General Forum

Hey, I'm trying to scan a couple of non-sport cards, but unfortunately, I only have them in Beckett slabs. I've tried using my flatbed scanner but they always come out blurry. I did see someone suggest scanning them with an open lid in a dark room but it didn't seem to help things.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Finding someone else with non-graded versions is pretty out of the question since they're almost impossible to find.

Get a different scanner. :)

I have the same issue with some cards that came in holders I don't wish to break the seal on, so they remain in my collection but without images here.

Yeah, I think that's probably going to be the solution, unfortunately. Hopefully, I'll be able to borrow a better one soonish.

"Better" is too subjective, what Dan said was to get a "different" scanner.

There are two types of scanning technology.  Your scanner may be perfectly good, but it uses CIS technology (Contact Image Sensor).  It can only focus on what is in contact with the glass.  What you need to use to scan slabbed cards is a scanner that uses CCD technology (Charge Coupled Device).  This type of scanner can capture some depth of field.

One is not particularly 'better' than the other.  They each have tasks that they do better than the other.

Search the forums for "CCD", there has been lots of discussion about them in the past.

-Tom

Here's a scan with a CCD scanner. The card is on top of soda bottle caps raising it 1/2 inch from the scanner bed. 

Thanks, if I end up getting another scanner in the future I'll make sure it's CCD.

I like when I learn things on here. Thanks for the informative post, Tom!

Epson V550 is the one i use and love it!!!