On the Routing Table: January 3, 2011
Is it wrong that one of the first things I thought about on the way to work this morning following the long holiday weekend — after analyzing for the umpteenth time Tim Tebow‘s solid performance against the Chargers — was the Panini America Routing Table?
For such a modestly sized table, the thing is a veritable goldmine of product-previewing goodness almost every day. True to form, today’s offering didn’t disappoint with its array of Test RIPs and routings for such upcoming blockbusters as 2010-11 Pinnacle Hockey, 2010-11 Playoff Contenders Hockey and 2010 National Treasures Football.
Keep in mind, now as always, that some of the images you’re about to see include extremely preliminary concepts that incorporate player and team names intended for sizing or design purposes only. So when you see, for instance, Tony Romo‘s photo on a National Treasures Legends design or Darrius Heyward-Bey‘s name on, of all things, a Pinnacle Hockey card, don’t be alarmed. As we say in the business, such things are “FPO” (for position only).
Well, they’re also for your enjoyment, too.
The Knight's Lance 
That’s not Michael Del Zotto…
Indeed, it is not. In the post, I mentioned that the early routings are often concepts that utilize longer player and team names to ensure proper sizing with the card design.
Oh, I guess that’s on purpose.
Nice looks fun to rip open one day.
I was a huge fan of Pinacle hockey back in the early ’90s. Are they going to have the Team Pinacle insert set? That was one of my favorite insert sets when I was younger.
Yes, sir. There will be Team Pinnacle cards.
As a graphic design major at The Art Institute of Pittsburg and also a long time collector, I feel that the compositions of the designs are very well done and I like what I see. When I viewed every single composition, I felt that the designs are very well complex and centered. One thing that I notice is the graphics used for the National Treasures concepts. I feel they are very appropiate for this type of product and the reason that I say this is that in graphic design, you don’t to under use or over use the graphic for this product. However, I feel that the gaphics used here are well done and very well noted as well. The suggestions that I do have for Panini is with the Tony Romo National Treasures concept design is to add a NFL patch where the shield is instead just using a simple NFL shield logo. Also when it comes to the design under the image of Tony Romo maybe add a piece of material like a laundry tag but leave the design that is added to the image for a prime materials card or even leave it alone and add a auto. I think it would make a great card for the National Treasures product.
It’s all looking legit, cannot wait to see some these come to life in the hands of collectors.
Tracy, you want to trade jobs? I wish I could do what you do, get to see all theses cards from idea to full production. I don’t get to rip too much, but I always love it when I do. I think I would be completely content with just looking at all of them and maybe buying a box or some singles on the secondary market. (if I had your job, lol) Now if I could just afford a box of these… I’m thinking about selling some P.C. to get a box, but its gonna be hard to let go of P.C. for a roll of the dice, but I feel like I must buy. Get out of my brains PANINI!
Well, I do realize that I’m extremely blessed to have this dream job. But I do get a kick out of bringing you all the behind-the-scenes stuff I can. I appreciate you reading and stopping by often. Oh, and stay in that brain, Panini!
I like the inclusion of the horizontal and vertical cards with the same pic that is pretty cool you sort of get to see more of the pic on the horizontal cards and with the museum collection a plus …..will there also be the inclusion of artist proofs?
I can’t wait for both Pinnacle and Contenders, it will seem surreal opening a Contenders hockey.