Original 1984 Transformers G1 Box Art Printing Acetates Reveal Production Process

You don't see these every day, every decade, and maybe ever again. What looks like jumbo-sized negatives of various black and white photos are said to be the actual film negatives and color separations used in the printing of original Transformers Generation 1 box artwork.

One everyone recognizes is the painting created by artist David Schleinkofer. Shown on the back of boxes, the scene dramatizing an encounter between Optimus Prime, Starscream, Ravage and a storm of Deceptions is one of the most iconic images known by fans around the World.

The images from the currently running Ebay auction offer a rare behind the scenes look at how toy packaging was designed and produced before digital took over. Back then the printing was very much analog with a process of separating the original artwork colors in into four different channels that are recombined in the package printing process. We can even see what looks like a bit of touch-up done by hand on the black acetate.

Additionally, we can see the film used to block out the ubiquitous "TRANS-FORMERS More Than Meets The Eye!" logo and tagline following the same color separation process as well as other blocking treatments. Read the notes below for more on the story behind these Transformers relics as well as details on the printing process. If you are feeling a need to own this piece of history, you can bid on the auction that ends May 26, 2019 on Ebay.com