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It should be no surprise to make it official that Karin Yan of Bonefide Playing Cards in Barcelona is definitely hard at work updating her Nouveau deck to be the UC2016 Annual Deck.

Here are a few preliminary artwork graphics, the tuck & card back to show where we're headed.

Right now, the Deck Refinery crew is working on a few changes and in a few weeks we will show off what she has done. There is no exact time picked yet, but this deck will be funded on Kickstarter.com most likely starting in about mid-September, moving the annual deck around six weeks sooner than before.

Hopefully that will mean we can get it out a little earlier next year!
Everything is preliminary for now, and likely will change as we get closer to funding.

Welcome Karin to the exclusive group of artists chosen to create our annual decks!

I love Art Nouveau
The Back design is a huge improvement from the last one, i hope the courts get the same treatment.

Will be backing anyway, just because it`s the UC 2016 Deck.

I like it so far...!

Jock1971 wrote:I love Art Nouveau
The Back design is a huge improvement from the last one, i hope the courts get the same treatment.

Will be backing anyway, just because it`s the UC 2016 Deck.

vasta41 wrote:I like it so far...!

Glad to hear that you like it! I really hope that our first female deck artist (for the annual UC deck) will be popular. It's a deck that I backed from the start, and I know that it is going to be better still.

She's working with the Deck Refinery group right now and fine tuning a few details.

Thank you guys! Hope it will meet your expectations but feel free to share your opinions and suggestions, I'll take all of them into consideration

Great start for sure, however green and many different hues of green is the hardest color to print Cmyk. The value similarities of all the greens paired with some of the tight detail will result in nothing but mud and black when printed I would suggest pushing the value range or simplifying the details.

edit: also I see you are using the USPCC standard tuck. If you are printing with USPCC then you might as well go-ahead and shrink the back design a ton because their prepress dept. will just laugh at you when you turn in that super sweet super thin border.

it is always a great and easy technique to check your values by looking at your work in black and white and also then blurring it to really amplify any value problems. When it's in black and white or blurred if there is not any definitions in the forms and especially in the main design elements like titles and main icons then they will 9 times out of 10 get lost when printed and in someones hands.

I'd like to congratulate Karin for being selected as the next artist to design the Annual UC deck, and for being the first female designer - its great to see further diversity in both the artists and designs. And I'd like to give kudos to Mike for picking yet another great artist for our 2016 Annual UC deck. I think this is a very worthy deck to carry on the tradition of our Annual UC decks. I'm happy to see more UC branding on this deck as well. I'll be eagerly anticipating the evolution and creation of this deck!

sinjin7 wrote:I'd like to congratulate Karin for being selected as the next artist to design the Annual UC deck, and for being the first female designer - its great to see further diversity in both the artists and designs. And I'd like to give kudos to Mike for picking yet another great artist for our 2016 Annual UC deck. I think this is a very worthy deck to carry on the tradition of our Annual UC decks. I'm happy to see more UC branding on this deck as well. I'll be eagerly anticipating the evolution and creation of this deck!

Thank you Hope it will live up to your expectations!

New updated artwork, detailed information about likely funding, stretch goals, add on items, etc

OK, I already announced the basics of Karin Yan and Bonefide Playing Cards Nouveau deck being the UC2016 deck, and today I want to announce that the Deck Refinery consultancy group has worked with her to refine the design and artwork, and show off the semi complete artwork as well as announce a contest where one or two members can win one of 12 prototype decks, and detail a few of the likely stretch goals and add on items.

The artwork is attached here, refined, clean & crisp and laser focused on the Art Nouveau style and feel.

We'll be offering the revised graphics with green back as the primary deck, and offer a stretch goal of the second deck probably using the updated original version of the artwork for the courts & aces as well as an über high end Privada Riserva, probably of 50-75 units with some seriously collectable features! We're thinking hot foil stamped leather or laser cut tuck, considering hand gilding with 23.5k gold leaf, maybe even foil on the card backs.

Add ons include 18"×24" art prints of the Aces / faces / jokers and more, possibly a poker card guard of 2" heavyweight enameled Art Nouveau style, t-shirt (maybe), and a pair of things were not ready to reveal yet because we're not even sure if they can be done.

Gold and or silver metallic inks, awesome tucks with stretch goals for embossing, foil, interior design and more. We're starting a contest today where one member - possibly two - can win one of the dozen prototype decks being made, and that's not all.

We're looking at another revolution of the series and look forward to seeing and hearing from the membership with suggestions and feedback on direction and helping us spread the word as we prepare for funding on Kickstarter starting noon (EDT / NYC time) Saturday 19-September for thirty days, ending Monday 19-October to hopefully get the deck out before the middle of the year.

I like the sound of all of that, Mike but before/while it's on KS is there going to be any incentive to being a member here at UC? One thing I was hoping the annual UC deck would get back to was a perk of some sort for active members, whatever that may be. I hope that will be the case here..

vasta41 wrote:I like the sound of all of that, Mike but before/while it's on KS is there going to be any incentive to being a member here at UC? One thing I was hoping the annual UC deck would get back to was a perk of some sort for active members, whatever that may be. I hope that will be the case here..

Paul, we have not decided exactly what the bonus for members will be, but yes - there will be something significant this year, not a just a sticker or a preview. When we figure out what it is, I will announce it here.

More artwork and artwork from the stretch goal 2nd (red back) deck:
Before anyone goes off about the extra white space around the pip cards, we spent almost 100% of our time during the Deck Refinery fine tuning of the deck on the aces/faces/jokers and tuck box. There will be much less white space on the final production cards when they are printed. We placed an order for prototype decks, two of which are for use as prizes here on UC for members, and six to be sold during the campaign, as well. The way to win one of the prototypes has not been decided yet, but since we have one full month today before the project launches on Kickstarter (Saturday 19-September at noon EDT/NYC), we have plenty of time to decide exactly how the prototype deck(s) will be awarded to one of (or perhaps two?) members.

just a quick note so members can get prepared to help promote the deck on social media, which is the key to winning one of the exclusive prototype decks. Starting two weeks before launch (5-September) and ending two weeks after launch (3-October) we will monitor the main "big three" social media networks - Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (well 4 - YouTube) - for sharing of the two official hashtags #UC2016Deck and #NouveauDeck - and the user here he does the most successful and wide-spread promotion of the UC2016 / Nouveau deck on social media will win the first prototype deck, and I reserve the right to award two prototype decks. There is an absolute limit of two decks to be won, and the second one is not guaranteed - it depends on participation.

People intimately involved in the design process and promotion and design of the decks are not eligible - those people are MagikFingerz (Tom), Eoghann (Dan), Kai (volantangel) and Joe (MonteCarloJoe) as well as myself and Karin Yan. Anyone else including the rest of the mods that wish to get involved in the promotion and 'advertising' of the UC2016 Nouveau deck(s) is more than welcome to compete.

Note that I said "Decks". We intend to fund this campaign enough to support a second Nouveau (red) deck as original imagined by Karin, one with artwork for the courts and aces more closely aligned with the original campaign, and we also hope to be able to offer somewhere between 40 and 60 (maybe max 75) units of uber high end "Privada Reserva" (we've got a Spanish artist this year, run with it!) decks which will sell for somewhere between $45 and $75 per deck depending on the features included. We may well have two - one high end and one ultra high end Privada Reserva decks, one selling for closer to the low side of that price-range, and one selling for closer to the high end, because I hope to be able to get around 30-50 decks hand gilded with 23.5k gold leaf, just like those that Uusi, Chris Ovdiyenko and others have done. That would make the UC2016 / Nouveau decks the ultimate in the existing series of UC annual decks so far! Being able to find someone with the talents to provide those gilded decks is the only contingency for getting the ultra high end luxury decks done. If I can get 30-to-50 decks gilded, they will of course go for a bit more than that $75 price. That being said, I have no intention of making the Privada Reserva decks sold at the lower end of the price-range anything less than something that each and every UC member will want to own - in addition to the standard (green) and stretch (red) UC2016 / Nouveau decks.

I will get down to the monitoring and scoring used, which may not be equal for all social media. Of course - a two-minute YouTube video clip is worth more point-wise than simplyadding #UC2016Deck or #NouveauDeck to a tweet or 'gram. I will investigate whether or not it is practical to take coverage into consideration, however at this time I really don't see that as being practical.

The prototype decks, the promotion of the Nouveau / UC2016 decks and the prizes awarded for participation and winning the competition (and perhaps runner-up) are solely my (Mike Ratledge's) responsibility and at my expense, although I also ordered 6 prototype decks to sell during the Kickstarter campaign. Please - be fair, and take your fellow members into consideration: I ordered enough to give each of the six participants in the design and development of the artwork for the decks, and an extra one for Karin Yan of Bonefied Playing Cards - this year's artist, plus two for use as prizes for UC members plus six to be sold during the campaign. There is no reason to approach me to purchase one of the prototypes. They are not for sale, except that as already stated, six of them will be available to those who want one when the KS campaign launches.

Sixteen (16) of the prototypes exist, and this is your opportunity to win one for free. Six more will be made available first come, first serve during the campaign. That's it. The other one - if not used for a runner-up during the social media blitz campaign - will be used as a prize or part of a prize in the UC Decks of the Year contest in January and February next year. The remaining seven prototype decks are already claimed by those six people listed as ineligible (plus one extra for Karin). That means that other than those already claimed by the development team and the two reserved for UC member prizes, only six will ever be available for sale. For those of you that want details, these prototype decks are currently being produced by MPC using their latest press and process on their best 310gsm linen finish bond paper and will come with fully custom tuck as shown in the previous post. As a general rule, prototype decks are not "tax stamp" sealed nor are they normally cellophane sealed. The prize will be awarded as a gift just in case it is won by someone overseas, and shipping by Priority Mail will also be paid for by me - anywhere in the world (well, except North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Syria, as far as I know - there may be others).

We have discussed the likelihood that the Privada Reserva decks and uncut sheets will likely be printed on the high end Damask paper / finish now offered by Expert PCC, although that is not yet guaranteed.

With this joker, I'm always going to have the song Royals stuck in my head when using the deck.

Congrats Karin! I'm happy you are the 2016 UC Artist, this deck NEEDS to be funded

I was a fan of the Noveau Courts you did from the start, and I really like the improvements you did.

Of course count me in both for pledge and support.

Thank you guys Can't wait to see them in my hands!

I pledged for this deck both times on KS and still like it but I have only one gripe.

I think the "Nouveau" on the tuck needs to be bigger. It's kind of a lengthy word, looks like it's just squeezed in between the design and may be hard for people to read (the font of it is fine). The "Playing Cards" at the bottom of tuck is fine since we know that's what they are.

I know I'm not a small logo man. If it's not changed, no problem. The green and blue tuck looks stand out worthy.

I already posted a tease here: http://unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php ... 64&p=91510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can win a Nouveau / UC2016 prototype deck that will be delivered around mid-October in a carat card case and be playing with the deck before the Kickstarter campaign is even over!

The link above tells you how to win. The contest starts Saturday and runs for a month, using social media. Help spread the word about Karin's Nouveau deck, funding at noon two weeks after the campaign launches (on the 19th).

I'm on mobile but where is the link?

Cbkimble wrote:I'm on mobile but where is the link?

Its the short internal link at the end of the first line.

It takes you back four or five posts in this thread to the message I posted on the 19th.

Today starts the two week period (previously I said 4 weeks, incorrectly - it's now until launch day, the 19th).

Social media including YouTube (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) will be monitored for the two hash tags #NouveauDeck & #UC2016Deck

Here's the launch invitation graphic:
Help get the word out, and win one of the 17 prototype decks. If I happen to have two members that are very close 's far as overall participation, I might award a second deck.

holy shit those are thin borders very nice

I must have missed it. Who is the printer? I hope EPCC or LPCC.

octave wrote:holy shit those are thin borders very nice

yeah i was worried it wouldn't look good but i like the result

PrincessTrouble wrote:I must have missed it. Who is the printer? I hope EPCC or LPCC.

It's EPCC

So with 3 days to launch, what perk do UC members get?

vasta41 wrote:So with 3 days to launch, what perk do UC members get?

It's not set in stone yet, although pretty certain. There will be a "3rd joker" that will be added to the UC members' orders in a mini-print, and also likely available as a standard (full-size) print. All of the aces/faces/jokers will be available as a print, although the specific size isn't specific yet. I am thinking along the lines of an 12"x16" size, though possibly 18"x24". The exact size depends on what Karin can get in the metric equivalent or "close to" our US measurement. When I say mini-print, I am thinking along the postcard size, although that also is subject to change.

There will be a coin, a "Riserva Privada" (or similarly named ultra-limited edition custom deck available in 40-60 pieces), a second deck if we do 150% of the initial funding goal (similar but different, likely aiming toward the original red backed with similar to the original faces), and maybe a couple of other items. Right now, we're concentrating on the basics to start with.

I will have a preview of the project for comment about 24 hours before launch.

The question "will there be Early Bird pledges?" always comes up. Yes, there will!

Mike Ratledge wrote:

vasta41 wrote:So with 3 days to launch, what perk do UC members get?

It's not set in stone yet, although pretty certain. There will be a "3rd joker" that will be added to the UC members' orders in a mini-print, and also likely available as a standard (full-size) print.

I have to say this has come a long way since the original UC deck. I know that no two campaigns are alike and I don't expect them to be the same every year so comparing them wouldn't be fair. But IMO the UC incentive sure has deviated over the years. Now I know what you're thinking- "How can or why should anyone be upset getting free stuff??" But the truth is I don't want free stuff. I'm obviously bias because I'm not an "add-on" kind of guy but at the end of the day this is United Cardists, not United Posterists. I'm sure the jokers will turn out great and I will be buying these decks no matter what because they're beautiful and I've already pledged twice to try and produce them. But maybe instead of EBs there could be a category just for UC members with EB pricing? Or something more similar to the first campaign (UC pre-orders at a discounted rate)? I don't know... I'm not expecting these things, just thinking out loud. And I might be in a minority here and believe me, it's not just about the money (as I said I'll be buying regardless) but I thought there'd be a greater incentive (in relation to card collecting) to join or be a UC member this time around.

I'd like to add that I am still excited for this deck to finally (hopefully) be made and to add to my UC deck collection. And I do appreciate all the hard work by all involved. I know it seems like I'm complaining but I guess I'm just venting since my opinion will not stop me from pledging now or in the future (most likely).

After noon, when the project goes "live" for funding, this link will change, but it should redirect to the "new" (launched) campaign.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/un ... n=965231d7

Please post comments on the page so Karin sees them immediately. Since she's five hours ahead of me, she should be up shortly, but I am headed to sleep until around 8am here (Eastern / NYC time).

(and yes, the project picture will will be updated)

Half an hour, can't wait!

With 30 minutes to go before the launch, here's the first look at the Bourgogne ("Burgundy") / wine red deck unlocked at 150% funded. These will not just be a tuck swap and color change, the faces & aces will be more close to the mosaic & jeweled style, so there will be two distinct decks. Nothing is cast in stone yet, so if you have suggestions, let's hear them. Karin has done a remarkable job with the limited time I gave her after making last-minute design changes. I think the result is going to be a fabulous pair of decks that truly give us a distinctive UC 'flavor' cards! Paul, I crafted a really good reply to your concerns about the member perks for the deck, but somehow managed either not to finish it, or lost it when I was changing focus here using two laptops, a phone and my tablet to get a good look at the project from all three perspectives. Basically, we have tried the pre-sale of the decks but it screwed up the overall funding amount / goal, although I'm sure we can figure out something for future projects. It's just too late to zig when I should have zagged for this one. We could do something like that and reduce the funding goal by the amount sold, or figure out something like that.