You’re probably wondering what you need to know in order to get that shiny cardboard ready for a submission.
Trading card grading is the process of professionally evaluating and authenticating a trading card’s condition, quality, and authenticity by an independent grading company.
During grading, key aspects of the card are looked at under a microscope camera - including centering, corners, edges, and surface — to determine its condition. ; Once these things have been assessed, your card is assigned a numerical grade on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 representing a card in perfect, gem mint condition.
Once graded, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-proof plastic case (called a “slab”) that displays its grade, certification number, and company label. This process helps protect the card from damage, verify its authenticity, and establish its market value, making graded cards highly desirable among collectors and investors alike.
The short of it (TLDR;) Card > Tagged Sleeve > Semi Rigid
Product links:
Tabbed Sleeves (penny sleeves with an easy grab tab):
Palms Off Tabbed Sleeves:
Semi Rigid Card holders:
There’s a million ways to check your card over – so here’s some key things to look out for as all of these factors can dramatically affect the result of your cards grade.
Corners
- Inspect all four corners for sharpness and wear.
- Miscut, bent, or frayed corners can significantly reduce the grade.
- Use good lighting or a magnifier to spot minor imperfections.
Edges
- Check the card’s edges for chipping, whitening, or dings.
- Even small edge flaws can drop a high-grade card to a lower tier.
- Handle cards carefully to avoid creating new edge damage.
Surface
- Look for scratches, dents, stains, print lines, or fingerprints on the surface.
- Holographic or foil cards are especially sensitive to marks.
- Wipe gently with a soft microfiber cloth if needed (never use chemicals).
Centering
- The card’s border alignment (front and back) should be even.
- Poor centering means one border looks thicker than the others.
- Most grading companies have centering tolerance standards (e.g., 55/45 or better for higher grades).
Print Quality
- Watch for printing defects, such as ink spots, miscuts, or color fading.
- Misprints can either lower value or, in rare cases, increase it if they’re unique.
Authenticity
- Verify that the card is genuine and not a counterfeit or reprint.
- Check texture, weight, and printing clarity — fakes often feel thinner or have dull colors.
- When in doubt, you’re welcome to reach out to us about any concerns you may have on your cards.
PSA guidelines for submissions now require all cards to be sleeved in a semi rigid card holder. Card goes into Tabbed Sleeve. Tabbed Sleeve goes into a Semi Rigid Card companies we rate for grading;PSA, BECKETTS, PCG (local)
Protect your cards before grading — shop premium trading card sleeves at TCG Collector NZ. Keep your collection in top condition and ready for that perfect grade. Shop Trading Card Protection Now
