Trading Card Glossary

A holographic card is a trading card with a reflective, rainbow-shifting surface created by microscopic diffraction gratings embossed into metallic foil. When light hits the surface at different angles, the gratings split it into spectral colors - producing the signature shimmer that collectors chase.

Trading card rarity is a classification system that controls how often a specific card appears in sealed product like booster packs. Rarer cards have lower pull rates, better artwork, and stronger gameplay abilities - making them more valuable to collectors and players alike.

An AI card generator is a tool that uses machine learning models to create custom trading cards from user inputs - typically a photo. The AI analyzes the image, generates original card artwork in a specific style (like Pokemon or anime), and assigns stats, abilities, and a card name automatically.

A pack opening is the experience of unsealing a randomized booster pack to reveal the trading cards inside. Each pack contains a mix of common, uncommon, and (if you're lucky) rare cards - and the moment of flipping to the rare slot is what makes pack opening one of the most addictive rituals in the hobby.

Card grading is a professional service where a third-party company evaluates a trading card's physical condition and assigns it a numerical grade from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). The card is then sealed in a tamper-proof case - called a slab - with its grade permanently displayed.

A booster pack is a sealed, randomized package of trading cards - typically containing 10-15 cards - sold as the primary method for expanding a collection. Each pack follows a fixed rarity distribution: mostly commons and uncommons, with a guaranteed rare slot and a small chance of pulling ultra-rare or secret rare cards.

A foil card is a trading card with a thin metallic layer - usually aluminum - applied to its surface, creating a reflective, mirror-like sheen. Unlike holographic cards that display rainbow diffraction patterns, foil cards produce a uniform metallic reflection. The terms are often used interchangeably by casual collectors, but they're technically different processes.

Card centering refers to how evenly the printed image is positioned within a trading card's borders. Perfectly centered cards have equal border widths on all four sides. Off-center cards - where the image shifts left, right, up, or down - receive lower grades from professional grading services and are worth less on the secondary market.