Getting Started
Welcome to Hobbys.ai! Follow these simple steps to begin your collecting journey:
Get Hobbys.ai from the App Store (iOS) or wait for our Android release coming soon.
Sign up with your social media account to start building your digital collection.
Use your camera to scan collectibles and let our AI identify, grade, and price them instantly.
Arrange your items on virtual shelves and explore the community feed.
Using L.I.S.A. - Your AI Assistant
L.I.S.A. (Legendary Items Search Assistant) makes finding and managing your collectibles magical. Here's how to make the most of it:
Natural Language Queries
Just ask L.I.S.A. questions in plain English:
- "Show me all my basketball cards from the 90s"
- "What's the total value of my comic book collection?"
- "Find trading cards worth over $50"
- "Show me items I added last week"
Search Tips
- Use natural language - no need for special syntax
- Hashtags work with or without the # symbol
- Search across your collection and social feeds
- Ask about prices, grades, categories, or dates
Scanning & Identification
Our AI-powered scanning makes cataloging your collection effortless.
How to Scan
- Take photos with your camera
- Position your collectible in good lighting
- Make sure the entire item is visible
- Select Add Collectible and select from gallery
- Wait for AI analysis (usually 2-5 seconds)
Supported Collectibles
Hobbys.ai works with all types of collectibles:
- Sports cards (baseball, basketball, football, etc.)
- Trading card games
- Comic books and graphic novels
- Action figures and toys
- Memorabilia and autographs
- And much more!
AI Grading Limitations & Best Practices
While our AI technology is highly advanced, it's important to understand its capabilities and limitations for the most accurate results.
⚠️ Important: AI grading provides estimates based on visual analysis only. For high-value items or official certification, we recommend professional grading services.
Visual Analysis Limitations
What Our AI May Miss
- Subtle Print Defects: Minor print lines, slight registration issues, or small color variations that professional graders would catch
- Centering Issues: Precise centering measurements within fractions of millimeters may not be detected from photos alone
- Physical Properties: Card thickness, weight, texture, or the authentic "feel" of materials cannot be assessed digitally
- Surface Imperfections: Hairline scratches, minor scuffs, or light surface wear that's only visible under specific lighting angles
- Edge Wear: Subtle whitening or minor fraying on edges that requires close physical inspection
Authentication Limitations
Authentication Constraints
- No Physical Testing: Cannot perform UV light tests, magnification analysis, or other physical authentication methods
- Sophisticated Fakes: High-quality counterfeits or reprints may appear identical in photos
- Visual-Only Analysis: Authentication relies solely on visible characteristics in provided images
- No Watermark Detection: Hidden security features or watermarks requiring special equipment cannot be verified
- Material Verification: Cannot confirm paper stock, coating types, or printing methods used
📸 Tips for Better AI Grading & Pricing
Maximize Accuracy with Better Photos
Essential Angles to Capture:
Full, straight-on shot of the entire front
Complete view of the reverse side
Close-ups showing corner condition
Side angles showing edge wear
Photography Best Practices:
- Lighting: Use natural, indirect light or multiple light sources to avoid glare and shadows
- Background: Place items on a clean, solid-colored background (white or black works best)
- Focus: Ensure all photos are sharp and in focus - blurry images reduce accuracy
- Distance: Get close enough to show detail but include the entire item in frame
- Problem Areas: Take extra close-ups of any defects, creases, or areas of concern
- Multiple Angles: When in doubt, more photos are better - capture from different angles
- No Sleeves/Cases: Remove items from protective sleeves or cases for clearest photos
💡 Pro Tips for Specific Collectibles
- Capture any foil or refractor effects with angled shots
- Show the back clearly for year and condition assessment
- Include close-ups of autographs or serial numbers
- Photograph the spine to show binding condition
- Include shots of the staples and cover corners
- Capture any tears, creases, or color breaks
- Show all sides and any moveable parts
- Include packaging if available
- Highlight any wear on paint or joints
Remember
Our AI grading is a powerful tool for managing and valuing your collection, but it's designed to complement, not replace, professional grading services. Use it to organize, track, and share your collection with confidence, while understanding its limitations for absolute precision grading.
Managing Your Collection
Virtual Shelves
Organize your collection just like you would in real life:
- Create custom shelves for different categories
- Drag and drop items to rearrange
- Set privacy settings for each shelf
- Add descriptions and notes to items
Collection Analytics
Track your collection's performance:
- Total collection value
- Price trends over time
- Most valuable items
- Collection breakdown by category
Troubleshooting
AI Not Identifying Items Correctly
- Ensure good lighting without glare
- Include the entire item in frame
- Try different angles if needed
- Clean the camera lens
- Report incorrect identifications to help improve AI
App Running Slowly
- Check your internet connection
- Close and reopen the app
- Clear app cache in settings
- Update to the latest version
- Free up device storage space
Can't Find Items in Search
- Try different search terms
- Check your filter settings
- Use L.I.S.A.'s natural language search
- Make sure items are properly categorized
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Your collection data is encrypted and stored securely on Firebase. Only you have access to your private collections, and our AI search only works with your own data. We take privacy seriously and never share your information without permission.
Our AI grading system is trained on millions of collectibles and provides estimates based on visible condition. While highly accurate for general assessment, it has limitations with subtle defects, authentication, and physical properties that require hands-on inspection. We always recommend professional grading for high-value items. The AI grade serves as a helpful reference point for your collection management. Check our AI Limitations & Tips section for detailed information on maximizing accuracy.
Free accounts can store up to 500 items. Premium subscribers get unlimited storage, advanced analytics, and priority AI processing. Check our pricing page for more details on premium features.
You can delete your account directly in the app by going to Settings > Account > Delete Account. Please note that account deletion is permanent and will remove all your collection data, including photos, grades, and social content. This action cannot be undone. If you're having issues or want to temporarily disable your account instead, please contact support first.
We're actively developing the Android version and expect to launch in Q2 2025. Join our mailing list to be notified as soon as it's available on Google Play Store.
Contact Support
Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help!
Social Features
Community Feed
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