YIAN guides
Pokémon card care, grading and restoration guides
Plain-English guides from the YIAN workshop: how grading works, what centering means, how to store and send your cards, and what restoration can and can't do.
The first guides are on their way. In the meantime, our FAQ answers the most common questions.
About the YIAN guides
The guides are evergreen how-tos for Pokémon card collectors: how grading works and what graders look for, what centering means, how to clean, store and send your cards safely, and what restoration can and can't do.
They're written for the YIAN workshop and follow its approach: assess every card before any work, explain the limits, and leave the decisions about your own collection to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the articles, restoration and grading, and getting a quote.
What's the difference between the blog and the guides?
The blog has workshop stories, before-and-afters and news. The guides are evergreen how-tos on grading, centering, card care and sending your cards.
Is the advice on the blog a substitute for an assessment?
No. Articles explain general principles; every card is different. For advice about your own card, send two photos for a free quote and we'll tell you what's likely to improve before any work.
How should I store my Pokémon cards?
Use soft penny sleeves inside toploaders, semi-rigid holders or a side-loading binder, and keep cards somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Avoid rubber bands and overfilled binders, which bend corners and edges.
Can I clean or flatten my card at home?
Gentle handling, sleeving and dry dusting are low risk. Household cleaners, water, heat, pressing and home burnishing tools can cause permanent damage such as clouding, warping or lifted print. If you're unsure, send photos for a free quote before trying anything.
Can I restore a card and still send it for grading?
Restoration can be part of a grading plan, as long as the work is chosen to meet that grader's standards and nothing is hidden from them. Tell us you plan to grade when you send your quote, and we'll say which steps are generally lower risk and which are more likely to be flagged. Check the grader's current policy too.
Does restoration make a card “altered”?
It depends who is asking. For your own collection, whether a cleaned or restored card still feels original is your choice. For grading, each company applies its own standards: cleaning, restoration and touch-ups can be treated as alteration, and some work is more likely to be flagged than other work.
We tell you before any work which steps suit grading and which carry a risk, and we never hide work from a grader. Check the grading company's current policy before you submit.
When should I post my card?
Only after you've accepted and paid for your quote. Your parcel page then shows how to pack the card and where to send it, and you add your tracking number there. Please don't send a card before that.
How does shipping insurance work?
You send your cards to us with a tracked service and add the tracking number on your parcel page; for valuable cards, choose a service with enough insurance cover. Return delivery is chosen when you pay, or once your cards are ready to come back, from Royal Mail Tracked 48 up to Special Delivery Guaranteed, which is insured to £750.
How do I find articles on a topic?
Use the search box and the Topic menu at the top of the list, or open a topic from any article's “Filed under” links. Each topic has its own page.
How do I get a quote?
Choose a package and send two photos, the front and the back of the card, with a short note on what it's for. No account is needed. We reply within two working days and tell you whether we can help and the price before you pay anything.