Posted By:
Harry Wallace (HW)I also agree that doing anything to a card is altering its present state. But, what is OK and what is not?
I am OK with:
Remove surface grime (wax stain, pizza sauce, etc.)
Erase a super light pencil mark
Remove a tiny surface wrinkle that does not affect the "structural integrity" of the card
To me, all of these are OK. If a light crease (wrinkle) can be taken out and it is impossible to tell, then I do not have a huge problem with it. If the "structural integrity" of the card, as Corey Shanus puts it, is changed then I guess that it could create problems.
Here is what I do not think is OK:
Taking out a crease where the card's "structural integrity" is compromised.
Adding anything: color, paper, gloss, etc.
Cleaning a card with anything that may damage the card (bleach, etc.)
Removing a part of the card (trimming, power erasing borders, etc.)
I guess that all of these things are forms of altering, but the definitely have different severity levels.