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| WHAT IS AN ACEO? WHAT IS AN ATC? |
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ACEO stands for "Art Card(s), Editions and Originals." ATC stands for "Artist Trading Card." A collective term for ACEOs and ATCs is "art card."
An art card is a 2.5" x 3.5" card similar to "normal" trading cards or playing cards, such as baseball cards, Pokémon cards, or other game cards (standard deck of cards, Dungeons & Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh, Harry Potter &c.) or trading cards (Sailor Moon, Batman, &c.). They are traded or sold world-wide, either in person or online.
Many people collect them, but they are sometimes used as house decorations as well, and are framed for walls or for table stands, like any other art piece.
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| REQUIREMENTS |
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The only requirement for an art card is the dimensions. Most people prefer the thickness to be limited to around that of a "normal" trading card, so they can be fit into a binder with other art cards or put into a trading card sleeve. There are those done on thicker papers or on canvas as well, however.
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| EDITIONS & ORIGINALS |
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Art cards can be either originals or copies. Usually the copies are called "editions" and only have a set number that will be printed. Often the number of the card in the series of those editions will be printed on the back over how many of that design is printed: For example, if twenty copies of that particular card has been printed, and the card being sold/traded is the fifth to be printed, it will be marked 5/20. This is not always the case, but is preferred.
What is also preferred is for the name of the creator to be printed on the back, along with some means of contact (email or snail mail).
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| MATERIALS |
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The materials to create an art card are almost limitless. Most any medium can be used. The most popular are painting, drawing, and collage, but others such as sewing have been used. Photography is also an option.
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| DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACEOs & ATCs |
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The difference between ACEOs and ATCs is virtually none: M. Vänçi Stirnemann is credited as the creator of the modern ATC, and many artists consider ATCs as only tradable. The term "ACEO" came from those that wished to sell or buy art cards, rather than trade them. The term "ACEO" or "art card" is usually used when a card is being sold, but not always. There are those, however, that consider ACEOs and ATCs to be completely different.
