How to Use Design Studio
Most custom chip configurators stop at logo upload. Poker Foundry built Design Studio so hosts, clubs, and event organisers could mock up a full casino-style inlay — ring text, centre copy, and denomination together — before they order. This guide walks through every panel in the studio. For print file specs and CMYK prep, pair it with our custom poker chips artwork guide.
Why mock up in Design Studio first
A circular chip face is roughly 39mm across on standard 10g casino-grade chips. That is not much room — curved ring text, a centre logo, and a readable denomination all compete for the same disc.
Design Studio lets you:
- See layout and contrast on a checkerboard artboard that reads like a production mockup
- Preview the label on a clay or ceramic chip body with swappable edge colours
- Share a PNG or autosaved link with your group before anyone orders
- Attach the mockup to an instant quote so our team sees your intent from day one
It is a planning tool, not a replacement for print-ready vector files. When you order, we refine spacing, CMYK colour, and proof details before manufacture — the same workflow as a traditional design brief.
| Typical chip configurator | Poker Foundry Design Studio |
|---|---|
| Upload a logo onto a fixed template | Compose ring text, centre lines, denomination, and logo on a live artboard |
| One font, no arc control | Twelve typefaces, separate size and weight per zone, dual arcs with independent spacing |
| Email revisions back and forth | Iterate in the browser, share a link, attach the mockup when you quote |
| Static PDF mockup days later | Real-time circular preview, PNG export, autosave as you type |
Try the live preview
The demo below mirrors the Design Studio landing page — edit ring text, pick a starter template, switch typeface, and watch the chip preview update. Click Continue Designing to open the full studio with your demo state carried over.
Getting started — open Design Studio and pick a layout
- Go to Design Studio and click Continue Designing.
- In Layout & starters, choose a layout preset — casino ring, full ring, or classic stack.
- Optional: apply a starter template (cash game, tournament, or corporate for your current layout) to pre-fill scenario copy, then edit anything.
Each preset keeps its own saved draft. Switch from casino ring to classic stack and back — you will not lose work on either layout.
Layout presets at a glance
| Preset | Best for |
|---|---|
| Casino ring | Classic top and bottom arc text with centre logo or copy |
| Full ring | Continuous text around the edge with a stacked centre |
| Classic stack | Straight stacked centre text — no arcs |
Browse the gallery for finished-set references, or view design examples in the instant quote design step before you build.
Studio panels — what each section does
The full studio is organised into the same panels you see in the demo above. On desktop, the 39mm preview stays fixed on the right while you scroll through controls on the left.
Layout & starters
- Layout preset — casino ring, full ring, or classic stack; each layout autosaves separately
- Starter templates — cash game, tournament, and corporate scenarios that pre-fill text and sizes for the active layout
Your logo
Upload PNG, JPEG, WebP, or GIF logos directly in the browser.
- Scale and nudge with sliders or the arrow pad
- Invert for dark inlays when your mark is light-on-dark
For production, vector sources (AI, EPS, SVG) still produce the sharpest print. Use the studio mockup to approve placement and relative size; supply high-resolution or vector files at proof stage if you have them.
Label text
Text fields and typography controls are grouped by zone:
| Zone | Casino ring | Full ring | Classic stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top / edge ring | Top arc text | Continuous ring text | — |
| Bottom ring | Bottom arc text | — | — |
| Centre | Line 1 (and optional line 2) | Stacked centre lines | Stacked centre lines |
| Denomination | Separate value field | Separate value field | Separate value field |
Each zone has its own size slider and weight picker (Regular, Semi, or Bold). Font sizes have a 24px minimum — smaller type does not print reliably on a 39mm face, so the studio enforces a sensible floor.
Your casing is preserved as you type — the studio does not force uppercase.
Font & colours
- Typeface — twelve casino-ready options: Casino Display, DM Mono, Condensed, Roman Casino, Elegant Serif, Classic Serif, Clean Sans, Tournament Bold, Western Saloon, Stencil Ops, Blackletter, and Arcade Pixel
- Casino colour presets — green, cream, black, and white inlay pairs in one click
- Manual hex pickers — match exact brand colours when presets are not enough
- Auto contrast — readable text colour against your chosen background
Fine-tune spacing & position
Open this collapsible panel when you need pixel-level control:
Arc layouts (casino ring and full ring)
- Top and bottom arc position — slide each ring in or out on the chip face
- Character spacing — tune top and bottom rings independently (full ring uses a single ring spacing control)
- Ring rotation (full ring only) — set where the first character sits around the edge
- Live radius guides — visible while you drag, so you can see where copy sits relative to the edge
Centre stack (all layouts with stacked centre text)
- Stack vertical position — move centre lines and denomination up or down together
- Line gap — space between centre lines
- Left / centre / right alignment for straight stacked copy (classic stack)
Logo
- Fine position and scale when a logo is uploaded
Preview toolbar
The preview panel includes:
- Undo / redo — 50 steps with keyboard shortcuts
- Download PNG — export the live artboard
- Copy share link — when your design has autosaved
- View on chip — toggle the clay/ceramic body mockup
- Get a quote with this design — hand the mockup straight to our team via instant quote
On mobile, a sticky preview bar follows you as you scroll through controls.
Three steps from blank to quote
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1. Pick a layout | Casino ring, full ring, or classic stack — each keeps its own saved draft |
| 2. Compose your label | Ring text, centre lines, denomination, fonts, logo, and colours on the live preview |
| 3. Share or quote | Download a PNG, share your autosaved link, or attach the design to an instant quote |
Colours, contrast, and export
When you are happy with the layout:
- Autosave — your design saves silently to a private URL as you edit
- Copy link — share with co-hosts or club committees
- Download PNG — export the live preview for group chat feedback
- Get a quote with this design — attach the mockup when you get an instant quote
Treat RGB preview colours as layout approval, not exact print match — CMYK conversion happens at proof stage. See the artwork guide for colour mode details.
Clay vs ceramic — same artboard, different print method
Both Poker Foundry lines use the same printable face area on the 39mm preview. The difference is how artwork is applied:
| Clay (printed inlay) | Ceramic (direct print) | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | High-resolution print on a paper inlay set into the face | Full-colour print bonded directly to the chip |
| Best for detail | Fine lines, small type, photos, intricate crests | Bold logos, clear denominations, high contrast |
| Minimum order | 500 chips | 300 chips |
Still deciding? Read our clay vs ceramic poker chips comparison or how to choose custom poker chips. Product pages: custom clay chips and custom ceramic chips.
Common label mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it hurts | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Text too close to the edge | Curved copy can clip when chips stack or under felt lighting | Use arc position sliders; our team adds safe margins at proof |
| Tiny denomination type | Small values are hard to read across the table | Size sliders enforce a 24px minimum — tournament templates start large for a reason |
| Low-contrast colours | Pale text on cream inlays disappears under casino lighting | Try colour presets or Auto contrast before you export |
| Assuming screen = print | RGB preview colours shift in CMYK | Treat the mockup as layout approval; read the artwork guide for file prep |
From mockup to manufactured chips
Label design and sign-off typically take ~1 week, depending on how quickly you review proofs. Manufacturing only starts after written approval.
- Mock up in Design Studio — share PNG or link with your group
- Get an instant quote — attach the saved design so our team sees your layout
- Proof stage — supply vector artwork if you have it, or brief us from the mockup (full design service £100 in the instant quote)
- Written sign-off — production begins after approval (~10 weeks standard freight post sign-off; rush available)
Timeline details: how long custom poker chips take.
Who uses Design Studio
- Home games — mock up denominations and room names before a full custom set
- Poker clubs & leagues — align centre text, edge bands, and crests across a multi-colour inventory
- Corporate & charity events — preview branded inlays for one-off tournaments or donor thank-you sets
- Cash & tournament sets — use starter templates for ring text, centre stacks, and denomination callouts
Ready to build your mockup?
Open Design Studio — free, no account, autosave included.
When the layout looks right, get an instant quote with your design attached, or read the artwork & print specs guide if you are preparing vector files for proof stage.