TLDR - Getting Started 

Remove and position the phone stand position to best center your phones camera over the card.

For MTG Scanning Use the Manabox app, have sounds turned on, and the quick scan setting turned on

For Pokemon Scanning - Used Delver Poke, or the Dex App, try both.

For Yugioh Scanning, - Use the TCG Player app, avoid for other card types.

For other card types - Read more below

To scan in sleeved cards, use the sleeved drawer for v5 card slinger, if using v3, use the sleeved card insert. Sleeved card scanning requires patience and experimentation with lighting, but when setup works great. Penny sleeves work, playing sleeves work better. 

 

 ⬇️  Learn more below  ⬇️ 

 

What app is used to scan? 

MTG Scanning
Manabox! This is an android, and iOS native app, it has settings to auto add cards that are scanned, and make sounds, tally costs, etc. It’s awesome, and has the best card recognition success rate of any I have tested. Basic settings, Sound on! and you must have quick mode on to scan continuously. If you dont like a result for either misidentified foil or set, tap those indicators of "normal" or set icon to change those details. For bulk foil scanning, I like use the “prefer foil” checkbox to scan foils separately from std non foil cards.  Here is very helpful mana box getting started guide → Once you have scanned in your cards, you can edit any details you may want to change, and then save the scanned card list to your collection, or decks, and from there export as .csv or text for sites like moxfield and archidekt. 

MTG & Pokemon Scanning
Delver lens for MTG and Pokemon also works great with many camera control options that are not present in ManaBox. The apps are called Delver MTG and Delver Poke respectively. 

Pokemon Scanning
Dex  Scans Pokemon cards of all sets and types! Awesome UI, fun to use. 

Yugioh Scanning
The best we have found for Yugioh is the TCG player app, but it does not work quite as well with Pokemon or MTG cards. TBH, its not that great, but hopefully improving in the future. 

What about Sports cards?
We are still looking for the right scanner for sports cards, if you find one that works well with the card slinger, let us know!

What about Lorcana?
We are still looking for the right scanner for Lorcana, if you find one that works well with the card slinger, let us know!

There are tons of other apps to use, try them all, see what works for you, people like TCG app, we have had mixed results,OK results with MTG cards, bad results with Pokemon, Good results with Yugioh. Let us know if you would like a specific guide for any of these! Collectr does NOT work with the Card Slinger.

 

Tips: Scanning Sleeved Cards

V3 Card Slinger with removable insert above

 

V5. Use the Sleeved card drawer

V5 lite. Sleeved scanning is not supported.

V3. First, remove the tray insert if you have one, this will allow a nice fitment for sleeved cards, re insert this to scan in un-sleeved cards.

 

Scanning sleeved cards can produce mixed results depending on scanning application in use, sleeve type and lighting. Experiment with lighting and what space you are in for best results. The best results will be obtained from using an indirect, generous soft light source that does not produce harsh shadows, but try different environments to get best results. The lite version of card slinger only supports un-sleeved scanning.

 

Tip: Card Lighting

When scanning un-sleeved cards, lighting is very very forgiving ( depending on model of camera in use, and app of course ) for sleeved cards the best results will be obtained from using an indirect, generous soft light source that does not produce harsh shadows at angles, but try different environments to get best results, patience and experimentation will yield near perfect results. A specific external light source or direct light source is not required and in some cases makes things worse. 

 

Does The CardSlinger Damage cards?

No, but if you have any concerns, scan with sleeves on. 

Does it damage the backs of cards? 
No, not that I can tell, I have scanned in thousands of cards with my pre production units, and I can't find any damage

Does it damage the corners of cards?
Again, as above, no! Not that I can see from scanning thousands of cards, but if you want to throw them in as hard as you can, anything is possible.

Is it possible to damage cards while scanning using the sling box? 
100% it is possible, and it's possible to damage cards using any method if you are rough, but it is fully avoidable. careless or use too much force when handling cards. From what I can tell, this method of using the card slinger does less damage to cards than any mechanical method. 

 

How to print your own

I have a 3d printer, can I just print my own?
Yes you can! Here is a link to the v3 files!
V5 will be released in the future, but no release date is currently planned. 

Can I download, print, and sell the card slinger? 
Absolutely not! The card slinger is free for all to download and print, but not to use for profit, please respect this agreement. 

 

What's Next from card slinger

I'd love to collect feedback from anyone who has been using their card slinger!
I made a Feedback form → for those who have thoughts, ideas or findings to share! We are looking to expand our offerings 2025, keep your eyes peeled!