Could I maybe...

[Faerie Alex]

I was thinking...sometime down the road I'd like to make a set of card models for the cast of DMFA. (Possibly to be done by the 10th anniversary of DMFA, or maybe strip #1000.) Formatted as PDF files, to be downloaded, printed, cut out, and assembled. What I'd like to know is two things:

* Would I be allowed to do this (with copyright for characters & DMFA noted), or would it be a problem (legal or otherwise)?
* Is anyone interested?

[Supercheese]

Hmm, would they have to be printed on special paper? (Card stock or something...)

[Faerie Alex]

Personally, I always use 110 lb paper. Some people work with lighter paper, which might be better for the compound curves involved, but wouldn't give you as strong a model.

(Yes, if anyone is interested, I do build models out of paper myself.)

[Rafe]

This was done with the characters from David Hopkins' comic Jack, and was extremely successful.

The way it worked was that a fan and collector of Dave's art commissioned him to do a deck of playing cards.  Not just one design for a king, one for a jack, etc - Dave did 54 separate pieces of art, jokers included - no two alike.  He then got them printed, and split the profits of their sale with Dave.

They brought them to Anthrocon and decided to sell them for $10 a pack, which sounded a little high, but they sold so fast, and had so many people asking for them, that they printed anoother batch, upped the price to $15 each, and sold out again. 

Here's what some of them looked like:




Highwing, who commissioned them, printed them on the heavy coated stock they use for cards, and I believe he bought a cutter to do the rounded corners.  If you have any questions, the forum thread is here:

Jack Playing Cards

And you can PM Highwing or get his email from the thread.

[Manawolf]

Dude, awesome stuff, Rafe.  I noticed you left out Vanity, then again she is the anti-nymph.

[Zedd]

I always did like my ranma 1/2 playing cards

[Amber Williams]

The idea of playing cards would be fun. But I'm not sure I'd want to rain on Dave's parade...or how I'd go about doing such a thing.

[Sid]

Card game != Card models, if I read the first post correctly. Unless card decks nowadays have to be assembled. Maybe Modelincard can link to examples so we get a better impression of what he has in mind? I'm certainly impressed by the idea (and I still use the bookmarks I once made, so I'm all for paper-work fun), and I'd love to hear more about it!

[Zedd]

How come I see Fi as a Joker card...

[Faerie Alex]

Yeah, you're right. Playing cards are not the same as card models.

If I'm not here, I might be at:
http://www.cardmodels.net
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net

A completed model, for reference.

[Sid]

Ah yes, I suspected that you'd mean something like that. Needless to say that you got my interest... o.o

[xHaZxMaTx]

3-dimensional models made of paper?  That seems absurdly difficult.

[Rafe]

The idea of playing cards would be fun. But I'm not sure I'd want to rain on Dave's parade...or how I'd go about doing such a thing.

Rain on his parade?  You 'd be doing no such thing, and Dave would be the first one to say so.  You aren't copying his artwork, your fans are your fans, and they'd buy them just like Dave's do.  Dave also does commissions, and does a three days a week (or more) comic, like you do - you aren't raining on his parade there.

Cards are just something put your art on, not some copyrighted concept.  And as far as how to do them, I just explained it in my first post.  If someone wants to do it, they can handle the printing and take orders - you do the art, and you divide the profits.  Anyone interested in helping Amber and making a little money yourself? 

[GabrielsThoughts]

you know in Las Vegas the only game  that isn't rigged is poker... and every casino has a deck of cards, a few years back I started collecting them, I had all of the Station casino's and then, I lost them in one of the more than 30 or so moving days, and now all I have are a handful of pokemon cards, decade old magic the gathering cards, dacade old starwars trading cards, some mickey mouse playing  cards, But, I No longer posess my infamous stationhouse casino collection, oh the tragedy, what I could do with another deck of cards that I don't want.


I can wait for the roasting Amber will get for doing such a thing.


Edit: this represents the opinion of a Nevada local who is sick of playing cards in general, and in now way represents or reflects the opinions of others who may actually like the idea.

[FlameSword]

I think it's a good idea.