Okay, seems to be a insignificant question, yet the debate over which is better (Blue or Red) backed cards continues to be discussed on The Café almost daily.

Do you have a preference? If so, can you elaborate as to why? (Stronger audience reaction, etc)

My preference is Blue.

Red backed cards tend to draw "MY" attention more to the cards, I guess because Red is such a dominant color in the world. Even though I don't feel I am handling the cards any differently, subconciously I am thinking about it and I feel the spectators are or might pick up on this.

Blue is considered a cool, calm, and relaxing color. I feel more in tune with the cards when they are blue.

This is a thought out explananation. Before now I hadn't really given it any thought and have just always preferred Blue.

"More than two cents but not quite a nickel"

Jered

It's never mattered to me. or ?

RED because it is warm color and blue is cold.

I use both, but I prefer red because it draws the spectator's eye better. I tend to wear dark (and often blue) clothing, so the red also stands out better for that. It doesn't make a difference in my handling, though.

JesterJ

The traditional advice is that people who have gaps between their fingers should use blue cards because they're harder to see when you're palming a card.

I believe that advice came from Devant but I could
be wrong.

For me, the back color of the card is not important.

SEY

I have always preferred blue, since that was what we grew up with playing cards. I also like the greater contrast and pop of a red backed card amongst the blue.

Kirk

I prefer blue; always have and always will. I think they look smooth, and I prefer to have an odd red card show up in an all blue deck for a few effects. It makes the card stand out more than a blue card in a red deck. Also, since I usually perform in darker surroundings (restaurants) blue cards tend to blend into the background which is useful when palming.

I like the new Green cards myself... reminds me of the season we are in.

John

Green Cards???
I use both. It makes it easier to distinguish between various decks.
I prefer Red cards on a black mat though.

Not that this question matters to the significant advancement of magic, but...

I used to be adamant about using blue cards, and I prefer them, but they both have their pros and cons. But please don't use red cards on a red close-up pad - it looks bad. In addition, the lighter your skin tone is, the more you may find the contrasting blue appealing.

Sey, I thought the advice was to use red backed cards for those with 'windows' in their hands, as the red is closer to flesh tone. Does anyone have the printed reference for this? I'd be interested.

My best,
David Rowyn

Blue is by far the best- I feel it matches more what I wear. lol. It seems to have a certain quality about it visually that has more of an impact on spectators, be it forcing cards whatever, I feel the blue seems to anchor the eyes a bit more, and allows for more phsychological type ideas.

"The traditional advice is that people who have gaps between their fingers should use blue cards because they're harder to see when you're palming a card."

never thought about that myself.
I guess I should start using more blue cards since man... I got some skinny fingers and major gaps between them.


too bad the signatures don't show up too well on blue cards in general. and red just catch people's eyes better.

My answer is very simple:

- Red Bicycles

- Blue Jerry´s Nugget

All the best magic,

Pablo Tejero

While it doesn't really matter, I find that some effects look better with red and some other effects look better in blue.

David-- the reference is from David Devant's "Lessons in Conjuring" on page
19:

"Many men have not good hands form palming cards. The hands are probably quite large enough, but when the fingers are close together there may be little spaces between the knuckles and the middle joints of the fingers. The only way to get over this difficulty is to use cards with dark blue backs; even if the fingers are not quite close together when the cards are palmed the prescence of the cards in the hand will not be detected by the audience."

I believe that the main reason for this is that dark blue matches the shadows created by the gaps between the fingers much better than bright red.

Steven Youell

I tend to use red more often than blue for no other reason than what will give the greatest contrast when placed face down on the table?

I often use a black close-up pad and red is more visual. When I'm working tables with white table cloths, I switch to blue for the same reason. Otherwise, it makes no difference to me.