Scanning Guidelines

Thanks for helping scan cards for Scryfall! In order to provide the best possible images to the community, please review these scanning guidelines before you start.

Scanner Setup

Configure your scanner software:

  • Disable all image processing effects on the scanner itself or in the scanning dialog on your computer. This includes features like Auto Fix, Auto Rotate, Sharpen Image, Reduce Moire, Correct Shadows, Remove Noise, Smooth Backgrounds, and so on. If it sounds like it modifies the image at all, disable it.
  • If the scanner supports it, set the image DPI to 1200. If it doesn’t, use 600. (A DPI below 600 is not sufficient.)
  • If the scanner supports it, save to the PNG format. If it doesn’t, save to JPG and set whatever Quality setting is available to its maximum possible value.

Cleaning the Scanner and Avoiding Debris

No scan sheets will be 100% free of debris, but it’s important to always clean the scanner beforehand to avoid dust and lint on the images.

  1. Wipe the scanner glass down with a dry microfiber cloth or lint-free cotton towel.
  2. Clean it with a small amount of glass cleaner.
  3. Buff the glass dry with the cloth.
  4. Dust off the lid/cover of the scanner too.

Avoid using anything that can shed fibers, like brand new linens, paper towels, or tissues.

If scanning many sheets, consider giving the scanner a quick wipe down every other page you scan.

When placing cards on the glass, gently “sweep” the cards into place by using their edge to push away any new dust that could have fallen.

Quality Assurance

Inspect cards before scanning. Ensure that the cards you’re scanning are not misprinted in any way. Scan “near mint” cards when possible. (Some small wear on black borders is fine.)

Common issues to be aware of:

Scanning Sets / Preconstructed Product

  • Scanning a full set consists of:
  • Organize cards in alphabetical or numeric order, whichever is easiest for you
  • Scan 9 cards a time in a 3x3 grid on the glass
  • Orient the cards upright, but don’t worry about perfectly straightening them. That will get fixed in card processing.
  • Scan only the non-foil version of a card if it comes in both foil and regular editions
  • Rarely, preconstructed products might include cards from another set, those can be ignored (for example Explorers of Ixalan came with both Explorers cards and regular Ixalan cards inside the box)

Scanning Foil Cards

  • Most modern scanners will reflect MTG’s foil treatment differently depending on angle. The best images will avoid color distortion, which means foil reflective parts will show as white or bright versions of the underlying color.
  • For most foils, scan three times – once horizontally on the scanner bed, once vertical, and once at a 45 degree angle, and send all three.
  • If that can’t get a good result, try scanning in a plastic sleeve.

Last Resort: Smartphone Pictures

  • For certain types of foils (especially From the Vault foils) it’s hard to get a good image from a scan. There’s also some cases where someone has a rare card but no scanner. In those cases: high-res phone photo can do in a pinch.
  • You want diffuse light — pick a room with no overhead lights, where light’s coming either from blinded windows or diffused/shaded lamps far away from your spot. (You don’t want a straight line of sight from any light to the card, basically.)
  • Lay the card flat on a neutral surface that contrasts with the border clearly.
  • Hold the phone as still as possible about 3-4 inches away, square off the card within the viewport, and tap the center of the card to focus, then take a shot.

Uploading Images

If possible, upload scanned images to Dropbox, or Google Drive, or other similiar services. Please send links to scans@scryfall.com with a clear subject line.