Cardography knowledgebase
Everything from sign up to searching, importing, completion tracking, membership, payments, privacy, and support. Start with the topic list, then expand only the answers you need.
Getting Started
Create an account, understand access levels, and start browsing.
How do I create a Cardography account?
Open the registration page, enter your email address, and submit the form. Cardography sends a one-time magic link to that email address. Open the link on the same device or browser where possible, then you will be signed in without needing a password.
A free account lets you save a small starter collection. Paid access unlocks the full collector workspace, imports, exports, values, completion tracking, and larger card-page images.
What is the difference between non-member, free member, and paid member access?
Non-members can browse the public catalogue and see homepage thumbnails. Free members can sign in by email and save a limited starter collection. Paid members get the full workspace: unlimited owned and wanted cards, imports, exports, completion views, reference values where available, and larger images beyond the homepage preview.
The free level is useful for testing whether the catalogue fits your collection. Paid access is aimed at larger collections, set builders, and collectors replacing spreadsheets.
Where is the 48-hour trial?
The trial is available from the membership page and registration flow. Choose the 48-hour trial option to unlock the paid workspace temporarily without entering payment card details. Trials are intended as a short test drive for importing, completion views, and larger collection tools.
If the trial button shows status instead of start, you may already be signed in or may have used the trial on that account.
Sign In and Security
Magic links, expiry, account email, and safe sessions.
How does passwordless magic-link sign in work?
Cardography does not require a password for normal users. You request a sign-in email, open the latest link, and the site creates a secure browser session. Each link is one-use only, so opening an older email after requesting a newer link can show an expired or already-used message.
For the smoothest sign in, use the newest email, avoid forwarding the link, and open it in the same browser where you requested it.
Why did my magic link say expired or already used?
The most common causes are requesting more than one link and clicking an older email, opening the link in a different browser profile, email security software pre-opening the link, or the link already being used once. Request a fresh link and use the newest email only.
If this keeps happening, contact support with the account email and approximate time. The admin can check whether email scanners or session settings are interfering.
Can I change my account email or preferences?
Searching the Catalogue
Find cards, variants, sets, and card pages.
How should I search for a card?
Use the catalogue search with a Pokemon name, card name, set name, card number, rarity, or print detail. For broad searches, start with the Pokemon name and then narrow by set, type, generation, rarity, or print. For exact rows, use set plus number when you know it.
Card names on collection pages link to the card page, so you can move from your owned or wanted list straight into the public record.
Why are there multiple rows for what looks like the same card?
Cardography stores master catalogue rows, including variants, print differences, holo or reverse-holo details, promos, and noted error or comment rows where the source data includes them. This is why a set may show more master records than a simple checklist.
Use Set Checklist Completion when you want duplicates collapsed by set, card number, and name. Use Master Completion when every print or variant row matters.
Why are some images hidden or missing?
Cardography stores external image URLs rather than downloading image files. Some records may have no image yet, some automated image matches may be waiting for admin review, and some images may be hidden after a rights or accuracy concern.
Non-members can see thumbnail images on the homepage, while larger card-page images are part of paid access.
Using My Collection
Owned cards, wanted cards, notes, values, and completion.
How do I add cards to my collection?
Open a card from search results and save it as owned or wanted, or use the collection tools to quick-add cards. You can store quantity, condition, possible grade, and private notes. Free members have a small saved-card allowance; paid members can save unlimited collection rows.
For larger collections, CSV import is usually faster than adding everything by hand.
How do completion percentages work?
Master Completion counts every catalogued variant, print, and holo row. Set Checklist Completion collapses duplicates by set, card number, and card name so holo or reverse-holo rows do not inflate the checklist total. Artwork Completion is reserved for future artwork-level grouping once the data is strong enough.
This gives set builders both a strict collector view and a practical checklist view.
How are card values handled?
Where available, Cardography stores TCGplayer reference data synced through external metadata. Values are market references only, not guaranteed sale prices, appraisals, or financial advice. Currency/source differences may apply, and missing values simply mean a reliable synced reference is not currently stored for that card.
Use values as a rough signal alongside condition, edition, grade, demand, fees, shipping, and recent sales research.
Can I export my collection?
Yes. Paid member workflows include CSV exports so you can keep your own backup, use spreadsheet analysis, or move your records elsewhere later. Portability is intentional: your saved collection should remain useful outside Cardography.
Imports and Spreadsheet Migration
Audit CSV files, prepare columns, import, and repair unmatched rows.
What file format should I upload?
Use CSV for member collection imports and the free audit. If your data is currently in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, or another tracker, export or download it as CSV first. Keep the original file untouched as a backup.
The audit is designed to preview matching before you commit to a full member import.
Which columns import best?
The strongest columns are card name, set name, card number, and quantity. Helpful optional columns include condition, possible grade, notes, owned/wanted list type, Cardography card ID, and any existing card URL/reference.
Cardography recognises common aliases such as name, product name, set, set name, number, card number, qty, quantity, grade, and notes. Clear column names reduce manual review.
What happens to unmatched rows?
Unmatched rows should not silently disappear. The audit and admin review workflow are designed to show rows that could not be confidently matched, so they can be fixed, exported, reviewed, and re-uploaded where needed.
Most unmatched rows come from vague set names, missing card numbers, variant wording in the wrong column, or rows that describe sealed products rather than individual cards.
How confident are imports from other sites?
Confidence depends on the export quality. A clean CSV with card name, set, number, and quantity is usually strong. A portfolio export with generic product labels is medium confidence. Image-only lists, screenshots, and PDFs are low confidence and normally need manual cleanup first.
Use the comparison pages for site-specific expectations before spending time reshaping data.
Membership and Billing
Plans, Stripe, cancellation, refunds, and paid access.
Which membership options are available?
Cardography currently presents a free 48-hour trial, monthly access, annual access, and fixed 5-year access. Monthly and annual plans are subscriptions. The 5-year option is a fixed-term one-off access product, not a promise that the site exists forever.
Plan wording avoids lifetime promises because a fixed term is clearer and safer for both the site and members.
How are payments handled?
Payment setup is designed around Stripe. Stripe handles card payment details and subscription billing; Cardography stores membership state and Stripe reference IDs needed to confirm access. If a payment fails, paid access may pause until Stripe confirms the account is active again.
Use the Account page for billing portal access once Stripe is configured for live payments.
Can I cancel?
Subscription members should be able to cancel through the Stripe billing portal once live billing is configured. You can also contact support with your account email. Fixed 5-year access does not renew automatically.
Refund and cancellation rules are described on the refunds page and should be reviewed before payment.
Legal, Privacy, and Support
Unofficial status, image/source concerns, data privacy, and contact routes.
Is Cardography official?
No. Cardography is an independent collector index. Pokemon card names, set names, and related terms are used descriptively so collectors can identify cards. The site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or produced by Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, Game Freak, Creatures, Wizards of the Coast, or the Pokemon TCG.
This unofficial wording is repeated across key pages to reduce confusion.
What if an image, value, or card record is wrong?
Use the contact or takedown route with the card URL, the issue, and any supporting details. Images can be hidden or replaced by admin, and catalogue records can be reviewed when a source row or automated match is wrong.
For image rights concerns, include the exact URL and a short explanation so the admin can act quickly.
What data does Cardography store?
Cardography stores account details needed for sign in, membership status, saved collection rows, preferences, and first-party usage stats. Collection notes are private unless you intentionally enable a public share link. Payment card details are handled by Stripe rather than stored directly by Cardography.
Review the privacy page before using paid membership or storing larger collection records.