Explain 2025 Topps Chrome: Base vs. Refractor

[Rob355]

I'm trying to understand the 2025 Topps Chrome base cards and what it means the 10% or so that have "Refractor" under the back number? They all look the same on the front. Does each card have a Base and a more rare "Refractor" version or certain players have all "Refractor" base cards?

Thanks!

[DylanPowers92]

refractors have a rainbow/multi color sheen to them. under the light you should be able to see the difference when you move the card back and forth. the refractor is the most common parallel, but is printed a lot less than standard base cards.

[livfreely]

The refractor has a “sheen” coloration to it. Think of oil on top of a puddle of water. It shows more in the light.


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[Rob355]

Originally Posted by DylanPowers92

refractors have a rainbow/multi color sheen to them. under the light you should be able to see the difference when you move the card back and forth. the refractor is the most common parallel, but is printed a lot less than standard base cards.

cool, thanks! I will have to give it a second look. I'm too old for these slight parallels.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Deleted.

[boxbuster7]

you should learn a bit more if you don't know the difference between a base and refractor

unless you have disposable income and don't care about the money you will get smoked otherwise

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

you should learn a bit more if you don't know the difference between a base and refractor

unless you have disposable income and don't care about the money you will get smoked otherwise

Also educate yourself on SSP and SP parallels. If you're just buying newer stuff especially. Also know what the "case hits" are. Its a fun hobby but I'd hate to see you trade a Hidden Gem or Downtown for base cards.

[hermanotarjeta]

Buy a blaster and open one by yourself in good lighting.

You’ll easily see the difference.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

Also educate yourself on SSP and SP parallels. If you're just buying newer stuff especially. Also know what the "case hits" are. Its a fun hobby but I'd hate to see you trade a Hidden Gem or Downtown for base cards.

this is good advice also

[Rob355]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

you should learn a bit more if you don't know the difference between a base and refractor

unless you have disposable income and don't care about the money you will get smoked otherwise

I know Post War Vintage and 80's as that's what I originally collected when I was a kid in the 80's. I have a 6-digit collection from those eras. I spend 3-digits on modern to have fun breaking with my family. I'll be OK.

[NYRE2PECT]

Originally Posted by Rob355

I know Post War Vintage and 80's as that's what I originally collected when I was a kid in the 80's. I have a 6-digit collection from those eras. I spend 3-digits on modern to have fun breaking with my family. I'll be OK.

You should be bedazzled….



Chase the rainbow.


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[Rob355]

Originally Posted by NYRE2PECT

You should be bedazzled….



Chase the rainbow.


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I’m still not seeing it that clearly with various light and my natural eye, but I do notice the camera picks up the rainbow a little. It just isn’t obvious to me like matte finishes vs refractors.

[Rob355]

Here is a better photo link.

[NYRE2PECT]

Originally Posted by Rob355

I’m still not seeing it that clearly with various light and my natural eye, but I do notice the camera picks up the rainbow a little. It just isn’t obvious to me like matte finishes vs refractors.

Brighter light might make it stick out a little more.

Maybe it is a bad batch. It is Fanatics/Topps after all, so anything is possible.

I dunno...many of the refractors on eBay look like they are missing some dazzle.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Rob355

I’m still not seeing it that clearly with various light and my natural eye, but I do notice the camera picks up the rainbow a little. It just isn’t obvious to me like matte finishes vs refractors.

It will eventually become obvious. But you can notice the refractor finish if you hold the card at an angle in the light. Just move it around at different angles and the rainbow effect will jump out at you. It even looks relatively obvious in your picture if you know what to look for.

[Rob355]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

It will eventually become obvious. But you can notice the refractor finish if you hold the card at an angle in the light. Just move it around at different angles and the rainbow effect will jump out at you. It even looks relatively obvious in your picture if you know what to look for.

I appreciate it, I will keep trying. Thanks.

[everyone]

My "card room" has amber colored light bulbs (b/c red light therapy you know) and when I rip in that lighting I cannot tell the difference at all so I appreciate the "refractor" note on the back.

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Rob355

I’m still not seeing it that clearly with various light and my natural eye, but I do notice the camera picks up the rainbow a little. It just isn’t obvious to me like matte finishes vs refractors.

Spend more on lighting and less on cards.

[GaryPayton]

I saw this on YT so take for grain of salt, but someone "did the math" and each refractor has 8k copies, then there are prizm & ray wave refractors which have 4-6k copies of each card. The Topps Logo fractor is around 600 per card. Sepia I am not sure about but in the thousands for sure. The back of the card should say refractor for all of them. Base cards have a significantly higher production run and do not have the sheen of the refractor.
I always use my work desk which has great lighting for video meetings to organize my cards and take pics if I am slanging them. Refractors stand out.
2021 Stadium Club Baseball had the hardest to recognize refractors IMO they looked the same as SC Chrome inserts and I had to read the back of every card to double check after I realized I had an amazing (at the time) Dylan Carlson RC Refractor.

[Cactuspies]

get some 2010 bowman chrome and try to figure it out. probably one of the worst years ever and those didn't say refractor if I remember correctly. when in doubt just move around under different angles/light conditions, heck keep a flashlight/blacklight around. 2024 was hard to tell under bad light, looks like 2025 is too.

[Rob355]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

you should learn a bit more if you don't know the difference between a base and refractor

here is a test for you and anyone else can play it too. here are 5 base and 5 refractors. the hires photo actually shows them better than my natural eye are showing them. tell me which 5 are the refractors, number 1-5 top row and 6-10 bottom row.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Rob355

here is a test for you and anyone else can play it too. here are 5 base and 5 refractors. the hires photo actually shows them better than my natural eye are showing them. tell me which 5 are the refractors, number 1-5 top row and 6-10 bottom row.

Pointless test. You can't use terrible pictures to guage how easy it is to tell them apart. When you are holding them in hand, it's blatantly obvious. Any of us would spot them all immediately in person. Images can have a way of hiding the refractor finish, unless the lighting is right. Scanners are even worse.

How about this test:

[Rob355]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Pointless test. You can't use terrible pictures to guage how easy it is to tell them apart. When you are holding them in hand, it's blatantly obvious. Any of us would spot them all immediately in person. Images can have a way of hiding the refractor finish, unless the lighting is right. Scanners are even worse.

How about this test:

I agree yours are crystal clear, I don't have a problem with any of them.

Trust me, this is a very clear hires photo that looks better than what they do in hand.

I don't think there's the respect in this thread how poor the "refractor" difference is on this batch of 2025 Topps Chrome.

I just watched a break Western NY Cards and his refractors were obviously clear, the bright rainbow glare and it was immediately recognizable for him as he sorted.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Rob355

here is a test for you and anyone else can play it too. here are 5 base and 5 refractors. the hires photo actually shows them better than my natural eye are showing them. tell me which 5 are the refractors, number 1-5 top row and 6-10 bottom row.

You need to move them in the light to really see the effect.


My guess: 1, 5, 6, 7, and 10 are refractors.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Try this one.



You are making something out of nothing.