value, but 3.5mm is a good starting point for standard playing cards.
If your print bleed does not match your card image, then there may be an issue with your your card image.
This typically occurs when there is a thin border (often 1 pixel) on one or more sides of your card image. The border is difficult to see but because the print bleed is generated from the border, the print bleed will not match the card image.
python create_pdf.py --extend_edges 3You may need to experiment with the corner radius value, but 3 (pixels) is a good starting point for standard playing cards.
The distance between cards in a layout is fixed at 1.25 mm. However, extending the outer bleed of the outer cards can reduce the possibility of white edges appearing on cut cards.
The --extend_bleed option extends the bleed on the outer edges of outer cards on front pages (odd-numbered pages), while --extend_bleed_backs extends the bleed on back pages (even-numbered pages).
python create_pdf.py --extend_bleed 2mm
python create_pdf.py --extend_bleed_backs 2mmOne solution for registration issues is to use a Post-It note to cover up cards near the registration marks.
However, if you would prefer to skip this manual step, you can skip the card near registration marks using the --skip option.
python create_pdf.py --skip 4
If you cut from the back, you might consider:
python create_pdf.py --skip 0
create_pdf.py generates the 3-corner registration mark pattern by default.
The release of the Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha also introduced the new 4-corner registration mark pattern.
To generate a PDF with the new 4-corner registration mark pattern, use the --registration option.
python create_pdf.py --registration 4However, Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha users can still use the 3-corner registration mark pattern by setting machine to Cameo 5 in Silhouette Studio.
To use a different registration mark orientation than the card layout, use the --registration_orientation option. This can be useful when printing a landscape card layout on paper loaded as portrait.
python create_pdf.py --registration_orientation portraitUsage: create_pdf.py [OPTIONS]
Options:
--front_dir_path TEXT The path to the directory containing the
card fronts. [default: game/front]
--back_dir_path TEXT The path to the directory containing one or
more card backs. [default: game/back]
--double_sided_dir_path TEXT The path to the directory containing card
backs for double-sided cards. [default:
game/double_sided]
--output_path TEXT The desired path to the output PDF.
[default: game/output/game.pdf]
--output_images Create images instead of a PDF.
--card_size [standard|poker|bridge|american_mini|bridge_square|business|catan|credit|domino|domino_square|euro_business|euro_mini|euro_poker|japanese|jumbo|micro|mini|mini_american|mini_euro|photo|standard_double|tarot|70mm_square]
The desired card size. [default: standard]
--paper_size [letter|tabloid|a4|a3|arch_b|ansi_a|ansi_b]
The desired paper size. [default: letter]
--registration [3|4] The desired registration pattern. [default:
3]
--registration_orientation [portrait|landscape]
Override the registration mark orientation
without changing the card layout.
--specialty [a4-commander|letter-commander]
Use a specialty layout. Overrides card_size,
paper_size, and registration settings.
--only_fronts Only generate front pages.
--fit [stretch|crop] How to fit front and double-sided images to
card size. 'stretch' allows distortion,
'crop' preserves aspect ratio by center-
cropping. [default: stretch]
--fit_backs [stretch|crop] How to fit back images to card size.
'stretch' allows distortion, 'crop'
preserves aspect ratio by center-cropping.
--crop TEXT Crop card edges of front and double-sided
images (removes edges). Examples: 3mm,
0.125in, 6.5.
--crop_backs TEXT Crop card edges of back images (removes
edges). Examples: 3mm, 0.125in, 6.5.
--extend_edges TEXT Crop card edges and extend them for front
and double-sided images. Examples: 3mm,
0.125in.
--extend_edges_backs TEXT Crop card edges and extend them for back
images only. Examples: 3mm, 0.125in.
--extend_corners TEXT Extend rounded corner regions to reduce
corner artifacts for front and double-sided
images. Examples: 3mm, 0.125in.
--extend_corners_backs TEXT Extend rounded corner regions to reduce
corner artifacts for back images only.
Examples: 3mm, 0.125in.
--extend_bleed TEXT Extend the outer bleed of outer cards on
front pages (odd-numbered pages). Examples:
3mm, 0.125in.
--extend_bleed_backs TEXT Extend the outer bleed of outer cards on
back pages (even-numbered pages). Examples:
3mm, 0.125in.
--ppi INTEGER RANGE Pixels per inch (PPI) when creating PDF.
[default: 300; x>=0]
--quality INTEGER RANGE File compression quality. [default: 100;
0<=x<=100]
--load_offset Apply saved offsets. See `offset_pdf.py` for
more information.
--skip INTEGER RANGE Skip a card based on its index. Useful for
registration issues. Examples: 0, 4. [x>=0]
--label TEXT Apply a custom label to each page.
--show_outline Show a white outline for cutting paths.
--borderless Use tighter inset to fit more cards per
page.
--version Show the version and exit.
--help Show this message and exit.
Create poker-sized cards with A4 sized paper.
python create_pdf.py --card_size poker --paper_size a4Crop the borders of the front and double-sided images by 3 mm on all sides. This option is useful if your images already have print bleed like those from MPCFill.
python create_pdf.py --crop 3mmRemove the rounded corner artifacts and load the saved offset from offset_pdf.py.
python create_pdf.py --extend_corners 3.5mm --load_offsetProduce a 600 pixels per inch (PPI) file with minimal compression.
python create_pdf.py --ppi 600 --quality 100It's pivotal to ensure that your card fronts and backs are aligned. The front and back alignment is mainly determined by your printer, but it's not always possible to calibrate it.
offset_pdf.py is a CLI tool that adds an offset to every other page in a PDF. This offset can compensate for the natural offset of your printer, allowing you to have good front and back alignment. It also supports an angle offset to correct for rotational misalignment.
First, you must determine the offset by using the calibration sheets.
<paper size>-calibration.pdf has a front page and a back page.
The front page is a simple grid of squares.
The back page is the same grid of squares, except each square has a slight offset. The following grid illustrates the applied offsets.
| (-2, 2) | (-1, 2) | ( 0, 2) | ( 1, 2) | ( 2, 2) |
--------------------------------------------------------
| (-2, 1) | (-1, 1) | ( 0, 1) | ( 1, 1) | ( 2, 1) |
--------------------------------------------------------
| (-2, 0) | (-1, 0) | Center | ( 1, 0) | ( 2, 0) |
--------------------------------------------------------
| (-2, -1) | (-1, -1) | ( 0, -1) | ( 1, -1) | ( 2, -1) |
--------------------------------------------------------
| (-2, -2) | (-1, -2) | ( 0, -2) | ( 1, -2) | ( 2, -2) |
To determine the required offset, print out <paper size>-calibration.pdf with the card stock you plan to use.
Shine a strong light on the front so you can see the shadows on the back. Determine which set of front and back squares are aligned. This set will provide your offset.
Create and start your virtual Python environment and install Python dependencies if you have not done so already. See here for more information.
Run the script with your offset. This will move all your back sheets in the direction of your offset. A positive x value will move the back page to the right and a positive y value moves the back page up, relative to the back page's orientation.
python offset_pdf.py --x_offset -5 --y_offset 10You can also apply an angle offset to correct for rotational misalignment. This will rotate all your back sheets clockwise in addition to offset.
python offset_pdf.py --x_offset -5 --y_offset 10 --angle 0.5Get your offset PDF at game/output/game_offset.pdf.
If no square on your calibration sheet matches, then you'll need to create a new calibration sheet with an arbitrary offset. After determining the offset using the offset calibration sheet, you can add the two offsets to determine your true offset.
To create an offset calibration sheet, use the --pdf_path option, targeting the calibration sheet of your paper size. For example:
python offset_pdf.py --pdf_path calibration/letter-calibration.pdf --x_offset 30 --y_offset -10This will produce calibration/letter-calibration_offset.pdf, which is the same as calibration sheet but with an offset of (30, -10).
Print this out and determine which set of front and back squares are aligned. If none are aligned, try generating another offset calibration sheet with a different arbitrary offset.
Let's say there is a set of a front and back squares and the offset is (5, 5). You can add the arbitrary offset with this offset to find the true offset.
(30, -10) + (5, 5) = (35, -5)
The true offset if (35, -5).
You can verify this is true by generating an offset calibration sheet using this offset.
python offset_pdf.py --pdf_path calibration/letter-calibration.pdf --x_offset 35 --y_offset -5Print this out and the center set of front and back squares, (0, 0), should be aligned.
You can save your x, y, and angle offset with the --save option. After saving your offset, it'll be automatically applied every time you run offset_pdf.py. You can override the loaded offset using --x_offset, --y_offset, and --angle.
python offset_pdf.py --x_offset -5 --y_offset 10 --angle 0.5 --saveAdditionally, you can automatically apply a saved offset in create_pdf.py by using the --load_offset option.
python create_pdf.py --load_offsetUsage: offset_pdf.py [OPTIONS]
Options:
--pdf_path TEXT Path of the input PDF.
--output_pdf_path TEXT Desired path of the offset PDF.
-x, --x_offset INTEGER X-axis offset, relative to back page orientation
(positive = right, negative = left).
-y, --y_offset INTEGER Y-axis offset, relative to back page orientation
(positive = up, negative = down).
-a, --angle FLOAT Angle offset in degrees (positive = clockwise).
-s, --save Save offset values.
--ppi INTEGER RANGE Pixels per inch (PPI) when generating offset PDF.
[default: 300; x>=0]
--help Show this message and exit.
clean_up.py deletes all images from game/front/ and game/double_sided/, leaving the directories empty and ready for a new batch of cards.
python clean_up.pyIf you enjoyed using Silhouette Card Maker, consider donating to help support the project. Thank you!