Phone picture vs scans
 

I notice often that phone pictures aren't an accurate depiction of what a card actually looks like in hand.

I purchased this Beaumont that I thought it might be a color variation because it had a clean back and in the sellers image the B looked orange.
On T206's that have been affected by chemicals or light exposure the B would be pink not orange as it turned out it is pink and was likely exposed to the sun
or light for a lengthy period of time.

Sellers image on the left and my scan on the right and a back scan.

Attachment 566104

Attachment 566105

Scans are almost always better.
.

there is an app called Photoscan that you can use that I highly recommend. It takes away glare and tries to improve quality of picture. I will post an example shortly.

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I’d be happy to buy that Clarence Beaumont from you if you’re not happy with it.

Lighting, focus, resolution and user error.
All factors that influence our photos.

Unless they have greatly improved the app, I would advise against using it. It's been about two years since I used it. The quality at that time not good whatsoever.

The app makes you take four photos of different areas of your item, then combines all to form a sort of conglomerate FrankenPhoto with predictably uneven results. Lots of awful, electronically blotched/smeared areas which nobody has any interest in. It also utilizes the camera flash on your phone. When taking pictures of your card from 4 different places, the flash, as placed at four different positions, is going to present problems because of the minute differences in light and angles, etc. Not even a surgeon's hands are so steady that they are going to be able to take 4 different camera phone photos at the exact same heights and angles. Unless they've come up with some impressive changes, I'll never use that app again.

Another benefit of scans is that they show the card from directly on. I can't get over how many sellers want thousands of dollars for a card with a photo that's at a terrible angle.

I do recall that the PhotoScan app does do its best to create a straight-on image, but the results left much to be desired.

posted before, sometimes scans aren't better :)

https://i.imgur.com/oNHn4Qg.png

https://i.imgur.com/sogXXgV.png

With the exception of Chris' example which is jarring each time I see it, I am 100% opposed to cell phone pics for 2D items. I will not bid on a card where the seller uses a cell pic. 99 times out of 100 they are shot on angles that distort the cards, poorly lit, there are reflections on the holders (if they are graded cards), images are usually blurry and simply do not allow me to assess a card properly for those things I would be looking for.

Besides those reasons, I am an anti cell phone guy at heart and find it to be the lazy approach to capture a card however those who do it will deem it convenient. If it was such a great way to provide images of cards then every house would do it yet all scan.

Doctored scans certainly aren't better.

That ones on Heritage 100%

Did Heritage describe the multiple creases on the front of the card ?

Scanners are best
 

I have a Epson Perfection V600 scanner and I wouldn't have any other. There may be newer model numbers now as I've mine for a while.

They also do great on the scorecards, programs, yearbooks and other books etc.Attachment 566571

Yeah, there's no way that scan is untouched.

Scans
 

So I just bought a cheap cannon scanner (lide 400) as I have a lot of t206 dupes I am finally going to get around to selling. Lots of setting options to enhance/brighten/etc. images. Whats the best/most honest way to do it? No enhancements? Are the enhancements okay to make the picture sharper? Are any enhancements off limits, but some are okay? Its all low grade, generally, and I am too lazy and don't pay enough attention to detail to write out descriptions of flaws/condition so I will need the pictures to show the true condition. I havent seen a discussion of this before, so just wondering everyone's thoughts.

Pretty much anything that makes it look as close to as in hand is ok. Stuff that makes it look better than it does in hand shouldn't be used IMO.

Do you use Photoshop at all?

For cards available for sale or trade, I scan on my Epson without using any filters or enhancements, then bring it into Photoshop and hit 'Auto Tone,' 'Auto Contrast' and 'Auto Color' (and no other image adjustments) to keep it as close to real as possible.

I do not use photoshop. I guess I will just have to play around with it to see what looks most realistic/accurate - I have noticed that some settings make the color "pop", and I have noticed it in listings before - but the cards don't look like that in real life - where the color almost glows.

Do PSA and SGC scan or use a camera? PSA’s pic vs. my scan:

I think it cuts both ways. Yes, scans tend to be more accurate than phone pics, but because scans flatten the image, they don't always do a great job of catching imperfections, such as wrinkles and creases. Sometimes taking a picture of a card at an angle can do a better job of showing imperfections....If you're in to that type of thing....