Common card issues we can improve (and what we can’t)
Restoration is about improvement, not rewriting history. Some issues respond well to careful work. Others don’t, either because the damage is structural (like creases) or because “fixing” it would require altering the card in ways that collectors and graders consider unacceptable.
Often improvable (with realistic expectations)
Handling grime, light residue, and surface buildup can often be reduced. The outcome depends on the card’s finish and how long it sat.
Some adhesives can be safely reduced. Risk depends on ink stability and the card’s coating. This is a “slow and careful” job.
Certain surface scuffs can be improved, especially when they’re on the coating rather than into the ink layer.
Creases are structural, but many can be reduced, and in some cases effectively removed, depending on the card, crease type, and acceptable risk. Foils and humidity-exposed cards can often be flattened to a degree; long-term storage still matters.
Hard limits (what we generally can’t “repair”)
- Missing paper/ink: filling and recoloring is alteration and usually not acceptable for collector ethics/grading.
- Major corner loss: rebuilding corners is also alteration.
- Severe water damage: swelling, ink bleed, and warping can be permanent.
Our philosophy: least invasive, most honest
The safest work is usually incremental and conservative. If a technique has a meaningful chance of worsening the card, we won’t do it. If we believe the best outcome is to leave something alone, we’ll tell you that too.
How to get an accurate assessment
- Front/back photos in good light.
- Close-ups of the problem area (angled light helps show surface issues).
- A quick note: what’s your goal (display, sentimental preservation, or value optimization)?