Re: Monarch Mandarin Edition
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:54 am
Opened my deck and every single card in it has crappy registration like this. Thanks USPC. 
The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.
https://unitedcardists.org/
It's simple: a lack of quality control standards.justplaycards wrote:I have seen a lot worse from them. Still sucks though. I don't know enough about printing to know how / why this happens. Is it just something to do with the cutting part of the process being slightly misaligned?
By registration, does it means about how the playing cards are centered?PrincessTrouble wrote:Opened my deck and every single card in it has crappy registration like this. Thanks USPC.
Cards come off the press in sheets, one deck per sheet. They are fed into another machine to do the cutting and yeah, if the sheet isn't aligned perfectly OR if it was misaligned somehow in print, all of the cards will be off-center in exactly the same way. It's drift.justplaycards wrote:I have seen a lot worse from them. Still sucks though. I don't know enough about printing to know how / why this happens. Is it just something to do with the cutting part of the process being slightly misaligned?
Exactly.theCapraAegagrus wrote:It's simple: a lack of quality control standards.justplaycards wrote:I have seen a lot worse from them. Still sucks though. I don't know enough about printing to know how / why this happens. Is it just something to do with the cutting part of the process being slightly misaligned?
Yeah I knew that they made printing plates from which they made uncut sheets. I just wasn't sure where the errors could happen. I.E. how each machine lines things up. I went to look to see if I could find information on whether these are lined up by eye or by laser etc. Found this video. Although it didn't really answer my question.RelativityCards wrote:Cards come off the press in sheets, one deck per sheet. They are fed into another machine to do the cutting and yeah, if the sheet isn't aligned perfectly OR if it was misaligned somehow in print, all of the cards will be off-center in exactly the same way. It's drift.
The video you found is how Cartamundi made their cards, but this process is yeaaars ago, before they go for linen finish and other things.justplaycards wrote:Yeah I knew that they made printing plates from which they made uncut sheets. I just wasn't sure where the errors could happen. I.E. how each machine lines things up. I went to look to see if I could find information on whether these are lined up by eye or by laser etc. Found this video. Although it didn't really answer my question.RelativityCards wrote:Cards come off the press in sheets, one deck per sheet. They are fed into another machine to do the cutting and yeah, if the sheet isn't aligned perfectly OR if it was misaligned somehow in print, all of the cards will be off-center in exactly the same way. It's drift.
Sorry to go a bit off topic.
Yup. There're two registration processes around playing cards, print registration = how all four colours are aligned onto each other (almost never a problem). And cutting registration = how proper the cards are cut.laitostarr777 wrote:By registration, does it means about how the playing cards are centered?
So for most playing cards, problems would be mostly in the cutting stageHarvonsgard wrote:Yup. There're two registration processes around playing cards, print registration = how all four colours are aligned onto each other (almost never a problem). And cutting registration = how proper the cards are cut.laitostarr777 wrote:By registration, does it means about how the playing cards are centered?
Just going to leave this here because I'm really curious and I don't think anyone saw it earlier in the thread.PiazzaDelivery wrote:I have the same problem with my Derren Browns and purple Monarchs. I take it from the other comments that this isn't unusual for the USPCC, which begs the question: have we as consumers been vocal enough about this issue and if so, why do reputable brands like t11 choose to print with USPCC?
Probably not a lot, but probably also a lot. Guess some folks here did guess right after all@theory11 wrote:MONARCH MANDARIN. They sold out in 3 days, but we have a small quantity locked in our warehouse vault. LIKE this post and we’ll choose two people at random to take home a deck, shipped on the house. Good luck! #theory11
You’re quicker than me XDDecknowledgy wrote:https://www.instagram.com/p/B8KKBTOHh1m/Probably not a lot, but probably also a lot. Guess some folks here did guess right after all@theory11 wrote:MONARCH MANDARIN. They sold out in 3 days, but we have a small quantity locked in our warehouse vault. LIKE this post and we’ll choose two people at random to take home a deck, shipped on the house. Good luck! #theory11
I saw it, just not sure what to comment.PiazzaDelivery wrote:Just going to leave this here because I'm really curious and I don't think anyone saw it earlier in the thread.PiazzaDelivery wrote:I have the same problem with my Derren Browns and purple Monarchs. I take it from the other comments that this isn't unusual for the USPCC, which begs the question: have we as consumers been vocal enough about this issue and if so, why do reputable brands like t11 choose to print with USPCC?
Still you would expect more QC from USPCC.laitostarr777 wrote:I saw it, just not sure what to comment.PiazzaDelivery wrote:Just going to leave this here because I'm really curious and I don't think anyone saw it earlier in the thread.PiazzaDelivery wrote:I have the same problem with my Derren Browns and purple Monarchs. I take it from the other comments that this isn't unusual for the USPCC, which begs the question: have we as consumers been vocal enough about this issue and if so, why do reputable brands like t11 choose to print with USPCC?
Cause I got my Purple Monarchs, and everything looks fine. Maybe its just bad luck that a few people get the bad ones
I've never seen it. I guess you'll only be able to find that error on vintage decks. The machine operator must be really drunk or must give zero f***s to mess up the colour registration. Almost impossible with modern offset maschines to mess that up.laitostarr777 wrote:I wonder if there are case of color misalignment?
It is well known. But USPCC won't fix it because the decks get sold regardless.PiazzaDelivery wrote:Just going to leave this here because I'm really curious and I don't think anyone saw it earlier in the thread.
Hmmm, can we see those in Bicycle Seconds?Harvonsgard wrote:I've never seen it. I guess you'll only be able to find that error on vintage decks. The machine operator must be really drunk or must give zero f***s to mess up the colour registration. Almost impossible with modern offset maschines to mess that up.
I can't tell. Never bought Seconds nor do I know how low the quality control is for them.laitostarr777 wrote:Hmmm, can we see those in Bicycle Seconds?Harvonsgard wrote:I've never seen it. I guess you'll only be able to find that error on vintage decks. The machine operator must be really drunk or must give zero f***s to mess up the colour registration. Almost impossible with modern offset maschines to mess that up.
You can search for youtube for reviews of the 2nds. Some are really obvious, some you won't notice unless you're really eagle eyed. I got a deck of blue and red each, and I couldn't find anything obvious when I played with them. It's been awhile but I'll need to check if there were any smaller issues.laitostarr777 wrote:Hmmm, can we see those in Bicycle Seconds?Harvonsgard wrote:I've never seen it. I guess you'll only be able to find that error on vintage decks. The machine operator must be really drunk or must give zero f***s to mess up the colour registration. Almost impossible with modern offset maschines to mess that up.
Bicycle Seconds are meant to be imperfect XDEric Lee wrote:You can search for youtube for reviews of the 2nds. Some are really obvious, some you won't notice unless you're really eagle eyed. I got a deck of blue and red each, and I couldn't find anything obvious when I played with them. It's been awhile but I'll need to check if there were any smaller issues.laitostarr777 wrote:Hmmm, can we see those in Bicycle Seconds?Harvonsgard wrote:I've never seen it. I guess you'll only be able to find that error on vintage decks. The machine operator must be really drunk or must give zero f***s to mess up the colour registration. Almost impossible with modern offset maschines to mess that up.
For me, while registration is not always good, the paper stock and finish of USPCC decks surpass other companies.PiazzaDelivery wrote:I have the same problem with my Derren Browns and purple Monarchs. I take it from the other comments that this isn't unusual for the USPCC, which begs the question: have we as consumers been vocal enough about this issue and if so, why do reputable brands like t11 choose to print with USPCC?
Fixed that for youlaitostarr777 wrote:So, my package arrives today from Theory11 - contains my Mandarin MOnarchs with another deck (Derren Brown)
I opened mine and....... just as expected after reading other testimonies...: the registration is poor.
Oh and also, I recently bought regular Monarchs blue from reseller, and also discover the poor reception as well. X.XDecknowledgy wrote:Fixed that for youlaitostarr777 wrote:So, my package arrives today from Theory11 - contains my Mandarin MOnarchs with another deck (Derren Brown)
I opened mine and....... just as expected after reading other testimonies...: the registration is poor.
*registrationlaitostarr777 wrote:the reception is poor.
My theory is; custom playing cards seem to be on a rise (I can't back this with numbers since I'm no insider, but I seeing t11 with bigger collabs e.g Star Wars, Kingswild going full on with subscriptions and such I'd say it's about right). So USPCC has some options to handle the surplus in demand for playing cards:laitostarr777 wrote:USPCC, what happened to you?
Could be worse, just seen this one on redditlaitostarr777 wrote:So, my package arrives today from Theory11 - contains my Mandarin MOnarchs with another deck (Derren Brown)
I opened mine and....... just as expected after reading other testimonies...: the reception is poor.

Well, they have to know, if the people buying their cards and see the Quality starts to drop, they eventually will stop getting those cards.Harvonsgard wrote: My theory is; custom playing cards seem to be on a rise (I can't back this with numbers since I'm no insider, but I seeing t11 with bigger collabs e.g Star Wars, Kingswild going full on with subscriptions and such I'd say it's about right). So USPCC has some options to handle the surplus in demand for playing cards:
1. Buy new machines - stupid idea since you never know how long the demand is booming
2. Decline projects - stupid for obvious reasons
3. Up the production speed and keeping the same QM or
4. Up the production speed and lowering the QM
Seems like the most profitable option is no.4 since A) collectors are at the end of tha day the smallest clientel. B) not all collectors know what they get (tuckists) and C) not all that use their cards are bothered enough to stop buying USPCC decks - me included since Bicycle stock is still my favorite stock, although other companies have awesome handling stock as well.
Ah, you beat me to it.justplaycards wrote:Could be worse, just seen this one on redditlaitostarr777 wrote:So, my package arrives today from Theory11 - contains my Mandarin MOnarchs with another deck (Derren Brown)
I opened mine and....... just as expected after reading other testimonies...: the reception is poor.