Sports Trading Cards??? - DPChallenge Forums

05/27/2008 12:06:43 AM · #1

For you sports photographers out there, how to you go about making trading cards for the players? Do you design it all in Photoshop or Illustrator? Do you use a third-party software with predesigned templates? What about printing? Where do you have them printed? Mpix? Smugmug? I must know!!! And what about posters too? What do you use for that? I am trying to get some supplies ready for the next hockey season. I want to have a selection of trading cards and posters available at the games for the fans to purchase. Any and all help and comments are greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Sigma 70-200 /2.8 APO EX DG Macro HSM II

05/27/2008 12:53:20 AM · #2

Here is one simple design that I came up with.

Is something like that going to be acceptable? Should I get a logo of my own to add to the card, or just have the logo/contact information on the back? And what about printing? I briefly looked at Mpix, and all I could see was a way to use their trading card templates. Can I upload my own trading card (front and back) and have it printed on the card stock there or anywhere else?

Thanks,

Scott

Eyesup

Nikon D300

05/27/2008 10:16:20 AM · #3

bump cause I'm interested in the answer

drewbixcube

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

05/27/2008 10:30:49 AM · #4

I am not a "sports shooter", but I do take team and individual portraits. I use Mpix to print and offer their trader cards. I have a box on my order form that has 6 lines and specifies a maximum of 17 characters per line, for the parents or kids to fill out with the stats they want on the back of the card (they also have color choices). Again, these are not action shots, but rather posed portraits. And the cards are offered ala carte on my order form. The only problems I have run into is when people don't fill out the form completely...not picking a color, not filling out stats for the back, etc. If the color is missing we pick the one that is most popular with the rest of the team (or goes well with the team's colors). My assistant double checks the order forms when they are handed to her and catches the big stuff like missing stats and has the parent fill that section out. There are only a few times that a missing color has slipped by her.

As far as using your own template, there might be some print shops out there that let you upload your own images and they will print them back to back on card stock, but I am guessing there are a lot with "fillable templates". You could look at printing more than one card on a postcard (most companies do front and back) then cutting them yourself after receiving them.

Good luck, and let us know what you find out (I'm always looking for ways to cut costs),
-drew

Message edited by author 2008-05-27 10:31:52.

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

05/27/2008 11:18:10 AM · #5

Drew, thanks for your reply. So far I think I will end up using Mpix, unless I can find a legitimate site that is highly recommended that can upload my own template. I have also come in contact with Topps Amatuer Sports cards. They have a really good set up, using official Topps brand cards with their logos, having a serial number on the card, etc. But you have to have quite a few orders to get any, and I haven't got enough parents on board for that. And I also want to make cards for the college team that I shoot for, and Topps only does cards up to 12 or 14 years old. Any additional ideas out there?

yakatme

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

05/27/2008 11:36:34 AM · #6

I thought this was a thread that I saw come up last week. At that time I couldn't remember the site where I found an assortment of baseball card templates. After seeing this thread today my memory was sparked to recall Bay Photo sports templates.

Now I just have to remember who started last weeks thread looking for the same info.

edit to add I found that thread but there wasn't any useful info on it. I'll PM that OP with the link to Bay Photo.

Message edited by author 2008-05-27 11:41:26.

05/27/2008 11:47:46 AM · #7

Bay Photo doesn't look too bad. $8 for a set of 8 cards. They definitely have more templates that Mpix, but what about the quality? Has anyone used them yet? The templates still look a little cheesy too. For kids almost anything would be fine, but for the college team that I shoot for, I think something a little more professional looking would be better. Something that actually looks very similar to a real sports card.

Prof_Fate

05/27/2008 11:50:15 AM · #8

my lab (profilmet.com) has templates for trader cards (as well as memory mates, trader magnets, acrylic magnets and about 60 other products) that are part of their ROES ordering software. $5.95 for a set of 8 press printed cards including bubble gum or they have the older style photo cards (2 prints hot mounted back to back) for a buck less.

05/29/2008 10:01:14 PM · #9

Anyone else have additional suggestions?

Prof_Fate

05/29/2008 11:46:03 PM · #10

Originally posted by traquino98:

Anyone else have additional suggestions?

Find a lab that does sports stuff. Don't waste your time and money reinventing the wheel on this. The products and systems are out there - you take the orders and the money, shoot the photos and upload - let the lab design, print and package (by kid and team) then all you do is deliver.
My lab does this for $1.60 / unit including color correction. That's cheaper than most places charge for a plain 8x10! Bagging per kid (with label) including the envelope is 40c a kid. A BARGAIN! It arrives and I just take it to the league - no time on my part, no errors either. They even supply and print a two sided order form - one side is full color (the products) the backside is the order form - I customize my packages, products, pricing, contact info and they're 12c each - that's TWO SIDED and one if full color - you can't print them yourself for that price.

Do you get rangefinder or PPA's mag? There are ads in there for labs that specialize in sports stuff. TPI in youngstown ohio, profilmet.com, H&H color lab are three I've used. There are others.

08/24/2008 11:02:13 PM · #11

For thos of you that are interested, I have done some research on the trading card subject recently. I was not satisfied with the generic templates offered by Bay Photo Lab, mpix, etc. Here is what I have found recently:

Custom Sports Products - Lots of decent looking templates, competitively priced
Sports Cards Online - Not as many templates, but better looking than Bay Photo and mpix. A little pricey. Custom templates available.
Choice Sports Cards - Beatiful templates, only bulk ordering (at least 500 of the same card)
Custom Sports Cards - Nice templates, and a variety of products, slightly higher than average price. Offers photographer discounts???
Baseline Sports Media - Nice products, appear to be high quality. Exclusive. No pricing available online. You have to email them.
My Trading Cards - my personal favorite so far. Topps cards available. Nice templates. Custom templates available. Pricing inline with the average. Fast turnaround.

Hopefully this post will be able to help other people out as well. If anyone has any experience with any of these companies, please share it here.