How to Set Up and Use the Ricoh fi-8170 Scanner for Pokémon Cards on a MacBook

Q: How do I modify a Ricoh fi-8170 to safely scan sleeved Pokémon cards?

To prepare the Ricoh fi-8170 for sleeved cards, you need to make two small physical modifications. First, open the main compartment and release the inner mechanism. You'll see a set of plastic rollers that should be removed by simply grabbing and pulling them out. This prevents them from catching on the sleeves. Second, there's a sharp plastic edge that can be a concern. To make it safer, apply a piece of simple tape over this edge to create a smoother surface for the cards to pass over. These adjustments are crucial for preventing damage to your cards and ensuring a smooth scanning process, especially when dealing with valuable items.

Q: What are the best Mac settings for scanning Pokémon cards with the Ricoh fi-8170?

When using the Image Capture app on a MacBook, specific settings are key for high-quality scans. Set the resolution to the maximum of 600 DPI for the best image detail. Always enable "Duplex" to capture both the front and back of the card in a single pass. For the output, choose the JPEG format. Under image correction, the "Bright" setting is recommended as it produces the cleanest-looking images. For cropping, "Auto" with "Accuracy in faces" works well most of the time, though it can occasionally crop an edge. Be aware that to connect the scanner to a MacBook, you will need a USB-C adapter for the included USB cable.

Q: Why are my Pokémon cards getting damaged or unsleeved in my document scanner?

If your cards are getting unsleeved or damaged, it's almost certainly due to their orientation. When using standard top-loaded sleeves, you must feed the cards into the scanner with the open end of the sleeve going in first. If you insert them with the closed end first, the scanner's rollers will catch the sleeve's opening and pull the card right out. Another common issue involves the very last card in a batch, which can sometimes get pulled from its sleeve. To prevent this, use a single, more rigid "hard sleeve" for the last card in every stack. This provides extra stability and has been found to eliminate the problem.

Q: What is an efficient workflow for batch scanning and listing Pokémon cards?

An efficient workflow involves batching and automation. Start by scanning cards in manageable stacks of up to 30 to prevent jams. On a Mac, remember to change the base file name in Image Capture between each batch to avoid a bug that creates duplicates. For maximum speed, use software that can watch your scan folder in real-time. As new front and back images appear, the software automatically ingests them. You can then trigger a detection process that identifies the cards. After a quick review, you can export a file formatted for your chosen selling platform, like Card Market or eBay, complete with inventory location data.

If you're scaling up your Pokémon card business, a document scanner like the Ricoh fi-8170 can be a game-changer for your listing process. This is a step-by-step guide on how to get it set up and running smoothly with a MacBook, based on real-world use.

By NeoSatoshi

Published October 9, 2026

Updated October 21, 2026

TL;DR

Quick answers

The core takeaways from this video, answered fast.

How do I modify a Ricoh fi-8170 to safely scan sleeved Pokémon cards?

What are the best Mac settings for scanning Pokémon cards with the Ricoh fi-8170?

Why are my Pokémon cards getting damaged or unsleeved in my document scanner?

What is an efficient workflow for batch scanning and listing Pokémon cards?

Initial Hardware Connection

First, get the scanner connected. It comes with a power supply and a USB cable. The cable is a standard USB-A, so if you're using a modern MacBook, you'll need a USB-C adapter. Plug the power in, then connect the USB cable from the scanner, through the adapter, and into your MacBook. That's all you need for the physical connection.

Physical Scanner Modifications for Card Safety

Out of the box, the scanner isn't perfect for sleeved cards. There are two simple modifications to make before you start scanning to prevent damage and ensure cards pass through cleanly.

Removing the Internal Rollers

To allow sleeved cards to fit, you need to remove a set of rollers. Open the main cover by pulling the latch. Inside, you'll see the paper path. Press the two tabs on the upper guide to release it, letting it swing down. You'll see a small roller assembly. Simply grab it and pull it out. You can set this piece aside permanently; you won't need it for scanning cards.

Taping the Sharp Edges

There's a sharp plastic edge inside that can potentially catch or scratch cards. A simple fix is to apply a small piece of tape over this edge to create a smoother surface. This is a precautionary step that adds an extra layer of safety.

How to Load Cards to Avoid Damage

Loading the cards correctly is critical. A few best practices will save you a lot of headaches.

Batch Size: Don't overload the feeder. A stack of around 30 cards at a time works well. If you put too many in, the scanner will give a warning and won't pull any cards through.
Card Orientation: On a MacBook using the Image Capture app, you need to load the cards upside down for the final image to be right-side up. The front of the card should be facing away from you as you load it into the feeder.
Sleeve Orientation: This is the most important part. The open end of the card sleeve must go into the scanner first. If you load it with the closed end first, the scanner will often pull the card right out of the sleeve. If you sleeve your cards from the top, this means loading them upside down, which aligns with the previous point.

If you sleeve your cards the normal way, you need to take care that the part which is open always goes first. Otherwise, they get unsleeved. Nice feature, but not what we want.

Using a Hard Sleeve for the Last Card

The scanner sometimes has issues with the very last card in a stack, occasionally causing it to get crumpled or damaged. To prevent this, use a more rigid, 'hard' sleeve for only the last card in each batch. This provides enough stability to ensure it feeds through safely. You only need one, which you can reuse for the last card of every stack.

Installing the Ricoh Driver on macOS

Your Mac won't recognize the scanner without the right driver. Go to the official Ricoh/PFU support website. Navigate to the downloads for the fi-8000 series, select the fi-8170 model, and choose your macOS version. On the software list, find the scanner driver for Image Capture and download it. It's a small file. Run the installer and follow the prompts. If you already have it installed, it will let you know.

Configuring the Image Capture App

Once the driver is installed, all scanning is handled through Apple's built-in Image Capture app. Open it (you can use Spotlight with Command + Spacebar). Your fi-8170 should appear under 'Devices'. Here are the recommended settings for Pokémon cards:

Mode: Color
Resolution: 600 DPI (Dots Per Inch). This is the highest quality.
Duplex: Check this box. This is essential for scanning both the front and back of the card in one pass.
Scan To: Select a dedicated folder where all your scans will be saved.
Name: Give your scan batch a name. You'll need to change this for subsequent batches.
Format: JPEG
Image Correction: None
Cropping: 'Auto and accuracy in faces' tends to work best, though it can occasionally crop an edge off. You can experiment with this or turn it off.
Brightness: Setting this to 'Bright' can produce cleaner-looking images right out of the scanner.

Turn Your Scans into Listings

A fast scanner is only half the battle. You still need software to identify your cards and get them listed. See how a dedicated scanning tool can complete your workflow.

Turn Your Scans into Listings

From Scans to Listings: A Software Workflow

With your settings configured, you can start a scan by pressing the button on the scanner itself or clicking 'Scan' in the app. The physical button is usually faster since you're already at the scanner. Once a batch is done, the images appear in your designated folder. The next step is turning those image files into actual listings.

Using a Watch Folder for Real-Time Uploads

Using a tool like NeoSatoshi, you can set up a 'Watch Scan Folder'. Point the software to the same folder you set in Image Capture. As soon as the scanner saves the images, the software automatically picks them up in real time. This allows you to scan batch after batch without stopping to upload files manually.

Make sure to configure the software to handle duplex scans. For this setup, the back of the card is scanned first, so you need to tell the software that the first image of each pair is the back. This ensures front/back pairs are matched correctly.

Card Detection and Verification

After uploading, the software processes the images and identifies each card. The results appear in a table, which you can sort by scan order to keep it consistent with your physical stack. Quickly review the detected cards. If one is wrong, you can flag it for manual correction. For correct cards, you can use keyboard shortcuts to approve them rapidly.

Finalizing and Exporting Your Listings

Once all cards in your session are verified, you move to a final overview. Here, you can assign inventory locations. Because the software maintains the original scan order, it's simple to assign locations to your sorted physical stack. For example, if you know the first 20 cards go into binder 'D32' and the rest go into 'D33', you can easily apply that information.

From there, you can create an export file formatted for your selling platform, whether that's a direct Shopify or eBay integration, or a third-party tool like TCG Power Tools for Card Market. This completes the workflow from physical card to live listing.