
As an artist, I really enjoy looking relaxing pictures from time to time. I sometimes even have them as my desktop background! Here, let me share some of my favorite desktop backgrounds with you.




Ahhhhh… I just love the sweeping hills of the one right there… better than the hills used as the Windows … Ecks-Pee background! OH! And that beach view! Sooo relaxing looking, it almost feels like I’m there, feeling the cool sea breeze blowing across my face. And who doesn’t find that green-blue-yellow splotchy painting calming?? Yes… such beautiful pictures…
…but wait a second…
I dunno about you… but something about these look familiar. A little TOO familiar, if you get my drift. …!!! WAIT A FLIPPIN’ SECOND!
OH MY GOODNESS, they’re the background artwork for many Pokémon TCG cards! You’ve just been bamboozled!
Hahah, ok ok, jokes aside… yes, that’s what’s going on here. Turns out a recent Twitter post which was brought to my attention by CinnamonBiscuits (who also told me about the bootleg cards I talked about recently) had discovered the source of many of the backgrounds on the earliest cards. Then coincidentally, Alveinhero on the PA! Discord Server posted a link to a Flickr account with a TON of related background. Between those two sources, I decided to look into this further and share the conclusion of my investigations with you. Huzzah!
First off though, the Twitter post in question:
Last night I managed to find a bunch of source images used as backgrounds in Pokemon cards, here's a few of them. pic.twitter.com/NMJ6VaSqOa
— Fanamel (@FanamelT) March 26, 2021
So these backgrounds come from a digital stock photo and artwork collection called Datacraft Sozaijiten, or sometimes simply Sozaijiten. The name “Sozaijiten” (素材辞典) clearly spells out its purpose, as it translates to “material dictionary”: specifically, it’s a Japanese-produced collection of stock pictures produced by Image navi corporation, broken up into over 245 various volumes of shared concepts released on CD-ROM format. For example, Volume 1 is “Stone Textures”, Volume 10 is “Flowers”, Volume 20 is “Wild Flowers and Cherry Blossoms”, and so forth. Furthermore, it seems as if new volumes are constantly being produced every now and then, as in 2008 there was only 207, but in 2013 it was up to 235. Given this it’s most likely that the original artists working on the Japanese release of Base Set back in 1996 only had access to the earliest Sozaijiten releases, as most of the backgrounds seem to pull from the first 30 or 40 volumes.
Nifty, huh? Well, what’s just as nifty is seeing which Pokémon TCG cards used what Datacraft Sozaijiten backgrounds. And that’s what this page aims to do: if a card used a background image pulled from a Datacraft Sozaijiten volume, it will be listed here along with an raw example of that background, just so you can see what you’ve been missing after all these years. Move aside, Ponyta! Take two steps to your left, Wartortle! We’re here for the background images!
List of Cards using DS Backgrounds
To keep this list simple, we’ll just be focusing on basic card data—name, set and collector number, with a link to Bulbapedia for more info—along with a cropped picture of the card’s image and a low-res copy of the original Datacraft Sozaijiten image, so as to not overstep copyright.
That said, I want to make just a couple quick points:
- Use of Datacraft Sozaijiten images are included on this page under Fair Use principles, specifically for the case of news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
- Card images are usually sourced from pkmncards.com and from Bulbapedia, if I didn’t scan them myself. It may even link to a Bulbapedia article if the original source is somewhat obscure and/or was never released in English.
- This list is very incomplete. And not in a “well we got 99% of them but I’m sure one or two are left” way, but in a “we’ve only barely started; there’s still like 500 backgrounds still left to add!” way. (If you find any, let us know!)
Without further ado:
SET | № | Name | Card Art | Original DS Image | DS Source | Notes |
(multiple) | (multiple) | Trainer Cards | ![]() |
Vol 003 – Metal and Rust Textures
Pic #003 |
I’m convinced that this was used to create the Trainer Card background. Does this mean OTHER card backgrounds were built from DS images? | |
Base Set | 3/102 | Chansey | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #077 |
I realize that this might look like a bit of a stretch, but after playing around with a bunch of filters in Photoshop, as well as comparing other pictures in Vol 9, I’m 90% certain that this is the background used. |
Base Set | 20/102 | Electabuzz | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #088 |
Similar to the background used in the background for Promo Pikachu #4, but it’s actually a different shot of the same bolt and thus two different pictures. |
Base Set | 22/102 | Pidgeotto | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #031 |
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Base Set | 23/102 | Arcanine | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #029 |
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Base Set | 26/102 | Dratini | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #074 |
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Base Set | 27/102 | Farfetch’d | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #191 |
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Base Set | 28/102 | Growlithe | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #033 |
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Base Set | 31/102 | Jynx | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #004 |
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Base Set | 32/102 | Kadabra | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #108 |
Background image is flipped vertically relative to the original stock photo; the stock photo shown here was similarly flipped for comparison. |
Base Set | 36/102 | Magmar | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #070 |
The background used in Magmar’s picture was flipped vertically. The example DS image therefore is likewise flipped vertically for ease of comparison, but note that that’s not how it normally looks. |
Base Set | 38/102 | Poliwhirl | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #157 |
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Base Set | 40/102 | Raticate | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #063 |
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Base Set | 41/102 | Seel | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #145 |
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Base Set | 42/102 | Wartortle | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #018 |
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Base Set | 45/102 | Caterpie | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #109 |
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Base Set | 49/102 | Drowsee | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #043 |
The background was modified with Twirl filter of about 226%. Yes, we checked. |
Base Set | 55/102 | Nidoran ♂ | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #107 |
This background would later be used again on GB Marowak (see entry towards the bottom of the page) |
Base Set | 56/102 | Onix | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #167 |
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Base Set | 57/102 | Pidgey | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #006 |
Aside from the use of Photoshop filters, a bright spot was added in the upper-left corner. |
Base Set | 60/102 | Ponyta | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #082 |
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Base Set | 62/102 | Sandshrew | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #176 |
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Base Set | 68/102 | Vulpix | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #009 |
Also seen on Neo Genesis Pichu (see below) |
Base Set | 73/102 | Impostor Professor Oak | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #070 |
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Base Set | 75/102 | Lass | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #194 |
Some kind of extra sprinkle filter was added to the background, but I can’t ascertain what it is. |
Base Set | 76/102 | Pokémon Breeder | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #095 |
The background image was squished vertically so it could fit within the narrower art frame of Trainer cards. |
Base Set | 77/102 | Pokémon Trader | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #067 |
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Base Set | 88/102 | Professor Oak | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #151 |
Anyone else extremely satisfied knowing that they chose picture number 151 for Professor Oak? No, just me then? OK…. |
Base Set | 91/102 | Bill | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #004 |
The top 2 and bottom 4 rows of bricks were cropped to fix within the art frame of the Trainer card. |
Jungle | 6/64 & 22/64 | Mr. Mime | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #087 |
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Jungle | 7/64 & 23/64 | Nidoqueen | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #101 |
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Jungle | 10/64 & 26/64 | Scyther | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #078 |
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Jungle | 11/64 & 27/64 | Snorlax | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #085 |
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Jungle | 13/64 & 29/64 | Venomoth | ![]() |
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Vol 020 – Wild Flowers and Cherry Blossoms
Pic #034 |
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Jungle | 41/64 | Parasect | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #092 |
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Fossil (Tropical Mega Battle Phone Card) | 2/62 | Articuno | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #104 |
Technically this card is a unique version of Fossil Articuno, printed on a phone card as part of the Tropical Mega Battle. The card itself is based on the Fossil version of Articuno, but uses different artwork. |
Fossil (Tropical Mega Battle Phone Card) | 12/62 | Moltres | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #197 |
Technically this card is a unique version of Fossil Articuno, printed on a phone card as part of the Tropical Mega Battle. The card itself is based on the Fossil version of Articuno, but uses different artwork. |
Fossil | 22/62 | Hitmonlee | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #161 |
Another mix. |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #115 |
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Fossil | 24/62 | Kabutops | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #162 |
The top picture was flipped vertically when used as Kabutops’ background, so the example image was similarly flipped for comparison.
The other picture, on the other hand… is a complete mystery! Like, clearly it looks like it’s part of the Volume 9 “Pains and Pastels” collection… but if you look at the entire collection, you’ll notice that it’s not there! If you happen to spot it elsewhere, let us know! |
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Unknown! (read description) | |||||
Fossil (Tropical Mega Battle Phone Card) | 30/62 | Zapdos | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #034 |
Technically this card is a unique version of Fossil Zapdos, printed on a phone card as part of the Tropical Mega Battle. The card itself is based on the Fossil version of Zapdos, but uses different artwork.
The artwork was also rotated 180 degrees relative to its original stock photograph; I’ve likewise rotated it for comparison purposes. |
Fossil | 31/62 | Arbok | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #046 |
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Team Rocket | 1/82 & 18/82 | Dark Alakazam | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #031 |
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Team Rocket | 56/82 | Ekans | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #052 |
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Team Rocket | 59/82 | Machop | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #074 |
This one mixed BOTH images together into one. That said, it’s hard to tell how exactly they merged the two. I THINK the used a Lighten filter on one of them in order to merge the two, but, I’m maybe 70% sure on that. |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #010 |
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Team Rocket | 82/82 | Potion Energy | ![]() |
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Vol 013 – Leaves and Leaf Veins
Pic #186 |
The leaf graphic is used both in the potion container depicted, as well as in the dark, faded background which you can only barely see the lead veins. |
Gym Heroes | 11/132 | Rocket’s Hitmonchan | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #081 |
For some reason the English version turned the black bits into brown, but otherwise it’s the same picture. |
Gym Heroes | 24/132 | Brock’s Zubat | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #171 |
0 |
Gym Heroes | 28/132 | Lt. Surge’s Raichu | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #90 |
This is another mixed picture. |
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Vol 003 – Metal and Rust Textures
Pic #034 |
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Gym Heroes | 31/132 | Misty’s Poliwrath | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #111 |
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Gym Heroes | 40/132 | Brock’s Graveler | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #170 |
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Gym Heroes | 41/132 | Erika’s Ivysaur | ![]() |
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Vol 020 – Wild Flowers and Cherry Blossoms
Pic #085 |
Ivysaur’s background is zoomed in from the original; it is placed in the large empty (green) patch in the bottom-right corner of the original picture. |
Gym Heroes | 42/132 | Erika’s Dratini | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #011 |
The original stock picture was rotated 180 degrees for use on Erika’s Dratini; the example image was similarly rotated for comparison purposes. |
Gym Heroes | 45/132 | Erika’s Gloom | ![]() |
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Vol 003 – Metal and Rust Textures
Pic #118 |
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Gym Heroes | 46/132 | Erika’s Gloom | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #063 |
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Gym Heroes | 55/132 | Misty’s Seaking | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #156 |
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Gym Heroes | 60/132 | Sabrina’s Slowbro | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #126 |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #078 |
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Gym Heroes | 73/132 | Brock’s Vulpix | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #172 |
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Gym Heroes | 78/132 | Erika’s Oddish | ![]() |
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Vol 026 – Forests and Grove
Pic #110 |
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Gym Heroes | 79/132 | Erika’s Tangela | ![]() |
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Vol 026 – Forests and Grove
Pic #101 |
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Gym Challenge | 39/132 | Erika’s Bulbasaur | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #029 |
Previously used on Base Set Arcanine (see above)
“We’ve run out of backgrounds to use… so just use a posterize filter on a background we’ve already used; no one will notice!” … And y’know what? For nearly 20 years, they were right: no one did notice. |
Gym Challenge | 67/132 | Brock’s Diglett | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #044 |
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Gym Challenge | 91/132 | Misty’s Seel | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #155 |
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Gym Challenge | 93/132 | Sabrina’s Abra | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #185 |
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Gym Challenge | 98/132 | Sabrina’s Porygon | ![]() |
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Vol 033 – Computers and Technology
Pic #057 |
Picture #057 is only BARELY visible relative to picture #058, but I assure you they are BOTH visible. |
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Vol 033 – Computers and Technology
Pic #058 |
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Gym Challenge | 118/132 | Misty’s Tears (Japan-only version) |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #145 |
This one only applies to the original Japanese version, as it was changed for the International (eg. non-Japanese) release. It used a slightly naughty picture of Misty, which I’ve hidden behind a spoiler box in case that’s not your thing.
Anyways, this was previously seen on Base Set Seel. |
Neo Genesis | 12/111 | Pichu | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #165 |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #009 |
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Neo Genesis | 13/111 | Skarmory | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #021 |
I suspect that there might have been an overlay image used on top of Vol 7 Pic 21, but I’m not sure what it could be. |
Neo Genesis | 23/111 | Magby | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #116 |
Unknown flame effect added to BG |
Neo Genesis | 41/111 | Miltank | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #093 |
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XY Evolutions | 84/108 | Professor Oak’s Hint | ![]() |
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Vol 008 – Walls & Soils
Pic #063 |
This is interesting; for the “update” to Base Set in the form of “XY Evolutions“, they created a new card to replace the original Professor Oak card called “Professor Oak’s Hint”… but they went with a totally new background instead of reusing Picture #151. That said, they still chose one from the same DS collection: picture #63. |
Vending | (n/a) | Mew | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #148 |
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Game Boy (Laboratory) | D23 | Magnemite | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #141 |
This card—like all Game Boy cards—never got an actual physical release, and therefore only existed in Game Boy form. However, images of the Game Boy-only cards appeared in a Japanese Pokémon Card price guide; presumably the Game Boy artwork was based on these pictures. |
Game Boy (Evolution) | B33 | Marowak | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #107 |
This background was previously originally used on Base Set Nidoran ♂. I suspect that the artists simply forgot that that background was previously used before. |
Game Boy (Promotional) | P02 | Moltres | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #025 |
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CD Promo (Japan-only) | (n/a) | Charizard | ![]() |
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Vol 006 – Seasons and Nature
Pic #161 |
Y’know, I realized just now that my previous numbering for Vol 006 was wrong; I will be using the CORRECT numbering here. Every other Volume’s numbering is fine, however. |
Black Star Promo | 2 | Electabuzz (First Movie Promo) | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #010 |
The card was given a red filter for the background, but otherwise it stayed the same. |
Black Star Promo | 4 | Pikachu (First Movie Promo) | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #089 |
Similar to the background used in the background for Base Set Electabuzz, but it’s actually a different shot of the same bolt and thus two different pictures.
The background was also color shifted to blue. |
Black Star Promo | 8 & 9 | Mew | ![]() |
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Vol 009 – Paints and Pastels
Pic #190 |
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Black Star Promo | 34 | Entei | ![]() |
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Vol 004 – Flames Sparks & Waters
Pic #052 |
This one was a bit of a challenge to figure out, and it went unnoticed for a while! But this is a fairly typical example, with a minor blur filter used. |
Black Star Promo | 17 | Dark Persian | ![]() |
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Vol 007 – Lights & Crystals
Pic #034 |
Background flipped vertically, so the example is similarly flipped. Base picture also used on Fossil Zapdos (Tropical Mega Battle Phone Card version)
Giovanni’s eyes were mixed in, but, alas, it’s not part of the Datacraft Sozaijiten collection. |
…
Use of Datacraft Sozaijiten backgrounds petered out after Neo Destiny, especially as other artists came in to draw Pokémon artwork as well as create their own backgrounds using computer programs like Bryce and other landscape generation tools. But despite those changes, use of DS photos in Pokémon TCG card artwork absolutely continued on. This page therefore will continue to document every use of Datacraft Sozaijiten photos for card art, even if it only was used once in a particular set.
Finally, thanks once again to CinnamonBiscuits on Twitter and Alveinhero on the PA! Discord Server for originally bringing this to my attention and continually helping to add to the list, as well as to cvramen , GC| Linkinboss 70HP and his friend, and Gamez n’ Gainz for further updates to the list too!