Fantasy Grading

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

Grading is thought by us all to be highly subjective. But
Can we reduce this subjectivity or eliminate it by using a
set of mathematical formulas to reliably identify a card’s
condition? I don’t know. Lets see.

There is:

Centering
Paper loss
Corner wear
Creases
Edge Wear
Recoloring
Staining
Print Spots
Abrasions
Tears
Pinholes
Writing
Surface Gloss
Other Stuff

Now, computer grading was attempted unsuccessfully
with coins, but the main problem was that a coin is a
three dimensional object. And although baseball cards are too,
grading primarilly addresses the condition of two 2D surfaces.

Graders measure a card to identify centering.
They can also measure a card , by superimposing a grid
to identify corner and edge wear, as well as quantifying
areas of staining and other imperfections (area of print spots,
writing, recoloring, abrasions, paper loss, etc.). Actual analysis
of these areas can most easily be performed by computer. However,
it also can be estimated manually.

The length and number of creases can also be measured, and the
degree of gloss can be optically assessed, for example,by
photometrically measuring light reflectence.

Certiainly, weighting factors can be generated for each of these
measurements and a comparitive value can be assigned to each card.

Is this close? Maybe. It would be nice to have dependable grading.
Almost everyone would buy into that. If guys can figure out how to
input all auction results automatically into a dynamic database online
price utility, I bet they could program up something like this during lunch.