Sketch Cards
Blank on purpose.
A sketch card is the one card in a set no printer can finish. We print your back, your border and your numbering, mount a smooth drawing surface on the front, and ship the blanks to you. What comes back from your desk is one of one.
For artists, card publishers and brands adding hand-drawn originals to a set.
What you get
A real trading card with room to draw
Every sketch card we make starts as a printed card from your series, so the one-of-ones look like they belong in the set.
Printed back, blank front
Your series back, card number, artist line and certificate text are printed in full color. The front is a smooth, bright drawing surface, fully blank or framed by a printed border.
Built thick
Our standard build is a two-layer 26 pt card: a printed card with a drawing stock mounted on the face, so it takes ink, marker, pencil and paint without curling. A lighter 16 pt single-stock option suits high-volume pack seeding.
Ready to number and seal
When your art comes back, add hand numbering, a foil stamp on the back, one-touch cases or certificates of authenticity, or send the cards straight into packs.
How artists use them
The card collectors chase
Sketch cards sell as originals at shows, seed into packs as the rarest pull, and turn a release into an event. These are blanks we printed, after the artist got hold of them.
Specs
Two builds
| Standard | Light | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2.5 × 3.5 in (other sizes on request) | 2.5 × 3.5 in |
| Build | 26 pt, drawing surface mounted on a printed card | 16 pt smooth cover, single stock |
| Front | Fully blank, or with a printed border | Fully blank, or with a printed border |
| Back | Full color, your design | Full color, your design |
| Minimum | 100 per design | 100 per design |
| Add-ons | Hand numbering, foil stamp on the back, one-touch cases, certificates | Hand numbering |
Pen, ink, marker, pencil and paint all work. Want to test the surface first? Ask for a sample kit in your quote request and we’ll tell you what’s available.
How it works
From your back design to blanks on your desk
Send your designs
Send the back design and the front border, or ask us to design them for your series.
Proof
We prepare the files for press and send you a proof to approve.
Print and mount
Printed and cut at Archway Press, our family’s print shop near Philadelphia. The drawing surface is mounted by one of our local manufacturing partners.
Draw
The blanks ship to you. Draw, then add numbering, cases or certificates, or send them back to be seeded into packs.
Plan for 3–4 weeks from the day your files are complete.
Questions
Sketch card FAQ
What can I draw with?
Most artists use pen, ink, marker, pencil and paint. If you work in alcohol markers or watercolor, ask for a sample kit in your quote request so you can test the surface before the full run.
Do you draw the cards?
No. We make the blanks for artists to draw on, sell and seed into their own sets.
Can part of the front be printed?
Yes. We can print a partial design, a character outline or a frame on the front and leave the rest open for you to finish by hand.
Can I mix sketch cards into packs?
Yes. Tell us the odds you want, send the finished cards back, and we collate them into your foil packs with the rest of the set.
Can sketch cards be slabbed?
Yes. Finished sketch cards can go into one-touch magnetic cases or custom slabs with a label for the artist and card number.
What is the minimum order?
100 cards per design, with a $200 project minimum. Most runs land between $1.50 and $3.00 per card plus a $35 setup per design.
Start your run
Ready for your blanks?
Tell us about your series and we’ll reply with a quote, usually within 1–2 business days (a little longer during busy stretches).
Request a Quote see turnaround times →