Discussion: More on Color Matching Accuracy and the "Age" of Official IDs
Following up on our earlier discussions about color matching, I wanted to address a factor that often confuses buyers: the age of the official ID they are using for reference. We know that official IDs fade and change color over time, but how does this affect our perception of a brand-new novelty version? I wanted to start a discussion about how to account for official card aging in your comparisons. How do we stay accurate?
First off, polycarbonate and Teslin cards do change color. Exposure to light, wallet friction, and even air can cause the official inks to shift slightly after 2-3 years. If you are comparing a brand-new novelty card to a 4-year-old official one, the "blue" on the official card might look much more "washed out." Let’s talk about realistic comparisons.
How to Account for Card Aging in Your Review
- Check the Issue Date: Look at the "Issue Date" on the official card you are using for reference. If it’s more than 2 years old, the colors are likely not "factory fresh."
- Look for Protected Areas: Look at a part of the official card that has been protected from light (like the area under your main photo if you can see it). This will give you a better sense of the original ink color.
- Judge the Gradients, Not Just the Hue: A high-quality novelty ID will have smooth, well-defined gradients. If the official card looks "splotchy" because of age, don’t expect the novelty version to match that exactly.
I’ve had many people tell me that their novelty ID actually looks "too good" compared to their friend’s old official card. This is actually a sign of high quality! The novelty card matches the original "factory" specs. What have your recent experiences been? Have you found it hard to compare with older official cards? Let’s share our "aging" observations and help everyone find the most accurate cards.