Eye Appeal -vs- Technical Grade

[Rickyy]

I'm also on the eye appeal as well... esp the clarity of the images ... I can live with the chewed up or rounded corners ... even off center... as long as its not diamond cut tilted too much.

[shaunsteig]

I'm gonna partially agree with what's been posted. Eye appeal is certainly my starting point -- I have to enjoy viewing the card after purchasing, rather than simply enjoying its position on some spreadsheet or registry. I've had occasions where I got a "bargain" for the given technical grade but ultimately due to eye appeal didn't end up enjoying the card. In situations of the reverse (ie low grade but strong eye appeal), I've never been disappointed.

Where I might deviate from the other posts is that I won't overpay for the eye appeal alone. Meaning the technical grade will determine the price that I'm willing to pay, but I won't go outside of it. I don't collect to resell, but I do feel that I need to protect myself in case that I do end up selling things (ie, times change, or I end up with a duplicate after a lot purchase, or I end up upgrading the card). So for that reason I avoid paying beyond the usual price for a given grade.

Good question, thanks for starting the discussion.
--S

[ls7plus]

Well illustrated, Wonka, and worthy of a textbook regarding this point. Thanks for taking the time to dig the cards out and scan.

Best regards,

Larry

[Steve D]

For me, eye appeal is the deciding factor in whether to purchase a specific card or not.

I have a specific grade I'm looking for with a card. So, the grade puts a specific card on my radar. If the card has the eye appeal I'm looking for, I go it. If the card doesn't have the eye appeal, I pass on it.

Steve

[mintacular]

Wonkaticket, could you define "depth"? That is a condition characteristic I've never considered and would like to learn more. Seriously.

[cfc1909]

GriffithA.jpg

GriffithAb.jpg

Dahlan.jpg

Dahlanb.jpg

[3-2-count]

I think John said it best when he stated, "I enjoy looking at the cards. I like the holders but when you've see one flip you’ve seen them all. I don’t spend hours pouring over flips, I do this over the cards". I'd like to add and this is only my opinion, but I think many of us have fallen into a funk anymore of placing a value on a card based solely on what number these darn third party graders have assigned to the flip. Sad!! Very sad indeed!! I'd prefer to be the judge of that thank you. Eye appeal trumps all. Fantastic cards everyone..........

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by mintacular

Wonkaticket, could you define "depth"? That is a condition characteristic I've never considered and would like to learn more. Seriously.

Jim & Tony, amazing cards as always!

Pat, depth is when the image has more color and a more 3D look and feel to it. You will notice with many of these cards sometimes they can be in focus but the colors are more mute or not as vivid.

When the colors are layed more boldly as Tony's cards show the central image seems to pop more from the background giving more depth. This also can result in faces having more detail and shading almost making many images of players faces look not like the other. You can see this in the Mitchell card above see not only does it have more deatil in the face but the body of the player seems to not blend with the background as much. I Have a few other examples I will show.

Hope this helps.

Tony could not have said it better myslef we are in a plastic funk and need to break out a bit and get back to the cards the holders can be a nice addition to the cards but shouldn't be the central attention grabber that should be left up to the cards.

Cheers,

John

[ls7plus]

Many thanks to all for taking the time not only to post, but to dig out superb cards demonstrating tremendous eye appeal far exceeding their technical grade!

Sincerely,

Larry

PS: Some beautiful looking cards, Tony A.!