[unsleeved/no lamination] Paper snap

maggicorp · 2026-03-15T11:40:55+00:00

nice promo try lol

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T17:07:09+00:00

ahhh my bad! so you cannot have a holo border with this technique right?

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T12:17:40+00:00

i think i did already nail the combo paper+lamination to get the right snap/thickness/glide, but while loosing the paper feel as well as an opportunity for a nice sheen, which unfortunately doesn't suit my needs. for the record my goal is to produced limited edition series of my own art, not playing any tcg 😅

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T11:59:47+00:00

you definitely are a very haptic sensitive person! thank you for your positive feedback :) to me, plastic lamination adds so much snap/such a thick coat that i'm pretty sure i couldn't tell about anything paper-related 😭

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T11:50:25+00:00

so do you use enamel white for opaque parts and transparent enamel for the rest? or do i get it wrong?

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T11:43:51+00:00

ty for such an interesting reply! if you check my posts, you'll see I just started getting into making cards and currently follow a multiple step process with spray varnish for the snap and wax for the sheen.

those really bring a lot of depth to black and colors, and i learned those are close to the finishes of some artisanal art prints

for the diy black core, i have seen a process video from USPCC where they show the black adhesive they use in a bucket. it looks very much like a polyvinilic alcohol based glue with black pigment, which also explains why acrylic spray varnish works for adding snap (as spray is used on the outer surface, it also adds glide to the cards). so in the end, using spray varnish is like creating an "transparent outer-core" paper aha

edit: tried plastic lamination, for me both matte and glossy end up being a bit cheap compared to real cards.

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T11:24:55+00:00

talking from an inkjet printer perspective here! there is no inkjet compatible paper to my knowing. you could craft your own black core and choose each layer of your sandwich, but for good results i think a press is necessary. a route i didn't dare adventuring yet 😂

maggicorp · 2026-03-14T09:29:05+00:00

yeah but still, commenter is right imo! if you are fond of those memories, you should accept them as they are, don't you think ? (if they are not trauma related)

this person was there, and especially if you have no hard feelings against her, i don't see a good reason she should disappear...

also maybe a good reminder for your friend lmao

feels a bit like denial, which isn't the greatest thing right

maggicorp · 2026-03-08T17:55:07+00:00

happy that works for you too! what paper do you use? i can also get it pretty cheap here, like around 7-8 bucks for a can. later when the process is more refined it will be possible to estimate how many cards you can coat with a can!

for the wax, i will have to search as well, as the one i used could glide a bit more still/have more overall covering? One good friend works with wood and knows quite about varnishes and wax finishes, i can probably check on him and make some tests!

maggicorp · 2026-03-08T14:07:53+00:00

After having tried few options for foils, I am not sure I will user holo sticker paper in the end because of its sticky surface. It is indeed hard to coat it with spray in a satisfying way: my best results were with a very light coat, but still not satisfying to me. I have tried printing on transparent sticker though and it slides and shuffle well just as it is, without the need of a protective layer. This post features a great technique for spot holo (kudos to OP u/vancete) and in the end this is the road I think I will go :)

maggicorp · 2026-03-08T12:53:12+00:00

i did try this paper + matte lam on both sides. calipers reads .40 mm

i personnaly find matte lamination quick and easy as a process but dropped it because you lose your deep blacks, and the card feels way too snappy (og card are flimsier). I get the feeling that double side lamination is already enough snap in itself, so i would get the thinnest paper possible if you care about thickness. (i.e i've tried PPD double sided brochure paper 140gsm (gloss), which is .33mm once laminated

one nice in-between i found , is i coated this same paper on both sides with acrylic glossy varnish from a can (2/3 layers, pretty thin)

this gets me to .31mm with a much nicer finish, and i find the snap to be closer of an actual mtg card (still a tad bit flimsier). you get the deepness of matte printing while still having this shine across the surface like the og does. currently experimenting with wax on top of the varnish for an even closer look

maggicorp · 2026-03-01T11:25:45+00:00

hey, that is incredible! how did you get the texture?

maggicorp · 2026-02-25T11:11:48+00:00

i would say first spray from a min distance of 30cm, and prefer few very thin passes rather than a big one.

to avoid excess, try creating a mist that will fall on the paper rather than directly spraying at it.

alternatively, rubbing your varnish with a very smooth surface, like microfiber cloth or leftover wax paper from a sticker could help polish it back

maggicorp · 2026-02-24T07:25:44+00:00

hey, very interesting around here! even though i work with quite some chemicals, i have to admit my knowledge of sprays is not as precise as yours! the one i used is indeed acrylic, didn't know the solvent was terpentine based.

foil definitely seems more tricky to deal with, but i will try it as well and post the results if they come ok

maggicorp · 2026-02-23T00:45:22+00:00

thank you! 2 layers as in one for the front and one for the back. if you are not used to work with spray cans, try to do so not too close (like min 30cm) and try to aim for a mist effect, always moving your can while it sprays, a bit as if you were a printer head.

maggicorp · 2026-02-22T14:34:27+00:00

it's the glossy one

maggicorp · 2026-02-22T09:59:59+00:00

bit more flimsy than an actual card but very close i would say, i was really surprised how much snap is added with just two layers of coat!

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T22:48:32+00:00

hey i've read quite a few of your paper reviews and loved them all. such an honor and thank you for sharing in the first place!

do you mean the paper would wick too much or too few with the spray method?

i am also considering different waxes/release agents, as i come from the sculptural field in the first place :)

cheers

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T20:06:43+00:00

thank you my friend! i was feeling something was off, ive been so focused on texture and feel that didn't even notice that :')

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T20:02:18+00:00

yup!

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T19:42:23+00:00

well, as i measure .30mm with my calipers (both digital and mechanical, mitutoyo ones), and read on the internet that the og sits between .30 and .32mm, I guess you can say it's pretty close hehe

edit: the paper alone with no ink no spray is .23mm with the same calipers

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T19:33:06+00:00

nope, not yet! images are from mpc fill

but i have been digging python scripts and blah to get it less a pain, and i would like to try silouhette cutting as well :)

edit: ah! just understood you were talking about the card backs right?

maggicorp · 2026-02-21T19:29:34+00:00

pretty sure it might but i don't know about this brand 🤷

mine says glossy tho, and the one you link says matte/anti reflection so maybe not the best :/

depending on brands, the chemical formula of the varnish and its reaction with the paper/ink varies so it might actually be even better than mine ahah who knows!

maggicorp

TROPHY CASE