Refractor
A standard refractor uses a rainbow-like reflective effect that changes as the card moves under light. The card design usually remains recognizable without an added geometric or wave pattern.
Because “refractor” is often used casually in listings, confirm whether the checklist calls that exact finish Refractor.
Prism
Prism-style finishes introduce a repeating geometric or tiled reflective pattern. The pattern is the key identifier, not just brightness.
Photographs can flatten the effect. Ask for angled images or video when buying a card whose finish is uncertain.
Wave and RayWave
Wave finishes create repeated flowing or radiating lines across the Chrome surface. Different products use names such as Wave, RayWave, Mojo, Shimmer, or Geometric for distinct patterned treatments.
Do not collapse these names into one generic “wave refractor” category if the product checklist distinguishes them.
SuperFractor
SuperFractor is a specific Topps premium finish associated with a one-of-one copy. Its visual treatment is typically highly distinctive and should be matched against official or reliable product references.
A SuperFractor is not simply the shiniest version of a card. It is a named parallel with a stated 1/1 print run.
How IDS records finishes
IDS uses the checklist name as the primary field. Visual nicknames can be added in notes, but the collection database should preserve the exact parallel wording so searches and comparisons remain consistent.
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