[JM]

Back in June, I had an idea for a fantasy casino set using ASM's A-mold chips. I had actually come up with a color scheme for the chips before I thought up the name. I was trying to think of someplace very exotic that would also fit with the A somehow and would also fit with the color scheme, it dawned on my that you couldn't get much more exotic (at least on this planet) than Antarctica, and it fit with the A-mold perfectly.

Originally I was going to use the normal 312 spots and have a different graphic of some icon from the area on each chip. I had bounced the idea off Ten at the time, then sort of lost interest in it until Jimb recently offered us the opportunity to get the 3D14 spots. This re-inspired me to go back to the drawing board and change some of the 312s to 3D14.

I started gathering graphics and trying them out on the chips. When I did this design, I decided it was perfect for the graphic on all the chips in the set. Originally I had the $ on the denoms, but decided to remove it and I think it looks better without. (if you want to see what it looked like with the $, here's the mockups... http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ontage29cr.jpg)

I've already been in touch with ASM to bless the inlay and color combos, so its pretty much ready to go. I'm planning to place my order soon, but wanted to offer the opportunity to anyone else here (including retailers like Boston, etc.) to add on to my order if you'd like a set. I'm going to get about 1,000 and if enough others want to join in and the order gets to 2,500 or more, the price drops.

(I also have a grey 3D14 combo done up that fits well with this set if someone wanted another denom that I haven't got here. It would take all of about 30 seconds to do that. I also wouldn't be opposed to a run of NCVs on these colors as long as we have enough quantity to meet ASM's requirements.)




Special thanks to J5 and Ten for their opinions and advice as I refined the inlay design! And of course to Jimb for making the new spot combos available to us.

[KudzuKing]

JM, good looking chips. I like the color combos. I would want a $1 chip with the set, though.
And if I can be so blunt, how much of a discount if we hit 2,500?

[JM]

Hey Kudzu, thanks. The $1 chip wouldn't be a problem, I could mock it up pretty quickly. I believe the pricing is something like 10cents/chip less once you hit 2500. I'll have to confirm that, its been a few weeks since I asked that question. I know there's another drop when you get to 10k (or is it 5k?) chips.

edit: Here's a mockup of a $1 inlay on a chip from the 1/4" GB

[KudzuKing]

I got a few A molds samples, and they feel better to me than the HH.
I've been trying to come up with an inlay for the A mold to take advantage of the current group buy.
But I haven't been happy with any of my own ideas yet...

Good work, JM.
The 1/4" group buy has got me cravin some of them, however
Gotta get cotrol of this chip fever!

[jimb]

I think these chips are great. A perfect example of classic chip artwork. Anyone who may want to design their own artwork should see this graphic. This is what I like about the design: 1) the casino name is in a strong readable text 2) the value is in bold text and an alternate color (red) making it easy to read 3) the center picture is bold, clear, and understandable. 4) every part of the design is centered and in balance.

At the factory we use what's called the arms length rule of graphic design. After we create a piece of artwork and reduce it to 100%, we do a test printing. Then we hold the test page at arms length to see if everything is clear, readable and understandable. If it is, we have done a good job of artwork design. This design passes our test with flying colors.
jimb

[Jambine]

Very Nice! And BTW they look much better without the dollar sign. Simple & clean.

[TenPercenter]

Looking good JM.

Move the location down a tad, and maybe decrease the font for the location. it's a bit crowded.

Love the penguins, they look great.

[JM]

Thanks Jim! Your comments mean alot to me considering your experience in this business.

Originally Posted by jimb

I think these chips are great. A perfect example of classic chip artwork. Anyone who may want to design their own artwork should see this graphic. This is what I like about the design: 1) the casino name is in a strong readable text 2) the value is in bold text and an alternate color (red) making it easy to read 3) the center picture is bold, clear, and understandable. 4) every part of the design is centered and in balance.

At the factory we use what's called the arms length rule of graphic design. After we create a piece of artwork and reduce it to 100%, we do a test printing. Then we hold the test page at arms length to see if everything is clear, readable and understandable. If it is, we have done a good job of artwork design. This design passes our test with flying colors.
jimb

[JM]

Thanks Jambine & Greg.

I think I'm actually at the bottom edge of the printable area with the bottom text but I can probably reduce the font size slightly of both that text and the denom and get a bit more separation. I'll get illustrator out and see if I can tweak it a bit and post an updated inlay pic (not the whole chipset again, that's too much cutting & pasting!).

Originally Posted by TenPercenter

Looking good JM.

Move the location down a tad, and maybe decrease the font for the location. it's a bit crowded.

Love the penguins, they look great.

[Apotome]

Originally Posted by jimb

I think these chips are great. A perfect example of classic chip artwork. Anyone who may want to design their own artwork should see this graphic. This is what I like about the design: 1) the casino name is in a strong readable text 2) the value is in bold text and an alternate color (red) making it easy to read 3) the center picture is bold, clear, and understandable. 4) every part of the design is centered and in balance.

I was really interested in your comments. They are inline with the type of inlay I'm trying to develop for my own chips.

I was curious though if pokerchips.com has ever considered using the design criteria above to create a stock chip (like the eagle ones) for people to buy as is. Given the company's connections to some of the 1950s Vegas casinos (among other things) it would be interesting if you were to offer a chip that celebrated that style and classic design. Perhaps something along the lines of 'The House' inlays that have been presented here. Not a specific casino (fantasy or real) but rather a generic chip with a retro feel that could appeal to a variety of buyers.

Just a thought.

Allan B.