Condition factors
A close look at the four things graders examine on a trading card: centering, corners, edges and surface, plus qualifiers and no-grade reasons.
- Card Centering Guide: What PSA 10 Really RequiresCentering describes how evenly a card image sits inside its borders. PSA publishes that a Gem Mint 10 must be within approximately 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back. A 55/45 ratio means the wider border is 55 percent of the combined border width on that axis. Centering is the most measurable part of a grade, so check it first.3 min read
- How to Measure Card Centering at Home, AccuratelyTo measure centering, photograph the card straight on, measure the left, right, top and bottom borders, and convert each pair to a ratio by dividing the larger border by the sum of the two. Perspective error is the main source of mistakes, so keep the camera square and the card flat.3 min read
- Card Corners and Grading: What Graders Look ForGraders look for four sharp corners with no whitening, fraying, dings or rounding. A PSA 10 requires four perfectly sharp corners. Corner damage is the most common reason a card with good centering misses the top grade, and it is easy to miss without magnification and angled light.3 min read
- Card Edges and Whitening: How Edge Wear Affects Your GradeGraders inspect all four edges of the front and back for whitening, chipping, roughness and uneven cuts. Dark-bordered cards show edge whitening immediately, while light-bordered cards hide it. Edges often wear alongside corners because both come from handling.3 min read
- Card Surface Defects: Scratches, Print Lines, Dents and GlossSurface 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 10.3 min read
- Grading Qualifiers and No-Grade Codes: Why Cards Come Back UngradedA qualifier flags one specific issue on a card that otherwise earns a numeric grade, for example MK for marks. A no-grade is a card returned without a numeric grade, for reasons PSA lists as numbered definitions: trimming, restoration, recoloring, questionable authenticity, altered stock, minimum size, cleaning, miscut and cards it does not grade.3 min read
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