Lotus ScanHow to Scan MTG Cards on iPad
A step-by-step guide to help you scan mtg cards on ipad quickly and accurately.
While most people reach for their iPhone to scan Magic cards, the iPad offers a genuinely better experience for long scanning sessions and collection management. The larger screen makes it easier to verify card details, review your collection, and compare prices without squinting at a small display. If you own an iPad with a rear camera, Lotus Scan runs beautifully on it and takes advantage of the extra screen real estate. This guide covers the optimal iPad scanning setup and the workflow advantages that the larger screen provides.
Step-by-Step Guide
Set up your iPad scanning station
Unlike phone scanning where you hold the device in one hand, iPad scanning works best with the tablet propped up or mounted. Use a tablet stand, a book stand, or even lean the iPad against a sturdy object at a slight backward angle so the rear camera faces your scanning surface. This frees both hands to flip through cards, which is significantly faster and more comfortable than the one-handed phone approach. Position the iPad so the camera is about 8 to 10 inches above your scanning surface and angle a desk lamp to illuminate the card area evenly. This stationary setup means you never have to hold the iPad and a card simultaneously, which eliminates hand fatigue during long sessions.
Tip: An adjustable tablet arm or gooseneck mount clamped to your desk creates the ultimate hands-free scanning station.
Install and configure Lotus Scan on your iPad
Download Lotus Scan from the App Store on your iPad if you have not already. The app is universal and runs natively on both iPhone and iPad, taking advantage of the iPad's larger display to show more information on screen at once. If you already use Lotus Scan on your iPhone, your collections will sync between devices so you are not starting from scratch. Open the app and verify that the camera preview shows a clear, well-lit image of your scanning surface. Adjust your lighting if the preview shows shadows or uneven illumination. The iPad's larger viewfinder makes it much easier to spot lighting problems before you start scanning.
Scan cards using the hands-free workflow
With your iPad mounted and the camera pointing at your scanning surface, simply place each card face-up in the camera's view. Lotus Scan will detect and identify the card automatically. Once it captures the card, slide it aside and place the next one. This assembly-line approach is dramatically faster than handheld phone scanning because you never have to reframe or refocus between cards. The larger screen also lets you see the scan result immediately, including the card name, set, and price, without picking up the device. For continuous scanning sessions, this setup lets you process 400 to 600 cards per hour with practice.
Tip: Place a piece of dark fabric or a solid-color playmat under the cards to give the scanner a consistent, high-contrast background.
Use the larger screen for collection review
After scanning, the iPad truly shines for reviewing and managing your collection. The bigger display shows more cards at once in grid view, making it faster to scroll through and spot-check for errors. Card detail screens show the artwork, pricing information, and set details all at readable sizes without zooming. If you need to compare prices, look up related cards, or organize collection groups, the iPad's multitasking capabilities let you run Lotus Scan alongside a browser or spreadsheet app in split view. This side-by-side workflow is impossible on a phone and dramatically speeds up collection management tasks.
Export and share from your iPad
The iPad's file management and sharing features make exporting your collection data straightforward. Export your CSV directly to Files, iCloud Drive, or any cloud storage app without needing a computer as an intermediary. You can also open the exported CSV in Numbers or Google Sheets directly on the iPad to review and edit the data before sharing it. If you need to send a trade list to someone, the iPad's larger keyboard makes it easy to compose a message and attach the file. For players who manage their collections primarily on a tablet, the iPad provides a complete workflow from scanning through export without touching another device.
Tip: Use AirDrop to instantly send your CSV export to your Mac if you need to process the data on a computer.
Make It Easier with Lotus Scan
Lotus Scan for iPhone simplifies this entire process with AI-powered card recognition, real-time price tracking, and intuitive collection management. Just point your camera and scan.
Pro Tips
- The iPad Pro cameras are comparable to iPhone cameras in quality. Older iPad models with lower-resolution cameras may struggle with small text on cards, so ensure your lighting is excellent.
- If you share your iPad with family members, use separate Lotus Scan accounts or collection groups to keep your MTG data organized and separate.
- Keep your iPad plugged in during long scanning sessions. The camera and screen running continuously drain the battery faster than normal tablet use.
- The iPad Mini is a good middle ground between phone and full-size tablet if you want a larger screen but still want to hand-hold the device.
- For the ultimate scanning setup, pair your iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard to quickly add notes or tags to scanned cards without switching to the on-screen keyboard.