What's your process for scanning raw cards?

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Tabe
Tabe Posts: 6,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
So I've got a box of cards to put up on Ebay and I need to scan them. And I'm trying to come up with a good, fast process for doing it. I scanned a couple dozen the other night and it seemed to take forever. Between knocking the toploaders on a hard surface to straighten out the card inside the holder, trying to place them on the scanner without moving the graded card I was using as a straight edge*, the whole thing just seemed very slow. Could do 3 cards at once but was slow. Any suggestions for doing things faster?

Graded cards were no problem, seems to be more of an issue with raw/toploader cards.

* - the Epson scanner I've got does not scan all the way to the edges of the glass. So, short of putting a straight edge in place, it's very difficult to get the cards straight without cutting off part of the image.

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  • MULLINS5
    MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
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    I haven't tried it, but my fiance uses a scanning wand for work...might be worth trying for cards.

    VuPoint Magic Wand
  • MULLINS5
    MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
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    ...and I'm not sure of the quality, but it may be easier to put raw cards in pages and then scan them using a wand.
  • Tabe
    Tabe Posts: 6,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I haven't had much luck scanning other stuff with wands in getting scans that are actually straight image
  • charrigan
    charrigan Posts: 2,293
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    I lay one of these on my flatbed and slip up/down to square cards. They also have a grid that can be used to measure centering.

    EDIT: You can buy it on Amazon for $7 shipped if you have Prime. They have the wrong image up, though. 6x6 is obv square. Link.
  • yankeeno7
    yankeeno7 Posts: 9,256 ✭✭✭
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    I have begun to use 9 pocket pages to scan raw cards. As long as the pages cover the entire card so you are not blocking any borders or corners. Much easier to scan everything straight.

    Sometimes I cut off the left edge where the strip is for the binder then it fits on the scanner bed better.

    Of course the downside is more handling of the card. But in the end, I think I save a lot of time this way and it eliminates the "fumbling around" time trying to keep them all straight.
  • mcolney1
    mcolney1 Posts: 997 ✭✭✭
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    great idea yankeeno7! Thanks.
    Collecting Topps, Philadelphia and Kellogg's from 1964-1989
  • DanBessette
    DanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
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    I also use 9 pocket pages
  • MULLINS5
    MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
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    If you use 9 pocket pages, this scanner will scan approximately 27,000 cards per hour.

    The lighting, music and machine reminds me of a level in Sonic The Hedgehog.

    ScanRobot
  • Tabe
    Tabe Posts: 6,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks guys.
  • corncobb
    corncobb Posts: 516 ✭
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    Without a quality scan I don't even bother looking at a card on ebay. This includes scans of multiple cards in pages. Nothing says "Lazy Seller" Like this to me.

    #1 Use of a straight edge to keep card straight and square is a must. (I use an old PSA slab)

    #2 DON'T scan in top holder, sleeve, pages, etc... I don't want to have to guess if marks and flaws are on the card, the holder or pages.

    While I do agree cards can look much more appealing inside a quality holder with a nice black backdrop, the cards lose detail and are prone to
    showing the flaws of the holders as decribed above when scanning in the holders.


    SOLUTION:

    #1 I make a super nice clear scan of the holder I want the card to be displayed in. I then save that scan as a templet.

    image

    #2 Make sure your scanner bed is ALWAYS clean and dust free.

    #3 Using your straight edge make a nice quality scan of the raw card.

    #4 Crop and size the raw card scan making sure you allow enough black border around the card so that all borders and corners are clearly visable.

    image

    #5 Overlay your correctly cropped raw card image onto your "Holder Templet"
    Presto! You now have a nice clear accurate scan of your raw card and
    it's condition, without the scratches, knicks and flaws of the holder, plus the nice framed display the "Holder Templet" gives you.

    Yes it's a bit more work, but well worth the effort for a scan junkie like me. NOTHING! makes me skip right on past ebay listings more than crappy scans and Photos.

    image





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