Graded Card Scanning Guide - Take a Look!

[Ngs428]

I have been working on scanning my PSA cards over the last year or so. Over that time I have run a number of questions past some of you and requested feedback from some more of you. I decided to compile a guide showing some guidelines, tips, tricks and workflow I received from you and other sources.

I compare the Epson V600 and Canon 9000f, both of which I own. Ultimately, the guide uses the V600 for the main workflow.

Let me know your thoughts, revisions, etc. I am open to feedback. Thanks!

Edit 6/25/2021:
REV 04: Added Section 6 covering IrfanView – Batch Image Processing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EumHbtWfBrWebafPHU4a18OgFVdzjffp/view?usp=sharing

https://i.imgur.com/AcEtxym.jpg

[toledo_mudhen]

WOW Dude - So I was originally thinking - How much is there to know about scanning. Boy was I wrong. Great write up.

I had been thinking that I needed the 9000F for months - you have caused me to give that a reconsider.

Thanks

[deagleii]

Great write up.

[Ngs428]

WOW Dude - So I was originally thinking - How much is there to know about scanning. Boy was I wrong. Great write up.

I had been thinking that I needed the 9000F for months - you have caused me to give that a reconsider.

Thanks

Scanning can be very simple, but you will more than likely get out of it what you put into it. Truth be told, the V600 makes it fairly simple to achieve a good looking scan.

Yes, I would strongly consider the Epson V600 over the Canon 9000f. I actually just sold my 9000f.

[Ngs428]

Great write up.

Thanks!

[JLange]

Thank you for sharing this information!

[vintagerookies51]

This has better formatting than the lab report I wrote last month. Very informative, thanks for posting. Will have to refer back to this next time I scan a bunch of cards

[familytoad]

I really enjoyed the write up and the technical details.
Nice job indeed.

I couldn’t imagine reading 23 pages on scanning , but I am really glad I did!

;)

[Ngs428]

I really enjoyed the write up and the technical details.
Nice job indeed.

I couldn’t imagine reading 23 pages on scanning , but I am really glad I did!

;)


There were a lot of pictures! :)

[Ngs428]

I made some updates to the guide and re-linked it in the first post.

Happy new year everyone!

[Ngs428]

New REV posted.

Edit 9/14/20:
Added a section on scanning Apps and added to the holder preparation section.

Thanks!

[Ronnie73]

Lots of great info. Especially the refractor section. I've made cardboard templates for doing larger batch scanning. I have one for PSA and another for SGC. No lining up anything. Just insert the graded card into the cut-out, scan, flip the card, and scan again for the back side. You only have to line up the scan area for the first scan and that's it. If I'm scanning a single card and don't mind adjusting the scan area, I just use 2 nickels against the edge of the scan bed and then rest the graded card against the top edges of the nickels. This is to get a straight scan of your single card. Right before you scan, just easily slide the nickels to the side and then scan. By doing this, you get a straight scan and a complete scan. If you just put the card itself against the flatbed edge, you usually lose some of the scan of the holder. Some people don't mind that but if the goal is to archive your collection, it's best to do it right and be consistent. I use the CanoScan 9000F Mark 2 and never had an issue. I also use it for coins and with it's options of settings, you can get a really nice image that shows the toning and mirror finish of the coins. I also have used it for stamps and comic books.

[hcv123]

First time I saw this - very helpful. Been using the Canon 9000 and not loving the image garden interface. Pretty sure I have the Epson sitting in a box somewhere - going to take it out and give it a shot. I knew some of what you shared, but learned a lot too! Thanks again.

Howard

[GasHouseGang]

Tell the truth. You're an Epson rep right? :D Great write up. Thanks for sharing.

[x2drich2000]

To me the biggest thing is to just be consistent. For this, I really like the Epson software. One of the big features I really like is the ability to save preset scan setting based on a location of the bed. I have presets for PSA cards, SGC cards, raw T/E, PSA tallboys, etc, and can very easily flip between these setting in the middle of a big batch of cards. As long as you are consistent with where the card is placed on the glass, it works great and you never need to worry about alignment. To make placement consistent, I simply use some Legos built into an "L" shape that I can easily place, align to both the side and top, lift the guide away, scan and repeat.

[Ngs428]

Tell the truth. You're an Epson rep right? :D Great write up. Thanks for sharing.

Ha! Not quite. Thanks for taking time to read it!

[Ngs428]

First time I saw this - very helpful. Been using the Canon 9000 and not loving the image garden interface. Pretty sure I have the Epson sitting in a box somewhere - going to take it out and give it a shot. I knew some of what you shared, but learned a lot too! Thanks again.

Howard

Thanks for reading! Getting the Epson out will be worth your time! - Nic

[Ngs428]

To me the biggest thing is to just be consistent. For this, I really like the Epson software. One of the big features I really like is the ability to save preset scan setting based on a location of the bed. I have presets for PSA cards, SGC cards, raw T/E, PSA tallboys, etc, and can very easily flip between these setting in the middle of a big batch of cards. As long as you are consistent with where the card is placed on the glass, it works great and you never need to worry about alignment. To make placement consistent, I simply use some Legos built into an "L" shape that I can easily place, align to both the side and top, lift the guide away, scan and repeat.

Huh, nice tip! Adjusting the scan box each time lets me know if I have the card crooked on the bed. Sometimes I get movement when I remove the BGS slab, but mostly there may be a nub of plastic on the bottom of the PSA slab so it doesn’t want to sit flat.

I agree with you though, if I was doing a mass volume I would probably scan more than 1 at a time or align the card more positively side to side to remove the step of adjusting the scan box.

[Ngs428]

Lots of great info. Especially the refractor section. I've made cardboard templates for doing larger batch scanning. I have one for PSA and another for SGC. No lining up anything. Just insert the graded card into the cut-out, scan, flip the card, and scan again for the back side. You only have to line up the scan area for the first scan and that's it. If I'm scanning a single card and don't mind adjusting the scan area, I just use 2 nickels against the edge of the scan bed and then rest the graded card against the top edges of the nickels. This is to get a straight scan of your single card. Right before you scan, just easily slide the nickels to the side and then scan. By doing this, you get a straight scan and a complete scan. If you just put the card itself against the flatbed edge, you usually lose some of the scan of the holder. Some people don't mind that but if the goal is to archive your collection, it's best to do it right and be consistent. I use the CanoScan 9000F Mark 2 and never had an issue. I also use it for coins and with it's options of settings, you can get a really nice image that shows the toning and mirror finish of the coins. I also have used it for stamps and comic books.

Ron, I agree I don’t line up the slab directly on the scanner bed edge either. Good call there! -Nic

[Ngs428]

Edit 12/10/20:
Expanded Section 1.1 on scanner examples to include some higher and lower end models. Also noted the model PSA SecureScan uses. Added section 3.3 on display gamma.

See the first post for the download link.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Very well done!

[Ngs428]

Very well done!

Thank you!

[Casey2296]

This should be required reading for anyone selling a card in excess of $2000 on ebay.

[luciobar1980]

THis guy wrote the book on Sports Card Scanning! :p

[Ngs428]

This should be required reading for anyone selling a card in excess of $2000 on ebay.

I agree. It is amazing how many poor images are out there. They do want to get as much money for their item, right?

THis guy wrote the book on Sports Card Scanning! :p

I hope you were able to use it. I appreciate it.

[Ngs428]

Edit 6/25/2021:
REV 04: Added Section 6 covering IrfanView – Batch Image Processing.

See the first post for the download link.

[Casey2296]

Any way we can Archive this thread for reference?

[Ngs428]

Any way we can Archive this thread for reference?

That would be great. If anyone has any info on that, let me know.