I believe that CGC allows for 1 flaw (edges/surface/corners/centering) worth 0.5 points in their grading for Pristine. So in theory if a print line is not too bad it results in 9.5 grade for surface. If the rest of the card is perfect it can still get Pristine.
I would not want a Pristine card with an obvious print line. For me a Pristine card needs to be perfect from the front. I am ok with a tiny flaw on the back (a white speck in one corner, a small scratch).
I have passed on buying some CGC Pristines before where I was not 100% happy with the card. As they say, buy the card not the grade. In my case, I like to buy both
Pretty simple to me, a printline is an unintended imperfection, thereby degrading condition. Some people may argue āyeah but what if every single copy/card in the set has the printlines? Itās the standard for the setā, well then unfortunately none of those cards can be considered Gem Mint and the standard for the set is to be substandard in condition. Looks at Neo
If PSA 10s ceased to exist because of these print lines, will graded modern thrive as much as it does today? It will be quite daunting and futile knowing how much is printed yet few to none yield a 10
I think thereās some nuance here, if weāre in a situation in which every single card in every single release (and then you could further break that down into holo vs non-holo vs rev holo vs other variants) going forward were to be printed with print lines, then thereās an argument to be made for standard print quality and a debate regarding whether itās substandard condition or not. However, if weāre in a situation going forward where some copies of a card have printlines and others donāt, then unquestionably (or, at least in my view), the copies without printlines would be considered to be superior in condition, if all else was equal.
Weāre looking at just about every holo, reverse holo and textured full art or special art card having those print lines with seemingly no change from TPC with printing standards regardless of what grades they receive. If it comes to that, then I do believe grading modern will be next to impossible no matter how good the rest of the cardās condition is, especially with contemporary expectations that modern generally grades better than anything older
I can kinda see it from both sides, really. From the perspective of a grading company, it would be a difficult consideration and theyād have to take a hard stance one way or another, because in a situation where either all, or the vast majority, of cards being produced contain printlines, they have no guarantee of whether that would change in the future thereby dragging the debate up again in a scenario where printlines are no longer the norm. Theyād either have to say āno sorry, printlines are always considered degradation of qualityā, or āyes OK, given the change in modern print circumstances we will no longer dock printlinesā, but for them the latter option arguably carries more risk both reptuationally and if circumstances outside there control change, and you end up with cards across multiple eras with printlines that have very inconsistent grades due to 1 variable.
Does that risk outweigh the probability of not mass-submitting the cards, if people are then aware that print lines would immediately deny them a 10? That as a business model will flop I reckon, and there will be less of a market for anything under a 10 (raw singles flood out)
Itās difficult to say, because in that kind of situation for any given card the market might decide that the next highest grade becomes the defacto ā10ā and carries a premium conducive to that. Collectors will still want graded cards, I donāt think it would dissuade graders as much as you might think. Iām not sure this is the most appropriate/relevant comparison but Iāll go with it anyway: you could consider BGS black labels superior 10s to PSA 10s, but it doesnāt stop most of the market considering a PSA 10 the peak of collecting condition. Or so is reflected in pricing, at least. I think thereās a lot of relativity to consider if things were to change this way, and collectorsā views would adjust.
Right ok brb, I really HAVE to get this admin done Iāve got like 20 mins left!!
I think it would be grossly unfair to effectively change grading standards for modern. Iām sure many-a-vintage card has been penalised for print lines.
I also feel a Gem Mint should be absolutely flawless. We already have enough huge population Modern 10s, we donāt need an influx of 9s becoming 10s as well.
i donāt know where you come with this idea that all modern cards comes with these print lines ? i collected more than five hundred psa10 japanese slab a lot of modern included and print lines are not the norm like you seem to imply
Nearly every textured JP card Iāve seen or bought raw or 10 in the last 6 years has at least a line or more, Sun & Moon holos make them glaringly obvious. It is skewed to my experience yes
VSTAR Universe SARs didnāt have printlines and as far as I know most SV SRs donāt either.
Also ARs tend to not have any - different holo yes, but proves that not all cards have printlines which means those that do should be judged harshly.
I feel like the day will come when someone influential will ask about it, and then all the idiot influencers who DGAF up until that point will obsess over it, and then the grading companies will follow suit. Itās just such a glaring problem, IDKY it has been given a pass all these years.
iāve checked my sun and moon RR and SR starting from the earlier sets and wasnāt seeing any until late SM era (sm11a) when they started appearing often, youāre actually not wrong, about 30% (all japanese psa10) of the card do indeed have small print lines, seems like the more textured they are the higher the chance. Iād have to go back to my dismissed pre-graded cards because i always considered print defects as unfit for 10s at PSAā¦
Itās less perceptible on the busier SARs from sets that arenāt printed the most, so I have to check the borders to spot them. The ones with lighter backgrounds show more often
@dbmoney10 there technically shouldnāt be a difference, itās just two holo/textured sheets joined together. The difference is then what grading companies are willing to upcharge if they donāt find print lines for higher grades, and they just donāt value modern nearly as much
