Scanning through sleeves is important because repeatedly removing cards from protective sleeves causes wear, especially on valuable cards. The good news is that modern scanner apps can generally handle scanning through a single clear inner sleeve with no problems. The challenge comes with different sleeve types and combinations.

Lotus Scan is designed to work through standard clear sleeves, matte sleeves, and even most top loaders. The scanner compensates for the slight haze and reflection that sleeves add to the card surface. For most players, this means you can scan your entire sleeved collection without ever removing a card from its protection.

Double-sleeved cards add a second layer of material between the camera and the card, which can reduce image clarity. Lotus Scan handles double-sleeved cards well in most lighting conditions, though you may need slightly brighter light than you would for unsleeved cards. If you use inner sleeves with a matte finish on both sides, try angling the card slightly to reduce the frosted appearance.

Art sleeves and fully opaque sleeves obviously cannot be scanned through. If your cards are in colored or art sleeves, you will need to briefly slide the card up so the face is visible above the sleeve top, scan it, and slide it back down. This is faster and safer than fully removing and reinserting the card.

For top loaders and magnetic cases, Lotus Scan works through the clear front panel. Hold the top loader flat and scan from directly above to minimize distortion from the plastic. One-touch magnetic holders with UV protection coating may add a slight tint, but Lotus Scan's image processing accounts for this.

The key tip for scanning through any sleeve or case is to ensure there is enough light reaching the card. Sleeves reduce the light that the camera sensor receives, so a well-lit environment makes a significant difference in scan reliability.