COMPARISONS
2004 Debut vs. 2009 Re-Run


CLEARCOAT IMPROVEMENT.  Looking down the clearcoat of one of the 2009 Fathom reproduction playfields.
The 2009 re-run is multi-coat polyeurethane clearcoated to an intense glossy shine with zero surface texture.
The 2004 version had only one coat of solvent-based poly for that "original look", thus grain & ink texture was obvious.

Please note that the 2004 version seen in all these photos has been since additionally clearcoated to our current style.



NEW WOOD - The 2004 version (left) was made on cabinet-grade 1/2 inch baltic birch (9-ply).
The 2009 re-run (right) was made on 17/32 mapletop American Hardwoods genuine playfield stock (7-ply).
REGISTRATION MARKINGS - Every 2004 version had the registration marks at all four corners, on every board made.
On the 2009 re-run, we closed off the registration marks for 95% of the run, once we were locked into registration. Cleaner look.



TEXT CORRECTIONS

The factory films that were from the archives of Illinois PinBall, as with most of what was left from the factory, were not the
final production artwork.  They were a pre-production, near-final version!  Close, but unfortunately no cigar.  The artistic artwork
was correct, and enough to proceed with the 2004 debut run.  However, those films had significant text differences in three places!
With no working knowledge of dealing with films or silkscreening, the 2004 version was printed straight off the films as-is, by the
local outsourced silkscreen shop.  Five years later, we now know how to re-cut films, make alterations, and burn new versions of
screens incorporating our own changes.  This allowed us to finally match an original production Fathom playfield.


CORRECTION #1  -  Text associated with blue arrow, upper left.
2004 repro (left) vs. 2009 re-run (right).  The 2009 layout is the actual production layout.



CORRECTION #2  -  Text associated with 'Cave Captive Ball' green insert.
2004 repro (left) vs. 2009 re-run (right).  The 2009 layout is the actual production layout.



CORRECTION #3 - Text associated with "Lagoon Captive Ball" blue insert.  Quite a major difference here!
2004 repro (left) vs. 2009 re-run (right).  The 2009 layout is the actual production layout.



BLUE INSERTS

The 2004 version had blue inserts that many people found to be too pale.  Subsequent fixes like clear blue disc kits were made by some
enthusiasts out there, so guys could put them behind the inserts to deepen the blue look.  Since that time, we had the injection
molding factory make CPR a custom blue mix.  It uses double the blue dye beads as they normally use when asked for "blue".
Our mix is called "Double Blue Transparent" (or DBT as they call it) and the 2009 re-run had all the blue inserts molded using DBT.


2004 repro (left) vs. 2009 re-run (right)
Now a perfect color-density match to the green, for example.



OVERALL COLOR ACCURACY

The factory films were Bally-notated with the original Pantone color numbers, written on each sheet.
The 2004 Fathom was printed by a local silkscreen shop, whose operator manually mixed his ink colors that were used.
He did a decent job, but missed out on a little bit of accounting for ink transparency and density when printed.  Remember, these
folks were otherwise used to printing signage, where strict color matching was not a crucial concern.

Our inks used on the 2009 re-run were LAB-MIXED and PRE-TESTED for matching and holding their color when printed in final density.
We let the experts at the ink factory take care of this crucial step, and let them work out the final ink colors put in the cans.
The resulting colors were EXACT matches when printed, to the actual Pantone colors found in any Pantone swatch book.
Thus, the 2009 re-run reflects exactly the intended colors as noted by Bally on their films.

There is no particular side-by-side photo to show the difference between the 2004 and 2009 silkscreening results.
However, all of the above photos in this gallery allow you to see what "close shot-in-the-dark" and "lab mixed exact" look like
next to each other.  The biggest differences are in the blues/teals.  With the dark blue being the biggest difference of all.
The deep blue on the 2004 repro almost looks 50% desaturated as compared to the 2009 re-run.  This was mostly due to the
densities of the inks used in 2004 being so much more transparent.  Colors like the greens, brown, red, and yellow show no change.


 

THE 2009 REPRODUCTION
O U T D O O R   P H O T O S   &   C L O S E - U P S











































Backside of the 2009 Fathom repro playfield.  Recessed pop bumper area, greyed, and dimpled.



Fathom 2009 in the Canadian Outdoors - Click to Enlarge



FATHOM ORIGINAL - The poor 30-year-old thing! 
What can we say?  Green Green Green.  This is what age and color shifting does to an old classic.
All of the original colors are nearly lost to a sea of greening, which is what makes the repro appear so vibrant.  Look familiar?



Click Here to visit Oliver Kaegi's FATHOM PLAYFIELD SWAP SITE



END OF PHOTO GALLERY