Cardography knowledgebase
Everything from sign up to searching, importing, completion tracking, beta access, 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 beta account lets you track one complete set and export it. The seven-day trial unlocks unlimited sets, imports, detailed fields, full values and larger card-page images. Paid access is not yet available.
What is the difference between non-member, free member, and paid member access?
Non-members can browse the public card index. Free beta members can track owned and wanted cards, basic quantities, and completion for every card in one chosen set, then export that data. The seven-day trial provides the full workspace: unlimited sets, imports, detailed fields, full completion views, reference values where available and larger card images.
Paid access is planned for after beta and cannot currently be purchased.
Where is the seven-day trial?
The trial is available from the beta-access page and registration flow. Ready the seven-day trial without entering payment details; its clock starts only when you first add or import a card. There is no automatic charge.
When the trial ends, the set chosen by your first saved card remains available as the free set and CSV export stays available. Cards from other sets are retained but require paid full access to manage. The one free set cannot currently be changed after it is chosen, so review the set before saving your first card.
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. Free members can track every card and basic quantity within one chosen set. During a trial or paid membership you can also store condition, possible grade, private notes, and cards across unlimited sets.
For larger collections, CSV import during a trial or paid membership 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 Cardmarket EUR and TCGplayer USD reference data synced through external metadata. Choose GBP, EUR, USD or hide prices entirely in Account settings. Converted figures use cached ECB-derived reference exchange rates. Values are market references only, not guaranteed sale prices, appraisals, or financial advice.
Use values as a rough signal alongside condition, edition, grade, demand, fees, shipping, and recent sales research.
Can I export my collection?
Yes. CSV export is available to free, trial, and paid members 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
Free access, the beta trial, paid Pokémon membership, and cancellation.
Which membership options are available?
Cardography offers a free one-set beta account and an action-triggered seven-day trial of the full workspace. Paid Pokémon membership is £3/month or £30/year. Founder membership is not yet on sale.
The free trial needs no payment card and never renews automatically. Paid subscriptions renew until cancelled.
How are payments handled?
Can I cancel?
Yes. Cancel a paid subscription through Account → Manage Pokémon Billing or email contact@cardography.co.uk. Cancellation stops future renewals and access continues through the paid period.
Request a full refund within 14 days of each payment. Statutory rights remain unaffected; see Refunds and Cancellation for details.
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 the payment provider rather than stored directly by Cardography.
Review the privacy page before using paid membership or storing larger collection records.