Scanning your collection - share your best practices?

[Belfast1933]

I recently saw a helpful thread on picking the best scanners for card images… I’m wondering if collectors might have helpful tips on how they scan their cards for best image AND for ease and efficiency.

For example, when you scan, is the image already cropped to the size of the card or do you always have to crop to get the final image right sized to the card? How about different sizes cards (tobacco, traditional, postcard)

Any tips on storing narrative info on the scan for easy reference? Purchase date, price paid, other details

This is going to be a winter weekend project for my collection and thought some Net54ers might have some great tips to share on how they create their scan/images and store related info about the cards

Thx all,

Jeff

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

Any tips on storing narrative info on the scan for easy reference? Purchase date, price paid, other details

I put a unique number in the name of the scanned file, which refers to a unique number in the MS Access database that contains more in-depth info on the card such as Year, Company, card #, player name, condition, purchase price, and Notes such as who I bought it from or any specific card details or trade info etc.

I think you can probably do a few hundred scans in a weekend depending how efficient your process is. Good luck!
Rob

[jingram058]

I don't scan mine, I take photos of them with my cell phone camera, front and back. Some come out better than others. If just a quick post in these forums, I post them without edits. For my own collection, however, I take the time and effort to take decent, hi-res pics and then edit and crop as necessary. I probably have 90% of all my cards very nicely imaged and cataloged (all of my pre-war cards).

[x2drich2000]

I use the Epson photo scan software (V370 scanner). I have a few preset settings for different types of cards (PSA regular size, SGC postcard, raw tobacco/e, standard Topps, etc). I also use a guide I created (with stolen legos from my kids) to consistently place the slab/card on the scanner glass and in the correct orientation. With this I only need to scan the area of the card, not the full glass area plus I never need to crop anything. I change the file name based on where I purchased the item. I upload all my scans to Flickr.

For storing info, I use an access database that tracks the purchase info, card info, has fields for the image URL, sold info, etc. I also use a query from this database to generate my Ebay listings.

[Casey2296]

I use the V600 and always crop using standard photo editing software that comes with the computer. I'll scan one card at a time front and back and place a blackout background of black or dark blue behind the card. I'll name each image by set and player 33G Ruth, 14CJ Cobb etc. I'll keep all scans in a folder on my desktop and keep my collection on Flickr for viewing.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I use the V600 and always crop using standard photo editing software that comes with the computer. I'll scan one card at a time front and back and place a blackout background of black or dark blue behind the card. I'll name each image by set and player 33G Ruth, 14CJ Cobb etc. I'll keep all scans in a folder on my desktop and keep my collection on Flickr for viewing.

As an FYI, with the V600, you can just scan with the lid open and it will give you a nice clean black background. No need to lay a black cloth over the card and risk damaging corners.