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Just playing about and wanted to see what you think, is it way too obvious? One of the cards is marked, the other two aren't.

Smaller image: http://i.imgur.com/8yzAF

Larger image: http://i.imgur.com/8yzAF.jpg

It's not a suit+value marking, it's just a mark for eg marking the ace of spades in an otherwise clean deck.

In case you can't see it, go to http://rot13.com and enter this: vg'f va gur uvyyf ba gur yrsgzbfg pneq - gur uvyy ba gur yrsg vf wbvarq gb gur uvyy arkg gb vg.

You can get away with a much bolder marking than that. I would need something that was much easier to spot if I was going to use it.

Dave.

http://www.madetomeasuremagic.co.uk" target="_blank

It's definitely not obvious. I was looking at it for ages and still couldn't work it out. So if it works for you I don't think anyone else will notice.

Thanks, I'm glad it's not obvious. I know the bikes are about the busiest backs you can get so it's easy to hide a mark on them, but of course as soon as I'd made the mark I couldn't unsee it and it really jumps out to me now. I've practiced dealing with an the entire deck and stopping on the marked card and I can do it reliably, quickly and without having to squint at the cards.

I did try some more obvious marks too, like adding a bird.

One thing these marks do require is that you can see the whole face. But for the trick I was adding marks for that's fine.

Very subtle. I too was looking for a good while. It's like an extreme where's Wally. I would agree that you can get away with much bolder marks.

Personally I use the flower on the top right for the value, scratching off like a clock, and for the suit I put a mark along the line on the top edge. Both very easy to spot and read while handling when working, even in less then perfect light and another magician friend of mine spent a good while trying to spot the mark. I think he assumed they were to do with the birds or the biker.

I made a point of only looking at that image (and closely mind) for 5 seconds.
I cannot see any markings other than to standard backs

Aye - I like to mark force cards, and tend to go for whiting out the central circle. It's not been noticed to date, and in a lot of effects reliant on forces, I don't think card markings are on people's radar to begin with.

Excellent. I can't see a thing!

Yeah same here i had to stop looking in the end

Took me a while, but thought I saw something on the middle one, but dismissed it as dirt...

T

I can't find it. I think however you are making life difficult on yourself because there is such an easy foolproof way to mark cards, no codes to figure out and really easy to spot.

Here is the thing with marked cards. Doesn't matter how they are marked as long as you don't worry about it, nor will the spectator.

In any case if it works for you then you have done an excellent job. Well done.

Couldn't work it out after quite a bit of looking. If it works comfortably and quickly for you then stick with it.

I didnt spot it, its going to be hard to spot when handling cards with just a glance even if you know it, isnt it?

Whats wrong with a pencil dot?

bmat wrote:there is such an easy foolproof way to mark cards, no codes to figure out and really easy to spot.

Could you reveal what method you're talking about?