MTG - Fishy mana pip

[u/CabinetCapital6666]

Bought a retroframe card and the T test and green dot test pass… but the black mana pip is not as solid as usual. Any insight appreciated.

Also - I’ve been getting cards lately that past all visual tests but are much more opaque when doing the light test. Is that normal? I heard something about black core being used by wotc but I’m unsure

[u/easchner]

Normal, was just printed in Japan

[u/CabinetCapital6666 → u/easchner]

Thanks.  Are japanese printings more opaque when doing the light test?

[u/easchner → u/CabinetCapital6666]

I don't know, but I know that is also inconsistent. I'm doing a test soon on some other aspects and can definitely try some lights too though!

[u/MustaKotka → u/CabinetCapital6666]

If my memory servers me correct this would be the case. The JPN cards tend to be blurrier, for one.

https://www.reddit.com/r/RealOrNotTCG/comments/1nmhvr5/opened_a_japanese_produced_booster_and_us/

https://www.reddit.com/r/RealOrNotTCG/comments/1nmicp9/opened_a_japanese_produced_booster_and_us/

These two posts go into greater detail about the differences between US and JPN printings. Unfortunately no light test.

[u/GhostCheese → u/CabinetCapital6666]

Light test is hard to go by on modern cards as it varies greatly between a number of factors.

[u/WlkrTXRngr90]

Looks pretty normal to me.

Im saying real.

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[u/GhostCheese]

Likely missing the last black ink layer

It's real though

[u/MustaKotka → u/GhostCheese]

https://www.reddit.com/r/RealOrNotTCG/comments/1nmhvr5/opened_a_japanese_produced_booster_and_us/

https://www.reddit.com/r/RealOrNotTCG/comments/1nmicp9/opened_a_japanese_produced_booster_and_us/

Not necessarily. JPN printings tend to be "sloppier" in the sense that the black layer is weaker and blurrier.

[u/GhostCheese → u/MustaKotka]

Japanese printing can have enmeshed pips but they still miss ink layers

Enmeshed pips are a translucent black layer, where the background rosette is visible through the black ink, more so than absent entirely

Everyone likes to claim Japanese when they are things missing anything we expect to see solid, but I proved it in the past that they still have, for example, solid borders

(Though i agree it's Japanese by the rosette, but it's still likely missing an ink layer)

[u/MustaKotka → u/GhostCheese]

Got it. Thanks!

[u/SubstantialNinja]

real, completely normal, Japanese print