About · Help · Rules
The Artist Guide
About the game
Trading Art Shop is a card clean-up and sorting game. Submitted cards cover the shop floor, and players must pick them up, inspect them and organise the collection by series, type, rarity and other card details.
Every card is built around work from a real artist. The goal is to give human-made artwork more than a passing glance: players hold it in front of them, study the card and spend time deciding where it belongs. Artist profiles and social links give players a way to get in touch.
Rules
What every submission needs
Human-made only
Generative AI cannot be used to create or aid any part of the submitted artwork.
Your original work
Submit work you created and have permission to include in the game. Do not copy or closely imitate another artist.
Use the exact PNG format
Standard and Holo accept 1024 x 1024 or 2048 x 2048 px. Full Art Holo accepts 1024 x 1465 or 2048 x 2930 px. Files can be up to 10 MB.
Choose accurate details
Pick the series and type that best describe the artwork so players can sort the card correctly.
Preview before submitting
Check the design, background, border and text colour in the card preview before you finish.
Promotion stays optional
Game use is required for a submission. Promotional use is a separate choice and is never required.
The full licence and removal details are in the Artist Terms.
Formats
Choose how players meet your work
- Standard
- Free · 1024 x 1024 or 2048 x 2048 px
- Square artwork framed within the standard card layout.
- Holo
- Tier 1 · 1024 x 1024 or 2048 x 2048 px
- Square artwork framed for the holographic card treatment.
- Full Art Holo
- Tier 2 · 1024 x 1465 or 2048 x 2930 px
- Portrait artwork fills the holographic card face inside the outer border.
Series and types
Plan around the sorting categories
Every card needs one Series and one Type. You choose both in the submission portal after uploading, so these labels do not need to appear in the artwork itself.
Series
The card's tone or story grouping.
- Comedy
- Action
- Romance
- Melodrama
- Tragedy
- Mystery
Type
The subject or visual category players sort by.
- Fantasy
- Sci-Fi
- Scenic
- Anthro
- Human
- Cute
- Animal
Suggestions
Help your card earn a closer look
- Keep the main subject centre of attention when the card is seen at a small size on the floor.
- Use the preview to test whether the frame and text support the artwork instead of competing with it.
- Add your artist name and useful social links to your portal profile, not to the artwork image, so interested players can get in touch.
- Use Holo when movement and changing light complement the piece; use Full Art Holo when detail and composition deserve more space.
- Give cards clear names and accurate categories. Those details become part of the sorting challenge.
- For an Evolution, link two or three related artworks in the order they change from one stage to the next.
FAQ
Common questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
Standard card submissions are available through the free Patreon tier. Tier 1 unlocks Holo submissions and Tier 2 unlocks Full Art Holo submissions, subject to the allowances shown in your portal.
Can I submit AI-assisted artwork?
No. Trading Art Shop is for human-made artwork, and every submission requires confirmation that generative AI was not used.
Do I keep the copyright to my artwork?
Yes. You keep your copyright and give MaskedWaffle permission to include the artwork in Trading Art Shop. Promotional use is a separate optional choice. See the Artist Terms for the full details. MaskedWaffle never takes ownership of the artwork and will remove it from future releases within a reasonable operational period when asked.
What is an Evolution?
An Evolution links two or three of your cards into an ordered progression. Use it when a character, object or scene changes between stages and the cards should be understood together.
Can I link cards with different rarities?
Yes. You can link cards with different rarities in an Evolution, but the game sorts cards by rarity, so they will not always appear next to each other or on the same shelf.
What happens after I submit a card?
New cards are marked Pending while MaskedWaffle reviews them. Accepted cards are ready for inclusion. If a card is declined, its slot is returned and the portal shows the reason over the card. Updating its details or replacing its PNG sends the same card back to Pending for another review.
Can I add, update or remove cards later?
Yes. Return to the submission portal to add more cards, edit card details, replace artwork, remove submissions and manage Evolution sets.
How can players find me?
Complete your artist profile and add the social links where you want to be contacted or followed. The experience is designed to give players a route from a card they enjoy back to its artist.
Is inclusion or paid work guaranteed?
No. The project is designed to create meaningful discovery, but it cannot guarantee commissions, leads, placement or a specific amount of player attention.
Where can I ask another question?
Email hello@maskedwaffle.com.