The Printing Process

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Posted By: petecld

I have put together a page with a couple of graphics to compare the different printing process - then vs now. The graphics may take a minute or so to load and they are quick studies but will give you a good idea on how the color of the cards were printed back then and today. Feel free to look at:

http://www.caramel-cards.com/printing.html

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me or post them here. I hope this might help anyone looking to determine if a card is real or not.

Pete

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Posted By: David

The only problem was that the talk about the 'olive plate' made me hungry

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Posted By: Julie

Hope it worked!

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Posted By: runscott

...

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Posted By: Lloyd Taylor

As a Graphic Arts (printing) Teacher and a card collector I must say you did a fine job of explaining the process of printing then and now.

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Posted By: Jay Miller

A real education! Thanks so much.

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

Thanks for the great description of how old cards were printed. What got me curious about the printing process was when I read that the "Wagner estate" T206 copies were printed from the original plates I don't know anything about plates, but this makes me think that plates were unique to each card - did they create separate plates for each color? Also, if the T206 Wagner plates still exist, plates for a lot of other cards must exist also. But you never hear anything about them - can you shed any light on this? Thanks.
Also, here's the worst example I've ever seen of the old process:

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Posted By: David

I would be more than surprised if original printing plates for the T206s exist. And even if they did exist, they wouldn't be usable.

There was a different printing plate for each color, and multiple plates for some (there were two plates for the black on the front of the card). This is why some cards are missing one or more colors, and why colors are often out of alignment ... Each printing plate had many cards. They would print sheets of many cards, which were then cut down into the individual cards.

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Another great reason to keep checking the board, a true education.

Nice job, Pete!!!!!!!!