MTG proxies have become a popular solution as players seek to test new decks or play casually without the financial burden of rare cards. Proxies are replicas of official MTG cards, used primarily for playtesting and casual games. This guide explores the process of creating these proxies, ensuring players can enjoy the game to its fullest without significant investment.
MTG proxies serve as stand-ins for official cards, allowing players to experiment with different strategies or enjoy the game without risking valuable collectibles. The creation of proxies is a nuanced process, blending artistry with technical skill to produce cards that closely mimic the originals in appearance and feel. While proxies are widely accepted in casual play, it’s essential to note that their use in official tournaments is restricted, highlighting the importance of understanding the how-to and the ethics behind proxy creation.
What are MTG Proxies?
In the context of MTG, proxies are homemade versions of official cards. They enable players to use cards they don’t own or to protect valuable cards from wear during gameplay. It’s crucial to differentiate between proxies made for personal use and counterfeit cards intended to deceive. At PrintMTG, all our cards are clearly proxies, and it’s easy to distinguish them from original cards. That said, they still look great when sleeved.
Making MTG Proxies Using PrintMTG
- Decklist Submission: The user enters a list of the cards they want to create proxies for. This usually involves typing the names of the cards or uploading a file containing the decklist. Accuracy is crucial to ensure the correct cards are printed.
- Choosing Card Art and Quantity: After submitting the decklist, the user can select the artwork for each card. Services like PrintMTG might offer various art options for each card, from classic prints to alternative art versions. Users can also specify the quantity of each card they need, allowing for complete deck customization.
- Printing on High-Quality Card Stock: Our service then prints the proxies on high-quality card stock. The choice of material is significant, as it affects the proxies’ feel, durability, and overall playability. High-quality card stock ensures that the proxies closely mimic the texture and thickness of genuine MTG cards.
- Delivery: Once printed, the proxy cards are delivered to the user. This step concludes the process, providing players with high-quality proxies for playtesting, casual games, or deck-building exercises.
It’s important to note that while services like this offer a great way to test out new decks or play with expensive cards without the financial investment, proxies are not legal in official MTG tournaments. They are, however, widely accepted in casual play environments as long as all players agree to their use.
Making MTG Proxy Cards at Home
Creating high-quality MTG proxies starts with gathering the right materials. Essential items include:
- A high-quality printer.
- Cardstock paper.
- Image editing software (like Photoshop or GIMP).
- A cutting tool (scissors or a paper cutter).
- Double-sided tape.
The choice of printer and paper significantly impacts the final product’s look and feel, aiming for a result that closely resembles the texture and weight of real MTG cards.
Selecting Your Cards
The first step in the proxy creation process involves selecting and sourcing high-quality images of the desired cards. Websites like Scryfall offer comprehensive databases of MTG card images in high resolution. When choosing images, it’s vital to ensure they are clear and accurately represent the card’s original artwork and text, as this will significantly affect the authenticity of the proxy.
Printing the Proxies
After selecting the right images, the next step is printing. Adjusting printer settings is crucial to achieving the best results; this includes setting the printer to use high-quality or photo paper settings and ensuring the images are correctly aligned and scaled to match the dimensions of actual MTG cards. Test prints on regular paper can help calibrate color and alignment before the final print on cardstock.
Cutting and Sleeving Proxies
Once printed, each proxy card must be precisely cut to match the size of standard MTG cards. A sharp cutting tool can help achieve clean edges, making the proxies fit seamlessly with real cards in a deck. Sleeving the proxies with actual MTG cards behind them adds rigidity. It helps them blend in during play, ensuring a consistent look and feel.
Personalizing Your Proxies
For those artistically inclined, personalizing proxies offers a chance to customize the gaming experience further. Whether designing custom backs or altering the front images, creativity in proxy creation can enhance the visual appeal of your deck. However, it’s essential to keep these modifications distinguishable from real cards to maintain transparency and fairness in gameplay.
Best Practices and Tips
Creating proxies that closely mimic the appearance and feel of official MTG cards requires attention to detail. Ensuring color accuracy, proper alignment, and precise cutting are all crucial steps in the process. Additionally, using high-quality materials and printer settings can significantly impact the final product’s quality, making it indistinguishable from official cards.
Final Thoughts
Printing MTG proxies is a cost-effective way to enjoy the game without the financial investment in rare or out-of-print cards. Following this guide, players can create high-quality proxies that enhance their gameplay experience while respecting the game’s integrity and community standards.
Whether testing new deck strategies or enjoying casual games with friends, MTG proxies offer an accessible alternative to collecting every card.
