How to Photograph Stamps for eBay (2026): Scan vs Photo, DPI, Gum and Lots

How to photograph stamps, in short: scan single stamps flat at 600 dpi (1200 dpi for perforation and plate details), or photograph them on a black card from directly above with soft side light and no flash. Show the front and back, every perforation edge and any fault, and save listing images at about 1600 px on the long side.

More on this topic: Product photography, every guide in one place.

Stamp buyers look at centering, perforations, gum, hinge marks, thins and cancellations, and much of that is on the back of the stamp or along its edges. That makes stamps one of the few products where a flatbed scanner often beats a camera. This guide covers when to scan and when to photograph, the right resolution, showing gum and hinges, covers and blocks, lots and album pages, and edits that stay honest. The free product collage maker can put the front and back of a stamp side by side in one image.

Should you scan or photograph stamps?

Scan flat single stamps, blocks and souvenir sheets; photograph covers, thick items, stamps in mounts and anything where you need to show gum shine or a crease at an angle. A scanner gives even light, perfectly square edges and accurate size every time, which is what most stamp buyers want.

What resolution should stamp scans be?

600 dpi for normal listings and 1200 dpi when buyers need to see fine detail. A standard stamp of about 2.5 cm (1 inch) scanned at 600 dpi comes out around 600 px wide, which is enough to judge centering. At 1200 dpi it is about 1200 px, which shows perforation tips and small overprints.

The dpi number itself doesn't matter once the file is on a marketplace; only the pixel size does. If you want to understand the difference, see how to change image DPI, or set it with the free DPI changer for print. Very large scans can be slow to upload, so shrink them with the free image compressor after cropping.

How do you photograph stamps with a phone?

Put the stamp on black card, mount the phone directly above it about 15–20 cm away, light it from one side with a desk lamp or window, zoom 2× and crop. Moving the phone closer than its minimum focus distance gives a blurry photo, so zoom instead.

1. Turn off the flash and the overhead light.
2. Place the stamp on matte black card, using stamp tongs, not fingers.
3. Mount the phone straight above it on a tripod arm or a shelf; turn on the grid.
4. Light from one side at about 45°; add white card on the other side to fill shadows.
5. Tap to focus on the design, lock focus and exposure, and shoot with the timer.
6. Turn the stamp over and repeat for the back.
7. For gum and hinges, tilt the stamp toward a window so the light glances off the back.

What photos should a stamp listing include?

The front and back of every valuable stamp, plus close-ups of anything that affects grade or identification. For cheap used stamps, one clear front image per stamp or per small group is enough.

eBay's general picture rules apply to stamps too: at least 500 px on the longest side, up to 24 photos, and no borders or added text. See our eBay photo requirements guide.

eBay's photo limit and minimum size were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.

How do you show gum, hinges and thins?

Use angled light for gum and hinges and backlight for thins. A flat, even scan hides both, which is why buyers of mint stamps ask for an extra photo of the back.

• Gum and hinge marks: light from a low angle so the light skims across the back; undisturbed gum shines evenly, and a hinge remnant or disturbance shows as a matte patch.
• Thins: hold the stamp face down over a small light, or shoot it against a bright window; a thin shows as a lighter area.
• Creases: low raking light from the side, then rotate the stamp 90° and shoot again, because a crease can disappear in one direction.
• Toning and stains: even daylight-balanced light, with white balance corrected, so buyers aren't misled by a yellow cast.

How do you photograph stamp lots and album pages?

Shoot each page or stock card straight on, one photo per page, and add close-ups of the best stamps. Lot buyers want to see everything they're getting, so don't hide pages behind a few highlight shots.

1. Number the pages or cards, and photograph them in order.
2. Use even light from both sides so the plastic strips of a stock book don't glare.
3. Shoot from directly above; crop each photo to the page.
4. Add close-ups of the stamps you mention in the title.
5. Say in the description how many pages or stamps the lot contains, and that every page is shown.

How should you edit stamp photos?

Crop, straighten and correct white balance only. Sharpening can make short perforations look full and saturation changes can turn a common shade into a scarce-looking one, which is exactly the kind of photo that causes returns.

The free image cropper and photo editor do these edits without uploading anything. For other small, detailed items, see how to photograph coins and how to photograph small products.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to scan or photograph stamps for eBay?

Scan flat single stamps and blocks at 600 dpi (1200 dpi for detail). Photograph covers, album pages and anything where you need angled light to show gum, hinges or creases.

What background is best for stamp photos?

Black. It makes white perforation tips and margins easy to see, so buyers can judge centering and short perfs.

What dpi should I scan stamps at?

600 dpi for most listings, 1200 dpi for perforations, plate flaws and overprints. Crop and compress large scans before uploading.

Do I need to show the back of a stamp?

For mint and better used stamps, yes. Buyers check gum, hinge marks and thins on the back.

How do I photograph a stamp's watermark?

Many watermarks show when the stamp is face down on black with low side light. Some need watermark fluid or a detector; photograph the result and say how you checked.

Can I edit stamp photos?

Only crop, straighten and correct white balance. Don't sharpen, change color or AI-enhance condition photos.