Hello,

I never use my Mental Photo Deck because the cards don't "stick together", if you know what I mean. I can't say anything more because of exposure, but I think you will know what I mean. How do I solve that? Buy some powder or spray of some sort?

Thanks,
Sander

Here is what I use, Krylon brand "Matte Finish". You can also use Testor's "Dull Cote." or Rough King's Roughing Spray.

Mental Photography deck is a great trick. I had a guy show me a routine where he started it as a regular deck and ended with it invisible. It was different spin.
Hope you get yours fixed and have fun with it. Also, Bill Malone has a nice routine on his "On the Loose" DVD set. You should check it out.

Cheers

TC

All you need is some roughing fluid, I use "Rough King." You should be able to find it at most magic shops...

I often perform Mental Photography in reverse. I start with a card being selected. The card is shown front and back. The face of the card then vanishes. Then the back of the card vanishes. Then the entire deck turns blank on both sides. The effect (entitled "Without a Trace") is included as a bonus effect in my recent book Sticky Situations. It's also included as a bonus with the individual effect, "Fading Memories" which is a packet trick in which the faces of the cards vanish one at a time and finally are shown to all be blank on both sides.

More information here: http://www.magicnook.com/magicbob/SS/SS00a_TOC.htm

Actually your routine is very similar to one put out by the Japanese magic company "Tricks" in the early 1980s. I bought a deck that came with this routine (and it turned out to be what I later knew to be a Mental Photography Deck).

I have always found this 'reverse' method of using this deck much more logical and effective for laymen.

Also note that there is still a knack to handling a mental photo deck depending on how dry or moist your hands are, here dry hands are an asset.

Gil Scott

I would always chose a regular deck. MPD is in my personal opinion too much gaffed and a one-timer. If gaffed, I prefer a short card in my regular deck or a double backer anyway, since this thread is on the MPD, I don't want to give negative vibrations only for me, I bought it years ago when I started with card magic, and used it only a very few times...

Should not have posted this here sorry

You wrote: I never use my Mental Photo Deck because the cards don't "stick together"

My questions are: Did the cards "stick together" when you first bought them and then stopped sticking together after a long time, or did they never stick together even when they were new? What make of cards are they? Bicycle or Fox Lake?

----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez

MPD is great! It's a trick deck, but it can be presented as it's own unique routine

I remember seeing the Mental Photography deck done on TV, I think by Don Alan on "Magic Ranch." When I worked as a demonstrator at various magic shops, this deck was pretty much a trick that sold itself. You should be able to make a simple finger fan with the deck set to be shown blank on both sides, and the casualness of the fan is a true convincer. (No one ever noticed that the fan consisted of only 26 cards.)

Rick Johnsson's routine "Flim Flam Flum" was a classic that starts with the deck looking "normal" and ends with the cards suddenly turning blank. I think he explained the routine in his lecture notes and perhaps in his Linking Ring Parade or close-up column as well.

Now and then I do a pseudo Mental Photography routine with a blank back deck. The routine ends with the deck having faces and an all-white back. I explained that some gamblers prefer a deck with all white backs because there's no way to mark a deck with all white backs. At least, that's what people think. Then I did a trick where it seemed like I _could_ read the backs.

----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez

I as well enjoy the Mental Photography Deck, and have used it in many different situations. It lends itself to a great Gospel Presentation, or several motivational presentations.

RevJohn

I agree with Rev John. The deck is one that is so easy to develop strong messages that fit any situation. Great routines using it.

I rate this as one of the best. Generally use it to close at a table.

One of the best gimmicked deck ever!!

The best thing about the Mental Photography Deck is that once you know it you can perform it like jazz, mixing and matching effects along the way.

The mental ph. deck is very clever, but it's not a thing I like to do myself. One have to use the whole deck, I am more of a single card person. For me it's too much, but I like watching people doing tricks with it.

Does Bill Malone us a gaffed deck or ungaffed?
Which On The Loose is it on?

It's on Volume 3, called "Direct from the Factory". It uses the standard gaffed deck.