Card Surface Defects: Scratches, Print Lines, Dents and Gloss
Quick answer
Surface defects include scratches, scuffs, print lines, dents, indentations, staining and loss of gloss. They are often invisible in flat light, so tilt the card under a single bright source. PSA requires full original gloss and no staining for a Gem Mint 10.
What counts as a surface defect
The surface covers the printed face of the card, front and back. The main defects are:
- Scratches and scuffs: thin marks from contact with something abrasive.
- Print lines: thin lines produced during printing, especially on holofoil.
- Dents and indentations: small depressions in the card stock.
- Creases: folds in the card, which are serious.
- Staining: marks from liquids or oils.
- Loss of gloss: dull patches where the original shine has worn away.
- Print dots and ink flaws: small printing imperfections.
PSA's published standard for a Gem Mint 10 requires sharp focus, full original gloss and no staining of any kind, with a slight printing imperfection allowed only if it does not impair the card's appeal.
Why surface is hard
Surface flaws are shallow, so they are mostly invisible in flat light. A scratch that looks like nothing on a desk can be obvious when the card is tilted under a single bright source. This is the single biggest reason a card that "looks perfect" comes back a 9.
How to light a card to reveal flaws
- Use one bright light source, not a bright room.
- Tilt the card slowly so the light sweeps across the surface.
- Watch for lines, dull patches and dents that appear and disappear as the angle changes.
- Check both sides.
Foil and holo cards reward patience: rotate them through several angles because different defects appear at different angles.
Photographing surface for a pre-grade
If you want a tool to assess surface from a photo, the photo has to contain the evidence. Shoot with one angled light, keep the card flat and in focus, and avoid glare from a sleeve or toploader. The photo guide walks through setup in detail.
Why you should be conservative
Surface is the area where a photo is least reliable. Glare can hide a scratch and a reflection can look like a scratch. Treat any surface verdict from a photo as a prompt to look at the card in hand, not as a final answer. This is exactly the kind of limit discussed in how accurate AI pre-grading is.
What to do next
Once you have checked corners, edges and surface, you have the four things a grader checks. Put them together with centering in the pre-grade checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Are print lines a defect?
They can be. A print line is a thin line produced during manufacturing. PSA allows that a slight printing imperfection may be acceptable on a Gem Mint card if it does not impair overall appeal, but visible lines can lower a grade.
Why do holo cards show so many scratches?
The reflective layer makes fine scratches catch the light, so a defect that would be invisible on a matte card is obvious on a foil or holo card.
Can I see surface flaws in a photo?
Often only if you shoot at an angle with a single light source. Flat, even lighting hides the flaws that a grader will find when they tilt the card.
Before you pay for grading
Put your card through the same tests, free.
Before The Grade turns the grading companies' published standards into measurable checks. Upload the front and back of a card and get a condition report that shows every measurement and every flaw it found, so you can judge the prediction yourself. 1 free report when you confirm your email.
Grading companies revise their standards and service levels. Figures here reflect what each company has published at the time of writing, so confirm details on the company's own site before you submit. Before The Grade is independent and is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC or SGC.