[jamby]

I would like to do a custom chip set - probably the faux clay, buy maybe real clay if I can find a decent price. I want to incoporate a picture of my golden retriever Murphy into the label and maybe the text 'Murphy's Card Room'. It sounds crowded to me, but she is a light golden so I imagine that would make them less busy. I like denominations too, but don't know how possible that is given the design that I want.

The thing is, I have zilch in the artistic category department. I see mention of a Jason in these threads. Is that who I should be talking to? If so, how does one contact Jason?

Has anybody done something similar?

I'm looking for any and all feedback and suggestions.

Thanks,
Jamby

[CaptLego]

There have been a couple of threads on dogs...
http://chiptalk.net/forum/showthread...highlight=labs
http://chiptalk.net/forum/showthread...highlight=labs
http://chiptalk.net/forum/showthread...highlight=labs

unfortunately, for me at least, those mockup images aren't showing up now...
maybe you'll have more luck with them.

[jamby]

Originally Posted by CaptLego

...mockup images aren't showing up now...
maybe you'll have more luck with them.

They do show up for me, CaptLego and thanks for the links. I must be doing something wrong when searching as 'dogs labels' 'chip labels dogs' didn't return these threads. I'll keep working on it.

OK, so it definitely looks possible although my image(s) would be non-stock. I guess now I just have to figure out what to do next. I guess taking some digital pictures would be a good start.

[PocketRocket]

You can put just about anything you want on a label. If you want a picture of your dog, you'll just need a workable image. One with good contrasting background will help the image of the dog stand out better, and if you want the dog as a stand alone image against several variable or gradient image backgrounds, using a solid colored background that can be removed would be best.

[jamby]

It sounds like pokerchips.com is a favorite vendor for plain clay chips to be used for labelling. I also see reference to the brands ASM, TR Kings and Blue Chips as favorites. Is there any that is known to be good quality at a reasonable price?


Also, who to use for the design? Who's had successful experiences with particular chip designers? I don't even have Photoshop (yet) and have never used it so don't know for sure how much part I'll actually take in the physical design process.

Sorry to be such a newbie.

-jamby

[PocketRocket]

Pokerchips.com is ASM's site. Atlantic Standard Molding has is it's roots from the Burt Company than has at one time or another manufactured most of the compression molded ("clay") gaming chips in used in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. Their history includes the manufacture of the "clay" chips that were originally sold by the Bud Jones company (Nevada and Diecar molds) and the Paulson TH&C mold. The recessed area in the ASM chips are not receptive to a conventional 1" label and would require a thinner label (rippedsheets seems to be a popular vendor for these labels, they the cost of these specialized labels is considerably higher than conventionally mass produced labels.)

TR King is the other old time manufacturer dating back to the 1920's, though their chips are not usable for labels as there is no recessed area for the label. When their chips are produced with an inlay, the inlay is laminated flush to the surface of the chip. This company was founded by Paul Endy Sr., father of the original owner of the Paul-Son company.

Blue Chip is kind of the new kid on the block, also owned my members of the Endy family. Their consumer market chips on the flame mold are perfect for labels, sporting a 1.1 inch recessed area to accommodate a 1" label. Many members of this site don't like the weight of their flame mold chips as they are lighter than other compression molded chips on the market today, though not that far off from some of the older compression molded chips, including some of the TH&C chips that were manufactured by the Burt Company. Availability seems to be spotty and up in the air, and the company can only be contacted by phone. There also seems to be a bit of conflicting information as to forms of payment that are accepted by this company. They do not have web presence, so you'd have to contact them by phone. Personally I like their blank chips, despite their weight, as they are good candidates for label application.

As for label vendors, Jason (CinOs3) and Lynbark (Lynbark Designs) are active on this site and popular with many of the members/satisfied customers, though personally I haven't had dealings with either one. Both appear to have very reasonable prices and feedback from members here would seem to indicate that they are very accommodating to their customrs.

Originally Posted by jamby

It sounds like pokerchips.com is a favorite vendor for plain clay chips to be used for labelling. I also see reference to the brands ASM, TR Kings and Blue Chips as favorites. Is there any that is known to be good quality at a reasonable price?


Also, who to use for the design? Who's had successful experiences with particular chip designers? I don't even have Photoshop (yet) and have never used it so don't know for sure how much part I'll actually take in the physical design process.

Sorry to be such a newbie.

-jamby

[jamby]

Thanks for the details, PocketRocket. It sounds like ASM chips require an expensive and unique label. TR King chips can't be labeled. Blue Chip is a maybe, but get mixed reviews from site members. And faux clay chips get mixed reviews period and of course, aren't clay. Just what clay chips are recommended for labels? If any are.

[PocketRocket]

Blue Chips are a definite yes, not a maybe. Seems that the weight of the Blue Chips is an issue for a lot of people, but as they become more of the weights from ASM and some of the Paulson chips, they may find that it is not that much of a difference after all. There's been a lot of discussion that evolves around expectations of 10gr for a casino chip, but as you might read elsewhere on this site or others, you'll probably see that not only consumer level Paulsons, but even those from casinos may vary significantly in weight, with some approaching the lower end of the 8gr level. Do note that there are only 4 compression molded (you call them "clay") chip manufacturers left, ASM, Paulson, TR King, and Blue Chip, and Paulson is only sold on the consumer market through Trademark. So that only leaves you three available resources.

If you want to label a compression molded chip, I'd say your only options are ASM or Blue Chip. If you're looking at labels as an economy move, you might also want to consider the Nexgens as a better option for labels, and you'll end up having more money left over to apply towards a future set of inlayed custom chips.

Originally Posted by jamby

Thanks for the details, PocketRocket. It sounds like ASM chips require an expensive and unique label. TR King chips can't be labeled. Blue Chip is a maybe, but get mixed reviews from site members. And faux clay chips get mixed reviews period and of course, aren't clay. Just what clay chips are recommended for labels? If any are.

[jamby]

Originally Posted by PocketRocket

...you'll end up having more money left over to apply towards a future set of inlayed custom chips.

Does 'inlayed custom chips' refer to something that might be offered through a site group by or what exactly?

[PocketRocket]

Could be, or you could order them on your own. A chip inlay is the center portion of the chip (similar to what you would do with a label), however the inlay is compressed in the mold with the chip material when the chip is produced, so that the inlay portion becomes an integral part of the chip itself. That's how compression molded casino chips get their inlays into the chip.

Originally Posted by jamby

Does 'inlayed custom chips' refer to something that might be offered through a site group by or what exactly?