Custom back card art and package ideas.

[CRAZYMOTUFAN]

These are much better then Mattel's. They should give you a job doing this. Excellent work.

[illicitjedi]

WOW TOYGURU really needs to see these! These are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than what we are getting! You can actually SEE the old art. Fantastic!

I agree. I like these way better! Nice job!

[oICEMANo]

I much prefer the original card art than the ones used for Skelly and Beast Man. I believe they have used a mini comic page for Mer-Man as well?

For Zodac, the only art they could use is the original card art or his appearance in the Point Dread LP comic.

[Jukka]

For Zodac, the only art they could use is the original card art or his appearance in the Point Dread LP comic.

That would be sweet, especially since I'm loving MattyC's take on using Alcala-based art. I'm not a fan of most of the original cardback-arts, so using mini-comic material is okay. Hopefully they have access to that LP-book material as well.

[Lee-Man]

Those look really fantastic. I've been saving all my card backs from this line, but they don't really do much for me If they looked more like your versions I'm sure they'd be displayed on the shelves with the figs!

[oICEMANo]

That would be sweet, especially since I'm loving MattyC's take on using Alcala-based art. I'm not a fan of most of the original cardback-arts, so using mini-comic material is okay. Hopefully they have access to that LP-book material as well.

Im not too fond of some of them, Beast Man's in particular... the quality looks poor.

[Super Amigo]

STRATOS and FAKER. SEE FIRST POST!

I think Stratos should've had Beast Man's feet.

MER-MAN soon.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Raining Light]

Nice work.
Love that art.

[Adam_Prince of Eternia]

Consider placing the MattyCollector.com logo below the illustrations of the figures, and placing the tagline Collect Them All! beside it. This would establish a relationship between the figures, where they may purchased, and the call to action.

Typographically, the capitalization of the character titles is inconsistent; the symbols associated with trademark should be superscript; and instances of appositives, e.g. He-Man—Most Powerful Man in the Universe, should be demarcated with an em dash, not a comma or a hyphen.

Additionally, the biography copy should be left-aligned, and the leading increased. (While it is not "wrong" to center-align the biography copy per se, it is not necessarily appropriate for this application, and it certainly hinders its legibility.)

Overall, the design is strong, and a significant improvement to the existing Mattel design.

[Mike Bock]

These are 10 thousand times better than the actual thing.
Fantastic work.

[Eamon]

I like em! And how well do those illustrations fit in with the design?!

My only beef is the week font on the character titles. I think it needs to be much bolder!

[illicitjedi]

Consider placing the MattyCollector.com logo below the illustrations of the figures, and placing the tagline Collect Them All! beside it. This would establish a relationship between the figures, where they may purchased, and the call to action.

Typographically, the capitalization of the character titles is inconsistent; the symbols associated with trademark should be superscript; and instances of appositives, e.g. He-Man—Most Powerful Man in the Universe, should be demarcated with an em dash, not a comma or a hyphen.

Additionally, the biography copy should be left-aligned, and the leading increased. (While it is not "wrong" to center-align the biography copy per se, it is not necessarily appropriate for this application, and it certainly hinders its legibility.)

Overall, the design is strong, and a significant improvement to the existing Mattel design.

What he said!

[Super Amigo]

Consider placing the MattyCollector.com logo below the illustrations of the figures, and placing the tagline Collect Them All! beside it. This would establish a relationship between the figures, where they may purchased, and the call to action.

Typographically, the capitalization of the character titles is inconsistent; the symbols associated with trademark should be superscript; and instances of appositives, e.g. He-Man—Most Powerful Man in the Universe, should be demarcated with an em dash, not a comma or a hyphen.

Additionally, the biography copy should be left-aligned, and the leading increased. (While it is not "wrong" to center-align the biography copy per se, it is not necessarily appropriate for this application, and it certainly hinders its legibility.)

Overall, the design is strong, and a significant improvement to the existing Mattel design.

Thanks for the ideas!

Originally I wanted to place the MATTY logo in the lower part of the card, but the prominent art and bio text wouldn't allow it. The only way this can be done is using the round Matty head logo instead of the cooler, standing one. The trademark symbols are superscript, everywhere except in the main name, just like Mattel's design. I've noticed some subscript TM, but those are typing errors. Unfortunately, the text can't be left-aligned because some of the character art would cover it. Try printing one of them and see for yourself how legible the text is! Hope the "print size" info is retained, they should be the same size that the originals. Sorry, didn't get the appositives part, but the bios are copied and pasted from the Matty site.

These are only sketches and even making them in a rush take several hours! If you see the original art and then my cards, you'll see that the compositions are heavily modified from the originals, and every element of the drawing is carefully cut, cleaned of invasive elements and rearranged to fit within the given space, sometimes even extended, like Skeletor's volcano.

I like em! And how well do those illustrations fit in with the design?!

My only beef is the week font on the character titles. I think it needs to be much bolder!

Good suggestion. Still trying to find the bold medieval style font Mattel used on these. The most similar I have is a "Goudy Heavyface BT" one but it's a bit modern looking.

[Eamon]

Good suggestion. Still trying to find the bold medieval style font Mattel used on these. The most similar I have is a "Goudy Heavyface BT" one but it's a bit modern looking.

Try and get Fritz Quadrata or just use a the bold font you have already there.

[Adam_Prince of Eternia]

Unfortunately, the text can't be left-aligned because some of the character art would cover it.

Not if the text is wrapped.

Sorry, didn't get the appositives part, but the bios are copied and pasted from the Matty site.

Typographical errors on the MattyCollector.com? I am not surprised.

[Lee-Man]

*depositing 2 cents*
Stick with the center aligned text. I see no reason outside personal preference for it to be left aligned. It is certainly legible enough as is.

[Adam_Prince of Eternia]

*depositing 2 cents*
Stick with the center aligned text. I see no reason outside personal preference for it to be left aligned. It is certainly legible enough as is.

In languages that are read from left to right, the tracking of each line is anchored across the page at the vertical demarcation of the left margin. The ragged left margin produced by center-aligned text makes scanning much more difficult, because the eye must locate the beginning of each new line. It is for this reason that copy is left-aligned, and center-alignment is reserved for headlines, titling, etc.

[Lee-Man]

In languages that are read from left to right, the tracking of each line is anchored across the page at the vertical demarcation of the left margin. The ragged left margin produced by center-aligned text makes scanning much more difficult, because the eye must locate the beginning of each new line. It is for this reason that copy is left-aligned, and center-alignment is reserved for headlines, titling, etc.

That may be the case for documents, letters and memos, but it's fairly common in graphic design to use center alignment. In fact, I would say it's prevalent.

[Adam_Prince of Eternia]

That may be the case for documents, letters and memos, but it's fairly common in graphic design to use center alignment. In fact, I would say it's prevalent.

That it is commonplace or prevalent does not make it proper or well design.

[Baena]

Throw your "proper design" issues aside folks. It's just personal preference.
You're both wrong, and you're both right. Gotta love the art world where sure there are basic principals, but you can also break any rule you want in a whim.

[Lee-Man]

Center alignment works in design because it appeals to our own sense of symetry and balance, there's really no arguing against it. Symetrical design is a pretty well founded design principal that can be found in most art classrooms or textbooks.

Anyways, let's not highjack this thread with petty bickering. Super Amigo is doing some really fine work on these, and I wanted to compliment him on his original design choice. (Although I do think a bolder font would work better on the character names :P)

[Lee-Man]

D'oh, you beat me to the punch Beana!

[Super Amigo]

Well. Since every suggestion that's been posted made sense, I finally modified the cards following ALL of them. The result is a much more professional and polished work that looks more finished and less sketchy.

In a way this now is a shared project, so feel free to post your own designs too!

All the cards have been uploaded in the FIRST POST.

Thanks!

[Kent Parker]

I like your improvements very much.

I personally think that it would be pretty sweet if you could try showing us an attempt of altering the front too.

[Super Amigo]

I personally think that it would be pretty sweet if you could try showing us an attempt of altering the front too.

I'm tempted to try something with the front. Actually I like Mattel's design, but not the execution. I think the green stones should be hand drawn and painted. The digitally produced ones look too phony.

I tried doing a repro of the classic front with the new logo but ended up liking the new design best (except for nostalgia).