Oppenheimer (2023) (4K+2D Blu-ray SteelBook) (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [UK]

paulboland

Contributor Steels/Arrow
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Premium Supporter
Sep 10, 2012
40,521
Navan/Ireland
Release date: November 18, 2024
Purchase links: Amazon UK - Zavvi - HMV
Price: £44.99
Notes: SteelBook Finish Gloss & Debossed - Rigid slipcase with soft touch and spot UV detail - 60-page abridged ‘Unleashing Oppenheimer’ book - Artcards - Double-sided poster

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I always thought the first two variants, especially the more popular one, where incredibly muted in tone & saturation to their detriment.
Are we looking at an even more dull finish or a brighter look on this new variant?
 
I also find steelbooks look better thoroughly painted, not shining through with metal, unless it's partial in 'strategic' places, like eyes, or something metal that's pictured, such as a blade, you know.
 
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The original steels were zero varnish at the insistence of the manufacturer. Having seen the metal running sheets for this new gloss version & the way we set up the white hit, they look really strong (in my opinion)
Even though artwork and finishes are always subjective, I think people will really see a difference despite the fact we're on a very similar colour palette.
This appears to be an error in Scanavo's information. The original Steelbook looks like the cheap matte streaky varnish. Maybe a cheap version of Satin Varnish.
Zero Varnish usually has a glossy edge and spot varnish elements.


But white hit base coat makes the colours thicker and pop more. No one wants metallic sheen under gloss. Looks cheap
What is the point of a Steelbook completely without metallic effects? I agree with you about bright areas of artwork, this looks really cheap when the metal shows through, so a white base coat is recommended. But strong base colors are significantly enhanced by the metallic effect, take the new Atomic Blonde Steelbook as an example. This is far from looking cheap.

The Battleship Steelbook, released in 2012, makes perfect use of the white base coat and metallic effects, with a very attractive satin varnish.
 
This appears to be an error in Scanavo's information. The original Steelbook looks like the cheap matte streaky varnish. Maybe a cheap version of Satin Varnish.
Zero Varnish usually has a glossy edge and spot varnish elements.

Nah, you're getting confused there. The original steel definitely has a zero finish, which is a more reflective variant of matte. What you're thinking of is spot gloss, which has a gloss base coat and matte ontop to create the "spot" effect. Scanavo EU do not have a satin finish. That's Scanavo NA, which is what they have instead of zero. You've made me sound like @paulboland , so thanks for that :rofl:
 
Nah, you're getting confused there. The original steel definitely has a zero finish, which is a more reflective variant of matte. What you're thinking of is spot gloss, which has a gloss base coat and matte ontop to create the "spot" effect. Scanavo EU do not have a satin finish. That's Scanavo NA, which is what they have instead of zero. You've made me sound like @paulboland , so thanks for that :rofl:
Does the original Oppenheimer Steelbook have a glossy edge? Zero Finish always has this glossy edge and usually partial spot gloss elements. Look at the link of the Joker Steelbook, exactly these features. Filmarena has also specified Zero Varnish here.
Spot gloss is simply Zero Finish with glossy elements. Here, no matt coat is applied to a glossy Steelbook, but a normally printed Steelbook is finished with a silk-matt coat of varnish and then the partial elements are applied in high gloss. You can always recognize this by the fact that the partial glossy coating is slightly raised, for example Taxi Driver, Joker, Deadpool 2 in the Flashdance version or Don't Breathe.

Even though only Scanavo USA actually offers a satin finish, there are many European Steelbooks with it, for example Hangover 2 and Battleship. As the Steelbooks are often equipped with the discs in China, it doesn't matter in which factory they are produced.
 
What is the point of a Steelbook completely without metallic effects? I agree with you about bright areas of artwork, this looks really cheap when the metal shows through, so a white base coat is recommended. But strong base colors are significantly enhanced by the metallic effect, take the new Atomic Blonde Steelbook as an example. This is far from looking cheap.

In some cases it works I do agree and all 3 of the universal steelbooks in the collectors editions recently has a metallic effect under the gloss (Atomic blonde, Northman and King Kong) but they also have a lot more colour going on. This steel with the orange I don’t think it will work but it’s just my opinion. So yeah I was being a bit over the top when I said looks cheap. But most the time it is. Time will tell in a weeks time. I imagine it will all look great though like their other editions
 
Does the original Oppenheimer Steelbook have a glossy edge? Zero Finish always has this glossy edge and usually partial spot gloss elements. Look at the link of the Joker Steelbook, exactly these features. Filmarena has also specified Zero Varnish here.
Spot gloss is simply Zero Finish with glossy elements. Here, no matt coat is applied to a glossy Steelbook, but a normally printed Steelbook is finished with a silk-matt coat of varnish and then the partial elements are applied in high gloss. You can always recognize this by the fact that the partial glossy coating is slightly raised, for example Taxi Driver, Joker, Deadpool 2 in the Flashdance version or Don't Breathe.

Even though only Scanavo USA actually offers a satin finish, there are many European Steelbooks with it, for example Hangover 2 and Battleship. As the Steelbooks are often equipped with the discs in China, it doesn't matter in which factory they are produced.
Not to sound condescending, but as I said, you're confused. That Joker steelbook has a spot gloss finish. It doesn't have a zero finish. Zero finish is a varnish similar to matte, but more reflective. It is not glossy, has no glossy elements, and has no base gloss layer. That would be a spot gloss finish. Gloss base, matte on top. I mean, you probably can get spot gloss that use a zero finish ontop (instead of matte), it'd be difficult to make that call sometimes, but that still isn't a zero finish Steelbook. That Joker steel is spot gloss. The EU Oppenheimer is zero.
 
In some cases it works I do agree and all 3 of the universal steelbooks in the collectors editions recently has a metallic effect under the gloss (Atomic blonde, Northman and King Kong) but they also have a lot more colour going on. This steel with the orange I don’t think it will work but it’s just my opinion. So yeah I was being a bit over the top when I said looks cheap. But most the time it is. Time will tell in a weeks time. I imagine it will all look great though like their other editions
So the information about Joker at Filmarena would be wrong?
What is the difference between Zero Finish and Satin Finish?
Can you think of any examples of Steelbooks with a zero finish?

I could swear that the spot coating elements are slightly raised. You can feel them with your fingers, which would argue against the theory that the top coat is matt.
 
So the information about Joker at Filmarena would be wrong?
What is the difference between Zero Finish and Satin Finish?
Can you think of any examples of Steelbooks with a zero finish?

I could swear that the spot coating elements are slightly raised. You can feel them with your fingers, which would argue against the theory that the top coat is matt.
Yes. FAC have listed it wrong. It may be that is a spot gloss finish that utilises a top zero layer, as opposed to matte, but I've never heard of anyone refer to it as that. Including Scanavo.

You'll have to ask @paulboland about the exact differences between satin and zero. He'll verse you. All I know is it's a higher quality silk-matt finish, with no real metallic elements. Whereas zero is essentially a more reflective matte.

Satin is also a finish Scanavo EU don't offer anymore, they use zero instead. It's only used by Scanavo NA now. LOADS of EU steels have a zero finish. Oppenheimer, evidently. Ex Machina 4K is another example off the top of my head.

It'll depend on the steel, but I cannot remember the last time gloss was layered ontop of matte for a spot gloss finish. It used to happen, but not in years. If the sides are glossy, then the matte is on top, and vice versa.
 
In some cases it works I do agree and all 3 of the universal steelbooks in the collectors editions recently has a metallic effect under the gloss (Atomic blonde, Northman and King Kong) but they also have a lot more colour going on. This steel with the orange I don’t think it will work but it’s just my opinion. So yeah I was being a bit over the top when I said looks cheap. But most the time it is. Time will tell in a weeks time. I imagine it will all look great though like their other editions
Do you have an example of a Steelbook where the metallic effect of the colors looked cheap? Many factors can play a role here, for example a print that is much too thin. There are also two variants of a matt finish, the thickly applied paint with a smooth surface and the streaky finish.

So here with the orange hues that are supposed to represent smoke and fire, I can imagine a metallic effect very nicely.
Yes. FAC have listed it wrong. It may be that is a spot gloss finish that utilises a top zero layer, as opposed to matte, but I've never heard of anyone refer to it as that. Including Scanavo.

You'll have to ask @paulboland about the exact differences between satin and zero. He'll verse you. All I know is it's a higher quality silk-matt finish, with no real metallic elements. Whereas zero is essentially a more reflective matte.

Satin is also a finish Scanavo EU don't offer anymore, they use zero instead. It's only used by Scanavo NA now. LOADS of EU steels have a zero finish. Oppenheimer, evidently. Ex Machina 4K is another example off the top of my head.

It'll depend on the steel, but I cannot remember the last time gloss was layered ontop of matte for a spot gloss finish. It used to happen, but not in years. If the sides are glossy, then the matte is on top, and vice versa.

I've always understood that zero finish is the version with spot gloss. Apart from the spot gloss finish, there are no major visual differences to the satin finish. And since many Steelbooks have been released with a matt finish or zero finish in recent years, this also makes sense. Besides, why should the entire background be coated in matt so that individual small elements can shine glossy?

Spot gloss as a completely independent paint finish with a matt paint layer on top makes little sense for three reasons:
1. Then what is the point of zero finish at all and how is it different from satin finish or matt finish?
2. Is the gloss finish touchable and gives the impression of having been applied last as a separate layer, for example the sword on the old Highlander Blu-ray Steelbook.
3. Does it make no economic sense to print a Steelbook first, then apply a high-gloss coating and finally apply another matt coating. In addition, the coating would be thicker overall than on Steelbooks with a satin or glossy finish.
In any case, there is no clear information from Scanavo explaining how the Steelbooks are produced, so much remains speculation.

The metallic effect of a Steelbook results from the white base coat applied before printing. The thicker and more evenly this white base coat is applied, the more the metallic effect of the metal is reduced.

I don't own Oppenheimer myself, but EX-Machina 4K was probably painted in a normal matt finish, not particularly high-quality. And if this is a different type of paint finish, its existence would hardly make sense. The metallic effects on Ex Machina are even weaker than on some other older matt Steelbooks from the early Blu-ray or DVD era. The paintwork is not at all comparable with Battleship or Hangover 2, whose satin finish shines beautifully, but not like high gloss.

When did Scanavo EU stop producing satin finishes and did it ever produce them?

No, gloss varnish is never applied to a matt Steelbook, hence my understanding of zero finish. I also don't know of any example where gloss varnish was applied to a satin finish.
But I can remember one example where partial matt varnish was applied to a high-gloss Steelbook, that was the red Scarface Steelbook from 2011.
 
Do you have an example of a Steelbook where the metallic effect of the colors looked cheap? Many factors can play a role here, for example a print that is much too thin. There are also two variants of a matt finish, the thickly applied paint with a smooth surface and the streaky finish.

So here with the orange hues that are supposed to represent smoke and fire, I can imagine a metallic effect very nicely.
Mate I’m really high right now and it’s all a little too deep. I can’t even give you an example of what I had for breakfast this morning
 
Do you have an example of a Steelbook where the metallic effect of the colors looked cheap? Many factors can play a role here, for example a print that is much too thin. There are also two variants of a matt finish, the thickly applied paint with a smooth surface and the streaky finish.

So here with the orange hues that are supposed to represent smoke and fire, I can imagine a metallic effect very nicely.


I've always understood that zero finish is the version with spot gloss. Apart from the spot gloss finish, there are no major visual differences to the satin finish. And since many Steelbooks have been released with a matt finish or zero finish in recent years, this also makes sense. Besides, why should the entire background be coated in matt so that individual small elements can shine glossy?

Spot gloss as a completely independent paint finish with a matt paint layer on top makes little sense for three reasons:
1. Then what is the point of zero finish at all and how is it different from satin finish or matt finish?
2. Is the gloss finish touchable and gives the impression of having been applied last as a separate layer, for example the sword on the old Highlander Blu-ray Steelbook.
3. Does it make no economic sense to print a Steelbook first, then apply a high-gloss coating and finally apply another matt coating. In addition, the coating would be thicker overall than on Steelbooks with a satin or glossy finish.
In any case, there is no clear information from Scanavo explaining how the Steelbooks are produced, so much remains speculation.

The metallic effect of a Steelbook results from the white base coat applied before printing. The thicker and more evenly this white base coat is applied, the more the metallic effect of the metal is reduced.

I don't own Oppenheimer myself, but EX-Machina 4K was probably painted in a normal matt finish, not particularly high-quality. And if this is a different type of paint finish, its existence would hardly make sense. The metallic effects on Ex Machina are even weaker than on some other older matt Steelbooks from the early Blu-ray or DVD era. The paintwork is not at all comparable with Battleship or Hangover 2, whose satin finish shines beautifully, but not like high gloss.

When did Scanavo EU stop producing satin finishes and did it ever produce them?

No, gloss varnish is never applied to a matt Steelbook, hence my understanding of zero finish. I also don't know of any example where gloss varnish was applied to a satin finish.
But I can remember one example where partial matt varnish was applied to a high-gloss Steelbook, that was the red Scarface Steelbook from 2011.
This conversation is escalating unnecessarily now imo. No offence intended, but I think your understanding of steelbook finishes isn't correct, so most of what you've said isn't correct.

Spot gloss has a gloss base, with a matte (or I suppose, zero) finish applied on top to create the "spot" gloss elements. That's just the way it is. Steels USED to have matte finish, with gloss sections applied ontop for the "spot", but that isn't done now.

Zero is a base varnish that is similar to matte, but its usually slight better quality, and more reflective. Shows fingerprints etc.. It is NOT what you're trying to say it is. EU Scanavo only.

Satin (as far as I'm aware) is essentially a better quality matte with a smoother silk-matt finish. US/CA only now AFAIK.

Matte, pretty much speaks for itself, and can vary in quality. US matte is usually different to EU matte, though. EU regularly has many metallic reflection, whereas the US rarely does. I don't know why, it must be to do with different plant processes.

Gloss, again, speaks for itself, and also varies in quality. US and EU applications also differ, which can be understood when holding both in hand. Another case of different processes.

Many steels can also have a white paint base layer below the chosen varnish. This stops the metallic effect of the steel plate impacting the varnish used and often improves the end result, the same as any image printed on a white base.

That's it. There isn't anything else. Your understanding of zero is wrong, as is your understanding of spot gloss if it differs from what I typed above. Hopefully that's cleared it up for you.
 
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Has anyone ever created a small list with photos of what each finish looks like?

Rather than having the argument go back and forth this might be useful as a reference for everyone.
 
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This conversation is escalating unnecessarily now imo. No offence intended, but I think your understanding of steelbook finishes isn't correct, so most of what you've said isn't correct.

Spot gloss has a gloss base, with a matte (or I suppose, zero) finish applied on top to create the "spot" gloss elements. That's just the way it is. Steels USED to have matte finish, with gloss sections applied ontop for the "spot", but that isn't done now.

Zero is a base varnish that is similar to matte, but its usually slight better quality, and more reflective. Shows fingerprints etc.. It is NOT what you're trying to say it is. EU Scanavo only.

Satin (as far as I'm aware) is essentially a better quality matte with a smoother silk-matt finish. US/CA only now AFAIK.

Matte, pretty much speaks for itself, and can vary in quality. US matte is usually different to EU matte, though. EU regularly has many metallic reflection, whereas the US rarely does. I don't know why, it must be to do with different plant processes.

Gloss, again, speaks for itself, and also varies in quality. US and EU applications also differ, which can be understood when holding both in hand. Another case of different processes.

Many steels can also have a white paint base layer below the chosen varnish. This stops the metallic effect of the steel plate impacting the varnish used and often improves the end result, the same as any image printed on a white base.

That's it. There isn't anything else. Your understanding of zero is wrong, as is your understanding of spot gloss if it differs from what I typed above. Hopefully that's cleared it up for you.

Thank you for your explanations, but I need official details and proof. It's simply a case of statement against statement. You write that my understanding of the finishes is wrong, but I see it the other way around. This is also nothing personal against you, nothing can be verified here at the moment.

What speaks against your understanding of zero finish or spot gloss is that the spot gloss can be touched and that it makes no economic sense to completely coat a Steelbook twice. So why was a zero finish introduced at all, as it offers hardly any difference to the matt finish? It would have made more sense to introduce the satin finish across the board in the other factories as well.

With regard to the satin finish, I can remember the Batman Returns EU Blu-ray Steelbook as another example, which even had a matt finish in the USA.
Which is of course also an option if it is a worldwide Printrun. It would be interesting to know when Scanavo EU stopped offering Steelbooks with a satin finish and why.

Do you know which matte Steelbook used spot gloss and why Scanavo no longer does this?

Regarding the high-gloss finish, I was able to identify three different variants:
1. The classic high-gloss finish as it is still used today.
2. A clearly different surface, consisting of many small dots in the surface instead of lines that go from top to bottom. The Zavvi Blu-ray Steelbook of The Equalizer with the debossed title and the Blu-ray Steelbook of King Kong had this finish.
3. A slightly more matte version that the international Blu-ray Steelbook of The Shape of Water, released in 2019, had. The reprint of the Studiocanal 4K Steelbook of Total Recall also differs from the first print.