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Orange Card Grading Services
OUR METHOD

"Transparency is key"

Transparent, thorough grading


We try to keep our work transparent. So, on this page you'll find exactly how our grades grade your cards. With each graded card you'll receive an extensive grading report based on the criteria that are listed in the table below. The grading process starts by applying a grade of 100 points to the card to be graded. Then, the grader goes through each of the categories, subtracting points for observations that negatively affect the card's condition. Keep in mind that deviations of this method are possible, at the grader's discretion. We will however always note the reason for deviating from the method in your grading report.


Grading Dimension

How it’s graded

Authenticity

  • We first determine the authenticity of the card. This is done by employing several methods, such as but not limited to:
  • - Weighing the card
  • - Exposing it to a blacklight
  • - Checking for known production defects
  • - Checking the ink under magnification
  • - Verifying the card’s rosette pattern

Centering

We use a PSA-style centering tool to determine how centered the card is. We subtract points from the score according using the following method:


50/50 to 60/40 front, 75/25 back

0 points

60/40 to 65/35 front, 90/10 back

1 point

65/35 to 70/30 front, 90/10 back

2 points

70/30 to 75/25 front, 90/10 back

4 points

80/20 or better front, 90/10 back

8 points

85/15 or better front, 90/10 back

14 points

90/10 or better front, 90/10 back

20 points

 

Corners

Corners are graded along two axes: wear and bending. Wear includes whitening and other types of damage. Bending at the corners can be due to handling of the card or due to (known) production defects. Hence, bending may be treated more leniently than wear. If points are subtracted for wear at the corners, they are not subtracted again for general surface wear. Wear and bending are graded as follows:


No wear or bending on any corner

0

Slight bending or wear on a single corner

1 for either, 2 for both

Slight bending or wear on several corners

1 per corner, per wear mark or bend

Significant bending or wear on a single corner

2 for either, 4 for both

Significant bending or wear on several corners

2 per corner, per wear mark or bend

Edges

Edges are checked for wear and whitening. The number of points subtracted from the grading score are based on 1) how much of the edge length is affected by the wear and 2) how deep the wear has propagated onto the surface. We repeat this process for each of the eight (four on the front, four on the back) edges. If points are subtracted for wear at the edges and borders, they are not subtracted again for general surface wear. The following classification is used to grade edges:


<5% of edge length affected by wear

0

5%-10%/10%-20%/20%-30%/30%-50%/>50% of edge length affected by wear, with minimum/some/significant propagation onto surface

1/2/3/4/5 for length multiplied by 1/2/3 for propagation

Surface

The surface is checked for dents, scratches, light damage, and printing quality. Specifically, this comes down to the following:


Dents

2 point for each dent visible under magnification, 4 points for each dent visible with the naked eye

Scratches

1 point for each scratch visible under magnification, 2 points for each scratch visible with the naked eye

Light damage

At the grader’s discretion, but this will be thoroughly explained in the grading report

Printing quality

At the grader’s discretion, but this will be thoroughly explained in the grading report

Foiling

In case the card is a foil or holo card, we grade this as well. The main aspect that we look at for foiled cards are clouding and bleeding. We use the following scale to grade foiled cards:


No clouding

0 points

Less than 10% of surface is clouded

1 point

10%-30% of surface is clouded

2 points

30%-50% of surface is clouded

3 points

More than 50% of surface is clouded

5 points

Foiling bleeds onto normal ink on one or several locations

1 point per bleed



After the grader completes the grading process, the card will have a numerical score from 0 to 100. This score represents the condition of the card. In the case that the card's score would drop below 0, we will contact you. You will be provided with the choice of shipping the card back to you without a slab or of putting it in a slab. If you choose to let us put the card in a grading slab, it will receive the grade "P" for Poor.