Good lighting and positioning make a big difference in scan accuracy. Follow these tips to get the best results.
Lighting
- Natural daylight is best. Sit near a window with indirect light
- Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh glare on glossy cards
- Bright indoor lighting works well. Aim for even, diffuse light
- Avoid scanning in dim rooms or under yellow-tinted bulbs
- If you have a desk lamp, angle it so it illuminates the card without creating a hotspot
Card positioning
- Hold the card flat and still and don't tilt it
- Fill the frame with the card. It shouldn't be tiny in the center of the photo
- Keep the card fully in frame since cut-off edges reduce accuracy significantly
- Place the card on a dark, plain surface for best contrast
- For slabbed (graded) cards, hold the slab so the card face is clearly visible and the grading label is readable
Camera tips
- Let your phone camera auto-focus before capturing and wait for it to sharpen
- If glare appears on a glossy card, tilt slightly (5-10 degrees) until it disappears
- Clean your camera lens before scanning, as fingerprints cause soft photos
- Hold your phone about 15-20cm (6-8 inches) from the card
Check the back while reviewing
The back often shows the card number and set details. Use those printed details when reviewing or correcting a match. The current upload flow treats each image as a card; it does not automatically pair front and back photos.
Cards that are harder to scan
Some cards are naturally more challenging for AI identification:
- Pre-1980 vintage cards with less structured layouts
- Cards in thick top loaders, where reflections can obscure text
- Heavily damaged cards with missing text or altered surfaces
- Error cards and short prints that may not be in the catalog yet
For these, try adding manually by searching for the player name and year.