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About CardGrade
About CardGrade and CGI Vision AI
CardGrade builds photo-based condition pre-screening software for trading-card collectors. CGI stands for CardGrade Intelligence. Its results are estimates of visible condition, not official grades or authentication opinions.
Use the report to organize a closer physical inspection, compare likely submission costs, and decide whether a card belongs with PSA, BGS, CGC, or another professional service.
47
Condition Checks
16
Zones Organized
~60 sec
Typical Result
Why We Built It
A clearer step before a paid submission
A card can look strong at a glance and still have a centering, corner, edge, or surface issue that changes the submission decision. Shipping the wrong cards costs time and money, while relying on a single photo or headline estimate can create a different kind of false confidence.
CardGrade was founded by Jamie Budesky, a collector and engineer based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The product was built to make the pre-submission review more structured: capture the card, organize the visible evidence, inspect the physical card, and then decide whether professional grading fits the goal.
CGI Vision AI groups 47 condition checks across 16 zones. That taxonomy helps organize the report; it does not turn one image into 47 physical examinations. Read how AI card grading technology works for the complete CGI/CGC distinction and the limits of photo analysis.
The Technology
What CGI Vision AI reviews
Four parts of a photo-based pre-screen, with the image limits stated up front.
Capture Quality
The supplied photo defines the available evidence. Focus, framing, lighting, glare, and camera angle can reveal or hide condition signals.
Centering Geometry
Visible card boundaries and borders support apparent centering measurements when the complete card is photographed straight on.
Condition Review
The report organizes visible corner, edge, and surface observations. Some flaws still require another angle or an in-hand inspection.
Estimate & Confidence
Predictions and confidence indicators help triage cards. They do not establish authenticity or an official professional grade.
See the capture-to-report sequence on How CardGrade Works.
Scope
What CardGrade is and is not
CardGrade is
- A photo-based visible-condition pre-screen
- A structured review of centering, corners, edges, and surface
- A planning aid for closer inspection and submission economics
- A source of estimates that should be checked against the physical card
CardGrade is not
- A professional physical-card grading company
- An authentication or altered-card determination
- An encapsulation or certification service
- An affiliate or official representative of PSA, BGS, or CGC
Founder
Jamie Budesky
Founder, CardGrade
Jamie is the founder of CardGrade and the engineer behind its AI vision grading pipeline. His CardGrade profile connects his verified profiles and articles about grading technology, standards, and submission strategy.
View Jamie's profile and articles →Product Principles
Evidence before promises
State the limits
A useful report distinguishes a photo-based estimate from authentication, physical inspection, and an official grading-company result.
Show the evidence
Category findings help collectors review the visible condition signals behind an estimate instead of treating one number as the whole answer.
Support the next decision
The goal is a better pre-submission process: inspect the card, compare current costs and likely outcomes, then choose the right next step.
Our Mission
Better evidence for the next decision
Help collectors compare visible condition, current fees, and collecting goals before deciding whether to inspect again, hold, sell raw, or submit a card for professional grading.
Headquartered in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
FAQ
About CardGrade and CGI
What is CardGrade?
CardGrade is a photo-based trading-card condition pre-screen. It organizes visible centering, corner, edge, and surface observations to help collectors plan an in-hand review or professional submission.
What does CGI stand for at CardGrade?
CGI stands for CardGrade Intelligence, the name of CardGrade’s photo-analysis system. CGI is not CGC; CGC Cards is a separate professional grading and authentication company.
Is CardGrade a professional grading or authentication service?
No. CardGrade provides photo-based condition estimates. It does not authenticate, physically grade, encapsulate, or assign an official PSA, BGS, CGC, or other grading-company result.
Who founded CardGrade?
CardGrade was founded by Jamie Budesky, the engineer behind its AI vision grading pipeline. His verified profile and articles are available on the CardGrade team page.
Where is CardGrade based?
CardGrade is based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
Is CardGrade affiliated with PSA, BGS, or CGC?
No. CardGrade is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official representative of PSA, BGS, CGC, or another professional grading company.
Questions about the product or its limits?
Talk with the CardGrade team, or review the full capture and pre-screen workflow first.