PSA Restoration and Tampering Detection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does PSA examine a card under UV light to detect?
- Recoloring, artificial gloss, and surface chemical treatments (Correct answer)
- Card centering and border widths
- Print dot density and registration
- Card stock weight and flexibility
Correct 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.
Question 2: How does the application of artificial gloss or lacquer to a card affect its PSA classification?
- It is considered an alteration and results in an Authentic (Altered) designation (Correct answer)
- It improves the surface grade by adding shine
- It has no effect on the grading outcome
- It automatically qualifies the card for a mechanical grade
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which alteration involves rebuilding damaged card corners using glue, paper, or similar materials?
- Corner reconstruction (Correct answer)
- Pressing
- Recoloring
- Trimming
Correct 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.
Question 4: What does 'cleaning' mean as a form of card alteration in PSA's context?
- Using chemical agents to remove stains or enhance surface appearance beyond natural state (Correct answer)
- Simply removing dust with a soft cloth
- Storing cards in acid-free materials
- Placing cards in protective holders
Correct 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.
Question 5: What primary visual indicator does a PSA examiner look for to detect card trimming?
- Uneven or inconsistent border widths on opposite sides (Correct answer)
- Overall color fading on the card face
- Print registration misalignment
- Surface scratches along the image area
Correct 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.
Question 6: What does PSA look for under magnification along card edges to detect trimming?
- Cut marks, uneven edge texture, or disturbed surface fibers (Correct answer)
- Print dot patterns and screen angles
- Hologram placement accuracy
- Centering percentage values
Correct 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.
Question 7: When PSA detects that a card has been chemically pressed to remove creases, what grade does the card receive?
- PSA Authentic (Altered) (Correct answer)
- PSA 1 (Poor)
- PSA 2 (Good)
- The card is returned ungraded with no label
Correct 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.
PSA Restoration and Tampering Detection 2
What does PSA examine a card under UV light to detect?