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I've spent close to 40 hours reading the forum posts about how to scan. 

None are helpful, none work. It seems that the posts are old and outdated.

Following the links to download software only leads to frustration.

Is there a simple and clean way to learn how to scan cards into the system?

I just scan the cards with my printer and use the sit tools to crop and edit. Sometimes need to use a toploader or straight edge on the scanner bed with die cut cards. Never a problem.

Ignoring most of your comments here and assuming you actually want help, the basic idea is:

1. Scan the card using your scanner's application (NOT a camera or cell phone camera/app). Just the card, not inside a sleeve or toploader. Line the card up as straight as possible on the scanner glass

2. Using a free image-editing app such as Photoscape, properly crop your card and make small rotation adjustments if it's crooked

3. Upload the images on the card's page

4. Until you've provided a sufficient number of accepted images, wait for them to be accepted or tagged for replacement if they have issues

To make sure your cards get accepted, don't submit photos. I'll repeat, DON'T SUBMIT PHOTOs. For some reason despite the rules being clear, members will take pictures of cards on display stands, in their hands, on a table, etc. If there are obvious signs of photography (flash reflections, glare, skewed dimensions, imbalanced colors), the images will be tagged for removal. If they're swiped from a site like COMC where they're watermarked, the images will be outright rejected.

Beyond that, if you have any questions, please post them here and one of this site's many helpful members will do what they can to assist you.

First...don't spend that much time reading the forums, "40 hours"...not everything in there is correct, and too some people know what they are talking about, but they don't say it in a manner that is clear for someone else that is reading it.  As stated above by FreehanSolo, no phone images/pictures.  All submitted images should be scanned in using something like a flatbed scanner. I use a printer that has a flatbed scanner on top.   The best way to learn is to scan a few cards, try to crop them and make sure they are clean images.  Make sure they are not crooked too. If you have images that need to be cropped or straightened a good tool to use, which is a free download is Photoscape.  Also, if you have a hockey puck or two laying around these are perfect to place on top of cards, with a penny sleeve in between, to hold cards flat to the scanner.  If you do not, then they will be out of focus in certain areas.  Do not scan anything that is incased, such as a graded card, unless it was packaged that way from the vendor.  I personally wont scan a card at all even if it was packaged that way as they never come out clean enought to use.  Do not scan cards that are in a penny sleeve or a top loader. It makes them too fuzzy.  When scanning, if you see something that is questionable, then it's a no go...do it again or don't scan it.  Once you have mastered this, submit a few cards and let them get reviewed. I had several get denied when I first started and after a bit, I figured out how to overcome the issue and now I submit cards all the time.  Once you get enough cards submitted successfully you will be able to submit and approve your own images...at first, you're at the mercy of those that review them as they are trying to keep the quality of the images to a certain standard...try not to get frustrated when an image gets denied...use it as a way to learn.  This is the best way to learn...its not always easy, but I think everyone on here would appriciate it if more people scanned in those missing images. 

hondo500 wrote:

I've spent close to 40 hours reading the forum posts about how to scan. 

None are helpful, none work. It seems that the posts are old and outdated.

Following the links to download software only leads to frustration.

Is there a simple and clean way to learn how to scan cards into the system?

I use the scanner that’s built into my printer, then crop or edit through the default image editing options on my computer. All of my images have been accepted.

From our good friend Billy who was (is still?) a prolific scanner for the site. I know he's still at it on his blog.

Cardboard History : How to make your scans look like the cards in hand

Freehansolo Said it all straight up. Not difficult if you have any computer knowledge with using editing software 

What kind of scanner do you have?

any tips for scanning a "refractor" type card? i've got a few that would fill in some missing images, but every time i try, the image looks like crap. usually way to dark or way to shiney. so i don't even try to post them.

What are the SIT tools??