silly question: chrome and refractor

[helstad]

I normally don´t buy topps, but i was looking at a few cards and just from looking at them on ebay i can´t tell the difference between a chrome card and a refractor...

[rchurchward]

It's hard to tell online, but a refractor will generally have sort of a rainbow effect when you turn and view the card. Here is an example:
http://i3.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/06/66/a1a6_1.JPG

A chrome card will have a different effect than a regular base card, but not the refractor type style. Here is an example:
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/09/52/05dd_1.JPG

If you have a refractor card, generally on the back under the card number it'll say "Refractor." Hope this helps!

[helstad]

Thanks mate, very helpful

I didn´t notice the rafractor word below the number

But in the cards i have here (topps chrome 06/07 basketball) that rainbow effect is only on the edges of the card, not in the picture itself like the one you showed.

Trough a scan it´s impossible to tell the difference.

But yeah, the word refractor might be a clue...

[calebrichardson]

Is anyone else not able to tell at all?

I swear I have tried under all different angles and lighting conditions but still cannot distinguish between a base and refractor. This is with 2008 Topps Chrome MLB by the way.