TLDR
- If your goal is “decklist to sleeves” with minimal nonsense, use PrintMTG (decklist importer + version picker) or ProxyMTG (deck tools built around printing full proxy decks).
- If you want to design custom cards, start with PrintMTG’s MTG Card Maker or the mtg.cards custom creator (both are fast, template-driven, and don’t require you to become a full-time graphic designer).
- If you’re printing at home, MTGPrint.net is the “paste list, get PDF” classic, and Proxxied is the “I want control over layout, bleed, DPI, and the laws of physics” option.
- If you’re the kind of person who alphabetizes their Cube by collector number, Proxyshop (Photoshop automation) is the power tool. It is also the path where your hobbies start filing taxes.
- For a full blown cube, printed on demand, look at PrintACube.
You’re here because you want the best tools for making MTG proxies, and you want them to actually work. Not “work” as in “technically outputs a file,” but “work” as in “your deck is playable tonight, nobody is squinting at blurry rules text, and you didn’t spend three hours fighting a dropdown.”
Let’s sort the options by what you’re actually trying to do.
Choose your proxy workflow in 60 seconds
Pick the lane that matches your real life:
- I want a full deck fast (Commander, Modern, Cube updates): you want a decklist importer, version selection, and a clean path to printing.
- I want custom cards or custom art (alts, tokens, memes, fan designs): you want a card maker with solid templates and high-resolution output.
- I want to print at home right now: you want a decklist-to-PDF tool, plus control over scale so your printer doesn’t “help” you.
- I want maximum control (and accept maximum tinkering): you want pro-grade rendering tools, templates, and automation.
If you try to use the “maximum control” tools when you really just needed a proxy Sol Ring by Friday, you will have a character-building experience. You did not ask for that. But it will find you anyway.
The best tools for making MTG proxies (deck-first tools)
These are for when the decklist is the source of truth, not a folder full of image files.
PrintMTG.com (decklist import + version control + printing)
PrintMTG’s sweet spot is the most common proxy problem: you already have a list somewhere, and you want it printed without the usual “why did it miss three cards and replace my commander with a basic Island” moment.
What makes it good for deck workflows:
- Supports major sources (like Moxfield, Archidekt, MTGA exports, and plain text), and it’s flexible about formatting.
- Fuzzy matching is built in, so small formatting quirks don’t immediately ruin your day.
- Version selection after import is the right order of operations. Import first, then pick the exact printing/art version you want.
- If you care about how a deck feels in sleeves, PrintMTG leans hard into the physical side: black-core stock, UV coating, and consistent cutting so your deck shuffles like a deck instead of a stack of regrets.
Best for: printing whole decks, cube batches, or “I want my proxies consistent across reorders.”
ProxyMTG (deck building tools designed for proxy decks)
ProxyMTG is built around the idea that a lot of people proxy in batches: build, tweak, print a handful of changes, then come back for the full list.
What it does well:
- Decklist upload and card database search so you can build from a list or from scratch.
- Version selection so your deck can match your vibe (or your readability standards, if you’re the responsible one at the table).
- Designed for full-deck printing, including the “iterate freely while testing” mindset.
Best for: players who want a clean “build and refine, then print” loop for proxy decks.
Proxxied (layout control for home printing and file export)
Proxxied is for people who want more control than “here’s a PDF, good luck,” without building a full design pipeline.
Standout features:
- Import from Moxfield or Archidekt URLs, or pull cards via Scryfall, then export PDFs.
- Layout knobs: page size, rows/columns, bleed settings, cut guides, DPI export options, and even tools for aligning backs if you’re duplex printing.
- Exports: PDF, image ZIP, and various workflow-friendly outputs.
Best for: home printing, prototyping, or anyone who has ever yelled “WHY IS IT SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER” at a printer.
MTGPrint.net (the classic “decklist in, PDF out”)
MTGPrint.net is the simple, reliable option for home printing: paste a decklist in Arena format, get a lined-up PDF you can cut and sleeve.
Best for: quick home prints when you don’t need custom art or advanced layout control.
Card makers and custom creators (design-first tools)
These are for when you want to make a card face, not just print an existing list.
PrintMTG.com MTG Card Maker (templates + live preview)
PrintMTG’s Card Maker is the “I want to design a card without opening Photoshop and losing my weekend” option.
Why it’s a strong starting point:
- Template selection (Modern, Vintage, Box Topper, Mystical Archives, Full Art) so your card looks like it belongs in the visual era you’re aiming for.
- Live preview while editing, which saves you from the classic “I exported it and the text is somehow in the art box now.”
- Card search helper that can fill in key fields (then you edit from there).
- Artwork controls (drag, zoom, and position/scale fields), which is quietly one of the biggest quality-of-life features in any card maker.
Best for: custom commanders, custom tokens, theme swaps, one-off gifts, and “my playgroup will understand this dumb joke immediately.”
mtg.cards custom creator (templates + high-res download)
mtg.cards is another template-driven creator that’s built to be quick and clean, and it explicitly focuses on high-resolution outputs.
Highlights:
- Multiple template categories (Modern, Vintage, Box Topper, Mystical Archives, Full Art).
- High-resolution downloads (they advertise up to 1200 dpi), which is what you want if you care about crisp text and clean symbols.
- Straightforward “fill fields, upload art, preview, export” flow.
Best for: custom designs when you want a clean UI and high-res exports without extra fuss.
Card Conjurer (frame variety and customization)
Card Conjurer is popular because it leans into variety: lots of frames and customization options, and a card creator built around “make it look cool.”
Best for: showcase-style customs and frame-heavy designs.
MTG.Design and Magic Set Editor (quick concept tools)
These aren’t always your final-print tools, but they’re great for rapid iteration.
- MTG.Design is easy and browser-based.
- Magic Set Editor (MSE) is the old-school workhorse for making lots of customs quickly.
Best for: brainstorming, early drafts, and bulk concepting.
The “I want maximum control” toolbox
If you’re doing large batches of custom renders, or you want a consistent house style across hundreds of cards, automation matters.
Proxyshop (Photoshop automation for high-quality renders)
Proxyshop is a serious tool for rendering card images via Photoshop automation, with template systems and a “custom creator” feature (noted as beta in their docs).
Why people use it:
- Batch rendering and template control.
- High DPI workflows (with guidance that many services don’t meaningfully benefit above a certain threshold).
- A path to consistent output when you’re making lots of cards.
Best for: cube designers, big custom projects, and anyone who reads “setup guide” and thinks, “nice.”
A quick proxy quality checklist (so your tools don’t betray you)
No matter which tool you use, your proxies live or die on a few boring details:
- Text readability wins games. If you have to lean in to read the rules, you made a tiny poster, not a card.
- Use high-res art. Blurry in, blurry out. Printing is honest like that.
- Leave safe margins. Don’t cram text or mana into the edge unless you enjoy micro-tragedies.
- Pick versions intentionally. Sometimes the “coolest” version is also the least readable one. Be brave. Choose the readable one.
- Be consistent across a deck. Mixed frames can look fun, but accidental inconsistency looks like you printed your deck during a small earthquake.
- For home printing, disable scaling. Printers love “Fit to page.” “Fit to page” loves ruining your life.
My practical recommendations (good, better, best)
If you want a simple decision framework:
Good (fastest start):
- Build your list in your favorite deckbuilder, export clean text, print via a decklist-to-PDF tool.
Better (less pain, more consistency):
- Use a decklist workflow that supports version selection and clean importing (PrintMTG or ProxyMTG), especially for full decks.
Best (custom cards, polished output):
- Design customs in a dedicated card maker (PrintMTG Card Maker or mtg.cards), then print professionally when you want consistent shuffle feel and finish.
FAQs
What’s the easiest way to make proxies for a full Commander deck?
Use a decklist-based workflow that imports cleanly, lets you pick versions, and prints the whole batch in one go. That’s where PrintMTG and ProxyMTG shine.
What if I want custom tokens or a custom commander?
Start with a card maker. PrintMTG’s Card Maker and mtg.cards are both good “design without suffering” options.
What’s best for printing proxies at home?
MTGPrint.net is the simple route. Proxxied is better if you want control over layout, bleed, cut guides, and DPI.
I want my proxies to look consistent across reorders. What matters most?
Consistency comes from two places: (1) saving the list and versions you chose, and (2) printing on consistent stock with consistent finishing and cutting.
Do I need high DPI?
For on-screen sharing, no. For clean print readability, higher-resolution exports help. Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking “bigger number” automatically equals “better card.”
