Why are we getting no exciting photos?

[ljandkg]

For the love of cards, and I hope the breaker of these Noir cases doesn't mind me doing this, look at the state of these photos.

http://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1143410

What is going on here? Why are we get stock standard 'dude holding ball' photos for damn near EVERYTHING? 114 images on that thread. I think 112 are 'dude holding ball.' KAT is getting a rebound in one and Mutombo's in a suit in another.

I don't even care if there's photos of a guy in a suit like there is for that Mutombo card, at least its something different.

At least SOME variation is better than none.

Does anyone have any clue why Panini do this? I presume they have to purchase photos in some way. Are these god awful photos cheaper than one of a guy dunking?
When KG dunked on Blake Griffin a year or 2 back I prayed it'd make a card like all the iconic dunks used to back in the day, but it never did and there were some superb images of the dunk...

If anyone has any knowledge on this I'm all ears. I'm sick of the lack of variety.

[ccunanan40]

Yes, I would like to know how Panini works with their photo selection.

Panini has used the same Shaq photo over and over again on multiple cards. It's really irritating.

[chris_ac]

With the grayscale background, dude holding ball was the best way to capture a player completely masked onto the background without needing the action around him. Masked being a photoshop term. Dunking motion is a tough overlay with the players around you trying to jump in contact or attempting to swat.

[sportzking]

Because its easier. All thats really needed is copy and paste the image onto a black background. Plus it saves money on color printing.

[daxwills]

Once upon a time people busted boxes to get the cards and build sets. So making your set visually appealing was a priority. Even when inserts took over, set design was considered a priority. Now that "hits" are the priority, as long as they draw the appeal, job done. But look at the sets designed to be collected, topps baseball, upper deck hockey, you still get great photography and action shots. Thats my best guess.

[Goldminer]

Panini is trash.. please bring back Topps & UD. Please..
There best product is Optic and they stole that from Topps Chrome 🤣
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[ljandkg]

With the grayscale background, dude holding ball was the best way to capture a player completely masked onto the background without needing the action around him. Masked being a photoshop term. Dunking motion is a tough overlay with the players around you trying to jump in contact or attempting to swat.

You're right to a degree with this Noir look, but there's not ANY variation, like not even a jump shot pic in there.

There are sets with more effort with the pics, but the majority have no variation.

I'd like to know the thinking from Panini is across all their products with this. Surely there's still a place for a great photo on a card.

[mindcycle]

I agree 100%. Nowadays we get this for RC's...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/36164880775_3b7ac3895b_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/36054186701_5fd0c7bc01_z.jpg


Why can't we go back to stuff like this..?

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4288/35661223462_5a99818f52_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/36272993351_e285cee702_z.jpg


I believe part of the problem (prizm as a prime example) is that a lot of stuff is released too early in the season before decent in game action shots are available so they just use boring rookie shoot photos. They also seem to continue to use those photos. If they would just hold back a little bit and grab mostly in game shots it would be perfect, like they did with some of the rookies from 12-13 prizm who were actually drafted in the 11-12 season. I want to see this kind of stuff come back to prizm..

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35880961612_7aa21773fb_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/35210003554_ea74b52e8c_z.jpg

[ljandkg]

True, mind cycle, but there's no excuse for this late for any old player.

[Giantrobot]

Once upon a time people busted boxes to get the cards and build sets. So making your set visually appealing was a priority. Even when inserts took over, set design was considered a priority. Now that "hits" are the priority, as long as they draw the appeal, job done. But look at the sets designed to be collected, topps baseball, upper deck hockey, you still get great photography and action shots. Thats my best guess.

I agree this is probably a part of the problem. Hoops usually has excellent action photos, which is another reason I look forward to it each year. There aren't many other basketball sets that do, though, and I wish that would change this year.

[mfw13]

Once upon a time people busted boxes to get the cards and build sets. So making your set visually appealing was a priority. Even when inserts took over, set design was considered a priority. Now that "hits" are the priority, as long as they draw the appeal, job done. But look at the sets designed to be collected, topps baseball, upper deck hockey, you still get great photography and action shots. Thats my best guess.

This.

A majority of collectors (in all sports, not just basketball) couldn't give a hoot about base cards. So the manufacturers spend as little money as possible on photography.

[mindcycle]

True, mind cycle, but there's no excuse for this late for any old player.


Yeah I definitely agree. With older players there's little to no reason to use "dude dribbling" photos. I'm also pretty over the the whole patch/auto thing myself. After you have one decent patch/auto with a dribbling or headshot pic of a particular player, they all start basically looking the same. It's gotten quite boring TBH. I've mostly gone back to collecting nice looking lower end type cards myself instead of these "high end" thick cards with junk photos.

[MyckKabongo]

I feel you, OP. I've complained about this for years. Even in hoops they only have 4-5 types of photos for the base. Take a look at the upper deck master set that was posted and compare the photo variety to any panini base set. It's not even close. They save all good photos for inserts and the base is usually intentionally boring.

MY favorite topps product is stadium club and I've suggested numerous times that panini do something similar for basketball but still hasn't happened.

[JayConley]

They clearly have the great pics too. Just look at the Spotlight Signatures set from that very break you linked, OP. It's kind of weird, but I suspect they have some kind of research/evidence suggesting the Photo Shoot type rookie card is best? Idk, can't think of any other reason. I'm on your side though.

[ninjacookies]

Because its easier. All thats really needed is copy and paste the image onto a black background. Plus it saves money on color printing.

This. It's all about time saving and laziness. Graphic designers don't have to spend hours cropping new images and tweaking color levels. Simply cut and paste the same existing images onto new designs.

[ReggieEvansPC]

Panini uses action photos in low-end products (Hoops, Threads, etc) and those products even have entire sets dedicated to action photography (ie. Courtside, Bird's Eye View, High Flyers).

[dwest13cavs]

It is all about when products are made. There are products that the non action shots are part of the theme, but most of the complaints about rookies will also be related to when panini chooses to use photos from. They hold this rookie premiere and it costs them money so they probably don't want to pay more money for the rookie in action game photos.

the 12/13 cards you see in basketball are exceptions due to the 11/12 draft class rookie cards appearing in 12/13 since they didn't have any live cards in 2011/12 products.

[ljandkg]

It is all about when products are made. There are products that the non action shots are part of the theme, but most of the complaints about rookies will also be related to when panini chooses to use photos from. They hold this rookie premiere and it costs them money so they probably don't want to pay more money for the rookie in action game photos.

the 12/13 cards you see in basketball are exceptions due to the 11/12 draft class rookie cards appearing in 12/13 since they didn't have any live cards in 2011/12 products.

That's all well and good for rookies. But last time I checked there are more ridiculous athletes than ever before, yet, they're all still standing there like Chris Dudley holding the rock.....

[Andy5]

Why should they try and change it up when they have no reason to? Products are still selling and it's not like another company can do any better. We're stuck with it unless they decide to actually pull their fingers out and do some work.

[jjohnson814]

This is one of the main thing that frustrates me about Panini cards. I mean you don't see anything like this anymore....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/34915500912_5394b8fdc6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vcn4Z3)

[Andy5]

This is one of the main thing that frustrates me about Panini cards. I mean you don't see anything like this anymore....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/34915500912_5394b8fdc6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vcn4Z3)

Apart from the rookies, that's one of my favourite sets in terms of photography. Just do a search on comc and check out the awesome pics used.

But see my post above for why we won't be seeing the same anytime soon.

[AbraCalabro]

Why should they try and change it up when they have no reason to? Products are still selling and it's not like another company can do any better. We're stuck with it unless they decide to actually pull their fingers out and do some work.

Nailed it right here. Panini has the monopoly and there is no other company to oppose them for quality products, plain and simple. As much as I want to throw the blame on Panini themselves, because they CERTAINLY have the ability to make their products more diverse, use more unique design in their various products, create more appealing visuals for their cards, etc., they have no desire to use that ability. All they want to do is whore out autographs and release cards with cloth inserts through products with cliché...and at this point contrived "regal" names / rarity, Eminence, Flawless, Immaculate, Impeccable, etc. I'm not a pro designer by any means and even I can come up with better, more appealing designs and set ideas. Not to mention some of the photoshop PROS we have on here that can work magic who can make better stuff. Meanwhile we have Hackler with his lips glued to Panini's rear end talking about how COOL and EXCITING their newest releases are...right. Then again, they're paying him to keep those lips puckered up, so can't really fault him. Anyway, Panini's positives are drowned out by their plentiful ineptitude. I wonder who the graphic designer working for Panini is, because he must have the easiest job in the world.

So, who is really to blame? The NBA. I remember reading some NBA licensing rep being quoted about caring about their fans and that the fans wanted to collect cool cards from a single brand, or something along those lines and I never wanted to deliver a Mortal Kombat style uppercut to someone through a computer screen so bad before in my life. Then again, speaking of contrived, the NBA is one of the biggest pretenders ever, even among other big corporate entities that only care about money the NBA stands out as greedy.

"NBA cares."

HAH!!!

"NBA cares...about money only."

That's more like it.

[AbraCalabro]

This is one of the main thing that frustrates me about Panini cards. I mean you don't see anything like this anymore....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/34915500912_5394b8fdc6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vcn4Z3)

Stop taking sick scans of sick cards and making me want!!! :mad:;)

[Giantrobot]

This is one of the main thing that frustrates me about Panini cards. I mean you don't see anything like this anymore....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/34915500912_5394b8fdc6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vcn4Z3)

You don't? Maybe take a look at a Hoops set occassionally-

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo169/soulstealer_photo/image_zpslll8moil.jpg (http://s372.photobucket.com/user/soulstealer_photo/media/image_zpslll8moil.jpg.html)

[LovelyLlamas]

I honestly have not collected a set since 2009-10 Topps. It's a shame because I love putting together base sets. I've liked the design of Prizm (2012-13/2014-15) and Select 2012-13, but there's very little with the designs that inspires me to chase these sets. Sets like 1993-94 Fleer and 1995-96 Upper Deck have such simple designs but they catch my eye something crazy. Look at 1994-95 SP? Such a basic premise but a set that's nice to look at and fun to put together.

I understand that one shouldn't be too caught up in nostalgia, but it's hard when the options are so limited. Panini Complete should be a fun set to build but the cards are paper thin and the design is so bland. And don't even get me started on card backs. Many of them have a team logo and that's it! I understand that information is more readily available in this age, but in the 90's when I started to collect, I learned so much from card backs and stats. I used to think that 1991-92 Fleer had gaudy backs until these Panini releases and now I yearn for a set like that. How can I get pumped for a new Hoops set when the card backs are the standard black and white nonsense. And why do they list averages for some stats and totals for others??

Sorting out a set is a form of therapy for me and it's something I just don't get from these Panini products

[frisbeesteve]

I honestly have not collected a set since 2009-10 Topps. It's a shame because I love putting together base sets. I've liked the design of Prizm (2012-13/2014-15) and Select 2012-13, but there's very little with the designs that inspires me to chase these sets. Sets like 1993-94 Fleer and 1995-96 Upper Deck have such simple designs but they catch my eye something crazy. Look at 1994-95 SP? Such a basic premise but a set that's nice to look at and fun to put together.

I understand that one shouldn't be too caught up in nostalgia, but it's hard when the options are so limited. Panini Complete should be a fun set to build but the cards are paper thin and the design is so bland. And don't even get me started on card backs. Many of them have a team logo and that's it! I understand that information is more readily available in this age, but in the 90's when I started to collect, I learned so much from card backs and stats. I used to think that 1991-92 Fleer had gaudy backs until these Panini releases and now I yearn for a set like that. How can I get pumped for a new Hoops set when the card backs are the standard black and white nonsense. And why do they list averages for some stats and totals for others??

Sorting out a set is a form of therapy for me and it's something I just don't get from these Panini products

So many great points in this post! I actually got into collecting in 1993-94 by trying to learn about the current NBA players - what they looked like, who they played for, and what they had accomplished either recently or throughout their careers thus far. I bought a complete set of 1993-94 Hoops off of a friend to begin my education, then he offered me a set of Skybox as well and I was HOOKED! The differences between those two sets (matte Hoops versus glossy Skybox, etc.) got me interested in more than just the players. Then there were the card backs. Some were more informative and/or interesting than others, but generally all of them were cool in some way or other and at least somewhat informative if not interesting. Who else in here LOVED reading all of the backs of 1992-93 Skybox to get interesting and sometimes unusual facts and pictures of the player in question???

I too hate it when statistics are not consistent - either show me averages or totals, not some random and incomplete assortment of both!

As I got more and more into wax-busting and collecting, I loved building and assembling sets! The OCD in me hated leaving my most recently busted wax in an unsorted and disorganized manner. Sorting and then setbuilding was important. I often wanted to build at least one base set for myself, and then depending upon how much wax I would open, I would try to assemble more if I could. Ahhh, the good old days. I still love collecting, but my days of opening wax are done, I'm (almost) strictly a secondary market person now.

[8collector34]

I am really bothered by this too. If you look at Topps, UD, Fleer Kobe and Shaq cards 80% of the time it is an acrobatic move. The very reason we like basketball more than other sports isnt it? I think Panini is used to making soccer cards, where most of the players are really just standing around. Also, Panini used to make stickers, not cards. Stickers have only one side you know. That's why they leave the backs empty.

[mindcycle]

Man.. I just looked though all my "high end" Nuggets stuff again and it's all just dude's holding or dribbling a ball.. ugh.. Sometimes they're shooting though!!

It's actually quite depressing to think of what I have invested in these cards. We truly are in the "all about the hits" era of card collecting. As long as there's a "sick" patch with an auto that's apparently all we need to keep buying. Thing is, nice patches aren't rare anymore and neither are autos, yet the prices for that stuff keeps going up and up. I'm glad I at least stepped back from busting/buying into GB's a bit recently and sold a lot of my other PC stuff to focus more on non-auto, non-patch, non-thick as sh*t cards, and instead pick up more basic cards that just mainly look nice. I think those kinds of cards will be much more enjoyable to look through for me and my kids in the future.

[mindcycle]

Here's a pretty good example of unexciting photos IMO. I spent a long time putting together both the gold and mojo Nuggets team sets from this last season's Prizm release. Here's what they all look like together..

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/258/32172693081_5c444ed837_c.jpg

[ljandkg]

Man.. I just looked though all my "high end" Nuggets stuff again and it's all just dude's holding or dribbling a ball.. ugh.. Sometimes they're shooting though!!

It's actually quite depressing to think of what I have invested in these cards. We truly are in the "all about the hits" era of card collecting. As long as there's a "sick" patch with an auto that's apparently all we need to keep buying. Thing is, nice patches aren't rare anymore and neither are autos, yet the prices for that stuff keeps going up and up. I'm glad I at least stepped back and sold a lot of my other PC stuff to focus more on basic non-auto, non-patch, non-thick as sh*t cards that just mainly look nice. I think those kinds of cards will be much more enjoyable to look through for me and my kids in the future.

Great post. Photos of guys actually doing something other than holding a ball are now considered super exciting! Hence the Noir spotlight popularity.

I actually remember when I collected LJ back in the 90's being bored if the photo was just of him shooting, cards were that diverse back then.
Now if I see a new card of KG shooting rather than just standing there I damn near pass out with arousal.

[MyckKabongo]

Here's a pretty good example of unexciting photos IMO. I spent a long time putting together both the gold and mojo Nuggets team sets from this last season's Prizm release. Here's what they all look like together..

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/258/32172693081_5c444ed837_c.jpg
For comparison...

Also, Hoops isn't really better as far as BASE goes.
https://s29.postimg.org/wt1wd1o53/image.jpg

[jjohnson814]

You don't? Maybe take a look at a Hoops set occassionally-

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo169/soulstealer_photo/image_zpslll8moil.jpg (http://s372.photobucket.com/user/soulstealer_photo/media/image_zpslll8moil.jpg.html)That's one of the few examples out there today from panini and that card doesn't even come close to the visual appeal of the chrome. Post after post of guys standing there holding the ball.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[ReggieEvansPC]

That's one of the few examples out there today from panini and that card doesn't even come close to the visual appeal of the chrome. Post after post of guys standing there holding the ball.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Lights-Camera-Action/18/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=d4d06d66-e1e7-4e38-ab10-49999db65719&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Action-Shots/5/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=0616e5fe-4c2c-4adc-894c-1b5dd4ba3604&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-Prizm---Base---Purple-Prizm/385/All-NBA-Team---Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=4bcb3fb1-71f2-4519-9b1f-60520e14177c&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2014-15/NBA-Hoops-All-Star---Base/3/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=50734512-19dd-452a-83e0-211d039393ad&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Birds-Eye-View---Holo-Green/22/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=8373559b-ff03-4048-b639-7bd953f7357f&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2016-17/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Birds-Eye-View/6/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=1dda9a50-9ece-4e6c-8be1-bfd16f7b03b8&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2016-17/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Courtside/18/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=6e4d7ef4-00fe-4f91-9957-073f7d87c458&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2013-14/NBA-Hoops---Courtside/4/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=e716b907-48fa-4369-a1da-c1685a161c20&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2013-14/NBA-Hoops---Base---Gold/44/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=2b2fc593-e63f-4979-b7d7-eb1ad9ae64f3&size=zoom

[Giantrobot]

That's one of the few examples out there today from panini and that card doesn't even come close to the visual appeal of the chrome. Post after post of guys standing there holding the ball.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Are you kidding me? We are talking about PHOTOS. That photo is almost the exact same move he's doing in the Chrome. There are tons of other examples just from that year's Hoops I could post if I could be bothered. There are just as many boring standing-there photos in those old Topps sets, too. They weren't perfect. Panini could certainly do better overall, but I get tired of all the whiny negative posts from people who act like they never do anything right.

[Giantrobot]

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Lights-Camera-Action/18/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=d4d06d66-e1e7-4e38-ab10-49999db65719&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Action-Shots/5/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=0616e5fe-4c2c-4adc-894c-1b5dd4ba3604&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-Prizm---Base---Purple-Prizm/385/All-NBA-Team---Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=4bcb3fb1-71f2-4519-9b1f-60520e14177c&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2014-15/NBA-Hoops-All-Star---Base/3/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=50734512-19dd-452a-83e0-211d039393ad&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2015-16/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Birds-Eye-View---Holo-Green/22/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=8373559b-ff03-4048-b639-7bd953f7357f&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2016-17/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Birds-Eye-View/6/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=1dda9a50-9ece-4e6c-8be1-bfd16f7b03b8&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2016-17/Panini-NBA-Hoops---Courtside/18/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=6e4d7ef4-00fe-4f91-9957-073f7d87c458&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2013-14/NBA-Hoops---Courtside/4/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=e716b907-48fa-4369-a1da-c1685a161c20&size=zoom

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2013-14/NBA-Hoops---Base---Gold/44/Blake-Griffin.jpg?id=2b2fc593-e63f-4979-b7d7-eb1ad9ae64f3&size=zoom


Boom....there you go..... THANK YOU :)!

[mindcycle]

Are you kidding me? We are talking about PHOTOS. That photo is almost the exact same move he's doing in the Chrome. There are tons of other examples just from that year's Hoops I could post if I could be bothered. There are just as many boring standing-there photos in those old Topps sets, too. They weren't perfect. Panini could certainly do better overall, but I get tired of all the whiny negative posts from people who act like they never do anything right.

It is hit or miss for sure. There are some killer photos used for 15-16 Prizm. 16-17 sort of missed the mark as did 14-15, but 12-13 was pretty good as well. I only really collect prizm so that's most of what I have to compare to. And yes, there were some pretty boring Topps photos as well, lol. I just wish they would put a little more work into the photos used on the cards that are considered high end, like NT, Immaculate, Flawless etc.. I mean maybe it's easier to crop out dudes standing around, but at least they could have more dunk photos and stuff like that. It doesn't seem like that kind of stuff would really be that much harder than cropping a dribble photo.

[jjohnson814]

So is NBA Hoops the only set with action photos? I think the point is that the high end/popular set cards have boring photos while high end cards used to have more variety.

[Giantrobot]

OP didn't specify high or low-end, but that is the stuff that could use a little more attention.

[jj2]

So is NBA Hoops the only set with action photos? I think the point is that the high end/popular set cards have boring photos while high end cards used to have more variety.

Are we really going to pretend that stuff like Equisite didn't have its fair share of head/upper torso/dribbling pictures?

This is definitely an area Panini needs to work on, but let's not pretend that all the old high-end sets were always loaded with crazy photography.

[jjohnson814]

It's interesting that a lot of those hoops sets are named after the fact that their photos are action shots....as if it's some bonus that these cards have basketball players doing interesting basketball things. It should be the norm.

I'm not saying older cards were loaded with amazing photography. I said there was more of it. That's not really up for debate. If you just search cards on ebay from pre-panini the majority of cards have interesting action shots and if you search Panini it's mostly guys posing or holding the ball.

Topps and UD were never perfect but given that Panini is our only option I think we have the right to ask for higher quality.

[mindcycle]

It's interesting that a lot of those hoops sets are named after the fact that their photos are action shots....as if it's some bonus that these cards have basketball players doing interesting basketball things. It should be the norm.


This is true. "Most" of the nice photos of Griffin are inserts, not base. If you look back at the post with 90's upper deck base cards, there are a few guys standing around sure, but more of those cards have an appealing/exciting to look to them.

Maybe the issue is that simply too many products are released each year and they run out of photos they can use..? Idk though, there's enough people taking pictures of the NBA to where that shouldn't be the case. Check out 15-16 Prizm though, I really think they did a good job there with the vet pictures. I'll post some pictures later if I think about it.

[yiguiri2002]

I do wish there were more action pics in certain sets - Prizm, Optic, Select come to mind. Panini does a good job with Hoops and Threads and a decent one in Prestige in that regard IMO. But it's their mid-end sets that leave room for improvement.

But sets like Noir and Studio, in a way, are supposed to look like this. I think their appeal is this "artistic" feel to the cards. Other sets need improvement but Noir and Studio can stay like that and still look great.

[Andy5]

Bumping this thread after seeing this one:

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/2006-07/Topps-Chrome---Base---Refractor/79/Udonis-Haslem.jpg?id=bb03fdf0-1ee1-41b2-ac3e-084c066ba3ae&size=original (https://www.comc.com/Cards/Basketball/2006-07/Topps_Chrome_-_Base_-_Refractor/79/Udonis_Haslem/3480516)
2006-07 Topps Chrome - [Base] - Refractor #79 - Udonis Haslem
Courtesy of COMC.com (https://www.comc.com)

[ninjacookies]

My guess is a function between licensing issues, cost cutting, and ease of design re-use.

There's definitely royalty fees for each new photo they use, I'm just not sure on the structuring (if it's on a per-use basis or a one time up-front fee).