Question 1

How does AI Pokémon card grading work?

Accepted Answer

Upload front and back photos of your Pokémon card. Our AI analyses four key areas — centering, corners, edges, and surface — using professional pixel-level filters like UV Light, Canny Edge detection, CLAHE contrast enhancement, and Emboss. You receive a predicted grade (1-10) with sub-scores and a detailed rationale, mirroring how PSA, CGC, BGS, and ACE evaluate cards.

Question 2

Is GradingCardboard free to use?

Accepted Answer

The centering tool and manual grading are free forever — no card required. Full AI Grading Reports work on pay-as-you-go credits: £1 for 1 credit, or £5 for 6 credits (buy 5, get 1 free). One credit runs one complete AI report, there is no subscription, and credits never expire.

Question 3

Can I pre-grade my Pokémon cards before submitting to PSA?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Pre-grading analysis is the core purpose of GradingCardboard. By running your cards through our AI grading analysis before paying for professional submission, you can identify which cards are worth the grading fee and which have flaws that would cap the grade. This saves you money on cards unlikely to score a PSA 9 or 10.

Question 4

What is pre-grading analysis?

Accepted Answer

Pre-grading analysis is the process of assessing a card's condition — centering, corners, edges, and surface — before submitting it to a professional grading company. GradingCardboard automates this with AI: upload two photos and receive a predicted grade with sub-scores, defect locations, and a rationale, so you only submit cards likely to achieve a high grade.

Question 5

What grading companies does GradingCardboard support?

Accepted Answer

GradingCardboard offers three grading style modes: Strict (mirrors PSA standards), Balanced (mirrors ACE standards), and Manual (full user control). Predictions are calibrated for PSA, CGC, BGS, ACE, and TAG grading companies, so you can see how your card might grade across different services.

Question 6

What are the four sub-grades in card grading?

Accepted Answer

Professional grading companies evaluate four areas: Centering (how well the artwork is positioned within the card borders), Corners (sharpness and condition of all four corners), Edges (whitening, chipping, and wear along the card perimeter), and Surface (scratches, print lines, dents, and foil damage). GradingCardboard analyses all four independently and compiles them into an overall grade.

Question 7

What types of defects can the AI detect?

Accepted Answer

Our filters detect whitening, fraying, and rounding on corners; chipping, nicks, and edge wear along the card perimeter; scratches, scuffs, print lines, print dots, dents, creases, dirt, stains, and foil damage on the surface; and precise centering ratios for both front and back. Each defect is catalogued with its location, type, and severity.

Question 8

Does GradingCardboard work for cards other than Pokémon?

Accepted Answer

While our AI is optimised for Pokémon trading cards, the four-pillar analysis — centering, corners, edges, and surface — applies to all trading cards including Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, and One Piece. The grading standards are universal across professional grading companies.