Identifying a Counterfeit Through Printing Knowledge

[thatguywithadot]

Originally Posted by ASF123

Thanks for this! I've been back buying cards for several months now after a long hiatus, and I've gotten to the point where the half-tone pattern of vintage postwar printing seems instantly recognizable when viewed through a 10x loupe. I've also spotted a few fakes that had the ink jet/laser print patterns you describe above.

Do you know if there is any counterfeiting method that can replicate the half-tone pattern well enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing even under a loupe? Or can I be confident that if it has the right look, it's good?

Thanks!

well they all are going to resemble when a high quality fake under loupe when it comes to the dotting as that is the premise for the printing methods its just how they go about doing it that creates differences. When it comes to purchasing an item you should have commons on hand for the set and study them so you know the look and feel of the cards etc and loupe them as it will familiarize you with that set. Biggest thing is always the tonal discrepancies between the real and fake. THEY ARE ALWAYS OFF! not as vibrant and shiny projected to the human eye in the print where it should be etc. cards should not have a dull appearance to them even all busted up as the inks are brilliant

[thatguywithadot]

there are high level fakes coming out of Mexico however still have issues when reproducing something without original ink mixes for that cards blanks etc. that results in a product that is always off!

[doug.goodman]

Thank you Avery. Too bad the opinion sellers don't seem to be aware of your advice.

Doug

[thatguywithadot]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Thank you Avery. Too bad the opinion sellers don't seem to be aware of your advice.

Doug

i take it you are referring to the sellers out there that swear there cards are real and
"if its a fake that means i got a fake card over 25 years ago!" people??? LOL

I try to deal in facts as best as possible...I feel it simplifies things in a way everyone can process and interpret in whatever subway their train of thought takes to make it the same destination either way!

I do not believe for one second anyone should take what someone offers in the form of opinion whether that is grade projections conditionally or what lure the fish are biting that day and why unless they want to biologically break it down with facts that can be tracked in datasets to show evidential truth...sounds too nerdy for most i am aware of this but in a nutshell I say I have only smelt fish in one particular instance in my life...when it is fishy!