How to Photograph Pokémon Cards for AI Grading

Use a clean, dry, matte background that contrasts with the card’s edges. Avoid patterned fabric and shiny tables. Wipe the phone’s camera lens, not the card, and keep your hands out of the image.

If safe, take the card out of its sleeve or rigid holder before photographing it. Plastic can introduce scratches, glare and distortion that do not belong to the card. Handle it gently by the edges; never force it out or risk damage just to improve a photo.

Start with indirect daylight or diffuse lighting from the sides. Avoid direct flash, harsh sun and a lamp reflected in the middle of the card. Check whether your phone or body casts a shadow across it.

Holographic areas are especially reflective. Move the light source or shift the setup until the reflection no longer hides the artwork, borders or surface. Keep the camera parallel for the final shot. A bright white patch with no detail is a reason to retake the image, not evidence of a flawless surface.

Place the card flat and hold the phone directly above its center. Keep the lens plane parallel to the card so it appears rectangular, rather than trapezoidal. Leave a small margin of background around all four edges.

Move close enough to show detail but stay within the camera’s focusing distance. Tap the card on your phone screen to focus, steady your hands or support the phone, then check the result. Avoid digital zoom, portrait blur, beauty filters and edits that conceal marks.

• All four corners and the full border are visible.
• Small text and edge detail look sharp when you zoom in to inspect the saved photo.
• No fingers, sleeves, shadows or reflections obscure the card.

Pokedy requires both a front image and a back image. Turn the card over carefully and repeat the setup. Keep track of which physical copy you are photographing, especially if your collection includes duplicates.

Open both files before uploading. Check that each side is in the correct field and that neither image is an old photo of a different copy. Use original photos of the actual card; a catalog image cannot show your copy’s condition.

If the text is soft, refocus and stabilize the phone. If one edge is smaller than the opposite edge, bring the phone back over the center. If a corner is missing, move slightly farther away. For glare, adjust the lighting before taking another picture.

Change one thing at a time and compare the new image with the previous one. Inspect the card itself under angled light if a scratch or dent remains unclear. Do not keep rerunning an analysis simply to chase a higher score: differences in photos can change an estimate without changing the card.

Learn what to inspect on the card itself

Sign in, add the card to your collection if it is not there yet, and select it in the grading tool. Upload the front and back photos, review them, then launch the analysis. You can read the result when it is ready.

The estimate is limited to visible information and the model’s capabilities. A sharp image can still miss a shallow dent, subtle surface damage or other physical evidence. An AI result does not authenticate the card or promise a professional grade.