Discover A&G’s X-RAYD Animals
X-RAYD Makes Its Debut
One of the missions of any Topps Allen & Ginter set is to deliver new and interesting concepts that build on the iconic brand’s use of history, culture, and technology. Each insert is designed to capture a unique aspect of life that can be used to put visually stunning cards in the hands of collectors. X-RAYD, a debut insert in 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter, does just that.
“X-ray technology was discovered way back in 1895, so we felt that the idea of X-ray cards was a natural fit for Topps Allen & Ginter,” said Senior Art Director John Doldan. The challenge was to find the combination of engaging subject material with high-quality images that could make the X-RAYD insert pop.
After many searches for the right image set, Art Director Jon Sprance hit the jackpot. “We really wanted to make a cool insert of X-RAYD animals. X-ray images of animal skeletons were not easy to come by. But I came across the Oregon Zoo website, where they were showing off X-rays of their incredible animals. They provided authentic X-ray imagery as well as scientific names and interesting factoids.”
From Film to Card
The next step was transforming the source material into cards to tell the story. Said Sprance, “I wanted to make this look as close to an actual X-ray as possible. So, we prioritized a full image and a small A & G logo on the bottom corner. The back was designed as one of those manilla envelopes doctors pull X-rays from.” The front of the cards is made of plastic. “Actual X-ray film is very thin and wouldn’t have held up well in a pack of cards, so we set out instead to best mimic that idea.”
The magic of the X-RAYD insert series is that it is in keeping with the goals of a Topps Allen & Ginter offering, while giving collectors something totally new. “The plastic card front and visually arresting images of the X-rays are a big departure from our usual designs,” said Sprance. “On top of that, the scientific names and other fun information provided by the Oregon Zoo is a great bonus to a cool card.”
Featuring pythons, bears, chameleons, and more, 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter X-RAYD is an ambitious new insert that looks like no other trading card.
