METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADING CARDS

Methods and apparatuses for detecting characteristics of a card include a method for identifying a card containing foil, the foil detection method comprising converting an image file depicting a card into a hue, saturation, value ("HSV") colour space, applying a value mask to exclude a group of pixels from analysis that do not form an intensified brightness area, and comparing the number of remaining pixels against a threshold to determine whether the card contains foil. In another aspect, a method for assigning a condition grading to a card comprises converting an image file depicting a diffusely illuminated card into an HSV colour space, isolating a uniform portion of the converted image file, applying a value mask to the converted image file to exclude pixels forming an undamaged portion of the card, and comparing the number of remaining pixels to a plurality of grading thresholds to assign a condition grading.