What is an ATC/ACEO?
ATC = Artist Trading Card ACEO = Artist Card, Editions and Originals
An ATC/ACEO is a 2.5 inch by 3.5 inch piece of artwork. It can be made of any material or crafted out of any medium.
THIS GROUP IS FOR TRADING ONLY ◙ NO SALES, PRICES, COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING, MONETIZATION LINKS OR MARKETING IS ALLOWED HERE.
The difference between an ATC and an ACEO is that an ATC is a one of a kind card and an ACEO usually is not. An ACEO may be an original work for sale, a work in a series of works or a digital print. An ACEO is intended to be sold, which is why someone may make multiple copies. An ATC is intended for trading only and is not meant for sale. Sales offers and advertising will be removed from the group: this group is for display and trading only. If you want to put a separate image of the ATC up [post a copy on deviantART without any sales element] and submit the non-commercial Deviation to this group that is fine. I am dropping any cards with sales links, prices or marketing indicators. You will see the message: "Hello, please no prices, sales links or ads for the #ArtistTradingCards group. The group is for display and trading, not for marketing. Please resubmit the image without the sales information if you want it shown in the group."
How do I trade an ATC? First off, be aware that trading ATCs means you'll actually have to mail the card out to another person, and they'll be mailing one to you.
Contact the artist you wish to trade with, either by a Note or Comment. You'll either be trying to trade for an already made card you saw that you'd like to have, or you'll be asking the artist to create a new card for the trade.
If they agree to the trade, they'll either ask for one of your already made cards, or ask you to create a new card as well.
Before agreeing to trade (or deciding you want to trade), be sure to check WHERE the artist lives. Admittedly, it is usually $1.10 (at least from the USA) to ship an ATC anywhere in the world, but many trades can add up.
If you're uncomfortable giving out your address acquiring a P.O. Box is recommended.
Don't send out your address right away - wait until they've agreed to the trade and selected the ATC they want you to mail (or you've finished making an ATC for them).
When you finish your ATC, consider taping it to a solid core (recycled packaging material like a cereal box works well), to give the ATC a solid core. You can also add the title, your name, your country, your website and the date the card was made to the back, so they'll always know where the ATC is from. Considering using an ATC label or decorative paper on the back of your card.
For sending the ATC itself mail it in a cardstock (really thin cardboard) card. You can usually buy a pack of blank greeting cards for this. Plastic sports card "penny" sleeves (100 for $1.00) or heavier sports card collector holders are helpful to mails ATCs. Add a note about the process of making the card and a thank you inside the card.
You can also buy mini envelopes to protect your ATC. Mini envelopes are becoming more available at art stores, and are just big enough to hold an ATC. You can also make your own, fine free patterns online. Chinese gift money envelopes also work well. However, mini envelopes are too small to be mailed in the USA, so they would still have to be placed in a larger envelope.
Putting the ATC inside something stiff and using plastic helps protect the card in the mail.
When the ATC you traded for arrives in the mail, you should send a Note to your trading partner to let them know the card arrived safely.
Some tips on materials to make ATCs: artisttradingcards.deviantart.…
More questions? Feel free to contact ARTG33K74 |