Best Scanner Settings for Pokémon, Sports & Trading Cards (2026 Complete Guide)

The Short Answer: Our Recommended Starting Point

Why Scanner Settings Matter

A scanner such as the Ricoh fi-8170 is capable of producing consistent front-and-back images at commercial speed.

But simply choosing the highest possible resolution does not automatically create the best trading card workflow.

Resolution, colour adjustment, cropping and compression all affect:

• Fine text and edge visibility
• Card identification accuracy
• Image consistency
• Upload speed
• Storage requirements
• Processing speed
• How accurately buyers can inspect card condition

If you are still deciding whether the fi-8170 itself is the right platform, our fi-7160 vs fi-8170 comparison explains what the newer model adds over the previous generation.

200 dpi vs 300 dpi vs 400 dpi vs 600 dpi

One of the most common questions is:

The answer is that resolution should match the purpose of the image.

Why We Would Start at 400 dpi

For most professional trading card sellers, 400 dpi offers a sensible middle ground:

• Enough resolution to preserve small card text and border details
• More detail than a basic 300 dpi workflow
• Smaller files and lighter processing requirements than 600 dpi
• A strong balance between quality and workflow efficiency

That does not mean 400 dpi is perfect for every card. It is simply a strong starting profile for a modern fi-8170 trading card workflow.

Colour Mode: Use Full Colour for Most Cards

Trading cards are highly visual products. Colour, foil effects, borders, set symbols and printed details often contribute to identification and perceived condition.

For ordinary Pokémon, sports card and TCG listings, full colour is the logical default.

JPEG vs TIFF: Which Is Better?

A common misconception is that a professional workflow must always use TIFF because it is lossless.

For everyday online trading card inventory, that is usually unnecessary.

Automatic Cropping: One of the Most Important Settings

A good card image should show the full card, including all four edges and corners.

A useful starting point is Automatic Size cropping with around a 2 mm margin. If edges are being clipped, increasing the margin slightly can help.

Blank Page Detection: Keep It Off

For office document scanning, blank-page removal can be useful.

Trading-card scanning is different because both sides belong to the item record.

Multifeed Detection: Trading Cards Are Different from Paper

Commercial scanners use multifeed detection to identify multiple sheets entering the feeder together.

Trading cards, sleeves and top loaders behave differently from standard office paper, so a card workflow may require different feeder settings.

Special Settings for Chrome and Holo Cards

Chrome and holographic cards deserve their own profile because reflective finishes can scan darker than expected or lose highlight detail.

A useful separate Chrome / Holo profile may include:

Three Practical Scanner Profiles

Profile A – Everyday Seller

• Color
• 400 dpi
• JPEG
• Compression Level 4
• Automatic Crop
• 2 mm Margin
• Blank Page Detection Off

Best for the majority of Pokémon, sports cards and standard TCG inventory.

Profile B – Chrome / Holo

• Color
• 400 dpi
• JPEG
• Prioritize Contrast
• Custom tone adjustment
• Preview one card before running a batch

Best for reflective Chrome, Holo and foil-style cards.

Profile C – Detail / Archive

• Color
• 600 dpi
• JPEG High Quality or TIFF depending on archival requirements
• Manual quality review

Best where preserving maximum available scanner detail matters more than throughput or storage efficiency.

A Simple Trading Card Scanning Workflow

Common Scanner Setting Mistakes

Myth 1: Higher DPI Is Always Better

Not necessarily. Higher resolution increases image data and processing requirements. Use the resolution appropriate to the job rather than automatically selecting the maximum.

Myth 2: TIFF Is Always More Professional

TIFF is excellent for lossless archival storage, but JPEG is far more practical for everyday online listing workflows.

Myth 3: One Profile Works for Every Card

Reflective Chrome and Holo cards can behave very differently under scanner illumination. Creating a dedicated profile can produce more consistent results.

Myth 4: Image Problems Mean the Scanner Is Faulty

Not always. Incorrect cropping, wrong orientation, inappropriate brightness settings and dirty scanner glass can all create disappointing results.

Troubleshooting

Cards Look Too Dark

For Chrome or Holo cards, try a dedicated profile and adjust brightness gradually while previewing the result.

Edges Are Being Cropped

Increase the PaperStream margin slightly, for example from 2 mm to around 3 mm.

Cards Are Rotated Incorrectly

Confirm physical card orientation and the rotation settings within your scanning profile.

Scanner Pulls More Than One Card

Reduce the stack size, make sure cards are flat and check whether static or sleeves are causing cards to stick together.

Scans Have Lines

Inspect and clean the scanner glass and transport path. A small speck of dirt can create a streak across every image.

What If the Card Is Too Valuable for an ADF?

The fi-8170 is designed around a sheet-fed workflow, which means cards physically pass through rollers and guides.

If the goal is to avoid feeder transport altogether for selected rare or delicate cards, a contactless overhead scanner may be more suitable.

Why the Ricoh fi-8170 Works So Well for This Workflow

The Ricoh fi-8170 combines duplex scanning, commercial-grade feeding and the PaperStream software ecosystem needed to create specialised scanning profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What DPI should I use for Pokémon cards?

For a modern fi-8170 workflow, 400 dpi is an excellent starting point.

Is 600 dpi better for trading cards?

It captures more image data, but it is not necessary for every listing. Consider 600 dpi when maximum detail matters more than throughput or file size.

Should I scan trading cards as JPEG or TIFF?

JPEG is the better choice for most online selling and inventory workflows. TIFF makes more sense when lossless archival storage is specifically required.

Should blank page detection be enabled?

For front-and-back card scanning, it is usually better to keep blank page detection off so both sides remain part of the card record.

Why do Holo cards look dark?

Glossy and mirror-like surfaces reflect scanner illumination differently. A dedicated brightness and contrast profile can help compensate.

Can I use these settings on a fi-7160?

Many of the principles are still useful, although exact driver options and behaviour can vary. If you already own a fi-7160, our detailed fi-7160 vs fi-8170 comparison can help you decide whether an upgrade is actually necessary.

Final Recommendation

The best scanner settings are not necessarily those that create the largest image file.

They are the settings that produce consistent images while keeping the workflow fast, repeatable and manageable.

Continue the OzToner Trading Card Scanner Series

Reference Guidance

The scanner settings and Chrome / Holo concepts discussed in this article are based on current specialist trading-card scanning guidance and OzToner editorial analysis. OzToner-created graphics are illustrative summaries and do not represent independent laboratory testing.

Scanner software, third-party application compatibility and recommended settings can change over time. Always verify current requirements and test your workflow with low-value cards before processing valuable collectibles.