Altered art cards are a beloved part of Magic culture, with artists painting extended borders, new backgrounds, or entirely reimagined artwork onto physical cards. However, these modifications present a genuine challenge for scanner apps that rely on matching card images against a database of known printings.

The extent of the alteration determines whether a scanner can identify the card. Border extensions, where the artist paints over the black border to extend the existing artwork to the card edges, are the most scanner-friendly alterations. Since the core card art, text box, name, and set symbol remain intact, apps like Lotus Scan can usually still identify these cards. The scanner may take slightly longer or show lower confidence, but identification typically succeeds.

Partial alterations that modify a portion of the artwork while leaving the card name, mana cost, and text box visible can go either way. If enough of the original visual fingerprint remains, the scanner may match it. Lotus Scan's full-image analysis gives it an advantage here because it weighs multiple card features rather than relying solely on the artwork match. However, results are inconsistent and depend heavily on how much of the original card is still recognizable.

Full art alterations where the entire card face has been repainted will almost certainly fail to scan on any app. The original artwork is the primary identification feature for image-based scanners, and replacing it entirely removes the most distinctive matching data. In these cases, you will need to manually add the card to your collection by searching for it by name.

If you have a collection that includes altered cards, the practical approach is to attempt the scan first. If it works, great. If not, the card name is usually still legible on altered cards even when the art is modified, so a quick manual search in the app will let you add it to your collection. Some players find it helpful to scan their altered cards separately from their unaltered collection, setting aside any that fail for manual entry later.

For anyone commissioning or buying altered cards, keep in mind that alterations typically reduce a card's trade and buylist value even if they increase its collectible appeal to certain buyers. Scanners showing the base card price will not reflect any premium or discount associated with the alteration.