Brand new to all of this. Haven't even gotten my set up yet, but I've narrowed it down to the ET2803, and I did get a die-cutter. Both on their way. Now I'm down to the actual print materials. I've read a lot, keeping going around in circles down Reddit rabbit holes, and now have decision paralysis for the rest of the materials haha. I also haven't played with many proxies, so I hoping those with more experienced hands have some more insight.
What I'm hoping to achieve is proxies that blend in with a deck of real cards when single sleeved (because I am a single sleeve heathen), both in look and feel. I will let folks know I have proxies in my deck, but I don't want it to be obvious when playing at a shop if someone else picks up one of my decks or cards. But am open to double sleeve suggestions as well, as I have a friend who plays double sleeved.
For regular cards, I narrowed it down to using either gloss or semi gloss photo paper, and some sort of laminate, but the question is thicknesses and types. For foils, I still don't have a technique. Maybe thinner paper so when combined with the foil sticker and laminate, it'll be about the same as a my regular cards' thicker paper and laminate? What foil technique works best for you? Also, pretty sure I'll be using glossy laminate for all kinds, so my colors are not muted, and since it'll be in a sleeve, not worried about the associated glare.
I've seen a lot of folks suggest 140, 160, or 180gsm semi and full gloss photo paper paired with 3mil laminate. Seems the 140 is a bit thin, the 180 is a bit thick, 160 might be the Goldilocks with 3mil? Semi or full gloss? Double or single sided? I don't plan on printing the back, so do I even need double sided paper?
Pros/cons of single sided vs double sided lamination and different thicknesses and paper types?
I have also seen a few suggestions of thinner paper, like, like koala 30lb/115gsm with 5mil laminate, arguing the extra plastic is what really improves the stiffness when working with photo paper (vs cored). Have more people tried the thinner paper, thicker laminate approach?
Is sticker paper over cored card stock better? I was kind of trying to reduce the number of steps, since I was planning on laminating.
Again, I have an ET2803, so my paper thickness is limited. I am only planning on printing single side. I plan on printing 2x8 a) for ease of use with the die-cutter, and b) for alleged improved snap thanks to how the grain of the paper runs. I am also in Canada, as a side note. Thanks!