How to check card centering at home
You can measure centering accurately with a phone, a ruler or a flatbed scanner. Here's how to do each one, and the mistakes that make a well-centered card look off.
Method 1: a straight-on photo
This is the fastest way, and accurate enough to decide whether a card is worth grading.
- Take the card out of its sleeve and top loader. Plastic edges can hide the true edge of the card.
- Lay it on a dark, plain surface. Contrast makes the card's outline easy to see.
- Hold your phone parallel to the card, directly above it, and fill most of the frame. Don't use the ultra-wide lens; it bends straight lines near the edges.
- Open the photo in the centering calculator and drag the guides to the card's edges and the inside of the border.
Method 2: a ruler or calipers
Digital calipers give the most precise reading on a bordered card. Measure each border at its narrowest point, from the card's edge to where the printed border meets the image. Enter the four numbers in the calculator's "Type borders" mode. A clear plastic ruler with millimeter marks works too, with a magnifier.
Method 3: a flatbed scanner
A scanner gives a perfectly flat, square image every time, which is why many graders and sellers use one. Scan at 600 dpi or higher, keep the card square against the glass's edge, and measure the scan in the calculator.
Mistakes that throw the numbers off
- Tilt. A photo taken at an angle makes the far border look thinner. Even a few degrees shows up.
- Measuring the image, not the border. Measure from the card's edge to the printed border line, not to a design element inside the picture.
- Ignoring the back. The back is graded too. It's usually less strict, but a badly off-center back can still cost a grade, especially at BGS.
- Rounding generously. A 56/44 card isn't a 55/45 card. Graders use the actual split.
Borderless and full-art cards
Cards without borders are still judged on centering, using the printed design. Pick an element that should sit evenly from the edges, such as a frame line or the nameplate, and measure from the card's edges to it.
After you measure
Compare the result to the centering requirements for the company you're using. If centering allows the grade you need, check corners, edges and surface with the pre-grading checklist next.
Questions
How accurate is a phone photo?
Accurate to about a percent when the phone is held flat above the card. That's plenty to tell a 55/45 card from a 62/38 card.
Do I measure at the corners or the middle of each border?
Measure across the middle of each border. If a border tapers because the card was cut at an angle, note the narrowest point too, since graders notice tilted cuts.