The 1980s were a defining decade for goalie hockey cards, with both O-Pee-Chee and Topps producing many of the era's most recognizable sets. O-Pee-Chee cards were printed in Canada on rougher card stock and in smaller quantities, making them scarcer than their Topps counterparts. Quality control was inconsistent throughout the decade, with off-centring, rough cuts, print defects, and edge chipping being common—especially on O-Pee-Chee cards—making high-graded goalie rookie cards difficult to find. The decade also saw a greater use of in-game action photography, although many rookie cards still featured goaltenders photographed during warm-ups or posed before games.