Spacer Cards - Revision history

Teltura at 18:10, 3 July 2023

2023-07-03T18:10:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:10, 3 July 2023
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	Starter decks were assembled by hand after being cut, meaning that a worker would take the stack of 121 cards, search for the spacer in the middle, and then place the two 60-card decks into their appropriate boxes. Since this was a manual process, the spacer card had a chance of slipping into the starter box unnoticed, which was the primary way in which these spacers would make their way onto the market.		Starter decks were assembled by hand after being cut, meaning that a worker would take the stack of 121 cards, search for the spacer in the middle, and then place the two 60-card decks into their appropriate boxes. Since this was a manual process, the spacer card had a chance of slipping into the starter box unnoticed, which was the primary way in which these spacers would make their way onto the market.

	This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up ~~requesting~~ a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This ~~transition happened sometime around~~ [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.		This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up inserting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This 4-color spacer was used for starter decks in the [[Shadows]] set, and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated. For unknown reasons, [[Black Rider]] starter decks reverted to using the full black spacer card.

	The style of the color spacer card used by Decipher changed with the release of [[Bloodlines]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by each international partner (who handled translation and layout alteration of Decipher's master version).		The style of the color spacer card used by Decipher changed with the release of [[Bloodlines]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by each international partner (who handled translation and layout alteration of Decipher's master version); in earlier sets a completely white or unprinted spacer can be seen on uncut international sheets.

	The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.		The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.

Teltura at 18:05, 3 July 2023

2023-07-03T18:05:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:05, 3 July 2023
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	This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.		This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.

	~~With the changing of printers that began with [[~~The ~~Hunters]] set, the~~ style of the color spacer card changed, switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by ~~the various printing companies themselves~~.		The style of the color spacer card used by Decipher changed with the release of [[Bloodlines]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by each international partner (who handled translation and layout alteration of Decipher's master version).

	The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.		The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.

Teltura at 18:01, 3 July 2023

2023-07-03T18:01:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:01, 3 July 2023
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	This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.		This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.

	The style of the color spacer card changed ~~sometime around the printing of [[Bloodlines]]~~, switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by the printing ~~company itself~~.		With the changing of printers that began with [[The Hunters]] set, the style of the color spacer card changed, switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by the various printing companies themselves.

	The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.		The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.

Teltura at 01:04, 17 February 2023

2023-02-17T01:04:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:04, 17 February 2023
Line 7:		Line 7:
	This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.		This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.

	The style of the color spacer card changed sometime around the printing of [[~~The Hunters~~]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by the printing company itself.		The style of the color spacer card changed sometime around the printing of [[Bloodlines]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by the printing company itself.

	The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.		The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[Bloodlines]] and [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.

	Besides the broad strokes, there is no way to differentiate what set or pack a spacer card was printed in, so the only way to know is if the collector recorded it at the time the card was pulled from a pack.		Besides the broad strokes, there is no way to differentiate what set or pack a spacer card was printed in, so the only way to know is if the collector recorded it at the time the card was pulled from a pack.

Teltura: moving

2023-02-13T23:13:13Z

moving

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 13 February 2023
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	~~#REDIRECT~~ [[Print Test Cards]]		[[File:LOTR-EN00B002.0_card.jpg\|frame\|right\|4-color Test Print or Spacer card.]]

			'''Spacer Cards''', sometimes improperly called '''Print Test Cards''', were card-shaped swatches of color inserted into [[Uncut Sheets]] as a means of marking where one series of cards ended and another began. These were most commonly used in uncut sheets of [[Starter Decks]], where a single sheet of 11x11 cards could exactly fit 2 60-card decks with a single spacer card in between (60 + 60 + 1 = 121 = 11 x 11).

			Starter decks were assembled by hand after being cut, meaning that a worker would take the stack of 121 cards, search for the spacer in the middle, and then place the two 60-card decks into their appropriate boxes. Since this was a manual process, the spacer card had a chance of slipping into the starter box unnoticed, which was the primary way in which these spacers would make their way onto the market.

			This became such a frequent occurrence that Decipher ended up requesting a more obvious spacer card, which was much harder to miss. This transition happened sometime around [[Shadows]], and as a result spacer cards became much less frequent as an accidental inclusion, even if they weren't completely eliminated.

			The style of the color spacer card changed sometime around the printing of [[The Hunters]], switching from a 4-color style to a 5-color one. There is some speculation that international printings may have also used this 5-color version at an earlier date, as the specifics of the color swatch selected were likely a minor detail controlled by the printing company itself.

			The 5-color version exists in both foil and nonfoil variants, as the spacer was used in the RF sheet for [[The Hunters]] (see gallery below). The black spacer also exists in a foil variant, although the origin for this is more obscure and currently unknown. Due to the nature of how foiling works, it can be difficult to tell the difference, as the foiling layer does not look reflective if ink is printed on it, particularly with coverage as complete as on the spacer card. Typically the only way to tell is if the foiling is exposed around the cut edge, or if a nick or scrape on the card's face cuts into the ink and reveals the foiling beneath.

			Besides the broad strokes, there is no way to differentiate what set or pack a spacer card was printed in, so the only way to know is if the collector recorded it at the time the card was pulled from a pack.

			{{clear}}

			== Gallery ==

			''Click through to any image to see its full resolution.''

			<gallery widths=600px heights=400px mode=packed>
			File:LOTR-EN00B001.0_card.jpg\|Black spacer card used for the first half of the game's lifetime.
			File:LOTR-EN00B002.0_card.jpg\|4-color spacer card.
			File:LOTR-EN00B003.0_card.jpg\|5-color spacer card.
			File:color_prints.jpg\|Photo of the two color test print cards.
			File:Uncut_Sheet_15-RF-01.jpg\|height=500px\|Uncut Rare Foil sheet for [[The Hunters]]. The spacer divides the Hunters cards proper from prints of [[The Wraith Collection]] and various promos.
			File:Uncut_Sheet_15-RF-02.jpg\|Detail of the 5-color spacer within the RF Hunters sheet.
			File:color_print_foil.jpg\|Detail showing the roughed-up edge of a 5-color spacer card, where the foiling layer has been exposed.
			</gallery>


			----


			{{Product_Table}}

Teltura: Changed redirect target from Test Print Cards to Print Test Cards

2022-02-25T12:40:41Z

Changed redirect target from Test Print Cards to Print Test Cards

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:40, 25 February 2022
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	#REDIRECT [[~~Test_Print_Cards~~]]		#REDIRECT [[Print Test Cards]]

Teltura: Redirected page to Test Print Cards

2022-02-25T12:40:01Z

Redirected page to Test Print Cards

New page

#REDIRECT [[Test_Print_Cards]]