create_pdf.py

create_pdf.py is a CLI tool that layouts your card images into a PDF with registration marks that can be cut out with the appropriate cutting template in cutting_templates/.

Basic Usage

Create a Python virtual environment

python -m venv venv

Activate the Python virtual environment

. venv/bin/activate

.\venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process

Install Python packages

pip install -r requirements.txt

Prepare images

Put your front images in the game/front/ folder.

Put your back image in the game/back/ folder.

Run the script

python create_pdf.py

python create_pdf.py --paper_size a4

Get your PDF at game/output/game.pdf.

Plugins

Plugins streamline the process for acquiring card images for various games.

The Magic: The Gathering plugin supports various decklist formats, including Archidekt, CubeCobra, Deckstats, MPCFill, MTGA, MTGO, Moxfield, and Scryfall formats.

The Pokemon plugin supports Limitless TCG format.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! plugin supports YDK and YDKE formats.

The Altered plugin supports Ajordat format.

The Ashes Reborn plugin supports Ashes and Ashes DB formats.

The Bushiroad plugin supports Bushiroad Deck Log format for Cardfight Vanguard, Shadowverse: Evolve, Weiss Schwarz, Godzilla Card Game, and hololive.

The Digimon plugin supports Digimoncard.app, Digimoncard.dev, Digimoncard.io, DigimonMeta, Tabletop Simulator, and Untap formats.

The Echoes of Astra plugin supports AstraBuilder format.

The Elestrals plugin supports Elestrals format.

The Final Fantasy plugin supports OCTGN, Tabletop Simulator, and Untap formats.

The Flesh and Blood plugin supports Fabrary format.

The Grand Archive plugin supports Omnideck format.

The Gundam plugin supports DeckPlanet, Egman Events, ExBurst, and Limitless TCG formats.

The Lorcana plugin supports Dreamborn format.

The Netrunner plugin supports bbCode and Jinteki formats.

The One Piece plugin supports Egman Events and OPTCG Simulator formats.

The Riftbound plugin supports Piltover Archive, Pixelborn, and Tabletop Simulator formats.

The Sorcery: Contested Realm plugin supports Curiosa format.

The Star Wars Unlimited plugin supports Melee, Picklist, and SWUDB formats.

Double-Sided Cards

To create double-sided cards, put front images in the game/front/ folder and back images in the game/double_sided/ folder. The filenames (and file extensions) must match for each pair.

Corner Artifacts

If your card images have rounded corners, they may be missing print bleed in the PDF. Because of the missing print bleed, when the cards are cut, they may have a sliver of white on the corners.

The --extend_corners option can ameliorate this issue. You may need to experiment with the value but I recommend starting with 10

python create_pdf.py --extend_corners 10

Skip Cards

One solution for registration issues is to use a Post-It note to cover up cards near the registration marks.

However, if you would prefer to skip this manual step, you can skip the card near registration marks using the --skip option.

python create_pdf.py --skip 4

If you cut from the back, you might consider:

python create_pdf.py --skip 0

Registration Marks

create_pdf.py generates the 3-corner registration mark pattern by default.

The release of the Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha also introduced the new 4-corner registration mark pattern.

To generate a PDF with the new 4-corner registration mark pattern, use the --registration option.

python create_pdf.py --registration 4

However, Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha users can still use the 3-corner registration mark pattern by setting machine to Cameo 5 in Silhouette Studio.

CLI Options

Usage: create_pdf.py [OPTIONS]

Options:
  --front_dir_path TEXT           The path to the directory containing the
                                  card fronts.  [default: game\front]
  --back_dir_path TEXT            The path to the directory containing one or
                                  more card backs.  [default: game\back]
  --double_sided_dir_path TEXT    The path to the directory containing card
                                  backs for double-sided cards.  [default:
                                  game\double_sided]
  --output_path TEXT              The desired path to the output PDF.
                                  [default: game\output\game.pdf]
  --output_images                 Create images instead of a PDF.
  --card_size [standard|poker|bridge|american_mini|bridge_square|business|catan|credit|domino|domino_square|euro_business|euro_mini|euro_poker|japanese|jumbo|micro|mini|mini_american|mini_euro|photo|standard_double|tarot|70mm_square]
                                  The desired card size.  [default: standard]
  --paper_size [letter|tabloid|a4|a3|arch_b|ansi_a|ansi_b]
                                  The desired paper size.  [default: letter]
  --registration [3|4]            The desired registration.  [default: 3]
  --only_fronts                   Only use the card fronts, exclude the card
                                  backs.
  --fit [stretch|crop]            How to fit images to card size. 'stretch'
                                  allows distortion, 'crop' preserves aspect
                                  ratio by center-cropping.  [default:
                                  stretch]
  --crop TEXT                     Crop the outer portion of front and double-
                                  sided images. Examples: 3mm, 0.125in, 6.5.
  --crop_backs TEXT               Crop the outer portion of back images.
                                  Examples: 3mm, 0.125in, 6.5.
  --extend_corners INTEGER RANGE  Reduce artifacts produced by rounded corners
                                  in card images.  [default: 0; x>=0]
  --ppi INTEGER RANGE             Pixels per inch (PPI) when creating PDF.
                                  [default: 300; x>=0]
  --quality INTEGER RANGE         File compression. A higher value corresponds
                                  to better quality and larger file size.
                                  [default: 100; 0<=x<=100]
  --load_offset                   Apply saved offsets. See `offset_pdf.py` for
                                  more information.
  --skip INTEGER RANGE            Skip a card based on its index. Useful for
                                  registration issues. Examples: 0, 4.  [x>=0]
  --label TEXT                    Apply a custom label to each page.
  --show_outline                  Overlay a black outline of the cutting path
                                  on each page.
  --borderless                    Use tighter margins to fit more cards per
                                  page.
  --version                       Show the version and exit.
  --help                          Show this message and exit.

Examples

Create poker-sized cards with A4 sized paper.

python create_pdf.py --card_size poker --paper_size a4

Crop the borders of the front and double-sided images by 3 mm on all sides. This option is useful if your images already have print bleed like those from MPCFill.

python create_pdf.py --crop 3mm

Remove the rounded corners from the PDF and load the saved offset from offset_pdf.py.

python create_pdf.py --extend_corners 10 --load_offset

Produce a 600 pixels per inch (PPI) file with minimal compression.

python create_pdf.py --ppi 600 --quality 100