First CPC Cash Set draft design (1 Viewer)

[Kam]

Taking a break from murdering this evening to decompress from the frustration (expectations > skills & patience).

Highlight of today was making progress on the labels. Thought I'd share the journey.

First off, I don't have any illustrator/ graphic design skills, but had a general idea of what theme I was looking for - outdoor california life of ocean/ fish / ski / mountain stuff. So I subscribed to an AI graphic app called Da Vinci, and played around for a few evenings with different prompts to try and help visualize what some of the themes would look like.

In general I'd say if it's a generic prompt, like snowy mountain vista etc, it'd give some interesting and reasonable stuff. As soon as I started trying really specific stuff, it got whacky or trippy fast. I'm sure you could spend more time to refine the prompts, but realized it wasn't worth the effort for me, but was fun for a few evenings to mess around with.

Some examples of results (trying to get something like a poker chip label):

The fish specific ones were pretty hilarious out of the ocean related theme:

The main benefit of doing this 'pre-vis' was that I realized my original theme really wouldn't translate the way I'd like it to for a consistent theme across my cash set. So I decided to concentrate on the local ocean wildlife / fishing that I love...

 

[Kam]

Now that I had a more focused idea of ocean / wildlife, I could now be specific with my label designer, JB @tallsbutler. First off, I would thoroughly recommend JB for anyone that would like help with a label designer (he also does entire TINA / Ceramic sets, Dealer buttons etc). JB was great in understanding what I was trying to achieve, and really hit it out of the park first time. We had maybe 3 revisions to get to this point.

My chips, pre-murder:

Side A:

Side B:

@Jacks I think was the only other set I found that had a similar fishing focused theme (stumbled across when looking for something else).
@Taghkanic Hoyle set I really liked for the colors and how they pulled in and used all the elements of the chip

 

[Kam]

For fishing at least out of San Diego, it's all about bait, typically sardines. So I liked the thought of starting off with a small bait fish for the 25c. It's not as common, but I love when all of a sudden flying fish erupt from the water - typically a sign of something bigger lurking underneath - it's definitely a larger baitfish and something the bigger tuna definitely go after.

For the $5, a squid would be more accurate for fishing, however I loved the thought of representing the workhorse $5 chip with an Octopus, representing the camouflage and intelligence needed for poker.

We've had a few awesome days out on the water all because we found a kelp paddy. There is no real structure out on the ocean here, so you need to find either birds diving on bait fish (that'll be pushed up to the surface by tuna etc), or a kelp paddy that has bait fish underneath for protection. We idle up or near the kelp paddy, and it's a great feeling when you throw a sardine or two out and see a flash of color. We've caught both yellow tail (the blank NCV that I'll initially use probably as an All In chip) and Mahi Mahi ($25) this way. The $100 is represented by the tuna - although I've only ever caught up to the 20-30lb 'schoolie' range, they can get to the 60-100lb, even 200lb. So the $100 was reserved for the tuna.

We're working on a Dealer button design, that'll represent the kelp paddy & terns that signal bait fish, and the sardines will be the first out for the blinds... and they'll lead to some bigger fish

 

[Kam]

I've been in touch with @Gear & @Wifey - they've also had some good feedback. JB's initial design used the Blaze Orange as the background, however the feedback was that the color wouldn't be that similar when actually printed, hence the switch to the plum for the contrast against the green Mahi Mahi:

Gear also advised that probably should focus only on printing Side A, since there might be too much detail/ fine lines on the B side to be seen. They recommended I do some local to size printing as examples, and now deciding if I should get some samples or not, or only have side A on both sides.

My preference would be for textured labels, however listening to @Wifey, sounds like the finer details wouldn't come through or be lost, so the smooth matt laminate would be better.

Cheers

Kam

 

[Taghkanic]

While it is fun and tempting to vary the two sides, I was going to suggest that you either use only one design per chip, or keep the variations quite subtle from side to side.

My concern is that if the two sides are effectively reversed (dark vs light), you may wind up with some very messy and confusing splash pots.

Especially since you are matching base and spot colors on each chip. There’s already a *lot* going on visually.

In any case, excited to see the progress. Looks great overall.

 

[Taghkanic]

Re.: Gear color matching: In my experience it really depends on the specific hue and intensity. Some colors can be reproduced almost perfectly. Others are quite tough to match—e.g. hot pinks and intense oranges.

I’d say generally the more saturated, the bigger the printing challenge.

Also the type of inlay (say, textured laminated vs glossy unlaminated) may be a factor.

 

[Timmah]

I poured the NPR into a small plastic container and used a Q tip to add some NPR to the chip. Just enough to coat it.

 

[Kam]

While it is fun and tempting to vary the two sides, I was going to suggest that you either use only one design per chip, or keep the variations quite subtle from side to side.

My concern is that if the two sides are effectively reversed (dark vs light), you may wind up with some very messy and confusing splash pots.

Especially since you are matching base and spot colors on each chip. There’s already a *lot* going on visually.

In any case, excited to see the progress. Looks great overall.

Thanks - appreciate your perspective. I’m going to get a sample of an A & B side for the $5 and see how I feel about it in person before ordering all the labels (Gear also recommended just the A side). I didn’t think of the splash pots, good call.

I poured the NPR into a small plastic container and used a Q tip to add some NPR to the chip. Just enough to coat it.

Thanks - I will try that next time. Tonight I decided to avoid the NPR altogether and just peel, if I hit a crappy chip it went in the ‘f*#k it I’ll deal with it later pile’. The Q tip might help where I’m still using too much NPR, although I’ve done slightly better with a little more experience.

Progress so far - went much better tonight, last barrel will be attempted with the Q tip:

Cheers

Kam

 

[Kam]

Time for a beer with some slice n’ dice. Onto the next rack:

 

[Kam]

Update: not all chips are made equal. Started on the $5 IGs, and the laminate labels on these just pop off as soon as you cut in. The vinyl logo layer just needs a little cut to start, most come off in one or two halves. Strange that the $1 IG gave me a much tougher time with about a 1/3rd needing the NPR dose. First barrel of IG $5s and only one side of 2 chips that need NPR.

 

[PokerSTLplayer]

Always nice to be able to remove the inlays fast without damage to the chip.

 

[Kam]

Update, decision time - welcome and interested in feedback. I’m leaning a certain direction, not looking to make fundamental changes to actual label design, just which option of the below:

1. Original 2 styles on either side of chip (colors somewhat inverse both sides):

2. Alternate 2 styles (colors aligned):

3. 1 label style for both sides of chip

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

Update, decision time - welcome and interested in feedback. I’m leaning a certain direction, not looking to make fundamental changes to actual label design, just which option of the below:

1. Original 2 styles on either side of chip (colors somewhat inverse both sides):

View attachment 1431117

2. Alternate 2 styles (colors aligned):
View attachment 1431125

3. 1 label style for both sides of chip
View attachment 1431126

I'm liking alternate two. Colors aligned make the chip more consistent regardless of which side is up but still gives you both the fish and still one side with the denomination prominent. It is a really sharp looking set.

 

[Kam]

It’s the journey, not the destination…

Realized best way for murdering is to have some Bond or Wick on, and just take it easy vs trying to rush. Starting back up on the $5.

 

[Kam]

Update, added a 4th rack of IG $5. Expanded the diversity of card sets from just Copag, expecting some Trefls from Europe shortly as well.

 

[Kam]

Update, the yellow milled THC wasn’t 100% right for my set, so I kept my eyes open. Managed to find this beauty, works better for RHC consistency/ spot progression etc. Third time lucky hopefully…

The hunt then began, down through the PCF archives and vaults, searching the annals of history in the PCF classifieds trying to find who traded them. Not a lot… Hit a few dead ends some folk who had them and sold, or never had them… however @calfdemon was very gracious to open his fort knox haul of all chips great and small and was in a position to part with them:

@tallsbutler worked his design magic, and this will be sent to @Gear. No denom, so it can be used as 5c/50c/$2/$10 whatever.

Very happy. Also realized I’m almost 2 years into this journey. Maybe CPC would’ve been quicker…

 

[Kam]

Also did some label iteration.

Have the Octopus for the $5. Tried another more finer line drawing version that I prefer the style of, although the resounding feedback from both @tallsbutler and @Gear was that the finer line styling wouldn’t come through, and would just look mixed. So sticking with the simpler design and listening to the experts. First time doing this, realizing what looks good on a backlight screen might not come through on a small tiny laminated label.

Sticking with this one:

No to this one due to fine lines/colors mixing:

Aaaand all of the above were better than this AI monstrosity when I tried playing around with an image generator:

 

[slowplay]

Great find with new fracs, they complement the spot progression perfectly!
Good thing you're sticking with the original octopus, personally like it better + the finer liner surely would not come through.

Cannot wait for the finished set, amazing project!

 

[Kam]

 

[Huskerchipper]

Yeah that new frac really brings the set together. That THC just looked terribly out of place. Nice find!!!

 

[Kam]

Great find with new fracs, they complement the spot progression perfectly!
Good thing you're sticking with the original octopus, personally like it better + the finer liner surely would not come through.

Cannot wait for the finished set, amazing project!

Thanks - it’s been a long time coming! Finding time to sit down and murder chips has been the biggest constraint unfortunately. Unlikely I’d do a big relabel project again, or if I did, @Gear would be commissioned to do it.

Yeah that new frac really brings the set together. That THC just looked terribly out of place. Nice find!!!

Thanks - yeah. I got a little trigger happy in the classifieds on the milled THCs and it was pretty rare for me to see yellow fracs. Lesson learned. Maybe.

 

[allforcharity]

I'd prefer the frac as your quarter and the blue (or white) as the nickel.

 

[Kam]

I'd prefer the frac as your quarter and the blue (or white) as the nickel.

I’m going to pretend you didn’t put a thought in my mind at the eleventh hour

I love the white as the $1, so that’s locked in. I’ll sleep on the blue vs yellow, but also like the theme progression and color matching. I’m also team moar fracs, and since the Blackhawk 25c were so hard to come by, I’d be ‘stuck’ with the 130 odd vs 2 full racks. Which would likely be more than enough for 80% of the games.. gawdamnit.