There was a case a while back where user pfm uncovered the Pokemon Playtest cards that were reported to have been printed in 1996 were actually done so in 2024 (I’ll link the original post below, it’s super interesting how they found out). 

They mention that “Most home and office printers add metadata to printed sheets in the form of very tiny yellow dots (sometimes called a machine identification code) that can’t be seen with the naked eye. The layout of the dots are different between printer brands and some don’t leave any at all. Information like serial number and sometime the print time is encoded in these dots. They can act as a “signature” for the printer that law enforcement uses as document forensic evidence (like in cases of forged currency).”

Which had me wondering, could the Pokemon Company encode metadata into their cards? Do they already do so today? 

I understand that Chinese Exclusives have a subtle, raised Pokemon logo in the bottom left intended to prove authenticity but even still we’re now seeing this be plagiarised with somewhat convincing accuracy. 

So they’re obviously making some kind of effort to curb fakes. 

What concerns me is that the market for higher-end, expensive cards could eventually become flooded with increasingly convincing counterfeits, especially as AI and sophisticated printing technology become more accessible.

If there was a way to ensure authenticity, I would certainly feel more comfortable sinking dollars into cards if there was a genuine way to tell for sure. 

…Are there any commercial printing experts out there to weigh in?!

——

Link to pfm’s original post: https://www.elitefourum.com/ct/many-of-the-pokemon-playtest-cards-were-likely-printed-in-2024/52421

Concerned with indistinguishable fakes in the future. Can/does pokemon print metadata into cards?