Lotus ScanHow to Scan MTG Cards with Your iPhone
A step-by-step guide to help you scan mtg cards with your iphone quickly and accurately.
Your iPhone is one of the best tools you already own for cataloging Magic: The Gathering cards. Modern card-scanning apps use your phone's camera and AI recognition to identify cards in seconds, pulling up prices and set information instantly. Whether you're sorting through a bulk box or checking the value of a single pull, scanning with your iPhone is far faster than manual lookups. This guide walks you through the entire process from setup to your first scan.
Step-by-Step Guide
Download a card scanner app
Head to the App Store and install a dedicated MTG card scanner like Lotus Scan. Dedicated scanning apps are far more accurate than general image recognition tools because they're trained specifically on Magic card artwork and frames.
Tip: Look for apps that don't require a white background - you want to scan anywhere, not just at a desk.
Prepare your lighting
Good lighting is the single biggest factor in scan accuracy. Position yourself near a window or under a bright overhead light so the card face is evenly lit without harsh shadows. Avoid scanning directly under a single-point light source, which creates glare.
Tip: Diffused natural light from a window on a cloudy day is ideal for scanning.
Hold the card steady in frame
Open the scanner and hold the card about 6-8 inches from your iPhone's camera. Keep the card flat and centered in the viewfinder. Most apps will automatically detect the card once it's in focus and properly framed.
Verify the detected card and set
After the scan, confirm that the app identified the correct card name and printing. Cards reprinted across many sets can sometimes match to the wrong edition. If the set is wrong, most apps let you tap through alternate printings to select the right one.
Tip: Check the set symbol on the physical card and match it to the app's result to confirm accuracy.
Set the card condition and extras
Mark the card's condition (Near Mint, Lightly Played, etc.) and whether it's foil. Condition has a major impact on price, so being honest here gives you more accurate collection values. If you're unsure, Lightly Played is a safe default for cards that have been in a deck.
Save to your collection
Add the scanned card to a collection or group within the app. Organizing cards into separate collections - like "Trade Binder," "Modern Deck," or "Bulk" - makes it much easier to find and manage cards later. You can always reorganize later as your system evolves.
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
- Clean your iPhone camera lens before a scanning session - fingerprints and smudges reduce recognition accuracy significantly.
- Batch your scanning by set when possible. Sorting physical cards by set first means fewer misidentifications from similar art across printings.
- If a card fails to scan, try tilting it slightly to reduce glare rather than moving it farther away.
- Turn off your phone's auto-brightness so the screen doesn't dim mid-session and drain battery inconsistently.