Transparency
How MasterGrade Grades Your Cards
A transparent look at our 3-pass AI grading pipeline, the four condition factors we score, and the known limitations of AI-based card grading.
See it in action
The Pipeline
3-Pass Analysis (30–45 seconds)
Unlike single-pass grading tools, MasterGrade runs three separate AI analysis passes to maximize accuracy. Each pass feeds into the next.
Defect Detection Pass
Gemini 2.5 ProThe AI performs a systematic scan of the card photo, creating a complete inventory of every physical defect — corner whitening, edge chips, surface scratches, creases, dents, and print defects. Each defect is cataloged by area, location, and severity. Camera artifacts (glare, blur, JPEG noise) are identified and excluded.
Centering Measurement Pass
Gemini 2.5 ProThe AI detects the outer card boundary and inner printed border, then computes mathematical border ratios on all four sides. This produces an exact centering measurement (e.g., 52/48 left-right, 51/49 top-bottom) rather than a visual estimate. The computed centering is injected into the final grading pass.
Condition Grading Pass
Gemini 2.5 ProUsing the defect inventory from Pass 1 and the centering measurement from Pass 2, the AI scores each of the four condition categories (Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface) on a 1.0–10.0 scale in 0.5-point increments. The overall grade is a weighted average: Surface 30%, Corners 25%, Edges 25%, Centering 20%.
Grading Criteria
Four PSA-Equivalent Factors
Each card is scored on the same four categories used by professional grading services. The overall grade is a weighted average.
Centering
20%Border width ratios measured mathematically from the photo. 55/45 or better = PSA 10 territory. 60/40 = PSA 9.
10.0: 50/50 or better
9.0–9.5: 55/45 or better
8.0–8.5: 60/40 or better
7.0–7.5: 65/35
Below 7: 70/30+
Corners
25%All four corners examined for whitening, dings, dents, peeling, and fuzzy edges. TCG cards have rounded corners by design — roundness is not a defect. Sports cards have sharp corners — rounding IS a defect.
10.0: All corners flawless
9.0–9.5: Faintest wear on 1 corner
8.0–8.5: Light whitening 1–2 corners
7.0–7.5: Noticeable wear 2+ corners
Below 7: Heavy damage
Edges
25%All four edges checked for whitening, chipping, nicks, rough spots, and peeling layers.
10.0: All edges clean
9.0–9.5: Very minor whitening 1 edge
8.0–8.5: Light whitening 1–2 edges
7.0–7.5: Noticeable wear multiple edges
Below 7: Significant chips
Surface
30%The entire card face scanned for scratches, scuffs, dents, creases, print lines, stains, and ink loss. Holo scratching on Pokemon cards is common even pack-fresh and scored accordingly.
10.0: Flawless
9.0–9.5: Extremely faint mark
8.0–8.5: Light scratches visible under inspection
7.0–7.5: Noticeable scratches or creases
Below 7: Deep creases, heavy damage
Smart Detection
Camera Artifact vs. Real Damage
The defect detection pass distinguishes between camera artifacts (uniform glare, JPEG noise, white balance shift) and real physical damage (localized whitening, scratches, dents). Real defects are localized — they affect one spot while the surrounding area looks different. Camera artifacts are uniform across the image.
TCG-Specific Standards
Adapted Per Card Game
Grading standards vary by TCG. Pokemon and MTG cards have rounded corners by design — corner roundness is not a defect. Sports cards have sharp corners — rounding IS a defect. Yu-Gi-Oh borders are thinner, making centering harder to measure. The AI adapts its evaluation for each game type.
Honest Limitations
What AI Grading Can and Cannot Do
Phone camera photos are lower resolution than professional scanners — some micro-defects may be missed
Holo/foil glare can obscure surface defects and affect confidence scores
Card identification may be less precise for non-English editions, though condition grading works on all languages
AI grades are estimates, not official PSA/BGS/CGC grades — always verify before making buying or selling decisions
The system performs best with well-lit, sharp, straight-on photos with the full card visible
Try it yourself
Upload a card photo and see the 3-pass pipeline in action. Your first scan is free every day.
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