How to photograph trading cards for selling
Light, background, framing and phone settings: how to take clear photos of Pokémon, One Piece and Riftbound cards that sell and are recognised correctly by AI.
A good photo does two jobs: it convinces the buyer the card is in good condition, and it helps the AI read it correctly. Everything below applies to Pokémon, One Piece and Riftbound cards and needs nothing more than a phone.
1. One card per photo
The most important rule: one card per shot, fully inside the frame, with a little margin around it. The buyer sees the corners and edges, and the AI reads the name and number without being confused by the card next to it.
For cheap cards that will go into a bundle, photograph them one by one too. KartIO draws the bundle’s grid photo for you.
2. Light: soft, from the side
- Natural window light, without direct sun on the card.
- No flash. Flash burns out holo and reverse holo cards and hides the number.
- If the card is in a sleeve or toploader, tilt the phone slightly so the reflection moves off the text.
3. A plain dark or light background
A single-colour background (black card, white paper, a mouse pad) makes the card stand out. Avoid patterns and other cards in the background.
4. Straight from above, no tilt
Hold the phone parallel to the card. If the photo comes out sideways that is fine: KartIO turns it upright from the EXIF data. A strong tilt, though, distorts the letters and makes reading harder.
5. Focus on the bottom edge
The collector number (e.g. 062/088) is at the bottom of the card and it is small. Tap the screen on the bottom of the card to focus there. KartIO zooms into that area to read the number, so sharpness there matters more than anywhere else.
6. Phone settings
- The normal camera is enough; no macro mode needed.
- HEIC (iPhone), JPG or PNG: all are accepted.
- Turn off filters and "beauty" modes.
7. From phone to computer
Gather the photos in a folder (AirDrop, Google Photos, cable) and drag them all at once onto KartIO’s Photos screen. The AI starts at once in the background, about half a minute per card, and you carry on with your work.
Tip: photograph in batches per set. Checking goes faster when the cards on the Review screen are grouped.
Quick checklist
| What | Right |
|---|---|
| Cards per photo | One |
| Light | Natural, from the side, no flash |
| Background | Plain |
| Angle | Straight from above |
| Focus | On the number, at the bottom |
With photos like these, most cards are recognised right the first time. See how AI recognition works or start the free trial.