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Diminishing Returns
http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=352

Effect-

You display the fronts and backs of a deck of cards to the audience. A spectator simply names any card they like, you remove the named card and set it aside face-up. You now spread the deck on the table and somehow the entire deck visibly shrinks to half of its original size! The selected card is the biggest one in the deck. Just when the audience catches their breath, the entire deck grows back to its normal size, and now the selected card has shrunk! To finish, the selected card visibly grows back to normal size!

Gimmick-

The gimmicked cards it comes with are incredible. They really look like tiny miniature cards. The only thing is that you can't show the backs of the mini cards.

Method-

The method is interesting. I don't like how it looks when the tiny cards return to standard cards.

Setup-

You have to do a small setup when you receive the cards, but after it resets instantly.

Pros-

1. Show the faces of the mini cards
2. Any card can be selected
3. The faces and backs are shown of the standard cards
4. Instructions are neat and colorful with pictures
5. Instantly resets
6. Comes with bonus routines

Cons-

1. Can't use the deck for anything else
2. Can't show backs of mini cards
3. The growing isn't really visual
4. Needs a table

I love this trick. I will do it all of the time. It gets great reactions. People scream when the cards turn to minature. I sometimes use a shrinking card case with this too for extra magic.

I give it a 9.5/10 for all of the cons.

Jeff

I also really like this effect. The fact that you can't show the backs of the mini cards makes no difference it never comes into play. With a little thought and knowhow you can routine this effect rather nicely. Back when I was doing this on a regular basis I routined it with Paul Harris's 'Twisted Deck' which I did before deminishing returns, then when went into diminishing returns. After I brought the spectators card back to normal size I went into a card to wallet. From there went into a bill routine.

Diminishing returns is by no means difficult,and a wonderful effect admittedly routining it the way I did is not for the feint of heart. I just wanted to point out that the possibilities are out there.

Previous reviews:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11892. ... ng+returns
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic101.ph ... ng+returns