"The Kartis Visible Bill Change" by Kartis
Suggested Retail USD$30.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

"The Kartis Visible Bill Change", a brand new effect by Kartis, is a work of a mad genius, a powerful, visual bill change that borders on pure magic and is so strong it may be the best bill change you never do.

Yes, it's a contradiction. But ultimately, it's true.

Let me say this again: "The Kartis Visible Bill Change" is the most powerful bill change I've seen to date. Because of it's sheer appearance, it's a powerhouse. Having tried it on a few folks, I can say this one staggers them and - using a phrase I rarely employ - looks like magic.

For all of about three seconds. Then you got troubles.

"The Kartis Visible Bill Change" looks so good it almost forces folks to cry out "Lemme see it!" I've seldom seen heat this strong before, which is surely a testament to the effect. The dispersal of that heat ends up being your biggest problem.

And I do mean "your".

You'll find no help on the disc, so you'll need to approach this with an idea of a switch or a routine of some sort that will either re-direct the heat or dispel it. Doing that easily is going to depend a great deal on your ability and experience. But if you manage it, man, you've got a hit on your hands with this one.

Just some random things to think about, now that we've discussed the biggest problem:

There is not set-up or reset. You're always ready to go with this one. It truly does pack small - as small as a US dollar bill folded into quarters along its length. And it plays big, but… well, we talked about that, didn't we?

The gimmick supplied is a sheet of white paper the size of a US bill turning into a US $1 bill. I would imagine it can be done with other currencies, but there are no instructions for doing such; you're stuck with reverse engineering the one you're supplied with. This can be done, I believe, and done fairly easily, but I'll admit I didn't try it, being happy with the gimmick I received.

The handling is unnatural at points; you'll need to work through these. I found them to be a bit of a chore, but nothing too awful or painful.

The documentation really needs help; there's a lot missing here. It would be nice to see the get-ready Kartis uses, as well as how he defeats that terrible heat. For myself, I'd like to have seen some of the history of this one. And definitely there should be a section on how to rebuild the gimmick.

Still, for all of that… the visuals and the technology are marvelous. At $30, it's a bit pricey to be a "do it for yourself" kinda thing, but initially that's what it is. If you want it to be more, you're going to have to throw a lot of elbow grease into this one. The plus side of that being you'll have one wicked piece of magic when you're done.

Recommended with reservations for those that like to tinker.

"The Kartis Visible Bill Change" by Kartis
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

Practicality: 3
This is probably the prettiest piece of magic you'll never do. Mechanically, the angles are a bit of a problem - head-on is highly recommended - but everything else is great (no set-up, no reset, packs small, etc. The killer here: getting rid of all the heat on the bill. And let me tell you: it's tough!

Workmanship:10
This is just plain slick. The thing is incredibly well put together, but the mechanics! Oh, man, the mechanics are brilliant! This is one I do all by my lonesome just to watch it happen.

Documentation: 3
The documentation is sparse, given that Kartis is not an English-speaker, but is enough to get you through using this gimmick. I would have loved to hear more about how it came to be, though, as well as step-by-step instructions for building/fixing it when it breaks as well as some tried-and-true methods for dispersing the heat.

Effect: 10
This literally makes people bug their eyes and blink a few times; it looks just plain impossible. The effect is so strong it stops peoples' trains of though mid-track. But…

Presentation: 3
… That strong effect is short-lived as spectators almost immediately demand to see the bill. Which they can't. Ever. There are ways around it, but none described on the disc. Work out a good one and you've got a reputation-maker here.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.