Trying my hand at custom cards...

digicat · June 28, 2010 9:12AM

I've been working on putting together a collection of rookie cards for everyone who's ever been an SF Giant (1958 - present). I'm chugging right along on that project, but there are a few guys who never appeared on cardboard. I hate having holes in my collection, so I went hunting for pictures, and decided to make my own cards for the guys.

Anyways, I just finished my first custom card. 3 guys who's major league careers began and ended in 1970....

SDSportsFan · June 28, 2010 9:42AM

That is nice!

But why not just make regular cards for each of them, in the 1970 design?

Steve

digicat · June 28, 2010 9:56AM

<< But why not just make regular cards for each of them, in the 1970 design? >>

In my search for pictures of these guys, the best images I could find were fairly small portraits. If I tried to blow them up so they'd take up the whole image area on a card, the images would look bad.

Elemenopeo · June 28, 2010 10:01AM

Looks great, man! Nice work.

SDSportsFan · June 28, 2010 10:02AM

<< If I tried to blow them up so they'd take up the whole image area on a card, the images would look bad. >>

Gotcha!

Good thinkin'

Steve

divecchia · June 28, 2010 10:08AM

Nice job...

Donato

AUPT · June 28, 2010 10:54PM

That's the stuff! Excellent work of reproducing the '70 "look."

Stone193 · June 29, 2010 4:20AM

What a great project!

Superb job! This is the kind of stuff that keeps me coming back - thanx for sharing.

digicat · July 9, 2010 10:42AM

Just finished another one:

Stone193 · July 9, 2010 10:49AM

Very nice job - especially the back!

mcadams · July 9, 2010 12:39PM

Two thumbs up. I like them both.

kingnascar · July 9, 2010 2:44PM

These are great. What application are you using to create these masterpieces?

Curious,
Logan

digicat · July 9, 2010 3:53PM

New card, another 58 Topps version.

I use Photoshop for these. I scan in a card to use for reference, then reconstruct the layout, figure out fonts, and then look for photos to use. That's the hard part about these cards, the photos of cup-o-coffee major leaguers from 50+ years ago are hard to come by.

For example, this is the BEST photo I could find for John Fitzgerald.

HoofHearted · July 9, 2010 4:15PM

Very creative! You definitely have earned the name "digicat"!!

Ahmanfan · July 10, 2010 2:23AM

you should print these out and send to the guys . I bet they'd get a kick out of it.

theczar · July 10, 2010 2:33AM

pomobileclk · July 10, 2010 7:29AM

Nice custom cards. Congrats on finding decent photos on those players. I'm sure if you send them to the players, they'll want copies.

Since you are using Photoshop, have you considered adding some color to the black and white photos. These were done quickly in a few minutes.

WFC2008 · August 2, 2010 1:16PM

Nice job on the cards. I was looking for a little bit of advice or help on something I am working on. I am looking to put together a collection of the opening day lineup for the Phillies from 1975 to current. Nine spots in a line up, nine spots to a page. While most of the cards are available there are some cards prior to the traded sets that were either not made or not made in a Phillies uniform.

With that said, I was curious as to what stock you use to make the card. Also, do you do anything to it to make it look older? The end result of mine makes it look more like a traded/update back than a card from the base set

Below is the only card from the 75 set that wasn't made but played opening day.

digicat · August 2, 2010 1:24PM

<< I was curious as to what stock you use to make the card >>

Well, so far I haven't really put much work into turning it into an actual card. I just printed up both sides on semi-gloss stock and cut it out and sleeved it. In a top loader, they look great.

gemmintrarities · August 2, 2010 3:31PM

<< Nice job on the cards. I was looking for a little bit of advice or help on something I am working on. I am looking to put together a collection of the opening day lineup for the Phillies from 1975 to current. Nine spots in a line up, nine spots to a page. While most of the cards are available there are some cards prior to the traded sets that were either not made or not made in a Phillies uniform.

With that said, I was curious as to what stock you use to make the card. Also, do you do anything to it to make it look older? The end result of mine makes it look more like a traded/update back than a card from the base set

Below is the only card from the 75 set that wasn't made but played opening day.

>>

Last name is misspelled on the back

ElToroLoco · August 2, 2010 3:37PM

The error is a tribute to the error craze of the 80's and 90's. Wait, that didn't happen yet. Wait, it did happen but not at the time the card was produced. Wait, the card was produced in 2010, so it did happen.

AUPT · August 3, 2010 12:27AM

Nice Bannister!

To convert your images to actual cards, you might consider the "system" I've developed over the past 6-7 years. I print the fronts and backs on "full sheet label" paper. I recommend Avery #8255. The sheets are matte white and made for ink jet printers. I tried to use cheaper lable sheets one time, but they weren't specifically made for color printing and the results were very muddy images.

The Avery #8255 sheets are not cheap -- about $16 for 20 sheets. I get them at OfficeMax because the nearest Staples doesn't carry that particular stock number. You can print eight "modern" size cards per sheet; six of the old Topps format. I print fronts and backs on seperate sheets and then sandwich a piece of cardboard between them before cutting into singles.

I used to use comic book backer boards for the core, but that is really too thick to give the feel of vintage sportscards. Now I go with RoyalBrites posterboard. Sorry, but the "weight" of the cardboard is not listed on the package. My wife got it at Hobby Lobby, but any craft/scrapbooking store should have a good selection.

I use a good, heavy guillotine cutter. Getting the fronts correctly aligned with the backs and cutting to the exact size is a skill that takes a bit of practice. You should work out your technique with plain paper copies until you get the hang of it.

To avoid a "too new" appearance, I never allow any pure white on my images for borders, graphics, etc. I use a slightly off-white color. Similarly, on many of the backs, I don't use pure black, but rather a dark charcoal or other somewhat muted black.

Good luck and keep bringing your custom cards to this forum for all to see and enjoy.

I'm currently finishing up a 1974-style George Brett rookie card. I'll post it here when it's done.

billwaltonsbeard · August 3, 2010 2:50AM

<< Last name is misspelled on the back >>

So is "Milwaukee" in the trivia question.

There is also what looks like a pair of balls on the bat knob.

Let the error hype begin!!

divecchia · August 3, 2010 6:25AM

Nice job, I like'em...

Donato

SDSportsFan · August 3, 2010 6:41AM

<< 

<< Last name is misspelled on the back >>

So is "Milwaukee" in the trivia question.

There is also what looks like a pair of balls on the bat knob.

Let the error hype begin!! >>

"amateur" is also misspelled at the end of the second line in the bottom section of the back.

Looks like you scored a Hat Trick!

Steve

baseballfan · August 3, 2010 11:06AM

very nice work!!!

now you can get them autographed

WFC2008 · August 3, 2010 2:57PM

Thanks for the tips on the paper stock and for the numerous misspellings on the back. I am so used to the computer just correcting it for me, I forget that doesn't happen in photoshop.

Next will be the 76 Jim Kaat and 77 Ted Sizemore.

SOM · August 3, 2010 3:51PM

Is this April Fools Day or something?

I've pored over the back of the Bannister card, and I can't find one misspelling!?

Meanwhile, all of the posted cards are terrific! Nice job, guys!

SDSportsFan · August 4, 2010 5:31AM

<< Is this April Fools Day or something?

I've pored over the back of the Bannister card, and I can't find one misspelling!?

Meanwhile, all of the posted cards are terrific! Nice job, guys! >>

The noted misspellings were there.....the OPer has simply fixed them and posted the corrected version in his photobucket account, thereby changing the posted scan. No problem there.

That is a really nice card of Bannister

I need to try some of these for the Padres and Chargers!

Steve

HeritageAddict · August 4, 2010 7:07AM

Love the 1970 custom Digi. I haven't made any in awhile, here's my most recent.

AUPT · August 4, 2010 7:14AM

Ain't it fun to retroactively "scoop" Topps with rookie cards that never were? Nice looking '64.

SDSportsFan · August 4, 2010 9:38AM

WOW.....I LOVE that El Tiante!

Steve

WFC2008 · August 4, 2010 11:32AM

Yeah, I just made the corrections and replaced the card on photobucket.

Nice Tiant.

captainthreeputt · August 4, 2010 11:58AM

Well done.

WFC2008 · August 4, 2010 2:22PM

Finished the 76 Kaat. To reduce the likelihood of spelling mistakes, make the back as realistic as possible and avoid the tedious job of entering all of his career stats, I used the original back and just changed the team name and number.

digicat · August 4, 2010 3:58PM

The image on the Kaat seems distorted.

WFC2008 · August 5, 2010 1:20PM

Yeah, it was a bit distorted. It was difficult to make it fit the limited pictures I could find. I just extended the Wrigley wall and updated it.

Any recommendations on good sites that have decent pictures? Google image search isn't helping much for the older pictures.

digicat · August 5, 2010 3:52PM

<< Any recommendations on good sites that have decent pictures? Google image search isn't helping much for the older pictures. >>

You might want to consider picking up a team yearbook for some scannable pictures.

mittec · August 6, 2010 10:27AM

AUPT · August 8, 2010 1:23AM

As promised, here is my 1974-style George Brett rookie card.

The "back story" will be posted on my blog (linked below) today or tomorrow.

I haven't printed the cards yet, but I thought I'd post the images to see if any of the eagle-eyed contributors to this thread spot any errors, etc.

Stone193 · August 8, 2010 3:43AM

Great job guys!

SDSportsFan · August 8, 2010 7:25AM

That '74 Brett looks great!

Steve

digicat · August 17, 2010 8:48AM

My latest "never appeared on cardboard" creation:

mcholke · August 17, 2010 9:30AM

Rich

I really like your work on these creations. Keep em coming.

stown · August 17, 2010 11:19AM

<< As promised, here is my 1974-style George Brett rookie card.

The "back story" will be posted on my blog (linked below) today or tomorrow.

I haven't printed the cards yet, but I thought I'd post the images to see if any of the eagle-eyed contributors to this thread spot any errors, etc.

>>

Very cool Brett!

Now, hurry up and update your blog

Aric · August 17, 2010 12:14PM

Wow, love the picture you used on the Brett. The card looks fantastic.

digicat · December 10, 2010 3:19PM

The Wilson pic always bugged me, but I finally found a higher res copy. One of these days I might try to edit out the dude standing behind him.

CrazyMind2017 · December 10, 2010 7:11PM

you mean like this?

RedHeart54 · December 11, 2010 3:13AM

Finally, a '74 Brett!

digicat · December 11, 2010 3:21AM

<< you mean like this? >>

Nice job, but I could do w/o the bunny cloud.

Is there a quick tool to do that in Photoshop w/o basically hand-tracing?

CrazyMind2017 · December 11, 2010 4:17AM

<< Nice job, but I could do w/o the bunny cloud.

Is there a quick tool to do that in Photoshop w/o basically hand-tracing? >>

Hey I worked hard on those clouds! LOL

I don't know about photoshop, because I don't have it. I'm still using Aldus Photostyler 2.0 from 1995. I did the whole thing in about 25-30 minutes, pixel by pixel.

If you want to take the clouds out, you should be able to do it by hand in under 3 minutes.

Trying my hand at custom cards...

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