Restoration and Tampering Detection Flashcards
7 cards from real PSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Restoration and Tampering Detection flashcards as text
What does PSA examine a card under UV light to detect?
Answer: Recoloring, artificial gloss, and surface chemical treatments
UV light causes many surface treatments, recoloring agents, and artificial coatings to fluoresce differently than original card materials, helping examiners identify alterations.
How does the application of artificial gloss or lacquer to a card affect its PSA classification?
Answer: It is considered an alteration and results in an Authentic (Altered) designation
Applying any foreign coating such as lacquer or varnish constitutes a surface alteration, preventing the card from receiving a numeric grade and earning an Authentic (Altered) label.
Which alteration involves rebuilding damaged card corners using glue, paper, or similar materials?
Answer: Corner reconstruction
Corner reconstruction involves adding foreign material to rebuild or fill in worn corners, which is a form of restoration that disqualifies the card from a numeric grade.
What does 'cleaning' mean as a form of card alteration in PSA's context?
Answer: Using chemical agents to remove stains or enhance surface appearance beyond natural state
Chemical cleaning involves using solvents or other agents to remove stains or artificially enhance a card's appearance, which PSA considers an alteration.
What primary visual indicator does a PSA examiner look for to detect card trimming?
Answer: Uneven or inconsistent border widths on opposite sides
Trimming removes material from one or more edges, creating border widths that are inconsistent with the original card's documented measurements and appear uneven when compared side to side.
What does PSA look for under magnification along card edges to detect trimming?
Answer: Cut marks, uneven edge texture, or disturbed surface fibers
Cutting a card creates telltale signs at the edge including cut marks, irregular fibers, and altered paper texture that differ from a card's original factory-cut edge.
When PSA detects that a card has been chemically pressed to remove creases, what grade does the card receive?
Answer: PSA Authentic (Altered)
Pressing is a form of restoration and results in an Authentic (Altered) designation, as intentional manipulation of the card's physical structure disqualifies it from a numeric grade.