Card stock comes in two main types — black-core and white-core — but black-core is the only one worth printing quality playing cards on.
What is black-core card stock?
The Playing Card Factory uses black-core card stock exclusively. The core of an individual card determines how much light passes through to the other side. White-core stock consists of a single sheet of paper, so holding it up to light reveals the other side of the card. Black-core stock, on the other hand, layers a black core between two sheets of paper. This means that the cards using this stock are actually opaque, not allowing any light to pass through them.
Why black-core stock matters for gameplay
The opacity of the playing cards is important for any game that uses them. Take, for example, a game of poker or euchre. In these games, much of the game revolves around not knowing what cards the other player has in their hand. Playing these games with white-core stock could allow participants to see the suits and numbers on the cards their opponents hold. Black-core stock prevents this because of its light-blocking abilities. It is for this reason that casinos use black-core playing cards exclusively. This is also why, wanting to produce only cards that are of apt quality for gameplay, the Playing Card Factory uses only black-core playing card stock.
White-core stock tends to be used for things like business cards and flash cards, and no serious card-playing event will ever use it. In essence, any deck of cards not using black-core stock is inferior.
How to spot white-core stock when shopping for custom cards
If you want a good playing experience, you should always opt for cards that are made with black-core card stock, and make sure to use the right file types and best image resolution for custom playing cards [insert internal links here]. In shopping for your own cards, you may find it difficult to pin down exactly what stocks a given manufacturer uses. A manufacturer who does not prominently advertise their card stock probably does not use black-core paper; you should always read the full products description to be sure. For example, as you are reading, look for the words “casino grade,” “black-core,” or something else along those lines. Watch out for manufacturers who invest in premium branding and design but skimp on the card stock itself.
You can design your own black-core playing cards for free right now by using our free online design tool for custom playing cards [insert internal link to blog post about how to design the cards]!
