Detecting Color Added on ‘71 Topps

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by tjisonline

i found a way if you are in a pinch after getting one of my cards sent back w/ the dreaded "color added" on the flip. i was given the card by a respected person of the hobby who (like me) didn't check it. oh well.

take a close-up picture of the card or use a scan. grab your fav mobile device photo editing app (or laptop app). i use photoshop express. open the images and use the "invert" filter. you will see imperfections immediately. i circles the areas on my 1971 ernie banks. on the 71s, black displays as "white" and green as "purple".


added ink will be a dark color as that doesn't invert. Stands out especially on the back edges / corners. still can't believe i didn't check before wasting money getting this graded.

Did this with the Baylor/Baker card - scans directly from SGC and using GIMP. I'm guessing the evidence is clearly seen in the upper right corner on the back - corner closest to the card #.

[cesarcap]

Time to try Kurts card spray on the touched up commons to see what happens...

[JollyElm]

That made it more confusing. The dark 'inverted' area in the '709' corner corresponds to the white (what I assume is) wear there in the regular scan...so where has color been added?