How-to guides
Practical, step-by-step guides for photographing cards, pre-grading them at home and preparing a clean grading submission.
- What Is Pre-Grading? How to Estimate a Card Grade Before You SubmitPre-grading is estimating the grade a card is likely to receive before submitting it to a grading company. It works by checking centering, corners, edges and surface against the published standards. It does not guarantee a result, but it removes weak candidates and improves your odds on the ones you send.3 min read
- How to Pre-Grade a Card: A Step-by-Step ChecklistTo pre-grade a card, light it well, measure centering on both sides, inspect each corner and edge, tilt the surface under a single light, find the single flaw most likely to cap the grade, then compare against the standard and the economics. The ceiling flaw decides the result.3 min read
- How to Photograph Cards for Pre-Grading: Lighting, Angles and SetupPhotograph the card flat, straight on and in focus, with the camera parallel to the card and no glare. Shoot the front and back, and add angled-light close-ups of corners and surface. Tilt, glare and sleeves are the main causes of bad pre-grade results.3 min read
- How to Prepare Cards for a Grading SubmissionBefore submitting, pre-grade and pick the cards, protect each one in a soft sleeve and a rigid holder if the company allows it, complete the submission paperwork accurately, pack securely and insure the shipment. Always follow the grading company's own packing instructions, which can change.3 min read
- How Accurate Is AI Pre-Grading? What It Can and Cannot Tell YouAI pre-grading is most reliable for centering, which is a measurement, moderately reliable for visible corner and edge wear, and least reliable for faint surface flaws. It produces a research estimate, not a certified grade, and graders apply judgment that no tool can fully reproduce. Use it to screen and prioritize, then verify by eye.3 min read
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.