How to Choose MTG Card Artwork: Complete Guide

Choosing the right artwork is one of the most important aspects of creating custom Magic: The Gathering cards. Great art can make a card feel authentic and powerful, while poor art choices can ruin an otherwise good design. This guide covers everything you need to know about selecting card artwork.

Why Artwork Matters

Artwork is crucial because it:

• Sets the tone - First impression of the card
• Tells the story - Visual representation of the card's concept
• Creates atmosphere - Establishes mood and feeling
• Enhances gameplay - Makes cards more memorable and enjoyable
• Matches Magic's style - Helps cards feel authentic

Understanding Magic's Art Style

Typical Magic Art Characteristics

Real Magic cards feature:

• Fantasy art style - Not realistic photography
• Painted look - Digital or traditional painting
• Rich colors - Vibrant, saturated colors
• Dramatic composition - Dynamic, interesting layouts
• Clear focal point - Main subject is obvious
• Appropriate mood - Matches card's colors and effects

Art Styles to Avoid

• Photorealistic photos - Too realistic for Magic
• Anime/cartoon styles - Usually too stylized (unless Secret Lair)
• Low resolution - Blurry or pixelated images
• Poor composition - Unclear focal point
• Mismatched mood - Art doesn't match card's feel

Finding Artwork

Free Art Sources

ArtStation:

• High-quality fantasy art
• Many free downloads available
• Search by style and theme
• Check licensing carefully

DeviantArt:

• Large art community
• Many free resources
• Various styles available
• Verify usage rights

Pixabay/Unsplash:

• Free stock photos
• Less fantasy-specific
• Good for backgrounds
• Check if style matches

Magic Art Archives:

• Official Magic art references
• See what real cards use
• Inspiration for style
• Don't copy directly

Paid Art Sources

Commission Artists:

• Custom artwork for your cards
• Unique, original pieces
• Full control over design
• Higher cost but unique

Stock Art Sites:

• Shutterstock, Getty Images
• Professional quality
• Pay per image
• Check licensing terms

Art Marketplaces:

• Etsy, ArtStation Marketplace
• Buy existing artwork
• Various price points
• Verify commercial rights

Legal Considerations

Copyright and Licensing

Always ensure you have:

• Right to use - Legal permission
• Appropriate license - Commercial vs. personal use
• Attribution - If required by license
• No copyright violation - Don't use without permission

Safe Practices

• Use royalty-free art - Clearly licensed
• Check license terms - Understand what's allowed
• Credit artists - When required or appreciated
• Don't use official Magic art - Copyrighted by Wizards
• Create original - Best option if possible

Technical Requirements

Resolution

For print-quality cards:

• Minimum: 600 × 800 pixels
• Recommended: 1200 × 1600 pixels or higher
• DPI: 300 DPI minimum for printing
• Format: PNG or JPEG (PNG preferred)

Aspect Ratio

Magic cards use:

• Ratio: Approximately 5:7 (0.714)
• Dimensions: 2.5" × 3.5" (63.5mm × 88.9mm)
• Art box: Slightly smaller than full card
• Account for text - Art won't fill entire card

File Size

• PNG: Larger files, better quality
• JPEG: Smaller files, slight quality loss
• Balance: Quality vs. file size
• Optimize: Compress if needed, but maintain quality

Composition Guidelines

Focal Point

Art should have:

• Clear subject - Obvious main element
• Centered composition - Main subject in center
• Not obscured - Not hidden by text overlay
• Appropriate size - Large enough to see clearly

Text Overlay Areas

Avoid placing important art elements where:

• Card name will appear (top)
• Rules text will appear (bottom center)
• Mana cost will appear (top right)
• Type line will appear (middle)

Color Considerations

Match art colors to:

• Card's color identity - Red cards use red art
• Mood of card - Dark cards use dark art
• Frame colors - Art complements frame
• Overall theme - Consistent color palette

Art Selection by Card Type

Creature Cards

Best art:

• Shows the creature clearly
• Dynamic pose or action
• Appropriate power level visible
• Fits creature type and abilities

Examples:

• Dragons: Large, powerful, flying
• Elves: Graceful, nature-themed
• Goblins: Chaotic, energetic
• Angels: Majestic, divine

Instant and Sorcery Cards

Best art:

• Shows the spell effect
• Action or magic happening
• Clear what the spell does
• Dramatic moment captured

Examples:

• Lightning Bolt: Lightning striking
• Counterspell: Magic being countered
• Healing: Light or restoration
• Destruction: Things being destroyed

Enchantment Cards

Best art:

• Represents the effect
• Atmospheric and moody
• Shows the enchantment's nature
• Less action, more atmosphere

Examples:

• Auras: Effect on target
• Global: Wide scene showing effect
• Ongoing: Continuous effect visualized

Planeswalker Cards

Best art:

• Shows the planeswalker character
• Powerful, iconic pose
• Represents their abilities
• Memorable and distinctive

Matching Art to Card Function

Aggressive Cards

• Dynamic action - Movement and energy
• Bold colors - Red, black, intense
• Powerful subjects - Strong, threatening
• Fast-paced feel - Urgency and speed

Defensive Cards

• Protective imagery - Shields, barriers
• Calm colors - Blue, white, peaceful
• Stable composition - Solid, grounded
• Protective feel - Safety and security

Utility Cards

• Functional imagery - Shows what it does
• Clear purpose - Obvious function
• Neutral mood - Not too dramatic
• Practical feel - Useful and efficient

Artwork Editing Tips

Cropping

• Focus on subject - Crop to main element
• Maintain aspect ratio - Don't distort
• Leave space - For text overlays
• Center important elements - Main subject centered

Color Adjustment

• Match card colors - Adjust to fit color identity
• Enhance contrast - Make subject pop
• Adjust saturation - Match Magic's vibrant style
• Balance brightness - Not too dark or light

Resizing

• Maintain quality - Don't upscale too much
• Use proper tools - Quality resizing algorithms
• Check resolution - Verify final dimensions
• Test in card - See how it looks in frame

Common Art Mistakes

Mistake 1: Wrong Resolution

Problem: Art too small, looks blurry Fix: Use high-resolution images (1200×1600+)

Mistake 2: Poor Composition

Problem: Main subject obscured or off-center Fix: Choose art with clear, centered focal point

Mistake 3: Style Mismatch

Problem: Art doesn't look like Magic art Fix: Use fantasy/painted style artwork

Mistake 4: Wrong Mood

Problem: Art doesn't match card's feel Fix: Match art mood to card's function

Mistake 5: Copyright Issues

Problem: Using art without permission Fix: Only use properly licensed or original art

Tools for Art Selection

Image Search

• Google Images - Advanced search with usage rights
• TinEye - Reverse image search
• Pinterest - Inspiration and sourcing
• ArtStation - Professional fantasy art

Editing Tools

• Photoshop - Professional editing
• GIMP - Free alternative
• Photopea - Browser-based editor
• Canva - Simple editing tool

Card Integration

• TCGCustom - Upload and integrate art
• Magic Set Editor - Desktop card creator
• CardConjurer - Web-based tool

Best Practices Summary

1. Use high-resolution art - 1200×1600+ pixels
2. Match Magic's style - Fantasy, painted look
3. Ensure proper licensing - Legal to use
4. Choose appropriate composition - Clear focal point
5. Match art to card - Colors, mood, function
6. Avoid text overlay areas - Keep important art visible
7. Test in card frame - See how it looks
8. Credit artists - When required or appreciated

Resources

Art Databases

• Scryfall - See official Magic art
• ArtStation - Professional fantasy art
• DeviantArt - Community art
• Magic Art Archive - Official art references

Legal Resources

• Creative Commons - Free art licenses
• Stock photo sites - Licensed artwork
• Artist commissions - Original artwork
• Copyright guides - Understand usage rights

Conclusion

Choosing the right artwork is essential for creating authentic-looking custom Magic cards. Focus on high-resolution, fantasy-style art that matches your card's colors, mood, and function. Always ensure you have proper licensing, and test how art looks in the actual card frame.

Use TCGCustom to easily integrate artwork into your custom cards, and take time to find art that truly represents your card's concept. Great artwork can transform a good card design into something truly special.