How to Print Custom Trading Cards in Europe

Looking for custom trading card printing in Europe? Whether you are creating your own card game, turning your artwork into collectibles or ordering a personal deck, TCGPrintery lets you start with a single card. Upload your designs, choose your materials and review your cards before ordering. We print and ship from Germany.

This guide covers the decisions that matter before you place an order: choosing a format, preparing both sides of your cards, comparing finishes and checking the complete deck.

Printed and shipped from Germany

TCGPrintery produces your cards in Germany and dispatches your order from Germany. You can order from across Europe, whether you are making one personal card or preparing decks to share with your community.

When planning an order, separate production time from delivery time. Printing happens before your parcel starts its journey. Check the current shipping information and the options shown at checkout, particularly if you need your cards for an event.

Europe and the European Union are not the same shipping area. Switzerland and the United Kingdom, for example, are outside the EU. Use your actual delivery country when checking the order total and read the destination information before paying.

Start with one card or build a whole deck

You do not need a finished game or a large print run to begin. A single card can help you see how your illustration, layout and lettering work in your hand. A small deck gives you something to play with, share or give as a gift.

Possible projects include character cards for an original game, collectible prints of your artwork, custom tokens, personal gifts and illustrated oracle decks. Before uploading, decide what belongs on each front and whether the cards should share one back. That small planning step makes the final review much easier.

Choose the size before preparing your artwork

Start with the finished dimensions. They affect your layout, the amount of readable text you can fit and the sleeves or storage you may want to use.

• Standard, 63 × 88 mm: a familiar trading card format for custom decks and collectibles.
• Japanese, 59 × 86 mm: a narrower format for designs made specifically for this card size.
• Tarot, 70 × 120 mm: a taller format for tarot, oracle and illustration-led projects.

Choose your format on the Order Now page. Design for that format from the start so you can avoid squeezing important details into a different shape later.

Compare the card stock and foil options

The artwork is one part of the result; the material and finish are another. TCGPrintery offers Standard card stock with a white core and Black Core, alongside Holo, Surge and Galaxy foil options. With Partial Foil, choose a preset pattern or use a foil map to control which areas shine.

Use the photos and videos on our quality and materials page to compare how the samples look in the light. Consider the design itself: a reflective finish can be part of the visual effect, while readable text and small symbols still need enough contrast.

How to order your custom cards

1. Upload your fronts and choose the backs

Open the designer for your chosen format and add your files. JPG, PNG, WebP and PDF are supported. Set a shared back for your deck or assign an individual back where needed. Check double-sided designs especially carefully so each front has the correct reverse.

Already have an MPCFill XML file? Follow our separate MPCFill XML printing guide to import and review that selection.

2. Review the crop, bleed and readability

Open your card previews and look at the edges as well as the centre. Keep names, numbers and other essential details comfortably inside the cut line. A narrow border can make small cutting differences more noticeable, so leave your design some room.

The designer adds 3 mm of bleed to artwork at the finished size and recognises files that already include it. Bleed extends beyond the final cut; it is not extra space for text. Use the bleed view and read any image warnings before continuing.

Prepare images at 300 dpi at the intended print size or higher. Enlarging a small image does not restore missing detail. Our print-ready files guide explains dimensions, resolution and colour preparation.

3. Check materials, quantities and the total

Choose your paper and finish, then review the copies of each card and the number of complete decks. For example, two copies of a 60-card deck should give you 120 cards in total. Check that the displayed quantity matches what you intend to receive.

Review the current price, add the deck to your cart and confirm your delivery details at checkout. The how-to guides explain individual controls if you need a closer walkthrough.

What determines the cost?

Your format, material, finish and quantity determine the printing price. Compare configurations using the current price shown in the designer, then review the complete total with delivery at checkout. This gives you a useful budget for your actual project, whether you are testing one design or ordering several decks.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order just one custom card?

Yes. TCGPrintery accepts orders from one card, so you can begin with a small project or test your design before planning more copies.

Can I check the cards before I pay?

Yes. Review the fronts, backs, crop and bleed in the designer before adding your deck to the cart. Inspect small text and the edges of every different design.

How long will my order take?

Allow for both production and delivery. The current estimates for your region are on the shipping page. Check them before ordering for a particular date.

Print your custom cards in Europe

Choose your size, upload your artwork and build a deck around your own ideas. You can review the details before ordering, with your cards printed and shipped from Germany.

Print Your Custom Cards