FAQTH

Why is extend art produced differently for each grading company?

PSA and CGC pieces are die-cut — each to that brand's exact case size — while TAG, BGS, ARS and PCG pieces are printed as a full sheet placed behind the slab. Here is how each method works, with diagrams.

August 25, 2026

Every grading company builds its case differently — a different outer size, a different thickness, and the grade label in a different spot. That means one production method cannot fit every slab. When you order extend art from us, the finished piece is made in one of two ways, depending on which company graded your card.

The two production methods

1 · Front cut — PSA and CGC

For PSA and CGC slabs, the artwork is printed and then die-cut with an opening that matches your case exactly. Your slab sets into that opening from the front, so the art meets the edge of the case cleanly, like an inlay. PSA and CGC cases are not the same size — each brand gets its own cut. This is why we always confirm which company graded your card before we produce the piece.

2 · Back placement — TAG, BGS, ARS and PCG

For TAG, BGS, ARS and PCG slabs, we do not cut the artwork at all. The art is printed as a full, uncut sheet and placed behind the case. You see the artwork through and around the clear slab, and the front face of the case stays completely untouched.

FRONT CUT · PSA + CGC BACK PLACEMENT · TAG BGS ARS PCG die-cut opening — PSA size ≠ CGC size the print is cut; your slab sets in from the front full art sheet — no cutting printed whole; sits behind the clear case SIDE VIEW you art slab art art + slab sit flush, one layer you slab art slab in front, art sheet behind
Front cut (left): the artwork is die-cut and your slab sets into the opening. Back placement (right): the full art sheet sits behind the clear case.

Here is what each method looks like on a real piece:

📷 Example photo coming soon — front-cut piece (PSA / CGC)

📷 Example photo coming soon — back placement piece (TAG / BGS / ARS / PCG)

Which method will my slab get?

  • PSA → front cut, at PSA's case size
  • CGC → front cut, at CGC's case size (different from PSA)
  • TAG → back placement
  • BGS → back placement
  • ARS → back placement
  • PCG → back placement
  • Raw / ungraded card → a different route entirely: our acrylic display case with a full extend-art backer — no slab needed

FAQ

Why not use one method for every slab?

Because the cases genuinely differ. Each grading company uses its own case dimensions, thickness and label position — PSA and CGC put the grade label at the top, while TAG places it at the bottom, for example. We match the production method to each case so the finished piece looks seamless and your grade stays clearly visible.

Does either method touch or damage my card?

No. The slab is never opened in either method. All cutting happens on the printed artwork only — your card stays sealed exactly as it was graded, and the grade label remains readable.

Do PSA and CGC use the same cut?

No. PSA and CGC cases have different dimensions, so each has its own die-cut template. A piece cut for a PSA slab will not fit a CGC slab, and vice versa — this is why we always ask which company graded your card before production.

Will back placement look less seamless than a front cut?

No. With back placement the artwork is aligned so it continues from your card's art through the clear case. Both methods read as one continuous artwork from the front — they simply mount differently.

My grading company is not on the list — can I still order?

Yes. Grading cases follow fairly standard sizes, so send us a photo of your slab (front and back) and we will confirm which method fits it before you order.

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