Tutorials

Six guides, from finding a card to connecting your workflow.

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Your first steps with PokeScan

Find a card, connect your equipment, then build your collection. Follow the guides in order or open the step you need.

Use Search

Find the right printing and add your cards.

Find a card. Open Search and enter a name, set or card number. Try Pikachu, then use the set and printed number to find the right version.
Narrow the results. Press Filters to filter by set, number, finish, language or rarity. Use Reset filters to start again.
Check the printing. Open a card picture to review its name, set, number and price. Switch between the card grid and table with the view buttons beside the sort menu.
Add what you own. Sign in, choose a card’s add action, then select Inventory or a personal collection under Add to. Set the quantity, finish, condition and language before confirming. Personal collection copies are stored separately from main inventory.
Add several cards together. Select the cards you want and press Add selected. Check the destination and each card’s details before saving.

Browsing the card database is free. Sign in to save cards.

Open Search Next: set up hardware →

Set up hardware for scanning

Choose Machine, NAS folder or Local folder.

Choose where your card images come from. You only need to set up the method you will use.

Connect your TCGSC or TCGSO machine

Power on and connect. Follow the network and controller instructions supplied with your machine. Its controller needs internet access.
Link it to your account. Sign in and open the supplied claim link, or go to . Enter the printed machine number, press Add Machine, then Save account. Scanner numbers start with TCGSC-; sorter numbers start with TCGSO-.
Confirm it is online. Check Status and Last Seen in My devices. Adding a number links the account record; the controller must also be connected and configured.
Prepare the camera profile. In , select your machine. Check the camera, save Crop, then place OCR-ROI fields on the cropped card. Configure Finish-ROI only if your machine supplies reflection captures.
Select it in Scan. Choose Z-Tec machine, then your machine. Continue with the scan guide below before loading a full batch.

If the machine is missing or offline, check its printed number, network and supplied controller software. For an expired claim link or a device assigned to another account, contact Support.

Connect a NAS folder

Open your NAS share on this computer. On Windows, use File Explorer → This PC → Map network drive, for example \\MY-NAS\Cards. On macOS, use Finder → Go → Connect to Server, for example smb://MY-NAS/Cards. Sign in with your NAS login.
Check write access. Create a parent folder called Scans on the share. Your computer and scanner both need permission to write there.
Connect it in your account. In Chrome or Edge, open , press Choose NAS folder, select that parent Scans folder and allow read/write access.
Choose the scanner’s destination. PokeScan prepares TCGsingle/processed, TCGdouble/processed and recovery. Save front-only scans directly into TCGsingle, or front/back pages into TCGdouble, front first. The Account page shows the full structure if you need to create it yourself.
Choose NAS folder in Scan. Open Scan → Scanner feed and choose the saved NAS connection. Keep the computer awake and the Scan tab open while monitoring.

An explicitly assigned server connection appears as Background NAS connection in Account. Prepare it there to monitor with the browser closed. A NAS share connected through your computer needs that computer and its Scan tab to stay open.

Connect a local scanner folder

Test your scanner software. Confirm that it can save images on your computer. Open PokeScan over HTTPS in Chrome or Edge on that same computer.
Create a parent folder. For example, create Documents/PokeScan/Scans.
Connect it in your account. Open , press Choose local folder, select the parent Scans folder and allow read/write access.
Set the scanner’s destination. PokeScan creates TCGsingle/processed, TCGdouble/processed and recovery. Save front-only images directly into TCGsingle, or consecutive front/back pages into TCGdouble, front first.
Choose Local folder in Scan. Open Scan → Scanner feed and choose the saved connection. Keep that Scan tab open and the computer awake while monitoring.

If access expires, return to Account and press Reconnect / prepare folders. Folder selection belongs to this account and browser; connect it again when you change computers.

Next: scan and limit recognition →

Scan cards and limit recognition

Choose your input, narrow the search, then review the results.

Scanning requires a supporter tier or subscription and coins in your wallet. Choose your access in before starting.

Choose an input in Scan. Use Z-Tec machine for a linked machine, Scanner feed for a saved Local or NAS folder, or Manual upload for one saved front image.
Set Scan Control before starting. Choose the allowed Finish group, Card language, Condition and Set. For machines, enable Scan; enable Sort only when your configured sorter should route cards.
Start with a small batch. Press Start scanning for a machine or Start monitoring for folders. For manual input, press Upload picture and choose one card-front image.
Check the result. Compare the cropped scan with the matched reference. Confirm the card, finish, language and condition before adding it to Inventory or a collection. Use Needs review for uncertain results and Scan history for previous scans.
Finish the batch. Stop the machine, or press Stop and create CSV for a folder batch. Review excluded cards and incomplete pages before exporting. Use Retry if an export needs attention.

Use limiters for a focused scan

Set

Select a specific set for a pre-sorted stack. Keep All sets for mixed sets.

Card language

Select the known language for one-language batches. Use Auto detect for mixed cards; unclear results remain Unknown.

Finish

Choose Standard (incl. holo) or Reverse holo to match your stack. Allow both when the input supports a mixed batch.

Example: For a stack of German reverse holos from one set, select German, that set and Reverse holo. Pre-sort by set and language, and scan reverse holos separately. Condition records your assessment; inspect the physical card yourself.

Image settings, duplex names and exports

For scanner images and manual upload, use the , then OCR-ROI. These settings are separate from the machine camera profile.

Front/back page order

Duplex pairs use a scan-job prefix and numbered pages: Scan20261020_210000_0001.jpg for the front, then Scan20261020_210000_0002.jpg for the back. The prefix can start with Scan or TCG. Missing pages or unsupported names wait for review. Front-only input does not require this naming pattern.

Where files go

Results appear in your Scan history. Verified temporary source copies use processed; remaining input pages are retained in recovery at batch end. CSV files use PokeScan’s configured output storage. Selecting an input folder does not change the export destination.

has its own settings and downloads. Eligible duplex pictures remain downloadable for 14 days. Recognition uses 1 coin per recognized card; merged-picture costs depend on your plan. Skipped or failed generation does not charge merge coins.

Next: Personal Portfolio and collections →

Use Personal Portfolio and collections

Browse your personal cards, organize collections and follow their value.

Open Personal Portfolio → My cards. Search, filter and sort your personal cards. Review quantities and update them as your collection changes.
Choose your view. Press Gallery view above My cards to browse card pictures. Press List view to return to the table, quantities and CSV export.
Create a personal collection. Open My collections in the Personal Portfolio sidebar, press Add collection, then choose its name, language and available settings.
Add cards to it. Open the collection and use its add-card controls, or add from Search and choose that collection under Add to. These collections and the My cards list belong to your personal portfolio.
Track progress and value. Official sets shows set completion from your personal cards. Open Personal Portfolio → Insights for personal valuations and collection trends, where included in your tier or subscription. TCG Business separately tracks sale inventory from TCG PowerTools downloads and has its own dashboard and performance indicators. Marketplace connections live in My account → Marketplace connections.

Normal or smart? Normal collections contain the cards you add. With a subscription, smart collections use saved rules to select matching cards automatically. Available slots and Gallery/Binder layouts depend on your plan. If you cancel, smart collections become normal collections and keep their rules for your return.

Next: phone notifications →

Subscribe to phone notifications

Connect your phone once, then continue on your desktop.

Open your notification settings. On your desktop, sign in and go to .
Open the phone setup link on your phone. Scan the QR code shown there, then sign in on your phone with the same PokeScan account. If you are already signed in, the phone setup page opens directly.
Allow notifications on the phone. Press Enable phone notifications, then choose Allow in the browser prompt. Android users can use Chrome. On iPhone/iPad, open in Safari, use Share → Add to Home Screen, then reopen PokeScan from that Home Screen icon to enable alerts.
Send a test. Press Send test notification on the phone setup page. Once it arrives, you can close the page and continue working on your desktop.

Enabling alerts on your desktop does not also subscribe your phone. If the test does not arrive, check PokeScan’s notification permission in both the phone’s browser and system settings. Repeat setup for each device you want to receive alerts.

Next: automation →

Integrate automation

TCGSC scanning and TCGSO sorting workflows.

In development

Automation integration is in development. The steps below explain how to prepare your devices and the intended workflow. Automatic end-to-end integration and the planned subscription API endpoints are not ready to activate.

Connect your devices first. Link the TCGSC scanner and/or TCGSO sorter in , and confirm that each controller is online.
Prepare a reliable scan profile. Follow the Hardware and Scan guides, calibrate the camera and test a small batch with the correct set, language and finish limiters.
Prepare the workflow. TCGSC supplies card images for recognition. TCGSO uses recognized card details with sorting rules and pack settings to route cards. Configure the relevant machine’s settings and review its Sorting rules or Build packs options before using its controls.

Until the integration is released, use the available manual Start/Stop controls and check results as you work. This guide will gain activation steps when the supported integration is available.

Additional notes from the team

We will start our Youtube channel soon, once ready for sale we will drop our tutorial series so you have the most conveniant way to configure and customize your machine.