7 min read · 28 April 2026
Surface scratches and PSA grades: a 2026 reference
Surface scratches are the silent grade-killers - visible only under raking light, but responsible for half the unexpected 9s on cards that look mint to the eye.
The scratch hierarchy
- Hairline scratches - only visible at oblique angles. Caps at PSA 9 if they cross the focal area; PSA 10 if confined to non-focal areas.
- Visible scratches - readable under normal lighting but only when you look for them. Caps at PSA 7 or 8.
- Deep scratches - gouges into the print layer. Caps at PSA 5 or 6.
Holo cards have it worst
Holo / foil surfaces are scratch-magnets. The reflective foil reveals every micro-imperfection from packaging through to handling. Modern Charizard ex, Mew ex, and any V/VMax / Special Illustration Rare cards are particularly affected.
How to inspect at home
- Hold the card under a single, oblique light source - desk lamp at low angle works.
- Slowly rotate the card. Scratches show as bright lines on the foil.
- Repeat at 90° rotation. Some scratches only show at one orientation.
- Inspect the focal area first; sub-graders prioritise this.
How CPG handles surface scratches
We require an angled-front shot precisely so you can see scratches that hide flat-on. Our guided defect review asks you to rate severity (none / minor / noticeable / heavy), and we translate that to the PSA ceiling.
Crucially, we don't use ML to detect scratches. Models hallucinate. A guided checklist with annotated zoom views gives you, the human, the final say - and you can see exactly why we landed on a verdict.