With 2014 Prizm Baseball and 2013-14 Crusade Basketball releasing this week, many collectors opening those products are discovering what it must feel like when NBA superstar LeBron James tosses talcum powder into the air at the scorer's table just before tip-off. Indeed, there's a distinct powdery residue adhering to many of the Prizm-technology cards in both of those products that has collectors talking. Today, Panini America officials addressed the issue.
With 2014 Prizm Baseball and 2013-14 Crusade Basketball releasing this week, many collectors opening those products are discovering what it must feel like when NBA superstar LeBron James tosses talcum powder into the air at the scorer’s table just before tip-off. Indeed, there’s a distinct powdery residue adhering to many of the Prizm-technology cards in both of those products that has collectors talking. Today, Panini America officials addressed the issue.
The dust in question is actually harmless organic press powder that’s been used by trading card manufacturers in the past. To find out why it was used on these two products, keep reading.
In an effort to make the cards more signature friendly for autograph-seekers, Panini America officials altered the construction of their Optichrome cards by adding a signable UV coating to the card fronts. Although the company conducted extensive research and development on the process to perfect it, the cards weren’t feeding into the machine feeders properly during packout as they were in preliminary tests.
To ensure that the cards weren’t damaged and weren’t double-feeding, and to avoid delaying packout of both products by several weeks, company officials made the decision to incorporate organic press powder — commonly made of corn starch or potato starch.
Company officials have continued testing to ensure complete compatibility with machine feeders.
Corn!?
I opened 3 boxes of Crusade basketball and 6 boxes of Prizm baseball. Spent over $600 today.
Got some pretty neat cards but I had to wipe off your “organic press powder”.
I think you need to think about having a finished product in your packs instead of leaving the dirty work to the consumer.
You should have delayed the product and fixed your problems.
You would have been more upset if your cards were stuck together and ruined because the powder wasnt there. You decide
Admit it. You had the cards courtside at a Mavericks-Heat game, and LeBron threw the powder on them.
You have to do what needs to be done the get them out. I can only imaging the uproar if they were shipped late both from Sellers as well as collectors
Fleer cards, back when they came with gum, were always a bit dusty with whatever it was they used to keep the gum from sticking to the cards. Topps never cared that much, you just got stained cards.
But topps back then didn’t have packs like today’s packs!
While the effort to deliver a quality product is appreciated, it’s going to take hours to carefully clean the powder off of these. Clearly there should be a better solution to prevent this from happening again. Great looking cards nonetheless.
That’s awesome Panini took steps to make cards ink friendly. Hats off to them. I too am reminded by this of the days when cards came with “dusty” gum lol.
That’s pretty cool. Great idea!
I once got 3 football autograph cards in a Fleer pack many years ago, so cards sticking together isn’t always bad. However, if the cards got damaged being separated or being inserted into the packs, people would (rightly) complain about that as well. Sounds like a bit of a no-win situation.
Guarantee even if Panini puts out a flawed product they won’t be dropping the price point. Just hurry up and throw anything out the door just to have the next new release.
Nobody is forcing you to buy the product. If you are that unhappy about it, don’t buy it. A little powder is not a flaw either.
Exactly!! I second that notion. They probably would have even complained if they won a box thru find it weekend or somethin too!! So sick of whiners
wow I hope u are not a spokesman for Panini, if so u are fired.
Panini America,
Please continue with the organic press powder for your Optichrome products. There is much more positives than negatives in using the powder. Most people will be storing the cards, powder and all in white cardboard boxes. The powder will help insure these cards can remain in like-new condition for the years to come.
Wiping the powder off “the hits” or other “special cards” (before placing in holders) will just take a few seconds per card. Being a retailer/collector who appreciates mint condition cards, it is worth the minor inconvenience. Keep up the good work. These cards are awesome.
Thanks Panini America,
Charlie DiPietro
I agree with Charlie…I don’t mind the powder at all and actually feel the cards come out in better condition. If I pull a rare card that needs to get graded I just spend 30 seconds cleaning it with a microfiber cloth. The rest of my cards slide easier into sleeves thanks to the powder.
They should have done this for momentum basketball! The cards would stick together. I pulled a black manu ginobili and it was stuck to the card in front of it. I was so scared that it was going to pull a piece off…
Exactly man!! This powder is very helpful in many applications. I used to run printing presses and helps keep the ink from smearing until it dries… back in the day when u would see a card with an ink transfer of another card on it, it was because they didnt use the powder. Its just a vegetable protein.
did anyone win this amazing contest? http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/boxes-of-prizm-baseball-crusade-basketball-offered-in-paninis-where-is-it-weekend/#more-79389
Good explanation and.insight into the logistics of manufacturing the cards we all love. As someone who frequently deals with TTM and IP autograph seekers I am aware of the preference for cards which can be autographed by either of those methods and some of the processes by which those cards are treated to optimize the efficacy of maintining quality signatures. This should not be viewed as a negative in any way as clearly the printing technology required it, when collectors open this product after a period of time in storage they will appreciate the condition of the cards compared to similar releases which did not include this process. Thanks Tracy!
Unfortunately, for the common collector, those buying these packs will be left confused and slighted with their purchase. Panini could’ve avoided making such a decision had they just pushed back their release date of the product. I don’t collect autos and don’t care for them – I’m a set builder. I’m not interested in cleaning off every card I own because Panini rushed their product and wanted to protect their autos. I can understand both sides – however, I ultimately think that we’re the minority – most won’t be reading this article and most won’t even know autos are included. I think this decision further pushes away potential and new collectors.
Let me add – for the packs I opened today – we’re not just talking about a little bit of powder – it looked like someone dumped a baby powder all of over the cards.
i havent seen this much white powder sins i watched scar face, i wount be buying any more of this
Yes i to just opened my first Blaster box of 2014 Prizm Baseball today and i found this forum as a result of my concern with the Dust that was in the packs/on thecards .There was so much inside a single 6 pack blaster box that i had to wipe my black desk off afterwards. It is good to know this stuff is not harmful & actually helpful,but i think that the avearage buyer will find this as a Flaw and thus probably will not buy any box of the product because of . Maybe not but definitely possible. If i were Panini i’d try to find an alternative to this process or at least add a disclaimer in packs stating what is going on with the residue and explain it’s presence. Just saying it’s an idea.