Record your graded Pokemon card return with clear photos of the front, back, label, and sealed edges as soon as you open the package. A grading return is a card sent back in a sealed plastic holder, often called a slab, after authentication and condition review. Photograph the unopened package, then the holder from all sides in bright, indirect light. These images create a dated record of the card and holder you received.
Table of Contents
- What should you photograph before opening the box?
- How do you capture the card clearly through the plastic?
- How do you document the label, number, and seal?
- How should you store photos for insurance or resale?
What should you photograph before opening the box?
Start with the sealed shipping box, shipping label with personal details covered, and any visible dents or crushed corners. Then photograph the inner padding and the position of each holder before you lift it out.
This order links any holder damage to shipping rather than handling after arrival. Keep one wide shot that shows all returned cards together, then move to close-ups of each holder.
- Box exterior on all sides
- Inner packing and card placement
- Each holder still in its sleeve or wrap
- Front and back after removal
How do you capture the card clearly through the plastic?
Place the holder flat on a dark, non-reflective surface and use bright window light or a daylight lamp from the side. Angle the holder slightly until glare moves off the card face, then take straight-on front and back photos. Include the full card, centering, corners, edges, and holographic area in each shot.
Take a second angled photo if foil glare hides scratches, print lines, or edge wear. Hold the phone steady and tap to focus on the card, not the plastic reflection. Avoid flash, which washes out color and hides surface flaws.
How do you document the label, number, and seal?
Photograph the grading label straight on so the card name, grade, certification number, and barcode are readable. A label is the small tag sealed into the top of the holder that identifies the card and grade.
Then photograph all four edges, corners, and the back seam where the two halves join. Look for cracks, scuffs, loose plastic, rattling, fogging, or gaps that suggest a weak seal.
How should you store photos for insurance or resale?
Rename each file with the character, set, grade, and certification number. Save the full set with your submission receipt, return invoice, and tracking record in one folder.
Keep originals unedited and unfiltered, and back them up to cloud storage. Share only cropped copies when listing the card for sale, with the certification number visible so a buyer can match the listing to the holder.
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