Making a Pokémon card is a lot of fun and is a good way to

gain skill in graphics manipulation.

Supplies

Paint.net (it’s free)

An image of a Pokémon that you have permission to use.

The textplus plugin for Paint.net (https://forums.getpaint.net/topic/25214-text-update-20140427/)

The following Fonts:

- Gill Sans

- Gill Sans Condensed

- Gill Sans Condensed Bold

- Optima

- Futura Std Book

- Frutiger LT Std 55

Step 1: Find a Blank

First, choose a Pokémon to make your card of. I am going to pick Rayquaza.

Now, we need the card blank. We find these at https://pokemontcgresource.fandom.com/wiki/Templates_SM. This card is going to be from the Sun Moon era of cards, so I pick that era.

Then, I scroll down to the energy symbols and click on the dragon symbol.

From here, I pick my blank. I am going to pick the first one, which is a basic Pokémon. I then click on it.

Once the full-size image loads up, I am going to right-click and copy the image.

Then, I open paint.net and paste the blank into the canvas and size it to the pasted image.

Step 2: Card Art!

The next part is importing your image. These can be tricky. Deviantart is a great place to find art, but

you have to make sure that you have permission to use the art. The easiest way to make sure of this is to simply ask the artist if you can use it on Pokémon card.

Once you have that all down pat, you can import your art! Copy the image to a new layer and move that layer behind your blank.

Step 3: Card Name

At this point, every time you add something to the card, it will need to be on a new layer to ensure you can edit it later.

Make a new layer and then use textplus to fill in the name of the Pokémon, using the proper parameters for textplus.

Step 4: Ability

I’m making my card with one attack and one ability. So, I will use the ability icon from the icon sheet available here: https://pokemontcgresource.fandom.com/wiki/Templates_SM?file=SM_SymbolSheet.png

Copy the ability icon and paste it with the upper left corner at x = 54 y = 562. (Again, on a new layer.)

Step 5: Ability Name

Use textplus on a new layer with the name of your ability

and the following parameters. (Note: The color for this text is #A30000)

Step 6: Ability Effect

And now, for the ability effect. It’s just another textplus, but with the standard black text.

There are a few things to note on this part. I left that little space between “opponent’s”
and “Pokémon” to put in a lightning energy symbol. Also, for every line that is not the last line, you have to add extra spaces between words so that they all the lines line up at the beginning and the end. This is called justification. Another thing I would like to point out is wording. Pokémon cards have a specific way of wording phrases so that it aligns with the rules and to provide consistency. To figure out how to word something, look at other official cards for similar effects and build your effect off of them.

I have a Pokemon TCG Icons font that I use for the lightning symbol on the ability. I believe it's available on DeviantArt.

Step 7: Hit Points

Next, I like to add the HP.

On the same symbol sheet, take the black hp number you want and position it in front of the type icon of the blank.

Step 8: Attack

I’ll add the attack next.

This is just more textplus, followed by copying the attack damage from the symbol sheet. Try to line up the zero on the damage with the other lines that you have justified and make sure that the x coordinate of the damage matches that of the attack name. You can use the same parameters with textplus from the ability effect to make your attack have an effect as well. Just move the text down. I want my attack to just do damage though.

Now the attack needs an energy cost. Just copy the energy symbols from the same sheet and line them up with the attack name to make it look right.

Step 9:

The weakness, resistance, and retreat cost are also copy and pasta. Move those into your card, and you will get the picture.

Most cards don’t have a resistance, so I tend to forego adding one.

Step 10: Illustrator, Pokedex Info, and Set Number

The illustrator, Pokédex info, and set number are more textplus functions. The parameters are in the pictures.

I get the Pokédex info from a web search. Also, this text doesn’t need to be justified.

Illustrator credit is super important! Make sure that the hard-working artists get their credit!

Step 11: Set Icon

A set icon also looks nice in the bottom left corner. I make my own by coming up with some small shape and outlining it in white.

Step 12: Pokémon Information

Finally, the last thing to do is add what I like to call the Pokémon info. It has the following format:

NO. <pokemon number> This Type Pokémon HT: 0’00” WT: 0.0lbs

Step 13: Finished!

That finishes the card!

Save a backup as a .pdn and then flatten the image and save it as a .png to share with your friends!

Here’s the finished product:

Thank you for reading my first Instructable! Please look for more in the future and comment which kind of card (EX, GX, etc.) you want me to make next!

Please also remember that you do not own copyright to this card. The Pokemon Company international owns all rights to the Pokemon Trading Card Game. With that said, you cannot sell any artwork created with this Instructable.

Step 14: Frequently Asked Questions

Textplus is deleting my card every time I use it; how do I fix this? Make sure that you are adding a new layer every time you add something to your card. Textplus automatically clears the layer when you use it.

How do I make a GX, evolution, or trainer card? Be on the lookout for more Instrucables from me! Comment which one you want me to make next!

I am having troubles lining everything up properly. How do I align everything? I have a ton of trouble with this. I actually add another semi-transparent layer on top of my entire card when I am working on it. On this layer, I paste a card that someone else made so that I can line everything up with it.