Question about centering

sigmachi · 09-20-2018, 09:20 AM

Hey grading gurus i'm still a pretty novice grader. I've sent in about 80 modern cards to BGS for myself over the past year. I had never sent in anything before but looking at my order history I can definitely tell that my eye has gotten better in terms of what to look for than when I started. Before I think I looked at a card, found a flaw, and hoped that they overlooked it...now I just assume the worst case scenario and don't even send it in. I've begun to wipe down my chrome cards with a microfiber, I really study the corners, I look for print lines and the slightest peeling of the edges. My LED flashlight comes in handy for the surface too. This forum has been a wonderful resource for me in terms of what they look for, how to clean, how to store and even fill out sub form and shipping to BGS. I think the most satisfying thing is looking at those pop reports on the day an order pops only to find your card did better than expected.

I do have a couple question though, it seems that the part that gets me the most is centering...is there anything I can buy that will help me out with bordered cards? Obviously non-bordered cards like this year's topps chrome are harder to judge...Prizm basketball got me last year, maybe because there was so many badly centered that when I saw one that was halfway decent I just assumed they would know that it was good compared to the average prizm card. When a set is notorious for being poorly centered do they take that into account when grading?

WillBBC · 09-20-2018, 10:18 AM

Have you tried a ruler, or even a digital ruler after scanning?

Failing that, I like to take the scan and measure the borders in pixels.

Take the left side, draw a line in something as simple as Paint, from the edge of the card to where the border starts. The length of the line you drew is your measurement. If you zoom in quite a ways you can be uber accurate.

If you have 35 pixels on one side and 45 on the other. Total border is 80. 35/80 is .4375, centering is 43.75/56.25.

PM me if you want an example.

aggie4ever · 09-20-2018, 11:19 AM

There is also something called a Grademaster Card Centering Tool, available on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trading-Spo...-/302271472583

I don't have one, but do remember a blog post here on BO talking about it.

Branesergen · 09-20-2018, 10:09 PM

I have this tool and like it, dont love it but that's mainly because I can hardly see lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggie4ever

There is also something called a Grademaster Card Centering Tool, available on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trading-Spo...-/302271472583

I don't have one, but do remember a blog post here on BO talking about it.

MJGOAT23 · 09-21-2018, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggie4ever

There is also something called a Grademaster Card Centering Tool, available on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trading-Spo...-/302271472583

I don't have one, but do remember a blog post here on BO talking about it.

I have on of these. I think it works well. I'd recommend getting one..sometimes your eyes deceive you when simply "eyeballing" the centering...

sigmachi · 09-21-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

I have on of these. I think it works well. I'd recommend getting one..sometimes your eyes deceive you when simply "eyeballing" the centering...

that's very true...especially after looking over many cards at once. Thanks for all your help guys, I'll have to pick up one of these things.

09-20-2018, 09:20 AM	#1
sigmachi Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Paragould, AR Posts: 5,193 J_J_Bodyhunting	Question about centering Hey grading gurus i'm still a pretty novice grader. I've sent in about 80 modern cards to BGS for myself over the past year. I had never sent in anything before but looking at my order history I can definitely tell that my eye has gotten better in terms of what to look for than when I started. Before I think I looked at a card, found a flaw, and hoped that they overlooked it...now I just assume the worst case scenario and don't even send it in. I've begun to wipe down my chrome cards with a microfiber, I really study the corners, I look for print lines and the slightest peeling of the edges. My LED flashlight comes in handy for the surface too. This forum has been a wonderful resource for me in terms of what they look for, how to clean, how to store and even fill out sub form and shipping to BGS. I think the most satisfying thing is looking at those pop reports on the day an order pops only to find your card did better than expected. I do have a couple question though, it seems that the part that gets me the most is centering...is there anything I can buy that will help me out with bordered cards? Obviously non-bordered cards like this year's topps chrome are harder to judge...Prizm basketball got me last year, maybe because there was so many badly centered that when I saw one that was halfway decent I just assumed they would know that it was good compared to the average prizm card. When a set is notorious for being poorly centered do they take that into account when grading? __________________ Buying every single DEMARIO DAVIS 2012 National Treasure and low #'d auto that you can bring me.

09-20-2018, 10:18 AM	#2
WillBBC Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 3,284	Have you tried a ruler, or even a digital ruler after scanning? Failing that, I like to take the scan and measure the borders in pixels. Take the left side, draw a line in something as simple as Paint, from the edge of the card to where the border starts. The length of the line you drew is your measurement. If you zoom in quite a ways you can be uber accurate. If you have 35 pixels on one side and 45 on the other. Total border is 80. 35/80 is .4375, centering is 43.75/56.25. PM me if you want an example. Last edited by WillBBC; 09-20-2018 at 10:21 AM.

09-20-2018, 11:19 AM	#3
aggie4ever Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 6,792 aggie4ever	There is also something called a Grademaster Card Centering Tool, available on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trading-Spo...-/302271472583 I don't have one, but do remember a blog post here on BO talking about it.