The TRUTH About Photographing & Scanning Pokemon Cards | Pros & Cons

[@heatwavetcg]

Flatbed scanner. Leave the top open and it'll produce images with black backgrounds so edgewear stands out better. I use an Epson V500 I got off ebay for $70 shipped. The nice thing about the V500 and V600 (and V300 if you want to save a little money) is that they have a setting to remove dust from the image. You have to tweak it a bit though because it can remove small things on the cards like periods in the text or small accents on letters. Another tip is to use a penny sleeve to lift the cards up off the glass when you need to flip them. I've seen people use their fingernails and that's just asking for damage. You bring up a good point about light angles though - sometimes I have to take extra pics with my phone to show indents or small scratches that the scanner doesn't pick up. It's not too common though - usually the scanner will pick it up.

[@professorburch]

Really appreciate your reply. I have seen a lot of recommendations for the Epson V500 and V600 from both Pokemon sellers and sports card sellers. I'm trying one more scanner that's been on my list, and if that one doesn't work, I'm gonna probably go with one of these models. Great tip about using a penny sleeve to pick up the card off the scanner. I do that even when I have cards lying on a playmat as well. It for sure is the safest way because I often have butter fingers and I've had issues with finger nail marks and edge wear from struggling to pick up a card. Also, I appreciate the tip about leaving the top of the flat bed open for black backgrounds. Solid advice 👌 thanks, Heat Wave!

[@heatwavetcg]

Thanks for making the content man!

[@JonyLLama69]

Was just going tk advise that. However, I just use my phone 😅 so, maybe I'm silly?

[@gamedad7336]

Get a flat bed scanner that you lay the cards on top of and lower the top of the scanner. Look it up.

[@professorburch]

Yeah, flatbed scanners are for sure on my radar. I have another automatic fed document scanner I'm gonna try and if it doesn't work out, that's my next move! Appreciate it!

[@mrwhite2039]

I have this scanner. I always did the 1 at a time. Now i do a new technique. I make the listings template and when i fill out for a new card once filled out i scan the card and upload the pic. So its a one at a time process but it works real good instead of having to go through and locate the photo in the folder from a batch. I havent noticed and scratches but now tnat i see you can see some on the scope ill be sleeving every one.

[@professorburch]

Thanks for sharing your process! That seems very efficient. I have a friend who also has this scanner and has success with it, too. Most of the people I see that use this one do use sleeves just to safeguard them from ending up with scratches and always recommend using a fresh new sleeve for each scan.

[@Mr.Walrus.]

Good stuff burch, for anyone using a light box I'd recommend a stand so the photos are always same angle. I bought a cheap $10 one that came with a remote. Made the process quicker

[@professorburch]

That's a great tip, walrus. I'm gonna look into upgrading my setup soon. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for watching, bro!

[@confessions721]

do you have a link to the stand you use? I'm trying to find one for TCGplayer and a light box to eventually use once I get started on ebay.

[@Sulfen]

If you don't mind the higher expense the RICOH fi-8250 has a flatbed and a feeder and most large card sellers use it or the older versions. I want to buy one but for now I just borrow my friend's. It also has a Flatbed to scan slabs.

[@Drkman-my9ct]

I had those problems on my Ricoh fi-7160 until I put my cards horizontal in penny sleeves and took out my brake roller. Haven't had a problem so far. It should work for you. Great video!

[@beerskicollects]

Science! What a good and informative video Burch!

[@professorburch]

For Science! thanks, homie 🙏 appreciate you as always!

[@Collectionof_dm]

I use an older model Fujitsu I found on FB marketplace. I have had very few issues over the past almost two years with it.

[@professorburch]

Is it one of the scansnap series Fujitsu scanners? I heard people had success with those older Fujitsu models.

[@HiveMindCollectibles]

Great video 👍🏼 I can report for science that I am able to run 25 cards with no sleeves at a time through a Fujitsu 8170 with no damage. Now I need to order a digital microscope 🔬👨‍🔬

[@professorburch]

Thanks, man! That's my next model I'm gonna try if I don't have success with the Fujitsu Scansnap ix1600. I got an older model Fujitsu, because back in the day when TCGplayer was developing quicklist with scanners to detect cards, they were using the older models and that one works with quicklist. But I hear great things about the 8170 and that's gonna be my next choice! The microscope helps a lot with finding small damage and scratches on cards. Some people might find it to be overkill, but it prevents me from sending off cards that I thought were 10 quality but actually were more 7 and 8 in condition lol. Thanks for watching!

[@justinspragan4885]

Are the cards sleeved/toploadered up or raw? Looking for something that scans raw with no damage.

[@mikaelsanz1055]

Awesome video! Did you find a better scanner?

[@professorburch]

I'm still on the lookout for one. I bought another one similar to the one in this video, but unfortunately, it still gave me the same issues. It's actually the one in the thumbnail of this video. I do have one more I'm gonna try out and hoping it will be the right fit. Otherwise, I'm abandoning these automatic-feed scanners and just gonna go with a flatbed scanner. I'll for sure make a video on it when I do. Next big purchase is a computer for editing videos so that's why I haven't had a follow-up video yet 😅

[@JKCollectibles_]

I have a ricoh fi8170 and the scans of Pokémon cards come out with square edges. Not sure how to fix this.

[@professorburch]

I'm not too sure, but I remember with the Epson software in the advanced settings, there was a tab where you could adjust the margins and that worked for adding space around the edge of the cards. Good luck on trying to adjust it. I'm sure there's gotta be a way in the settings.

[@JKCollectibles_]

@@professorburch ya that’s what was thinking too about how to adjust margins. Thanks for the reply

[@gamedad7336]

You taking out that "roller" is why it took multiple in at the same time. Im pretty sure it wont damage your cards.

[@professorburch]

Yeah, I had to take it out for the sleeved cards because they ended up jamming inside the scanner but I'm gonna experiment with the new one and hopefully it gives me better results.

[@EducatedGuppyLive]

The it's for science clip

[@Casphs]

What do u expect when you’re using a scanner that runs the cards through them??? Anyone who scans their TCGs use a flat bed scanner

[@professorburch]

I actually was recommended this scanner by someone who sells large volumes of Pokémon cards and uses the same one. Sports card sellers use them as well. But people have better success with Fujitsu scanners that are a little more high end than this, and are fed through the scanner the same way. I agree, flatbed scanners are much safer of an option but they take way more time because you can't do as many in one sitting and a lot of flatbeds you have to flip the cards over as well which takes up more time and will be similar to the time it takes to photograph

[@ZeenathzeenathZeenathzeenath]

Please pokemon cards please give me some Pokemon cards

[@andrewcruise9522]

You probably got the worst kind of scanner for this job

[@professorburch]

I agree. It was not the right choice, but I had to try it for myself. Other Pokémon card sellers and sports card sellers use them without any issues, but most of them use sleeves or modify the scanner so I doesn't scratch the cards. Ya live ya learn. I I just wanted to share my experience so others didn't run into the same problems before buying one like this one.

[@ultimateend]

@@professorburch I know this is late, but I have been using that scanner for well over a year. I found some settings on KZbin (can't remember what video now) and have had no issues.

[@professorburch]

@ultimateend Good to hear you've had success with it! I had ready returned it and have just been photographing my cards. It's does take more time but just gives me a peace of mind. Although, I do want to try out another type of scanner again.