Lotus ScanHow to Scan Sleeved Magic Cards
A step-by-step guide to help you scan sleeved magic cards quickly and accurately.
Many collectors keep their valuable cards sleeved for protection, but removing each card from its sleeve just to scan it is tedious and risks damage. The good news is that you can scan most sleeved cards directly, as long as you know the right technique. Different sleeve types present different challenges, from penny sleeve haze to the thick plastic of toploaders. Here is how to get reliable scans without ever desleeving.
Step-by-Step Guide
Understand which sleeves scan well
Clear penny sleeves and most matte-backed deck sleeves allow the front of the card to be scanned easily. The card face is fully visible through the clear front panel. Dragon Shield mattes, KMC Hyper Mattes, and Ultra Pro Eclipse sleeves all work fine since the front is transparent.
Use an app that handles sleeves natively
Some scanning apps struggle with the slight distortion and glare that sleeves introduce. Lotus Scan is designed to scan through sleeves without issue, so you don't need to adjust your technique much. If your current app fails on sleeved cards frequently, it may be worth switching to one built for this scenario.
Reduce glare on the sleeve surface
Sleeves add an extra reflective surface. Tilt the sleeved card slightly so the sleeve's glare moves off the camera's line of sight. The same technique that works for foils works here - find the angle where you can read all the card text clearly in the viewfinder.
Tip: Matte sleeves produce less glare than glossy ones. If you have a choice, matte-front sleeves are easier to scan through.
Push the card to the bottom of the sleeve
Cards that are loose in oversized sleeves can shift around and create air pockets between the sleeve and the card face. Push the card flush against one corner of the sleeve so the plastic sits flat against the card. This eliminates the foggy look caused by air gaps.
Handle double-sleeved cards with care
Double-sleeved cards have two layers of plastic in front of the card face. This can cause enough distortion to trip up some scanners. If your scans are failing on double-sleeved cards, try scanning through just the outer sleeve from the back side if the inner sleeve has a clear back, or accept that you may need to remove the outer sleeve.
Tip: Perfect-fit inner sleeves cause fewer scanning issues than side-loading inner sleeves because they trap less air.
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
- If you're scanning a full deck, fan the cards on a table face-up and scan them one by one without picking each one up. This is faster than handling individual sleeved cards.
- Avoid scanning through toploaders. The rigid, thick plastic causes too much distortion and glare. Remove the card (carefully) or scan a different copy.
- Keep your sleeves clean. Dust and scratches on the sleeve surface look like card damage to a scanner.
- If a sleeved foil won't scan, that's the combination of two difficult surfaces. Remove the sleeve temporarily for foils you need to scan.