First timer looking into custom set. Design advice. (1 Viewer)

[Bobo5050]

Hi all,

Before i go further down the rabbit hole, i just wanted to ask a question about about using images for custom chip sets.

I'm look at getting my first a chip set for some friendly micro stake cash games. I've found some images i like to use as a base and quickly stuck them on some Monte Carlo style chips just to get an idea of how they might look.

Just wanted to check how viable this would be with custom Ceramic chips, will the images come out clear enough?

 

[immpossible]

What material do you plan to use for the chips? Do you have that kind of flexibility with custom chips?

 

[allforcharity]

Images will.come out as crisp as the printer can do it. However, we are still.talking about a very small area, from 1 to 1.5 inch diameter.

You might get better durability from a hybrid ceramic (thanks to the protective laminate layer) but label space is smaller.

Dye sub printing directly onto the chip face may be more prone to damage, but you'd really need to be trying to scratch that printed layer off.

 

[Bobo5050]

What material do you plan to use for the chips? Do you have that kind of flexibility with custom chips?

I'm just going through an online retailer in Australia. I'm not too sure on the specifics but i think they are just printed ceramics.

 

[Bobo5050]

Images will.come out as crisp as the printer can do it. However, we are still.talking about a very small area, from 1 to 1.5 inch diameter.

You might get better durability from a hybrid ceramic (thanks to the protective laminate layer) but label space is smaller.

Dye sub printing directly onto the chip face may be more prone to damage, but you'd really need to be trying to scratch that printed layer off.

Cheers for the information.


I'm not sure i have the option for hybrid ceramic, i will check in with the retailer.


So it sounds like the images aren't too much of an issue specifically? i guess i just need to have the value of the chip overlayed on the image with something that's high contrast and easy to see since it's a pretty small size?

 

[allforcharity]

So it sounds like the images aren't too much of an issue specifically? i guess i just need to have the value of the chip overlayed on the image with something that's high contrast and easy to see since it's a pretty small size?

A way to test legibility is to print out at real size, hold it at arms length, and see if the graphics and text elements are satisfactory.

High contrast and of course high resolution helps.

 

[spartan037]

Get samples of the chips you want and make sure you like the feel before you jump in and buy a bunch.

 

[Taghkanic]

My general sense is that photorealistic art with gradients and/or subtle shading and fine detail rarely reproduce as well as one might hope at this small scale, and in these media.

They tend to come out too muddy and not saturated enough.

But maybe today’s advanced ceramics are different. Others with more experience will probably weigh in… I’m basing my impression from what I’ve seen, not stuff I commissioned myself.

 

[Colquhoun]

My general sense is that photorealistic art with gradients and/or subtle shading and fine detail rarely reproduce as well as one might hope at this small scale, and in these media.

They tend to come out too muddy and not saturated enough.

But maybe today’s advanced ceramics are different. Others with more experience will probably weigh in… I’m basing my impression from what I’ve seen, not stuff I commissioned myself.

This is my experience as well. Images often get darker, muddier, and a bit more blurry when dye-sublimated onto a ceramic chip. Artwork should be bright, crisp, and simple if you're looking for a good result. Lots of small detail as in the OP's sample photos won't print clearly, imo.

 

[Taghkanic]

Another suggestion for the OP: Take a scroll through the current Custom Hall of Fame nominees:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...m-chip-set-hall-of-fame-voting-thread.127016/

All of these use fairly simple line art with blocky colors and clear type. Some of that preference is the site’s bias toward chips with classic 50s/60s/70s looks. But that bias is the result of experienced chippers seeing what works and what doesn’t over many, many years and sets.

 

[Bobo5050]

Thank you all for you responses, it's very much appreciated.

It was my fear that the images won't translate well.

I am trying to theme three chips (5c/20c/$1) around Australian coins which use the respect animals (Echidna, platypus and Kangaroo).

I may as well get some samples printed done to be sure, but sounds like I'm back to the drawing board regarding the centre art/design.

 

[BSteck]

The Sunsets from @detroitdad come to mind as an example where a photo design came out pretty well. But I think these are CPC’s and not ceramics.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/oh-what-a-beautiful-sunset-this-is.9476/

 

[detroitdad]

The Sunsets from @detroitdad come to mind as an example where a photo design came out pretty well. But I think these are CPC’s and not ceramics.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/oh-what-a-beautiful-sunset-this-is.9476/

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, mine are cpcs. I think for it to work out well, you need a large chip space to work with. That's why I went with the FDL mold.