How to Export Your Game for Playtesting with Decklab AI (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

When your cards are ready for the table, Export turns them into files: a PDF to print at home, images for a print shop, deck sheets for Tabletop Simulator, or a backup of the whole project. Every export in Decklab AI is free, on every plan, because exports run in your browser.

Step 1: Open Export

Choose Export in the project header. You can also choose it from a deck's Preview.

Step 2: Choose an output

Output	What you get
PDF	Sheets to print and cut, on Letter, A4 or A3
PNG images	A file per card, up to 600 DPI, for print shops or sharing
Tabletop Simulator	Deck sheets and a saved object, to play online
Spreadsheet	Your editable card data, as CSV or Excel
Project backup	The whole project as one .decklab file

Step 3: Choose what to export

Under What to export, pick the components (cards, tokens, boards and so on). 1 of each (proof) prints a single copy of every card, instead of the quantities from your data. It's handy for checking a new version.

Step 4: Set the options

For a PDF

• Paper: Letter, A4 or A3. Cards are laid out to fit as many as possible on each sheet.
• Cut guides: Cut marks outside each card, Cut lines around it, or None.
• Print bleed: prints the art past the cut line, so a slightly off cut leaves no white edge.
• Card backs: Fronts only, Double-sided (duplex) for a printer that prints both sides, or Side by side, to fold to fold each sheet and glue.
• Flip on: for double-sided, Long edge (most printers) or Short edge, to match your printer.

Boards too big for the paper are split across sheets with a map, and an overlap to glue.

For PNG images

Pick the Sharpness: 150 DPI for screens, 300 DPI for print, or 600 DPI for very sharp prints. Choose whether to Include bleed, how File names are made from your data, and whether to make Sprite sheets.

For Tabletop Simulator

Choose PNG (sharpest) or JPEG (smaller). JPEG files load faster for everyone at the table. To use the saved object, tell Decklab AI where your Saved Objects folder is.

Hover any option's hint for a short explanation.

Step 5: Check the preview

The preview shows the first sheet of a PDF, or the first card otherwise, so you can catch a wrong setting before you make the file.

Step 6: Export

Choose Export. Progress shows as it builds, with Cancel. When it's done, the file downloads, with Open file and Download again, and tips for the format you chose.

Before printing: test your printer

Most print dialogs shrink pages a few percent unless told not to, and your cards stop fitting sleeves. In the PDF options, choose Print a test page, print it at 100% ("Actual size"), and check its 50 mm square with a ruler. The same page is available as a free tool:

Printer calibration page

Print one Letter or A4 page with a 50 mm square, a poker card outline and rulers to check your printer prints cards at the right size, and learn how to fix it when it doesn’t. Free, in your browser, with no sign-up.

Loading into Tabletop Simulator

The Tabletop Simulator export includes notes on importing. In short: unzip the saved object into your Saved Objects folder and load it from Objects › Saved Objects, or make a Custom Deck from the sheets. For a full walkthrough, see How to Playtest Your Card Game Online With Tabletop Simulator.

Check first

Run through the Problems list before you export, so you don't print a card with overflowing text. See How to Validate Your Game.

Card images from somewhere else?

The free tools do the same layouts for images made in any tool, with no account:

Print-and-play PDF maker

Turn your card images into a print-and-play PDF: pick the card size and paper, add cut marks and backs for double-sided or fold-and-glue printing, and set how many of each card. Free, in your browser, with no sign-up.

Tabletop Simulator deck sheet maker

Turn your card images into Tabletop Simulator deck sheets: up to 69 cards a sheet with the hidden-card slot left free, a back, PNG or JPEG, and a saved object that loads the whole deck in one click. Free, in your browser, with no sign-up.