A CoT Group Created Deck

[Joan Marie]

PLEASE SEE UPDATED OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS HERE

The Cult of Tarot is putting together a member created deck.

The original idea and discussion appears in this post.


I think it's a good idea to begin with the Majors.

I will create a special place on the forum to display these cards. I will also purchase an app I found that a will allow us to have a "draw a card" feature for our deck. It will display a randomly drawn card with it's meaning. It is flexible enough we can have other draws available as well, 3-cards, etc.

Another possibility would be to offer a printed version of the deck but that's down the road a piece, so lets hold off on those details for now.

Let's focus on our online deck. I think it sounds amazing.

I have created a spreadsheet that you can see here: Sign-up Sheet

If I can figure out how to make it available to everyone to add their own name I will, but for now you can have a look and then come back to this thread, name the card you want and I will update the spreadsheet.

PLEASE SEE NEWER POST FOR UPDATED SPECS AND INSTRUCTIONS

If you make your card from an original painting, it can (really should) be a larger image that is made smaller when digitised, BUT be mindful that it is the same proportions otherwise when it is resized it will be distorted or parts of the image lost. There is a little wiggle room using framing if necessary so don't sweat it too much, but don't create something, for example, as a square.
Also, think about that when you go to scan it, it should fit on a scanner.

email your finished work to: artshare@cultoftarotforum.com

That's all the instructions for now. Lets just get this going and see where it takes us!

[AstralPasta]

I'll add myself for the Moon, but if we end up having a lack of cards vs members, I'll give it up.

Should there be a 2 or 3 card max per person for the majors right now? There are 22 majors, so that'd be 8 - 12 people or so if some of us did more than 1.

Also, numbered majors or no? If no, then we wouldn’t have to worry about the order of Strength and Justice. Or we can decide no numbers on the images, and leave that as a potential border thing.

Here’s the pdf for tarot sizing, in case anyone will need to use the template guide when making digital art!

tarot-size.pdf

(1.06 MiB) Downloaded 46 times

[Charlie Brown]

I would vote for no numbers but, either way, I would have assumed that those would have bee added post-production for uniformity.

[AstralPasta]

I guess I just wanted to make it known since some artists might incorporate numerology in their art. If it was overt and contradicted the number on the border, it’d be weird, hehe.

[Diana]

I don't know what I'm getting myself into. Have no computer software for making images. What should I use and download? Can anyone give a suggestion. Something that's easy to learn 'cos my brain is not technical. Also I don't know how to size images. But I suppose I can meet that problem when I reach that stage. And I have no artistic talent.

But still, I want to join in.

May I have the High Priestess ? But actually, I'm happy to take any card if they're unnumbered, so if someone else wants the High Priestess, I'm okay with another card. Due to my lack of experience in design, I think it's better that I only take one card.

Is there anyone I can cry out to for help if I feel I want to throw my computer out of the window 'cos I'm stuck ?

[Joan Marie]

I've updated the sign up sheet, Marigold you have the High Priestess!

Regarding numbers, I guess if the name of the card is there, numbers aren't necessary.

So, let's leave the numbers off.

So I will add that to the original post.

Also, feel free to drop the "The" if you like, as in (The) Magician, (The) Lovers etc.


Also, I can assist with image resizing if needed.

Marigold, you don't have to create the image digitally, it can be a painting or collage or anything. It just has to be scanned when it's done so that it can be sent and used online.

And regarding a limit, I don't know, let's just see how it goes. Don't bite off more than you can chew, maybe just claim one or two at the most to start with. When those are done see what's left.

It's just our first go at it. Let's not get too fussy. See what happens!

[AstralPasta]

Ok, so border and title fonts and such are our choice, but no numbers. Got it.

Marigold, whatever you make will be great because you’re part of the CoT community and this is a community deck It’s for fun, and for the love of tarot, hehe.

Alright I gotta go pack and stop procrastinating. See y’all!

[Diana]

Also, if we are to give a description and explanation, would they all need to be about the same length so that there's some kind of unity?

[AstralPasta]

My partner is gonna take the Hanged Man. I'll put that down. He'll be joining the forum as Cvicim.

He's keen to do another card, but he wants to wait and see if others jump in before nabbing it.

For the descriptions, I guess that'll be based on the plugin! But I figure for starting doing whatever length is fine. Later you can pull out the highlights or write based off the original description for a short version if that ends up being needed. I'm sure both would be handy.

I wouldn't worry about that for now anyway, unless it's part of your process.

[Joan Marie]

Also, if we are to give a description and explanation, would they all need to be about the same length so that there's some kind of unity?

Great point.

Yes I would like to include info about the medium used and some kind of interpretation of the card from the artist.

Let me have a look at the card-picker plugin to give you specific info. It may be best to have a long & short version of the card-meaning.

I still haven't worked out the details of how I will put all this together exactly. The plugin is only part of it.

I want to make an announcement about this project and I will as soon as I work out some of these details. I plan to set up the plugin with a sample of how it will work and I think that may inspire people to participate when they see what it all really is.

I have a house-guest for the next couple of days so I may not have a concise plan put together before next week.

But feel free to start creating your cards!

[Joan Marie]

I am working to put together a concise description of the specifications for the cards.

I have a question and would really appreciate your input.

I had originally said that the card names for the Majors would be part of the artwork, but there is also the idea to make a sort of uniform framing for them all and put the names of the cards there. I think Charlie Brown had mentioned that.

You can see an example of that on this deck.

From that deck:

I kind of leaning towards that idea but I'd like to hear what you think.

FYI- For anyone interested in doing a card for this deck, the sign up sheet is here. Sign-up Sheet
Just replay to this post with the card you want to do and I will add your name to the sheet.

[Charlie Brown]

I would think that we would/want need the uniform framing in order to give a semblance of connection to the deck. After all, we're probably going to be getting pencil drawings, paintings, photo collages, etc.

[Diana]

Sounds lovely the framing and names of the cards !!

[Joan Marie]

I agree.

I've never organised a project like this before so I appreciate your patience while I get the details sorted out.

I have opened a completely separate sub-forum for this project. Called (you may have already noticed) PROJECT: CoT Community Tarot Deck

There are a couple of poll questions I've opened up. I hope you all take a look. And anyone can chime in, because even if you are not actually working on card for the deck, it is something we will all be using at least the online version of it.

I'm working on a sample now of what that will look like and will get that posted soon. (I bought the plug-in but it wasn't as easy to use as it looked.)

I will also be creating a final template for the cards with the frame accounted for.

At some point soon I want to take suggestions for names for it and have a poll on that so we can choose the name as a community.

I will be opening a couple more threads to make some of the info like the sign-up sheet easier to find. I will also be making announcements and hopefully we get a lot of people interested.

So, watch this space. And please all the comments and suggestions you have are so welcome and needed!

[Charlie Brown]

I'm reminded that I did, indeed, make a Lovers card, although I don't think we want it for our deck.

For you non-Americans, this is the mascot of a popular University athletics department colloquially referred to as the Fighting Irish.

ETA: Oooh.. I see this is post 666 for me.

[reall]

I don't know what I'm getting myself into. Have no computer software for making images. What should I use and download? Can anyone give a suggestion. Something that's easy to learn 'cos my brain is not technical. Also I don't know how to size images. But I suppose I can meet that problem when I reach that stage. And I have no artistic talent.

But still, I want to join in.

May I have the High Priestess ? But actually, I'm happy to take any card if they're unnumbered, so if someone else wants the High Priestess, I'm okay with another card. Due to my lack of experience in design, I think it's better that I only take one card.

Is there anyone I can cry out to for help if I feel I want to throw my computer out of the window 'cos I'm stuck ?

I sign up for Santa lil tech helper position so just pm me if you need someone to cry to!
hopefully i can help with formatting! just make sure your img resolution is hi enough exact img size around 900x1500pxl & ress no less than 300dpi

btw maybe we should add text later for Uniformed look & more space for art?

eta; omg! luv that lovers card & deepth you make great job!
p.s will use it to show our print preview!

[Joan Marie]

hopefully i can help with formatting! just make sure your img resolution is hi enough exact img size around 900x1500pxl & ress no less than 300dpi

btw maybe we should add text later for Uniformed look & more space for art?

All the specs are in the "Official Instructions" post. I would prefer to avoid posting specs all over the place to avoid confusion. Let's always try to refer back to that post for those questions.

Also remember that not everyone is super-grapics-lingo-savvy. That's why I tried to keep the instructions as simple as possible. I prefer using millimeters rather than pixels for measuring because it's more consistent with varying dpi. Again, keep it simple for everyone.

There are actually a lot of other settings that will need to be made, for example, everything must be changed to CMYK and then saved as pdf's for printing but I don't want to bother everyone with all that, especially since printing is a ways off.

If everyone just follows the specs as laid out, we'll be good and adjustments will be easily made.

If there is anything I missed or that needs to be changed in the Official instructions, let me know and I'll make the change to that post so that info remains consistent.

Thanks!

[reall]

OK, got it fix my topic if needed i've tryed to cover all FAQ in 1 place to avoid same questions!

P.s no need to convert to cmyk mpc/ps & gamecrafter are smart & do it for you!

[Joan Marie]

P.s no need to convert to cmyk mpc/ps & gamecrafter are smart & do it for you!

That may be true, but if you want to control the quality of your product, and especially since ours will be coming from so many sources, it's best if everything is in order, colour-corrected etc. before it is sent off to the printer, whoever we use.

I would like to be in charge of that please.

also, no need for you to create any kind of FAQ. All information is found at the Official Instructions post. (That's why it is called "Official ) I will post updates and changes there as needed. Right now we are good.

As the project manager of this, i would like to keep control of all that kind of thing please.

Everyone else, just focus on your art and we will be golden!

[reall]

OK!