How did wood-block printing make playing cards more affordable?

Before the 15th century, European playing cards were hand-painted, which rendered them expensive luxury items accessible primarily to the upper classes. The invention of wood-block printing in Germany during the early 15th century revolutionized this by allowing for the mass production of cards.12

By using woodblocks to create impressions, manufacturers could produce decks in quantity rather than relying on the labor-intensive process of individual hand-painting. This shift significantly reduced production costs, making playing cards more affordable and expanding their social appeal across different classes. The process was further streamlined in the 1480s in France through the use of stencils to apply color, which simplified designs and lowered costs even further. These advancements transformed cards from exclusive status symbols into widely available tools for recreation and gambling.12