Multiple photos, one better scan

One photo rarely tells the whole story of a piece of jewellery. The front can look convincing while the reverse carries the hallmark, or the detail you actually need to inspect.

The guided scan takes several photos of the same object directly, so the old collage workaround is no longer necessary. Here is how to use it well.

Start with one object

Keep the focus on a single item for the whole scan. Several photos should show different views of that one piece, not a collection of unrelated ones.

• Overall view: the complete object against a simple background.
• Reverse or underside: the surfaces hidden in the first photo.
• Detail view: a sharp close-up of hallmarks, clasps, wear or anything unusual.

Clear beats clever

Use even light and avoid strong reflections. Get close enough to show the detail while keeping the camera in focus.

If a stamp is unreadable in your photo, take it again before you submit. An illegible hallmark contributes nothing, and hallmarks are the most informative thing on most pieces.

Add what the camera cannot see

Have a weight measurement, or know where the object came from? Enter it where the scan asks. Weight in particular shifts an estimated value range more than any additional photo will.

Describe what you know, and leave the uncertain details as uncertain. A guess entered as a fact gets treated as one.

Review before you run

The flow includes a summary review and a choice between STANDARD and ULTIMATE analysis depth. Check your photos and details before starting, then pick the depth that fits what you are trying to find out.

More photos help when they add new information. Several near-identical shots do less for you than one clear view of a previously hidden detail.

Not sure what the result means?

Open Ask karat on the scan result for follow-up testing advice. It helps you think through which check to make next, rather than treating the first answer as the last word.

A visual estimate cannot confirm purity on its own. If authenticity or a significant purchase depends on the answer, have the item independently tested.

Your next-scan checklist

One object. Clear angles. Readable details. A checked summary. Then review the result and decide your next step.

See what's new for the guided scan and the other changes it arrived with.