Pokemon trading cards are a popular pastime for many kids and adults. They’re highly collectible and can be worth a fortune if a sought-after card is pristine or holographic. So how are these shiny gems made? Here’s what goes into the process of creating a new Pokemon card.

Generally, there are four types of Pokemon cards: battle cards depict creatures that fight against each other, evolution cards show how a Pokemon can evolve into a more powerful creature, energy cards supply the power to carry out your trainer’s orders, and trainer cards are cards used once during a game and then discarded. Each card has a unique design and information about the Pokemon depicted on it.

Once the design team has the idea for a new card, they send it to a graphic artist who does the art. This artist usually works with the Pokemon and trainer card designers to make sure the artwork fits with the card’s function. Often, the designers will have some vague instructions for the artist, such as “make it look imposing” or “use a classical painting style.”

Next, the card is edited and printed by the game’s design team. This includes the game designer, more than 70 artists, and 19 playtesters who work full time to test new sets of Pokemon cards. The playtesters vary in skill to ensure that the game is balanced for all levels of players. The playtesters may also submit feedback, which could result in very minor changes to a card, such as decreasing attack damage or adding HP by 10.

Once a card is finalized, it is ready for production. During this process, the card may be printed in different colors and with varying finishes. A holographic card is always shiny, while a clear-faced card has the name of the Pokemon on its face and a white background. The cards are then glued together to form the finished product.

Some cards, known as staple cards, go in every Pokemon deck. This category usually consists of the best consistency cards and some widely used power cards. Staple cards such as Professor’s Research, Choice Band, Boss’s Orders and Quick Ball are extremely useful in any deck.

As the popularity of Pokemon continues to grow, so too do the values of its trading cards. A rare base set Venusaur card from 1999 can go for a jaw-dropping amount, especially if it’s a 1st edition Shadowless version. Similarly, the 1st Edition version of Rayquaza is a hot item, and it recently sold for a staggering $45,100 at a PWCC auction.