Introduction

This page provides a command list and tips and suggestions for using the deck/expansion board editor. For more help on printing custom content, see also the Card Printing Tips page.

Contents

Command Gestures
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

Command Gestures

 

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am moving a group of cards and I want to snap them to another group of cards, but the card used for snapping when I move isn't on the edge I want to snap to. How do I choose the card to be used for snapping?
   The last card added to the selection is the one used for snapping. Hold down Ctrl and click the card you want to snap with twice (but don't double click). You can tell which card was added last because its selection border will be slightly brighter than the other cards.
    
2. I sent someone a deck and when they opened it, it couldn't find the cards and they had to locate all of the files. How can I make this easier?
   If you place the needed files in the same folder as the deck file (with the same file name), it will find them there automatically. When you distribute a deck, it is a good idea to ZIP up all of the cards and tile images along with the deck in a single folder as this will save your end users the trouble of moving the files.
    
3. I'm planning a project that I will want to share internationally later. Any suggestions?
   If you are planning a deck of cards, consider laying it out on PA4 (not A4) paper. PA4 is a standard paper size defined by the Canadian government, but it is widely used in the international printing industry because it has the largest dimensions that will fit on both A4 and Letter paper sizes. If your deck is laid out on PA4, then it is easy to create both A4 and Letter versions. In fact, there is a plug-in to do it for you. For expansion boards this isn't such a problem because the page splitting option will let you choose any paper size you like. (Although a page splitting size of PA4 can also be useful if you only make one page format of your board available.)
    
4. I have a stack of objects and I'm trying to select something on the bottom, but when I click I always get the object on top. How can I select the object I want?
   Right-click on the stack of objects to bring up the context menu. Near the bottom you will find a menu called "Select" which allows you to select any of the objects in the stack. When you click on the menu item for the object you want, you can use Shift, Ctrl, Command, etc. to modify the selection behaviour as usual.
    
5. I am working on an expansion board and I want to have a custom background for my map. How should I do this?
   It depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to make new "mix-and-match" tiles that you can share, similar to the ones already included, then you should design them as 808×808 pixel images and write a simple extension that will register them as deck tiles. Then they will appear in the tile lists just like the standard tiles and you can easily share your work with others by giving them a copy of the extension.
   
   If you want to use a single image as your backdrop, you might still want to keep the above size in mind. You can make sure that your background fits nicely by counting the number of tiles that fit on the map size you selected and making your image in the same proportions. For example, the standard expansion size is 4 tiles wide by 2 tiles tall. If your background is twice as wide as it is tall, you can make it just the right size. You can also multiple the pixel values above by the number of tiles to get a good image size (808 × 4 = 3232 pixels wide, 808 × 2 = 1616 pixels wide). For single image backgrounds, try using the Make Board Background plug-in to resize the image automatically. If you want your map to be easier to share, you can also go the same route as above and write a simple extension to add your image as a new tile. Then others can ensure that your file will work by simply installing the extension.
     
6. I'm having trouble navigating around pages in the deck editor. Any suggestions?
   The deck editor works a bit differently from what you might be used to: it uses zooming instead of scroll bars. Have a look at the instructions in the text box shown on new decks. You can pan around by clicking and dragging part of the page. This will move the entire page. Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Getting around is a simple combination of zooming out until you see the area you want, and then, if detailed work is required, dragging the page until the area of interest is in the middle, and then using the mouse wheel to zoom in again. (You can also drag your way to the new area of interest or pan around with Alt+<arrow key>, but it is often quicker to use the zoom method, especially when combined with the Space key.)
    
7. Can I change the order of a page in a card deck?
   Yes. Drag the page's tab into the desired position.
    
8. When I add a character marker to a page, the back side is not included. It is included if I print it using the investigator editor. How can I add the other side of the token to the card deck?
   The deck editor gives you more layout freedom than the single-card printing options, but you have to do a bit more work. To create a complete marker, drag a copy of the the marker into position. Then drag another copy of the marker and snap it to the bottom edge of the first marker. Rotate it twice to turn it upside-down (use the button or press R), then use the mirror command (use the button or press M). You now have both sides of the marker. To create a marker running left to right instead of top to bottom: drag the marker sheet into position and rotate it left once. Then drag another copy, snapping it into place to the right of the first marker. Rotate it left once, and then use the mirror command.
    
9. Why does the deck editor add lines to my cards? Or: I expected to get a fold line but got a crop line instead. Why?
   The solid lines are crop lines and are used to help you cut out the cards. The dotted lines are fold lines. They are placed in the middle of foldable tome pages and they appear automatically when you correctly align the front and back faces of the same card. "Correctly align" is the part that sometimes surprises you.  There are two ways to do this. The first is to place the front and back face so that their left and right edges touch. The second is to align the top and bottom edge. However, in the second case one of the cards must be rotated 180° or the card will not be correct when folded. Fold marks will only appear when the card will look correct when folded, so they are not shown if the the rotation is not correct.
    
10. How do I lay out a deck of cards for double-sided printing?
    The following instructions are probably the easiest. Select a paper format with a portrait orientation. Add two pages to the deck, one for the front side and one for the back. To lay out the cards, you will add one or more horizontal rows to both pages. A row will consist of card fronts on the first page, and the corresponding card backs on the back page. You can place as many cards in a row as will fit, but every card in a row should be the same size. For example, a row of item cards is OK because all items (common, unique, etc.) are the same size.
    
    To lay out a row, place the front of the first card on the first page. Then snap the front of the second card in place to the right of the first card. Snapping the card ensures that it is lined up correctly. Continue adding card fronts until you complete the row. Then, switch to the back page. Add the card faces for the backs of the cards just as you did for the fronts, but in the reverse order.
    
    If you wish, you may return to the first page and repeat the instructions to add another row. Snap the first card of each subsequent row to the bottom left edge of the first card of the previous row:
     

    Front Page				Back Page
    Row 1 Card 1	Row 1 Card 2	Row 1 Card 3		Row 1 Card 3	Row 1 Card 2	Row 1 Card 1
    Row 2 Card 1	Row 2 Card 2	Row 2 Card 3		Row 2 Card 3	Row 2 Card 2	Row 2 Card 1

    
    Once you have laid out all of the rows, use the Center Page Content command on both pages to make sure the front and back sides line up correctly. This command is available from the context menu by right clicking over a blank part of the page (one without any cards) when you have no cards selected.

    Tips for Duplexing Printers

    Printers with duplexer units can print on both sides of a page automatically. This can be convenient, especially if the printer can print on card stock in duplex mode. However, these printers are typically designed with business users in mind. Many consumer-grade printers are not precise enough to line up the front and back properly for printing cards. If you want to experiment, here are some suggestions:

    The front and back are not aligned correctly.
    There is often a small misalignment between the front and back of duplexed pages. This is not noticeable when printing text documents, but becomes critical when printing a deck of cards. Many printers allow you to adjust the alignment. This will typically involve a feature with a name like "Duplex Margin." This will not usually be available directly from the print settings; you will probably have to adjust it using the printer's front panel, or using special "management" software. The exact procedure will vary from printer to printer. Another problem you may have is that the back page image might be rotated slightly relative to the front page image. (Card edges are not parallel.) There is usually nothing you can do about this, but if the difference is severe, you might want to contact the printer manufacturer.

    The back of the card is upside-down.
    This usually means that you selected the wrong duplex mode. Duplexing can either be done on the long-edge (portrait layout, like most text documents) or the short edge (landscape layout). When you print directly from an editor in SE, it chooses a landscape layout, so the correct mode is short edge. If you print a deck or expansion, the page layout is up to you. Choose the correct mode for the paper you selected.

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June 16, 2009  — Updated January 01, 2011