AGX Grading
Our grading process
Follow a card from the grader’s hands to the centering analysis and the final decision. Each step answers a different question about its condition.
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The first look is by hand.
A grader examines the front and back of the physical card. Turning it under the light can reveal a shallow dent, crease, or fine scratch that disappears in a straight-on image. The grader notes where a mark appears so it can be checked again during image review.
- Corners
- We look at the tip of each corner from both sides. A small spot of exposed stock, a soft tip, and a folded corner are different forms of wear.
- Edges
- We follow each edge from corner to corner, checking for chips, fraying, or separation between layers. On a dark border, even a short break in the ink can stand out.
- Surface
- We change the viewing angle to distinguish scratches, indentations, print lines, and creases from reflections in the finish.
- Centering
- We identify which printed features are meant to align with the cut edges. That first look tells us which parts of the design make a meaningful comparison.
How AI measures centering.
With the card square to the camera, we use AI-assisted image analysis to locate the outer cut and a comparable printed boundary. On a bordered card, the space between those lines is the border width. We compare left with right, then top with bottom, treating the front and back as separate designs.
What if the artwork is off-center by design?
A borderless card or an intentionally uneven layout needs a recognizable design reference. A player printed to one side can be part of the artwork. When the design offers no reliable pair of reference points, a numeric border ratio would give a misleading impression of precision.
What else can the image show?
A break in a dark edge, a change in a corner’s outline, or a bright line on the surface can flag an area for closer inspection. A foil reflection can resemble a scratch. The grader returns to that spot on the card and changes the light angle to see what is actually there.
How we reach the grade.
The grader compares the centering measurements and flagged areas with the first inspection. For each confirmed defect, its severity, location, and extent matter. An isolated speck of edge wear and a crease that runs through the card affect its condition differently.
Two cards can both measure 55/45. If one has sharp corners and a clean surface while the other has a bent corner, their shared centering ratio describes only one part of their condition. The grader considers the full card before assigning the final AGX grade.