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Generally speaking, do you prefer the "add to" or "take away" approach to marked cards, whether they be hand made or factory printed? The answer may depend on the deck design being used so for sake of the poll, we'll use 808's as the example.

I have always had good luck with 'blocking out', although I must admit that I have never tried the 'removing method'.
I use red Bicycle decks for blocking out since the blue Bike's are harder for me to match up the color on the backs.

There is a lot more to marking cards than just a visual mark on the back.

See: Edge Work, Dealing a Blister/ Blister Work/ Waving, etc.

For the times I only want one card marking I usually add in a flying bird to the back design. Using a pin you can scratch in an extra one of the tiny flying birds. If you know where to look it can be very effective.

Light ink mark (same colour as the card back, obviously), using the same system as the Grifters Pro Deck.

Perfect (because when are you ever going to find a layman who flicks through the deck!).


G

I use Spelmann's N.A.M.D system. It's really easy to read, invisible and you don't have to buy another set of transfers.

I tend to add for red and take away for blue, though in the latter case I use an opaque white pen, so technically I'm still adding. The pens aren't ideal for detailed work but often I find it necessary to mark cards as either being part of, or not a part of, a certain range of cards, rather than the identity of the cards themselves. This can be either for the working of the effect (e.g. as a bit of insurance you can mark all the force cards in a deck), or just admin (Bannon has an effect that involves the deck being separated into two distinct sets of cards; short of remembering the identity of twenty-something cards, marking the backs makes their separation much easier).

I always used to mark them up using a Wilkos red marker, they match the colour of the red bike perfectly. Now I usually only card about a handful of cards so tend to go with a nail nick.

I used to take away, using a red sharpie for example on red bikes, but never being content, I came across a great marking system that was done by scratching with a knife point, I find that to be the best method I've come across. I will admit I've never brought a marked deck, but that's mainly because of the huge price jump they usually have on a regular deck and come on, they're not going to last forever, might as well spend an hour with a cheap pack of bikes than spend four times as much every time.

I Just wanted to add a question, I really love working with Tally ho's, I just think they're a higher quality than bicycles, but I can't for the life of me figure out a way to get all the infomation on the back in a way that is hidden. I think I'm finding it a little tougher because I've currently only got circle back's at hand. Has anyone else got a method? Please PM me if you have.

In the past I've generally blocked out some of the floral design at the midpoint of the card on each side (red Sharpie on red Bikes), if you're marking alot then you can happily riffle them in front of your participant to demonstrate lack of markings.

If I'm marking an individual card or small group then I add a belly button to the angel - alarmingly a black Sharpie looks fine on a blue Bike!!!

I do like the idea of scratching out an extra bird as an alternative to my belly button, I'll give it a try.

Vanderbelt wrote:In the past I've generally blocked out some of the floral design at the midpoint of the card on each side (red Sharpie on red Bikes), if you're marking alot then you can happily riffle them in front of your participant to demonstrate lack of markings.

If I'm marking an individual card or small group then I add a belly button to the angel - alarmingly a black Sharpie looks fine on a blue Bike!!!

I do like the idea of scratching out an extra bird as an alternative to my belly button, I'll give it a try.

Black markings for blue bikes eh?? Very interesting...I may just try that next time. Thanks!