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 🤣
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[ljandkg]

Originally Posted by 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.

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...






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






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..

[ljandkg]

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

[Giantrobot]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by ljandkg

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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....

[Andy5]

Originally Posted by jjohnson814

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

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by jjohnson814

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

Stop taking sick scans of sick cards and making me want!!!

[Giantrobot]

Originally Posted by jjohnson814

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

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

[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