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

In the 14th century, the first European playing cards were hand-painted, rendering them luxury items accessible only to the wealthy. The introduction of wood-block printing in Germany during the early 15th century fundamentally changed this by allowing for the mass production of cards.12

By utilizing woodblocks, manufacturers could efficiently duplicate designs rather than painting each deck individually. This technological shift significantly lowered production costs, which were further reduced in the 1480s through the use of stencils for coloring. These advancements transformed playing cards from exclusive status symbols into affordable pastimes, facilitating their spread across social classes and trade routes throughout Europe.1