What do PSA graders look for when grading pokemon cards

When grading Pokémon cards, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) uses a detailed process to evaluate the card's overall condition. They assign a grade from 1 to 10, with 10 being Gem Mint, based on the following key factors:

1. Centering

  • What It Is: The alignment of the card's artwork within the card borders. Ideally, the artwork should be perfectly centered, meaning the borders on all sides are even.
  • How It’s Evaluated: PSA uses specific tolerances for centering. For a PSA 10 grade, the front centering must be within 55/45 to 60/40, meaning the borders on one side can be no more than 55% of the total border width and the other side no less than 45%. On the back, the centering can be a little less strict, around 75/25.

2. Surface

  • What It Is: The overall quality and cleanliness of the card’s front and back surfaces, including any imperfections, marks, or damage.
  • What Graders Look For:
    • Scratches: Especially on holographic cards, where scratches can be more visible.
    • Print Lines: Horizontal or vertical lines that sometimes appear during the printing process, often on holo or foil cards.
    • Stains or Smudges: Anything that alters the card's original look, including dirt, ink, or moisture damage.
    • Gloss and Shine: The card should have a consistent finish, with no fading or dull spots.
    • Creases or Bends: Any crease, no matter how small, can drastically lower a card's grade.

3. Edges

  • What It Is: The condition of the card’s edges, which should be crisp and clean.
  • What Graders Look For:
    • Edge Wear: Even slight whitening or fraying along the edges can lower the grade.
    • Chipping: Tiny bits of material missing from the edges, often caused by handling or manufacturing defects.
    • Sharpness: The edges should be sharp, with no visible wear.

4. Corners

  • What It Is: The condition of the card’s four corners, which should be sharp and free of damage.
  • What Graders Look For:
    • Sharpness: The corners should be clean and pointed, with no rounding or blunting.
    • Fraying: Some cards may exhibit light fraying at the corners, which lowers the grade.
    • Dents: Any dents or bends in the corners are major detractors from the grade.

5. Surface Gloss and Finish

  • What It Is: The quality of the card's surface shine and original gloss. Holofoil cards, in particular, need to maintain their intended shine.
  • What Graders Look For:
    • Fading: Faded gloss or color due to sun exposure, moisture, or handling.
    • Foil Wear: On holofoil cards, PSA looks closely for damage to the foil layer, such as scratches or "silvering" around the edges.

6. Card Authenticity

  • What It Is: PSA verifies that the card is not a counterfeit or altered in any way. Cards that are altered or tampered with (like trimmed edges or added gloss) will be rejected or graded with an "Authentic" label instead of a numerical grade.

PSA Grading Scale Breakdown:

  • PSA 10 – Gem Mint: Perfect centering, sharp corners, smooth edges, flawless surface. Even a tiny flaw could drop the grade.
  • PSA 9 – Mint: Near-perfect, with only minor imperfections like slightly off centering (up to 60/40 on the front and 90/10 on the back), very slight edge wear, or barely noticeable surface flaws.
  • PSA 8 – Near Mint-Mint: Slightly more noticeable imperfections, such as minor edge wear, off-centering (up to 65/35 front, 90/10 back), or very light surface marks.
  • PSA 7 – Near Mint: Some visible imperfections like edge wear, light scratches, or more noticeable centering issues (up to 70/30 on the front).
  • PSA 6 – Excellent-Mint: More significant signs of wear, including more prominent surface scratches, edge chipping, and less sharp corners.
  • PSA 5 – Excellent: Moderate wear on the edges, corners, and surface. Creasing may be present, and centering issues are more noticeable.
  • PSA 4 – Very Good-Excellent: Visible flaws like surface wear, creases, edge and corner damage, and off-centering.
  • PSA 3 – Very Good: Heavier wear, more significant creasing, and corner damage, but the card still retains some of its appeal.
  • PSA 2 – Good: Significant damage, including heavy creasing, staining, or surface wear. The card is heavily played.
  • PSA 1 – Poor: Severe damage, including tears, stains, or heavy creasing. Generally, the card is in very poor condition.

What to Keep in Mind:

  • Condition is Everything: Even a card that is inherently valuable can lose most of its worth if it is not in excellent condition. PSA 10 cards tend to command much higher prices than lower grades.
  • Card Storage: To ensure cards maintain a high grade, they should be carefully stored in protective sleeves and kept in a cool, dry environment.
  • Authenticity and History: For older or rare cards, PSA also verifies the card's authenticity, ensuring it's not counterfeit or altered, which affects its collectability.

By understanding what PSA graders look for and how the grading process works, you can better prepare your cards for submission and potentially maximize their value.

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