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For those wondering about pixelated eyes (msg)

Posted by Bethany in PA on 1/12/2021, 9:05 am

Here are two examples of the so-called "pixelation". Not my photos. Both come from Ethan Wolf, a fellow collector on a Barbie Facebook page where I'm a member.

Barbie X-tra:

Lunar New Year:

I see it more in the Xtra above than Lunar New Year.

For comparison, this is the Chewbacca Barbie. Not quite the same angle and lighting, but it's as close as I have to a more recent Barbie face. The "smearing" or "pixelation" isn't visible on this doll.

Also not visible on the David Bowie Barbie:

From what I understand, Mattel is back to applied paint in some cases (rather than decals) and sometimes, the machines aren't set right. Not in all cases, but in some, even for the same doll. So you might get one Barbie Xtra that looks good and another might look "smeared" or "pixelated."

Normally, you can see a little pixelation on some of the newer dolls. For instance on my AA Tim Horton's doll, if you are close enough to her, you can see the individual paint pixels that make up her eye. From a distance, though, she looks fine. Kind of like an old CRT television - you get too close and you can see the dots that make up the bigger picture.

However in some cases, the machines go wild with the pixels and create a smearing effect when you look at the doll - kind of like someone just learning to repaint.

I haven't seen this effect in person since I don't buy many new dolls these days. The newer dolls I do have (Tim Horton's and the Hudson's Bay) are both fine and not dolls that are known to have problems.

However, the most recent crop of dolls (Lunar New Year, current Fashionistas, Barbie Xtra and whatever the latest BMR doll is) seem to have the problem. To me, I would refer to it more as looking like a smear than a pixelation, since I think I probably have a different definition of pixel that most.

Thoughts?

Thank you for the information, now I'll be looking at the dolls when I go to the store.

Posted by Ivy in MA on 1/12/2021, 9:30 pm, in reply to "For those wondering about pixelated eyes (msg)"

Previous Message

Here are two examples of the so-called "pixelation". Not my photos. Both come from Ethan Wolf, a fellow collector on a Barbie Facebook page where I'm a member.

Barbie X-tra:

Lunar New Year:

I see it more in the Xtra above than Lunar New Year.

For comparison, this is the Chewbacca Barbie. Not quite the same angle and lighting, but it's as close as I have to a more recent Barbie face. The "smearing" or "pixelation" isn't visible on this doll.

Also not visible on the David Bowie Barbie:

From what I understand, Mattel is back to applied paint in some cases (rather than decals) and sometimes, the machines aren't set right. Not in all cases, but in some, even for the same doll. So you might get one Barbie Xtra that looks good and another might look "smeared" or "pixelated."

Normally, you can see a little pixelation on some of the newer dolls. For instance on my AA Tim Horton's doll, if you are close enough to her, you can see the individual paint pixels that make up her eye. From a distance, though, she looks fine. Kind of like an old CRT television - you get too close and you can see the dots that make up the bigger picture.

However in some cases, the machines go wild with the pixels and create a smearing effect when you look at the doll - kind of like someone just learning to repaint.

I haven't seen this effect in person since I don't buy many new dolls these days. The newer dolls I do have (Tim Horton's and the Hudson's Bay) are both fine and not dolls that are known to have problems.

However, the most recent crop of dolls (Lunar New Year, current Fashionistas, Barbie Xtra and whatever the latest BMR doll is) seem to have the problem. To me, I would refer to it more as looking like a smear than a pixelation, since I think I probably have a different definition of pixel that most.

Thoughts?

Thank you for the clarification, I was wondering what that meant!

Posted by Judy in Pa on 1/12/2021, 7:52 pm, in reply to "For those wondering about pixelated eyes (msg)"

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I wonder if this will cause more people to want to buy in person & pick out their dolls.

Posted by Margie on 1/12/2021, 11:38 am, in reply to "For those wondering about pixelated eyes (msg)"

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I would think so which will be difficult because there aren't many in stores.

Posted by Bethany in PA on 1/13/2021, 8:44 am, in reply to "I wonder if this will cause more people to want to buy in person & pick out their dolls."
Edited by board administrator 1/13/2021, 8:50 am

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Thanks for the explanation. I truly did not know what some were referring to as

Posted by Jeanie on 1/12/2021, 9:26 am, in reply to "For those wondering about pixelated eyes (msg)"

"pixilation" of the eyes. I would have to get out a magnifying glass I guess since my old eyes don't pick up "cubes" of pixilation in my #3 or #4 Extra dolls.

From what I understand, not all dolls have it. So one pink coat Xtra (msg)

Posted by Bethany in PA / Admin on 1/12/2021, 9:37 am, in reply to "Thanks for the explanation. I truly did not know what some were referring to as"

might have the smeared or pixelated eyes while another pink coat next to her might not.

As I said, I haven't seen it in person so I can't judge whether or not this is collectors getting worked up about something that isn't really an issue. If that was the case, it wouldn't be the first time. Or they could be right. I can't judge as I haven't seen it for myself. My stores don't have any Xtras to actually look at so I have no way to compare.

In either case, if the photos in my post above are representative? I'd still say it looks more like a smear than anything and that would be a quality control issue, imo.

Previous Message

"pixilation" of the eyes. I would have to get out a magnifying glass I guess since my old eyes don't pick up "cubes" of pixilation in my #3 or #4 Extra dolls.

Thanks Bethany...

Posted by Bobbi in IN on 1/12/2021, 1:14 pm, in reply to "From what I understand, not all dolls have it. So one pink coat Xtra (msg)"

Previous Message

"pixilation" of the eyes. I would have to get out a magnifying glass I guess since my old eyes don't pick up "cubes" of pixilation in my #3 or #4 Extra dolls.

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