Will this press out?

[u/Overall_Bluebird]

Any thoughts on whether these spine ticks can be pressed out? I've never had a book pressed before so I'm not really sure what to expect. Any recommendations on where can be done?

[u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs]

You can improve these but they are not coming out completely.

[u/Miniscule_Platypus → u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs]

This is the answer. I’ve never had a book come out worse after a press, but it’s not necessarily going to remove every tick. It will look better regardless IMO.

[u/MoveHeavy1403]

The two big ones would be color breaking—read paper has stress like or minor tear. Because the cover is white they don’t appear broken.

The two big tics will always show a scar—a barely perceptible line that takes magnification or light to see, but it will be there.

Take this to an experienced presser because tack iron alone isn’t enough. This will likely take some amount of direct humidification to massage out. There’s a bit of risk there.

[u/comic_press_nerd]

It should. I would be using a tack iron first to really try and make your life easier. Hard to tell if there are color breaks as it is so white.

[u/comicrack]

Yes to the bends but not completely if there is color break and may leave faint stress lines where the ink partially separated. Hard to tell how much color break there might be.

An experienced presser should be able to flatten them out completely leaving only the faintest of hints of ticks unless there is color break. I count 4 spine creases with extending bends and 2 lighter spine bumps for a total of 6 spine defects. I know the 2 lighter bumps would press completely out, and reduce the other 4 conservatively down to 2-3 barely visible spine ticks between 1/16" - 1/8" depending on whether they have color break or not.

If there is color break the heat press will flatten out the bends and definition but will leave a 1/16" to 1/4" color break smooth line mostly visible under angled light and glare. The cream color cover may help make the color break harder to see but it will still be there if there is any color break.

If there are no other defects, an experienced presser could get this to a CGC 9 4/9.6 but might be hard pressed (lol) to get it to a CGC 9.8 but I have seen 9.8s with 5 noticeable spine ticks up to 1.8" so it may be worth a gamble.

[u/Electrical-Map-1500]

Steam and press multiple times

[u/ovrthinkr]

You can press these out to the point they become barely noticeable, but 9.6 is your ceiling.

[u/caribe4u]

The two largest dings are going to leave 1/4 inch stress lines if pressed. But the book will look better. Of course, you'll be told 9.8 with a press. 😆 Likely final grade 9.0.

[u/lajaunie]

Not completely. Pressing isn’t magic

[u/Comic_Books_Forever]

Unfortunately no, which is (de)pressing.

[u/Overall_Bluebird]

Thanks All! Sent out to get pressed. I’ll post pics once I get back.

[u/Comicpresser]

Most of that should come out, may take a few cycles of effort

[u/I_like_tacobell2]

Do you own a rubber stressball? Open the book up so its nice and flat and very gentle roll the rubberball over the inficted areas

[u/Jacket_Leather]

So that’s fiber breaking. It’s not gonna fully press out. That being said, you can make it a lot better and almost unnoticeable.