If you've lost a tile, or if you have a set that doesn't have enough jokers to play American mah-jongg, one way to "rescue" your set is to make a sticker (or multiple stickers) and apply it to an extra tile(s). So of course, first you have to have that extra tile (or those multiple extra tiles).
You just need tiles that match your set. Any tile of the set, as long as it matches your tiles in material, size, and color. Some "purists" (read: "rich collectors") insist on blank tiles that they can send to an engraver. But most of us either don't have the patience to search the world for blanks or don't have the money to spend on engraving! I myself am usually satisfied with stickers, especially if all I want is a set for playing with.
Don't get me wrong - I am a collector like many others, but I have different priorities and interests from other collectors. We're all unique.
If all you want is tiles to put stickers on, it's a waste of time and money to hold out for blank tiles! Get any tile you can get that matches your other tiles - the sticker will cover up the design on the tile.
FAQs 7Q & 7R are all about getting those extra tiles, and so are the Tiles For Sale and Tiles Wanted bulletin boards.
First you should visit my Tiles For Sale bulletin board -- see if anyone has offered tiles like yours. Send an email to any poster who might have tiles suitable for your need. Give them a day or two to respond by email (not everybody checks their email every 15 minutes like I do!).
If the Tiles For Sale BB doesn't yield any results, then visit my Tiles Wanted bulletin board. On the Tiles Wanted BB, read everything at the top -- there is information there about other sources for replacement tiles (like the NMJL, and Matthew Shim's "MahjongTiles.com" website). Contact those suppliers by email or (if they have a phone number posted) by phone. If using email, give them a day or two to respond.
If that still yields no results, then on the Tiles Wanted BB, post your own announcement about what you're seeking. You can access the other bulletin boards and the FAQs via the Site Links (see the nav frame, at the left side of this screen. Please click here if you do not see a Nav Frame at left). Once you have those extra tiles to fill out your set, it's not that hard to make your own stickers. The steps are:
1. Scan or photograph a joker tile, or obtain the digital image you want to sticker the tile(s) with;
Need details? Here ya go...
There are two main ways you can make a digital image of your joker tile -- with either a scanner or a digital camera. The scanner is easier, if you have a scanner. Just put the tile atop the scanner glass and scan it. If you've never used a scanner, this article can't teach you how to do that. If you're already a scanner wiz, the recommended dpi setting is 300 minimum.
If you use the digital camera, the trick is to get the camera close enough without casting the camera's shadow on the tile, or getting a flash reflection, or capturing an image with too much parallax. You'll have to experiment with various angles and lighting, and you'll definitely want to put the camera on a steady surface or a camera tripod. Many digital cameras come with a "macro" setting for extreme closeups. My camera has a macro button marked with a flower icon - since macro lenses are useful for taking closeups of pretty flowers.
Once you've taken a well-lit, contrasty and colorful image of your tile, transfer the file from the camera to your computer. This article can't teach you how to do that.
A couple of resizings will probably be called for. First, the original photo from the scanner or camera is probably too large to view on your computer monitor without being rescaled. Secondly, you need to find out what size (how many pixels high and across) the image should be, to fit on your tile after the image is printed on your printer. Printers differ, and programs differ, so you need to do some experimentation to find out what size your stickers need to be.
One way to find this out is to create an image file with your tile image in it, resized to various sizes.
In your graphic utility's Print Setup, make sure the image will print at actual size (not fit the whole page). When you print your test image, print on regular cheap paper (you don't want to run trial-and-error tests on your expensive label stock). In my case, I found that an image of 70x100 pixels is about right for my standard size tiles.
Once you've zeroed in on the size your stickers need to be, you probably also need to clean up the image. Imperfections can be edited out. You can enhance the contrast, sharpen the image, boost the colors. Print it and hold the tile up next to the print to see how good a match you've got. Then duplicate the image as many times as you need for the number of stickers you plan to make.
Because you're using a whole sheet each time you print, print multiple labels on one sheet whenever possible.
But wait, just plain label stock wears out quickly when applied to an often-used mah-jongg set. You can add adhesive laminate film to the label sheet before cutting. It's on sale at office supply and art supply stores.
Before applying stickers to the tiles, it might be a good idea to cut the corners off to delay the inevitable dog-earing that will result after a lot of play. Rounded corners are best - but a 45 degree corner cut is an acceptable alternative.
Peel the backing from the sticker (don't try to peel the sticker from the backing - you might actually separate the sticker paper down the middle, which ruins the sticker).
A tip: try to make your stickers smaller than the face of the tile. The closer the sticker's edge is to the edge of the tile, the more likely the sticker is to get dog-eared.
Worth a try: instead of laminating the stickers prior to cutting, apply the sticker to the tile with plenty of margin room, then apply lamination over the sticker and getting lamination on the tile (overlapping the edge of the sticker). Requires a smaller sticker, and very careful application of the laminate.
Copyright is a legal principle that says that the creator of an image owns the sole and exclusive right to copy that image. In the case of mah-jongg tiles, the manufacturers of the tiles own the copyright to the images they put on their tiles. Consider the face cards and jokers of card decks - those designs differ slightly from one company to another, and each company owns a copyright on its designs.
But copyright doesn't last forever. A company that went out of business long ago and is no longer enforcing its rights has effectively given its images into the public domain. Specifically, of course, I'm talking about joker images. Old joker images fall into the public domain if the company who created the set goes out of business and doesn't enforce its copyright on the images. Public domain means nobody owns it, and anybody can make copies.
The companies that make mah-jongg tiles today are in China, Taiwan, and Japan. American joker tiles are not made in Japan - they're made in China or Taiwan. And they're made by companies that do not put their names on their products. It's not likely that those companies would initiate a lawsuit against an individual who photocopies one of their joker designs and stickers it on mah-jongg tiles. But why would anybody need to do that anyway, since those companies put enough jokers in the sets they make.
The main issue, of course, is older American sets made before the NMJL settled on the 8F/8J standard (8 flowers and 8 jokers - see Column #311). We'd still like to use those old sets - many of which are quite beautiful with a nice tactile feel - but they need to be stickered in order to be useful. It's become a common practice to scan and sticker the jokers from those older American sets.
Those old jokers have fallen into the public domain, as discussed above. So that means that any person can legally make joker stickers by photocopying a joker tile to fill out the number of jokers needed for her antique set.
But you might run into a problem if you try to auction that set on eBay. There's a certain mah-jongg seller who files complaints with eBay because she (wrongly) believes that she has the exclusive right to photocopy those antique joker tiles. No one person can claim a copyright on a copied public domain image. You can read more about "Ms. X" in Column 386.
But don't get carried away...
Once you discover how fun it is to make stickers, you might start getting the idea of putting your own face on your joker tiles, or even a celebrity image or a cartoon character or something. Your own face is perfectly OK, but once you croak, your heirs will have a hard time selling a set plastered with your ugly puss.
But you absolutely must not make stickers of celebrities or copyrighted cartoon characters. Not even if you don't intend to sell them. Because someday you'll die, and then your heirs will get slapped with a lawsuit if they try to sell that set with Barbara Streisand joker tiles or Homer Simpson joker tiles. Don't do that to your loved ones!
Presidents are OK. But not movie stars, not TV stars, not cartoon characters. Not even Pac-Man. If you want to read more about the legal issues around likenesses, read this. I wrote it for youngsters who want to work in video games, but you might find it enlightening. You might as well click and read it, since you've read this far.
Some tips and answers from the Mah-Jongg Q&A Bulletin Board (in reverse chronological order):
Where do I get stickers?
I recommend whole-sheet label paper. It doesn't have any pre-cut labels. You just print whatever you need on a sheet, then cut them out and sticker them onto your tiles.
Where do I get stickers? (part 2)
Stickers, part 3
Stickers, part 4
Stickers, part 5
Stickers, part 6
Stickers, part 7
How I make stickers
*[Crossed out because that group no longer exists on eBay. Johni now has a group or two on Facebook - Tom, November 2015]
I hope you found this information helpful. I'd love to hear about solutions you've found - please send your comments to Webmaster溌Sloperama中com.
© 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved. May not be reprinted without written permission.
Making stickers:
2. Resize the image;
3. Print on label stock;
4. Apply to the extra tile(s).
Making a digital tile image
You can use any photo to make your jokers. One friend of mine has her own face on her joker tiles. But the remainder of this section #1 assumes you have a joker tile and need to make stickers just like that. If you're using your own face or painting your own joker or something, skip to #2 below.
Resizing and editing the image
The image you made with a scanner or camera is probably very large. It needs to be shrunk down to no more than a couple hundred pixels high. There are a variety of different graphic utilities that can be used to shrink the image. Photoshop is very expensive; I like Corel's PaintShop Pro myself. But Gimp is free! You can download Gimp from gimp.org. Paint (the free paint accessory from Microsoft that comes with Windows) can work in a pinch, but it doesn't have color/sharpness controls.
Tip: when you resize your image down to the final size, don't save it in .JPG format, because that causes loss of detail due to compression. Better to use .TIF, .PNG, or .BMP format instead. Don't use .GIF either, because that causes loss of color.
Printing on label stock
You want whole-sheet label stock, not precut labels. Make sure you buy the right kind of label stock for your printer (inkjet vs. laser). Brand doesn't matter - Avery, Staples, whatever. You can order waterproof vinyl permanent adhesive paper at www.papilio.com. With that paper, you print as if printing on glossy photo paper.
Several years ago, I had to make some replacement tiles for an antique bamboo set. To save label stock, I put those on the same sheet as this Chinese girl "joker" design that I scanned from an old collectible cigarette card.
Applying the sticker
Cut out each sticker carefully. I prefer an X-acto knife with a steel ruler (cutting on a plastic cutting mat) rather than scissors. If you cut with precise pressure, you can cut through the laminate and the sticker without cutting all the way through the backing, but that might be a little too much bother to worry about.
Legal aspects:
As a gift for my mom, I made a set with photos of her grandkids on the joker tiles. That might come back to bite me yet.
Related Links:
>From: "trimeloni.crew
>Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 6:23:27 AM
>Subject: stickers
>Tom, I thank you for your informative web site. You mentioned in several places to use stickers on blank tiles for missing pieces. I've perused most of your site but can't seem to find where to buy stickers for my blank tiles. I have a set with blanks but no red or green dragons. Stickers would be perfect. Can you help?
>Thanks, Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Nobody sells stickers for red & green dragons. There's no profit in it.
Usually when I refer to stickers I'm talking about joker stickers, which are a common need for players of American mah-jongg.
But stickers aren't that hard to make yourself. Go to any office supply store, and you'll find label paper. You put the paper in your computer printer, and you can print any design on it. By using a trial-and-error method (with non-label paper, which is cheaper, throughout the trial-and-error process), you can figure out a way to print the design in the proper size for your tiles.
As for the designs themselves, you have 3 ways you can go:
1. Scan your tiles;
2. Take a digital photo of your tiles;
3. Find tile images on the Internet.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
October 17, 2008
>From: DSWB
>Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 9:59 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>About those dragon stickers: I recently purchased custom dragon stickers from Charli.org and a more traditional design is available from mahjongtiles.com They are both reliable vendors. I really enjoy your site, thanks for all your efforts.
OK, thanks for the info. Didn't know those vendors carried dragon stickers too.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
October 17, 2008
>From: gina smith
>Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:41:18 AM
>Subject: Making stickers
>Hi Tom:
>Some information for making stickers for the artistically imparied - like me!
>There are some good vendors out there for buying stickers but you can make your own.
>You can scan any of your own tiles in a set (flowers, joker tiles, etc) or just use any image you find that is in the public domain. I suggest you scan in at least a 300dpi and then shrink it down for razor sharp images. If you go to www.papilio.com you can purchase waterproof vinyl permanent adhesive paper. Print your design on this paper using the setting for glossy photo (like you are printing for film). Go to Staples or any stationery store and purchase thin sheet laminating paper and carefully place over the printed stickers. Cut out carefully and stick to your tiles. When you first see these stickers, they will seem really thick, but when you take the backing off, they are thin and strong and will go quite nicely on your tiles. These are high quality stickers and will last forever. Inexpensive to make. If you are really creative (I am not, but I intend on playing around this winter during the cold weather to get better), get on Photoshop or Corell and design your own stickers! Fun and easy to do. You can start with a scanned tile or picture and embellish it, or start a design from scratch. Custom made stickers! I would be interested in hearing how you make out with this project. Gina
Thanks, Gina. Maybe I'll make an FAQ.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
October 21, 2008
>From: gina smith
>Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 12:06 PM
>Subject: more on making your own stickers
>Dear Tom:
>There is a group that has been started on Ebay by Johni Levene and Lori Todd, two long time and knowledgeable mah jongg friends of mine. If you go to Community and then Groups, and then type in Mah Jongg, it will take you to that group. I suggest that anyone who is interested in Mah Jongg can join. *[Crossed out because that group no longer exists on eBay. Johni now has a group or two on Facebook - Tom, November 2015] I know most of the people who are in the group and they are quite willing to share their experience. Under the discussion section, there is a myriad of detailed information such as repainting tiles that need touch up, creative uses for orphan tiles, and a step by step section on making your own mah jongg stickers as well as a HUGE question and answer section on copyright law for mah jong sticker production. I think anyone who is interested in mah jongg should come and have a look! Gina
Hi Gina,
I know Johni and Lori (in fact, they asked about mystery flowers recently below), but I was completely unaware of the eBay group. I checked it out and you're right, it is* [was] awesome. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
October 22, 2008
>From: a f (afordz)
>Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:40:57 AM
>Subject: making joker stickers
>My question is...Is it illegal to make joker stickers by copying existing jokers. I should explain further. I just listed an enrobed set on Ebay. I thought I was doing a good thing by color copying the joker tiles in my set and cutting them out. While I was researching my set, I had seen many people make joker stickers for their sets. I did not attach them I just made them to save a buyer some time. Obviously I know very, very little about Mah Jong and I thought I was doing a good thing. I received an email this mourning that stated and I quote,"You are supporting the
>group of hoodlums on ebay with their outrageous and vicious
>attack on a highly respected and admired member of ebay and
>the mah jong community. Those stickers you are displaying are
>illegal and downright ugly".
>I guess you can say it is my fault for not being fully informed and ignorant when it comes to this game. But I am not sure what it is that I did wrong and I am wondering if I should pull my auction or at least take out any pictures that include the stickers. Thanks for your help. Have a great day.
Hello "afordz,"
You wrote:
Is it illegal to make joker stickers by copying existing jokers.
Those enrobed sets were probably made in the 1960s. And the company that made them is no longer in business. If that company was still in business, and was still making joker tiles in the same design, that company would probably have grounds for complaining to you. But in this case, it's very possible that the image of those jokers has fallen into the public domain since the original company is not enforcing its rights. You can read more on the eBay Mahjongg Group.* Scroll down and read the post entitled "Stickers, part 4"
>From: gina smith
>Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 12:06 PM
While I was researching my set, I had seen many people make joker stickers for their sets.
Yes, I was one of those who offered joker stickers on eBay this past week.
I received an email this mourning that stated and I quote,"You are supporting the
>group of hoodlums on ebay
I'm a hoodlum? Cool! That's the first time anybody ever called me that. (^_^)
with their outrageous and vicious
>attack on a highly respected and admired member of ebay and
>the mah jong community.
If not for this joker sticker issue, I wouldn't argue with that self-assessment.
Those stickers you are displaying are
>illegal
She thinks that she has the sole and exclusive right to photocopy that public domain image, and that this gives her a right to act against others who do the same. Fact is, unless she bought the IP ("intellectual property") from the former owners of that company, she doesn't have a legal leg to stand on.
and downright ugly".
She came to be so highly respected and admired by exactly this kind of graciousness. We should all follow her example! [Retroactive sarcasm] [/Retroactive sarcasm] (^_~)
I am wondering if I should pull my auction or at least take out any pictures that include the stickers.
That's a choice you have to make yourself. The "hoodlums" I participated with last week all posted joker sticker sales in a coordinated effort to combat her, but she might file a complaint with eBay and get your auction shut down (that's how she's operated in the past). She didn't complain against our group of auctions, but you know how wolves operate -- they seek out and attack the lone animal that's separate from the herd.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Election Day, 2008
>From: a f (afordz)
>To: Tom Sloper
>Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 1:48:23 PM
>Subject: RE: making joker stickers
>Thanks Tom, You were a big help!!!!
May the tiles be with you, A.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Election Day, 2008
>From: gina smith
>Email: gtsgfs中hotmail.com
>Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 11:00 AM
>Subject: from Gina
>Dear afordz:
>I read your email to Tom with great interest as I am one of the "hoodlums" who sold a set on ebay this past week with joker stickers made from a scanned tile from a 1940's set that has been in the public domain.
>
>You have every legal, moral and ethical right to use scanned tiles that are in the public domain in the making of your own stickers. Period. As a matter of fact, you can make your own joker stickers with your own designs as many of us are starting to do.
>
>Please join the mah jongg group in Community on ebay.* It has all the complicated legal information put in a form that is quite easy for us laypeople to understand regarding copyright, first sale doctrine and the use of public domain information. I think you will find that there is an individual who has been misusing or misinterpreting information in order to misdirect and intimidate individuals on ebay and elsewhere. This individual has been using the VeRo program to incorrectly stop auctions. Please be assured that auctions have been relisted with no negative repercussions. If you wish to discuss this further, please feel free to do so by contacting the leaders of the mah jongg group on Ebay or email me privately. You have my email address.
>Gina Smith
>From: Allan W
>Sent: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 5:33 PM
>Subject: Cleaning/Restoring Tip
>Here's my tip: I recently purchased a bone/bamboo set with one missing 9 circle of a design most rare. I took the three remaining 9 circle tiles to Staples and made a photocopy in color on a plastic sheet. Using an Exacto knife and straight edge, I cut out the plastic picture of one tile and glued it to a blank tile using Mod Podge. After the glue thoroughly dried, I buffed the edges with an emery board. Visually, the four tiles are identical. The only difference is the lack of carving when handled.
Great tip, Allan. I'm adding this to the FAQ about stickers (FAQ 7T).
Happy Year of the Monkey!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
Creator of
the Sloper On Mah-Jongg column and
the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
January 7, 2016