📖 The Story of Papercuts

My name is Joel Eckert, 3D artist and founder of Big Little Pictures – a studio focused on high-impact 3D animation, design, and visual storytelling. For over 25 years, I’ve helped bring clarity to complex ideas through product advertising, technical animation, and visual storytelling.

As an artist and a visual, technical learner, I’ve always had a knack for connecting ideas in unexpected ways. So when I got into day trading, I assumed my analytical mindset would give me an edge. But being overly technical can backfire and you can fall into analysis paralysis, overthink every move, and miss the bigger picture. Like many beginners, I struggled to find my footing in a market that often seems completely irrational.

Trading is like stepping into a black belt competition while you’re still a white belt. You might show up with big hopes, expectations, maybe even a strategy, but what you’re really up against is EXPERIENCE. The market is filled with seasoned pros who’ve earned their edge through time, losses, and discipline. If you don’t respect that, you’re bound to get kicked around. To stand a chance, you’ve got to slow down, learn the fundamentals, and earn your stripes—one trade at a time.

The name Papercuts reflects the small, stinging losses that ALL TRADERS MUST FACE—seemingly minor at first, but dangerous when they start to stack up. You can get cut up, or you can keep going—refining, adjusting, learning—until something finally clicks. The challenge for beginners is that you don’t yet know your own style or risk tolerance, so finding what works takes time, patience, and a whole lot of trial and error.

I explored countless tools, services, strategies, and indicators—often finding great ideas buried under clunky presentation. Most resources felt overwhelming, especially for someone with an already demanding job. Despite the frustration, I went deep—really deep—learning how things work, and was building my own custom market analysis tools just to make sense of it all. Over the years I’ve written hundreds of scripts for TradeStation and TradingView, gradually nudging my market and coding knowledge forward one day at a time.

Technical Trading is a seriously deep rabbit hole… but I actually enjoy the challenge.

Like many, things got more complicated before they got clearer. But eventually, I found a method that worked for me—something still intricate under the hood, but simplified on the surface. This was just like the work I do for my clients. That’s when I started to leverage my design sensibility with what I’d learned from the markets. Papercuts was born from the desire to make day trading more approachable—and even a little fun.

Papercuts Trading Indicator Applied to Stock Ticker Image

The card game, custom indicators, and market simulator that you’ll find on this site were all independently created with care and passion. Your support means everything. Every purchase helps sustain my small business and supports other aspiring traders on their journey.

Papercuts Trading tools and games mirror the spirit of Big Little Pictures: creating thoughtful, useful things that bridge the gap between complexity and clarity. Whether you’re new to trading or a seasoned pro, I hope this project adds value, inspires learning, and sparks a few memorable conversations along the way.

Still have questions? Check out the FAQ Tab for more details.

Special thanks to my trading friends, mentors and teachers. MattLarson, John Ehlers, Ross Cameron, Mike Herman, WarriorTrading, Shae at HumbledTrader, FusionEliteTrading, TechnicalAnalysisOfStocksAndCommodities, PineCoders , bjorgum, StratifyTrade, LonesomeTheBlue, ALifeToMake, schroederjoa

Curious about my other work? Visit Big Little Pictures to explore the visual side of what I do.

Thank You for Your Support!

📦Refunds & Returns Policy

All sales of digital products and software are final. Due to the nature of digital content, we do not offer refunds or accept returns for any software or indicator purchases.

Card game purchases are also non-refundable. However, if your item arrives damaged, we will gladly send a replacement. Just contact us with photographic proof of the damage within 3 days of delivery.

Please note, I’m not a large company… literally just one person running a small, creative business. I genuinely appreciate your understanding as I aim to keep things simple, sustainable, and remain focused on creating.

Your understanding and support of our small business are appreciated.

📜Legal Policy

Disclaimer: This product is designed for educational and entertainment purposes only. The concepts, strategies, and terminology presented in this game do not constitute financial or investment advice. Day trading involves significant risk, and the majority of traders may experience financial losses. Neither the creators of this game nor its distributors make any guarantees regarding trading success, profitability, or financial outcomes. You should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions. By using this product, you acknowledge and agree that the creators, manufacturers, and distributors are not liable for any financial losses, trading decisions, or other consequences resulting from the use of this material. This game is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any financial institution, regulatory body, or trading platform.

⁉️Frequently Asked Questions

🃏Can I play the Papercuts Card Game without any prior trading knowledge?

Helps people know it’s friendly even for beginners! Frankly the card game is quite simple and playable if you aren’t interested in the trading concepts.

👨‍👩‍👧What is the appropriate age range for the 3-in-1 card set?

There is nothing inappropriate in the cards, but some of the trading concepts may be challenging for younger players. For that reason, we recommend the set for ages 12 and up.

That said, the gameplay itself is simple and approachable. Even players with no trading knowledge can jump in and enjoy a quick round that relies largely on decision-making and chance. In fact, we’ve played it with groups as young as 10 years old, and they had a blast.

Most players will likely fall between 20 and 50, similar to the typical age range of people exploring investing and trading concepts.

🛒How can I place an order?

Simply browse our website, select the items you’d like, and proceed to checkout. Follow the prompts to enter your shipping and payment information, and your order will be processed securely.
Please note: Our products are currently available exclusively through this website. So pop on over to the shop page If you see them listed elsewhere, they may not be genuine Papercuts Trading products or could be used.

📦Interested in Bulk?

If you are interested in bulk for education or for stock within your own store, I’d love that – please reach out below.

💳What payment methods do you accept?

We accept various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal. At checkout, you will have the option to choose your preferred payment method.

🔒 Is my payment information secure?

All transactions are securely processed through Stripe/PayPal (depending on what you use). Your payment details are never stored on our servers.

📦How long does shipping take?

Shipping times vary depending on your location. Typically, orders are processed within 1-2 business days, and delivery can take anywhere from 3-10 business days. You will receive a tracking number once your order has been shipped.

🌍Do you offer international shipping?

Yes, we offer international shipping to selected countries. During the checkout process, you will be able to see if your country is eligible for shipping. Please note that additional customs fees or taxes may apply upon delivery, which are the responsibility of the recipient.

🪃What is your refund and return policy?

All sales are considered final and non-refundable. Since we are a small independent business, we are unable to accept general returns or offer refunds like large retailers. However, if your order arrives damaged during shipping, please contact us with proof of damage within 2 days of delivery, and we’ll gladly arrange a replacement.

🔎Can I track my order?

Yes, once your order has been shipped, you will receive a tracking number via email. You can use this tracking number to track the progress of your shipment on our website or the couriers website.

📈 Is the trading simulator realistic?

The simulator is designed for educational and entertainment purposes. It simulates trading dynamics in a simplified way and is not a substitute for real trading experience. It simply uses random walk math to create movements that appear similar to how certain assets on the market can feel.

💰Are these indicators going to make me money?

Not without discipline and experience, which no tool can provide. I believe more than 50% of trading is psychological, and everyone has different tolerances. You will have to accept losses sometimes and cut them before they start to compromise your wins. Indicators are only ever meant to help inform a decisions that you still have to make on your own.

🙌Can the Algo Trading Signals be used hands-free?

Not yet, but I am still refining that for the future. Currently, the alerts and signals are designed for active traders who prefer to manage their own trades manually. Alerts are available for various signals, and you can use them however you wish—TradingView offers many ways to trigger actions based on alerts. However, full hands-free automated trading is not currently supported.

🚀How do indicators updates work?

All indicator purchases include free updates for one year from the date of purchase. Any improvements, refinements, or added features released during that time will be made available to you at no additional cost.

🛠️Can I get the source code for an indicator?

Paid indicators are source-protected, as they represent years of development and refinement. If you’re also a programmer and looking for a strong, battle-tested foundation to build from, I’m open to discussing full source licensing for serious inquiries. Feel free to reach out — if it’s the right fit, we can work something out. Source code licenses are limited and individually priced.

📜Are the indicators or simulator intended as financial advice?

No. All tools and products are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Still have questions? Try contacting me!

🤝 Have a Question or Idea? 📝

Got an new indicator, game card or simulator idea?

Have general questions or improvements to suggest?

Just want to say hello?

Send me a message!

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