nanDECK - ver. 1.25.2

nanDECK is a software for Windows (any version) written as an aid for game inventors, with the aim of speeding up the process of designing and printing deck of cards (useful during prototyping and playtesting).

nanDECK can also be used on Linux (read this FAQ) or OSX (read this blog post) with WINE, download this version: nanDECK_W.

nanDECK is free, you can download it and use freely, without limitations (but a donation, of course, is really welcome).

Top nanDECK' supporters 1) Rustan

2) Andrew

3) Ashvil

4) Calvin

5) Herb

6) Torgeir

7) Justin

8) Mark

9) Michael

10) Tim

Download nanDECK 1.25.2 5024 kB 06-25-2020 The .zip file contains the program, unzip and run it (no need to install it); this program can also be used from an USB flash drive.

If you have a question, write me an e-mail at .

There is also a Guild on BoardGameGeek. Reference 1.25.2 3547 kB 06-25-2020 This is the reference manual for nanDECK BGG1tool 1.23 1863 kB 11-06-2019 This program connects itself to BoardGameGeek and can dowload data to create cards with many informations about your games.

The .zip file contains the program, an example script file and some printing templates, unzip and run it (no need to install); this program can also be used from an USB flash drive.

For this program I wrote this tutorial, to explain all the options I wrote this page.

nanDECK's features:

runs on any version of Windows, no needs of runtimes or libraries

runs on OSX or Linux using WINE software

it doesn't need to be installed, can run from an USB stick

the scripted syntax lets you to modify several cards with a small effort

deck size limited only by free space on disk

card size can go up to 1m x 1m (or more, the limits came from video memory and O.S.)

sizes can be specified in cm, mm, or inches, at any DPI

can link to data in text or spreadsheet files: Excel (both xls and xlsx), and OpenOffice (ods)

internal editor for csv files

real-time rendering option

can read image files in various formats: bmp, jpg, png (with transparency level), gif, and tiff (and use placeholders for missing files)

can read text files in rtf and html formats

can print texts with all alignments (left, center, right, justified, top, center, bottom)

can import svg (vector) images

the output can be to printer, pdf or single image files (can also write the deck to a multipage tiff or an animated gif)

integrated help (and guided input for directives' parameters)

can print pages of cards with fronts aligned with backs

virtual table option to playtest your deck(s)

visual editor for creating cards without writing code

multi file environment (with the option of comparing decks)

combinatorial engine

templates for The Game Crafter, Printer's Studio, and Artscow

can upload directly to The Game Crafter site

automatic layout option

option to create and roll dice

can create composite images for deck loading into Tabletop Simulator or Tabloro

This program uses a script for the creation of the cards, and you can add text, images and some graphics (lines, rectangles and ellipses). Using nanDECK you can add or change graphic elements to a deck (or only some cards) with only some lines of text. The default size of the cards is 6 cm x 9 cm (9 cards for every sheet), but you can customize everything, (even creating chits for wargames). There are over 100 keywords, but for basic tasks you should know only few of them. As an example, this is a script for a deck of 18 cards that can be used for Werewolf:

cards = 18

border = rectangle

font = arial, 28, B, #0000FF

text = "1", "SEER", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

font = arial, 28, B, #FF0000

text = "2-4", "WEREWOLF", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

font = arial, 28, B, #000000

text = "5-18", "VILLAGER", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

cards=18

This keyword sets the number of the cards in the deck.

border=rectangle

This keyword draws a border around all cards.

font = arial, 28, B, #0000FF

font = arial, 28, B, #FF0000

font = arial, 28, B, #000000

These keywords set the font to be used for text, Arial size 28, bold and in three different colors.

text = "1", "SEER", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

This keyword writes on the 1st card the word "SEER", in the rectangle from coordinates (0,3), width 6 and height 3, with alignment "center". Note that all coordinates are in cm.

text = "2-4", "WEREWOLF", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

This keyword writes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th card the word "WEREWOLF".

text = "5-18", "VILLAGER", 0, 3, 6, 3, center

This keyword writes on cards from 5 to 18 the word "VILLAGER".

A great strength of nanDECK (versus other graphic programs) is the capability to modify an already done deck with a few changes. So if you want to add an image to the top-right angle of every card in the Werewolf deck, you only have to add one line:

image = "1-18", "logo.gif", 0, 4, 2, 2, 0

History: