Working in the print industry, I promise you these autos aren't done by machine. Way too much varience in almost every signature.
Also, I don't believe Panini would risk losing the license by forging the signatures. Most autos are now done in bulk at events (the day after the draft at the rookie photoshoot, all star weekend etc). Otherwise - players have to go to Panini HQ a lot to sit and sign in bulk.
So you're saying Kobe, LeBron, Duncan, Durant and all other superstars, sat down and sign these cards (Panini, Upper Deck, Fleer etc) themselves, using real pen?
So you're saying Kobe, LeBron, Duncan, Durant and all other superstars, sat down and sign these cards (Panini, Upper Deck, Fleer etc) themselves, using real pen?
Yes, correct. In the past, it has been widely presumed that these superstars have got friends, family, etc to sit and sign them all in private at times.
However, panini's quality control on autos, for the most seems to be pretty good I believe.
Kobe & Durant for example are spokespeople for Panini, and from what I believe call in regularly to do their signings. Lebron, an UD exclusive would do the same for them. Duncan has not signed for anyone for a long time.
I'll see if I can find the examples between a manufactured auto versus a real one for you.
Here's a copy of a printed auto of Jabari Parker - it's very solid and there are no pen lifts what so ever through any curve. All will look identical and the signature is a foil - not an ink.
In comparison, here are two actual autos. You'll notice they are different and there is a substantial lift in the pen through the P in Parker and that one has a loop in it both in the P and the J of Jabari.
on my blake hrx vid card , it went to to detail how he blake would go to panini hq and do a signing session , in the room they had the cards spread out over a massive table that they wanted him to sign . very interesting
also something I never thought of until recently, in person signatures, if a signature a player signs in real life looks nothing like his card signatures there would be a red flag and threads opened pretty quickly...
Here's a copy of a printed auto of Jabari Parker - it's very solid and there are no pen lifts what so ever through any curve. All will look identical and the signature is a foil - not an ink.
In comparison, here are two actual autos. You'll notice they are different and there is a substantial lift in the pen through the P in Parker and that one has a loop in it both in the P and the J of Jabari.
Also as I expected from looking at many other card signing pics, and you can see from the ones above,
The way CP3 has his hand on the top of those NT cards and signing them on top of each other at an angle, would possibly dent some corners or edges of the card.
Same for Moe Harkless? on the right in the Orlando signing picture.
On another note, how small does that pen look in Durants hand!?!? lol