FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about how Card Forge works, what’s free (everything), where your cards live, and what’s coming. Something missing? The guides go deeper on design, printing, and collecting.
Is Card Forge really free?
Yes — every feature is free: the editor, all templates, holographic foils, collections, sets, packs, trading, exports. There is no premium tier, no watermark, and nothing to unlock. Future marketplace credits will be earned by playing, never purchased.
Open the editor →Do I need an account?
No. Everything works without an account — your designs save automatically in your browser. An optional sign-in exists for cloud features like publishing a card to a public page and claiming a username, but no local feature ever requires it.
Where are my cards stored?
Locally, in your own browser's storage (IndexedDB and localStorage). Your designs never leave your device unless you explicitly share or publish them. The flip side: clearing your browser data deletes your cards, so export a backup from Settings if your collection matters to you.
Export a backup in Settings →Can I move my cards to another device?
Yes — export a vault backup file from the Settings page on the first device and import it on the second. Signed-in users will also get one-click cloud backup as the cloud features roll out.
Go to Settings →Can I print the cards I make?
Yes. Cards export as PNG at the standard 63×88 mm trading-card ratio, so they print true to size and fit regular sleeves, toploaders, and binder pages. Use 300 gsm cardstock or an online card-printing service for a real-card feel — our printing guide covers sizes, paper, and corners.
Read the printing guide →Will the holographic foil show up when I print?
The holo effect is a live screen effect (it responds to cursor movement), so a home print won't shimmer. Some print services offer real foil or holographic laminate as an upgrade. On screen — share links, embeds, the 3D viewer — the foil is always live.
How holo effects work →Can I use any image for my card art?
You can upload any image you have the right to use: your own photos and art, images you have permission for, or openly licensed media. If you share or publish a card publicly, make sure the art is yours to share — you keep responsibility for what you upload.
Are fan cards and proxies allowed?
Card Forge templates use genre conventions (HP, mana-like costs, stat lines) without copying any game's logos or trade dress, and the tool is unaffiliated with any card game. Fan cards for personal, non-commercial fun are broadly tolerated by publishers' fan-content policies; selling them is not. Our fan-card guide covers the etiquette.
Fan cards & proxies guide →How do share links work?
The entire card design is encoded into the link itself — no upload, no account, no expiry. Anyone who opens the link sees the exact card, foil and all, and can remix it into their own editor. Deleting a card locally doesn't affect links you already sent, because the design travels inside the URL.
Can I make my own template, not just my own card?
Yes — customize any card's frame, layers, fonts, and rarity tiers in the editor, then save it as a reusable template. Your templates appear alongside the built-in ones when you create new cards, which is how you keep a whole set visually consistent.
Set design guide →What are collections, sets, and packs?
Beyond designing single cards, you can mint designs into a collection (each copy gets its own serial and history), group designs into sets with rarities and editions, and open packs with real configurable odds — or send a pack link so friends can pull from your set. It's the full trading-card loop, not just a card maker.
Open a free pack →Does Card Forge work on mobile?
Yes — the whole app is responsive and the editor supports touch. For long editing sessions a bigger screen is more comfortable, but viewing, collecting, opening packs, and sharing all work great on a phone. You can also install it as an app from your browser's 'Add to Home Screen'.
What's coming next?
Cloud features are rolling out: optional accounts, publishing cards to public creator pages, cloud backup, a discover feed, real person-to-person trades, and a marketplace using earned (never purchased) credits. The roadmap page tracks what's shipped and what's next.
See the roadmap →