The Mystic Palette Full Color - C. Marchetti - digital tarot with Rider-Waite structure
Digital tarot sometimes meets resistance. Too slick, too polished, too manufactured. Ciro Marchetti does not solve that by hiding his style. He uses it fully: light effects, shadows, compositions you cannot achieve with ink and brush.
The Mystic Palette Full Color consists of 78 cards with recognisable Rider-Waite symbolism. The Major Arcana follow the classic sequence, the Minor Arcana are fully illustrated. Marchetti adds futuristic elements: mechanical details, architecture that floats between dream and dystopia, backgrounds where light falls in ways that are only possible digitally.
What you see on the cards
The colours are saturated. Not pastel, not restrained. Each card has a dominant tone that sets the mood immediately: deep red for passion and conflict, cool blue for reflection, gold for abundance.
Details pile up without becoming cluttered. In the Swords you see mechanical parts, in the Wands flames that feel almost tactile. The figures often stand central, with faces that look at you or turn away.
The cards are printed on 330g cardstock with a glossy finish. That intensifies the colours, but also makes the cards smooth. They feel sturdy, shuffle easily, and reflect light. Some people like that, others prefer matte.
How this deck relates to classic tarot
The structure is Rider-Waite. If you know that symbolism, you recognise the basic principles immediately. The Magician has his tools, the Hanged Man hangs, the Tower collapses.
What Marchetti adds is a layer of visual complexity. Backgrounds tell their own story. Light sources guide your eye. Small symbols repeat throughout the deck. That gives extra entry points in a reading, but also asks you to take time to look.
Look first at the dominant colour of a card before diving into the details. That colour often gives the emotional tone of the situation.
Who this deck works for
This deck is designed for daily use. The cardstock holds up well to intensive shuffling, the box with magnetic closure protects the cards. The format is standard (76 x 127 mm), so familiar in the hand.
Beginners can work with it thanks to the Rider-Waite foundation. The symbolism is recognisable enough to use a standard tarot guidebook. At the same time the visual depth offers enough for advanced readers who like discovering new layers.
There is a digital companion book available in which Marchetti explains his creative process and goes deeper into the meanings. That book is not required, but it is a supplement if you want to know more about his choices.
About Ciro Marchetti
Ciro Marchetti is a British artist with Cuban roots. He works entirely digitally and has several bestselling tarot decks to his name, including the Gilded Tarot and Tarot of Dreams.
His style is recognisable: rich in detail, strong in use of light, and based on classic tarot symbolism with a contemporary translation. He combines technical precision with a feeling for esoteric traditions.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
- Card size: 76 x 127 mm
- Cardstock weight: 330g
- Finish: Glossy
- Packaging: Luxury storage box with magnetic closure
- Language: English
- Publisher: Self-published by Ciro Marchetti
- Artist: Ciro Marchetti
Questions we often get
Is there a printed guidebook with this deck?
No. There is however a comprehensive digital companion book available in which Marchetti explains the cards and his working method.
How does this Full Color Edition differ from other Marchetti decks?
This deck uses saturated colours and digital light effects to the full. It is visually more complex than his earlier Gilded Tarot, with more layering in the backgrounds and compositions.
