Why is Obsidian perfectly centered, and Prizm isn't?

[ljandkg]

Basic question but honestly - Prizm is a flagship product and it looks like the town drunk threw it together.
Meanwhile Obsidian is released and it looks like it's been printed with microscopic accuracy from what I've seen.

[AutoPatchRookie]

It's kind of fun hunting for prizm cards with good centering imo. Given the massive print runs it would be too easy if every Prizm was centered.

[ljandkg]

It's kind of fun hunting for prizm cards with good centering imo. Given the massive print runs it would be too easy if every Prizm was centered.

I can understand that to a degree, but this year has been far worse than others. To the point where if you find a well centered one, it's an anomaly.

[90skid]

What goes on behind the curtains at Panini is something we will NEVER understand.

[MJ23Collector]

No competition, no incentives to do things right for collectors...

[cardsin47]

As a Sealed Wax Collector, I love it and look for Products that are known for off center cards. The lower the gem pop rate, the more the wax is worth over time ….

[beavers]

I've heard speculation that the most printed products are intentionally being made to limit the number of possible 10's in order to preserve some of their rarity. If they pumped the presses like they are and everything was perfect nothing would be special. AKA artificial scarcity.

[Luni]

Probably because of the sheer quantity of Prizm that they print. Longer print cycles, faster print rate and less stopping the presses for minor adjustments. Obsidian being on thicker stock may affect that as well.

[clocsta2323]

As a Sealed Wax Collector, I love it and look for Products that are known for off center cards. The lower the gem pop rate, the more the wax is worth over time ….

This is perhaps the most illogical line of thinking I've ever read.

[beavers]

This is perhaps the most illogical line of thinking I've ever read.

Why? If silver prizm PSA 10's are more rare then presumably they become chase cards. Long term value of sealed is determined by the few big cards with a high ceiling as opposed to high floor low ceiling products. If most of the cards are possible PSA 10's their value and therefore the ceiling are capped.

[cardsin47]

Why? If silver prizm PSA 10's are more rare then presumably they become chase cards. Long term value of sealed is determined by the few big cards with a high ceiling as opposed to high floor low ceiling products. If most of the cards are possible PSA 10's their value and therefore the ceiling are capped.

EXACTLY :)!

[daeve]

Probably because of the sheer quantity of Prizm that they print. Longer print cycles, faster print rate and less stopping the presses for minor adjustments. Obsidian being on thicker stock may affect that as well.

I'd bet it's some sort of combination of this, yes. Think about how early they try to pump Prizm out and how much they're printing compared to Obsidian.

[clocsta2323]

Why? If silver prizm PSA 10's are more rare then presumably they become chase cards. Long term value of sealed is determined by the few big cards with a high ceiling as opposed to high floor low ceiling products. If most of the cards are possible PSA 10's their value and therefore the ceiling are capped.

So the crappier quality control products have higher ceilings... hmm okay. It's a unique spin but on its face is utterly ridiculous.

[90skid]

So the crappier quality control products have higher ceilings... hmm okay. It's a unique spin but on its face is utterly ridiculous.

It's extremely annoying that people value the idea of "what could be in this box" versus opening the damn thing and seeing what's ACTUALLY in the box. Sorry but I wouldn't enjoy a wrapped box of something sitting on my shelf and every time I look at it I'd think to myself (man there could be ANYTHING in there) when in reality, 90% of the time there's nothing in there and what you are trying to take value of is nothing in reality.

[oldgoldy97]

Not printing, die cutting. Sheets need to be fed properly. The slippery, thin material slides if the lifts are too high. Thicker material is more likely punched and not cut, thus leading to better quality or easily seen poor quality.

Or something like that (I now work for a large print company who does some Topps Digital work).

[mc1]

Not printing, die cutting. Sheets need to be fed properly. The slippery, thin material slides if the lifts are too high. Thicker material is more likely punched and not cut, thus leading to better quality or easily seen poor quality.

Or something like that (I now work for a large print company who does some Topps Digital work).

Nah, its all pop control man.:doh:

[AutoPatchRookie]

It's extremely annoying that people value the idea of "what could be in this box" versus opening the damn thing and seeing what's ACTUALLY in the box. Sorry but I wouldn't enjoy a wrapped box of something sitting on my shelf and every time I look at it I'd think to myself (man there could be ANYTHING in there) when in reality, 90% of the time there's nothing in there and what you are trying to take value of is nothing in reality.

Weird to me too. Like having a giant unopened box with a car inside from 1989. It might be a $100k vintage Mercedes, but 90% it's a Tercel

[ljandkg]

I'd bet it's some sort of combination of this, yes. Think about how early they try to pump Prizm out and how much they're printing compared to Obsidian.


If this is true, they really need to balance out the wants of the basic collector opening a pack of cards and getting a shoddy product of crappy centered cards. Not everyone wants to grade.

[ljandkg]

Not printing, die cutting. Sheets need to be fed properly. The slippery, thin material slides if the lifts are too high. Thicker material is more likely punched and not cut, thus leading to better quality or easily seen poor quality.

Or something like that (I now work for a large print company who does some Topps Digital work).

Thanks for this....a possible reason coming from the actual printing process.

[oldgoldy97]

Thanks for this....a possible reason coming from the actual printing process.

You’re welcome. I’ve only been working here three months but I’ve seen and heard of the issues that can cause poor cuts.

[bluetwothree]

But is the original premise even true? I've seen a ton of off-centered Obsidian in ebay auctions...

https://i.postimg.cc/bv7k4rsC/Screen-Shot-2022-08-25-at-8-33-07-PM.png

[ljandkg]

But is the original premise even true? I've seen a ton of off-centered Obsidian in ebay auctions...

https://i.postimg.cc/bv7k4rsC/Screen-Shot-2022-08-25-at-8-33-07-PM.png

Well there you go. I was only going on all the Garnett cards I'd seen which have been perfect without fail. As opposed to KG prizm which is just about off without fail.

[x78089]

So the crappier quality control products have higher ceilings... hmm okay. It's a unique spin but on its face is utterly ridiculous.

This is not ridiculous at all. One of the reasons people bid up sealed products of vintage cards is to get pack fresh high grade cards. If a particular product line has lots of printing anomalies, more boxes must be open for collectors to get their high grade cards. More boxes cracked tends to lead to higher prices.