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Anybody ever noticed on Ebay that people don't know how to scan?

I look at auctions on Ebay (I mean, good auctions on Ebay like 1970's complete sets and stuff like that) and I am realizing that people really do not know how to scan. Of course that is fine by me, because I think I make my auctions look pretty sharp because of my scanning. All you have to do is to take your time and center the card, make the background black, and use photobucket in instead of Ebay's crappy hosting and you have yourself a pretty nice looking scan. I don't think people realize how much of a difference it makes. For instance, I was looking at nice 1970 Topps complete set (at least according to the description it was nice), but the scans were absolutely horrible.

Has anybody else noticed that? Does anybody else take a little pride in scanning their cards?

Shane

Comments

  • I try to do my best with scanning cards. You can look at my PSA set registry in my sig, and see how I scan my cards. But the problem with my scans is that its to big, and all the bad stuff like dust and so on shows on the card image How do I make them smaller?

    Thats the only way you can find a good deal, is if the picture shows is a little bad. I've bought cards with a bad picture for cheap, that nobody else wanted to bid on, probably because of the bad scan, and it turned out to be Mint or even Gem.

    Giovanni
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Scan the card with a smaller DPI. I usually do mine at 100 dpi. That makes the scan about the right size. My scanner also has a bunch of filters on it so I use them. In other words, I can scan it where it is crystal clear, but still at 100 dpi. To me, the main thing is - black background and centering the card in the scan.

    Shane

  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Groups of cards (2, 3, or 4) I do at 100 DPI, and single cards I do at 150 DPI.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think 150 is good. I used to do it at 200 until I figured out how to use all of the other options on my scanner.

    Shane

  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    200 DPI isnt good for me because the potential bidder cant see the whole card in one screen shot. He has to scroll up and down to see the whole card. When im a bidder I want to be able to see the card in one piece on my screen so it's easier to pick out flaws, so I do that for my potential bidders as well.
  • I'm lost image I have no clue what DPI is, or how to change it, or whatever, lol. I guess its better than nothing what i've been doing so far, but they surely would look better smaller.

    I bought this Copy/Scan/Photo Print a few years back for like 300 bucks, but never really knew how to use it, lol. I remember a few years back when I ran out of ink and paper, and that was it with printing stuff image I think its time to go buy some paper and ink. I don't think I would use it, but you never know image

    Giovanni
  • these are at 200 DPI

    and im partial to the purple background lol.
    image


    ive got some examples of different DPI here;Various DPI Examples
  • If you are scanning for a computer and not print you only need to do it at 72 DPI
  • swartz1swartz1 Posts: 4,911 ✭✭✭
    nice discs...image


    Looking for 1970 MLB Photostamps
    - uncut


    Positive Transactions - tennesseebanker, Ahmanfan, Donruss, Colebear, CDsNuts, rbdjr1, Downtown1974, yankeeno7, drewsef, mnolan, mrbud60, msassin, RipublicaninMass, AkbarClone, rustywilly, lsutigers1973, julen23 and nam812, plus many others...
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm lost image I have no clue what DPI is, or how to change it, or whatever, lol. I guess its better than nothing what i've been doing so far, but they surely would look better smaller.

    I bought this Copy/Scan/Photo Print a few years back for like 300 bucks, but never really knew how to use it, lol. I remember a few years back when I ran out of ink and paper, and that was it with printing stuff image I think its time to go buy some paper and ink. I don't think I would use it, but you never know image

    Giovanni >>



    DPI means "dots per inch". In other words, the resolution is better at 200 vs 100, making the picture larger.

    Shane

  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If you are scanning for a computer and not print you only need to do it at 72 DPI >>



    Could you explain?

    Shane



  • << <i>

    << <i>I'm lost image I have no clue what DPI is, or how to change it, or whatever, lol. I guess its better than nothing what i've been doing so far, but they surely would look better smaller.

    I bought this Copy/Scan/Photo Print a few years back for like 300 bucks, but never really knew how to use it, lol. I remember a few years back when I ran out of ink and paper, and that was it with printing stuff image I think its time to go buy some paper and ink. I don't think I would use it, but you never know image

    Giovanni >>



    DPI means "dots per inch". In other words, the resolution is better at 200 vs 100, making the picture larger. >>



    Oh, thanks! image

    So I guess the picture wouldn't come as better when smaller?

    Giovanni
  • I'm a fan of the digital picture of the card on a floor at a huge resolution rate, especially when the card image isn't cropped.
  • MCMLVToppsMCMLVTopps Posts: 4,989 ✭✭✭✭✭
    While looking for a Ted Williams card, I came across this eBay item...150 210 152 063. Is this not the worst pic you've ever seen on eBay? Probably explains why the seller has an 85.7% pos feedback.

  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,625 ✭✭✭✭
    A lot of very short-sighted sellers seem to believe that scans are intended to prove you have the item, not to show detail of it. In terms of graded cards, people just don't realize that not all grades are equal. In the end, it's those sellers that (hopefully) suffer because of their lazy ways.
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • The other side of bad scans, many sellers do it on purpose so you really cant see what they are selling. I love it from the sellers with low feedback, then when you look at their other auctions the scans are fine, lol.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That Emmitt is horrible.

    I meant the scan, Matt!

    Shane

  • I confess my scan skills suck - I blame it on the scanner lol
  • earlycalguyearlycalguy Posts: 1,247 ✭✭
  • We have an all in one scanner, copier, printer, fax. Usually when I scan, I go back in with Picassa (google program) and try to bring more light into it or sharpen the image. Sometimes the scan is so good I don't have to. The only thing that makes me made is when sellers scan their cards and doctor them up to a point where when you receive your card, your like, "this doesn't look like the card I bidded on."
  • earlycalguyearlycalguy Posts: 1,247 ✭✭
    I see items listed with one scan and the front/back of the card is on the same scan. does anyone know how to combine 2 scans to put them on one?


  • << <i>I see items listed with one scan and the front/back of the card is on the same scan. does anyone know how to combine 2 scans to put them on one? >>



    I open a program such as publisher and insert both .jpg files side by side. You can either highlight both images or go a step further and use the "group" icon. By doing so, the two side by side images become one image that you can click/drag. Right click on it and choose save as picture. Make sure it saves as a .jpg and you're set.
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