Most UK grading companies are built around official Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, and Magic cards. That leaves a gap for collectors who own something more personal: a custom card they commissioned, printed, or designed themselves. If the dimensions match a standard TCG card, Imperium Grading can encapsulate custom cards in the same premium, display-ready slabs we use for graded submissions.
This guide covers what custom card encapsulation is, which sizes we can take, why collectors slab fan-made and artist cards, and how to submit yours in the UK.
What is custom card encapsulation?
Custom card encapsulation means sealing a non-official or personally made card inside a tamper-evident acrylic holder. The goal is protection and presentation — not pretending the card is an official factory print.
Custom cards typically include:
- Artist prints and commissioned alternate arts cut to TCG size
- Fan-made or homebrew cards for casual play groups
- Personalised gifts (anniversary cards, pet portraits, family “chase” cards)
- One-off designs printed on card stock to match Pokémon, One Piece, or Lorcana dimensions
Imperium offers a UK route for collectors who simply want their custom card sealed, protected, and displayed properly.
What size custom cards can we encapsulate?
We can encapsulate custom cards when they are close to the standard TCG size used by Pokémon, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana, Magic: The Gathering, and most modern Western trading card games.
Industry standard dimensions:
| Game / format | Width × height (mm) | Width × height (inches) | Fits Imperium custom encapsulation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon TCG | 63 × 88 mm (often listed as 63.5 × 88.9 mm) | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | Yes |
| One Piece Card Game | 63 × 88 mm | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | Yes |
| Disney Lorcana | 63.5 × 88.9 mm (2.5″ × 3.5″; rules also cite ~6.3 × 8.8 cm) | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | Yes |
| Magic: The Gathering | 63 × 88 mm | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | Yes |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! | 59 × 86 mm | ~2.35″ × 3.38″ | Not yet, but we are working on a solution! |
Sources round millimetres slightly depending on manufacturer specs. If your custom card is designed to sleeve as a standard Pokémon / MTG / One Piece / Lorcana card, it is the size we work with.
Practical rule: if your custom card fits a standard (not “small”) sleeve and sits flush in a semi-rigid holder made for Pokémon or Magic cards, it is a strong candidate for Imperium encapsulation. Oversized jumbo promos, mini cards, and thick memorabilia cards outside our slab format are not covered by this service.
Why encapsulate a custom card?
Custom cards rarely have the same resale market as a graded Charizard or Manga Rare — and that is fine. People slab them for different reasons.
Long-term protection
A commissioned artist print or a one-off gift is often irreplaceable. Encapsulation keeps fingerprints, dust, and sleeve wear off the surface, and stops corners from catching in binders or toploaders.
Display that looks intentional
A raw custom card in a soft sleeve can look temporary. A sonic-welded acrylic slab turns it into a finished piece for a shelf, desk, or wall display.
Gifts that feel finished
Anniversary cards, wedding “player cards,” pet portraits, and birthday designs land harder when they arrive sealed rather than loose in an envelope.
Artist and creator work
Illustrators and small creators often print limited runs of original designs. Encapsulating a copy creates a keep-safe archive piece while remaining clear that it is a custom or fan-made item, not an official TCG product.
Personal collections and homebrew
Commander tokens, cube proxies you are proud of, and homebrew sets deserve the same care as factory cards if they matter to you. Encapsulation is about how you want to keep the piece — not only about market value.
Why choose Imperium for custom card encapsulation in the UK?
Plenty of collectors still assume the only option is an overseas company that may reject custom submissions. Imperium was built for UK collectors who want a clearer, closer process.
- We accept custom-made cards that match standard TCG dimensions — the same footprint as Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, and Magic.
- UK-based service — no international customs, no months of silence, and tracked postage within the UK.
- Premium acrylic slabs — display-grade holders with sonic welding for tamper evidence, designed to sit alongside your graded collection.
- Transparent pricing and communication — clear service tiers and status updates from receipt to dispatch. See how we approach grading overall in our UK grading company guide.
- Built by collectors — we understand why a personal card can matter as much as a chase pull from a booster box.
Custom encapsulation vs full TCG grading
It helps to keep expectations clear:
- Official trading cards go through Imperium’s full grading process — condition assessment, subgrades, and a numerical grade on the label. Read our card grading UK guide for that path.
- Custom-made cards are about encapsulation and presentation. They are not official manufacturer products, so the service is for sealing and displaying your piece — not claiming it is a factory-issued Pokémon, One Piece, or Lorcana card.
If you are unsure whether your item qualifies, measure it against the table above or contact us before you order.
How to submit a custom card for encapsulation
- Check the size — confirm your card matches standard TCG dimensions (~63 × 88 mm / 2.5″ × 3.5″).
- Pack it properly — penny sleeve, semi-rigid holder, cardboard sandwich, and a sturdy box with tracked postage. Our UK packing guide applies equally well to custom cards of the same size.
- Submit through Imperium — choose the service ‘Custom Card’ when placing an order. Fill out the label text for each of the cards your submitting. Package them up securely and send them off to the address on your order confirmation.
- We encapsulate and return — your card comes back sealed in an Imperium slab, ready to display.
Step 1:
Visit the card submission order form, and choose your desired service level. Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. Depending on how many cards you want to submit and how quickly you’d like them returned.
Then, choose ‘Custom Cards’ from the service types.
Step 2: You’ll see an example label, displaying what text is available for you to choose to enter into the label fields.
Enter your desired label text for each of the cards you’re submitting for Lines 1, 2, and 3. Line 4 is reserved for the ‘Custom Card’ text, which will appear to the right of line 3.
You will also have an option to choose our standard label, or upload your own custom artwork. Custom artwork is charged at £2 per card due to the submitted artwork needing to be reviewed and approved from an Imperium team member.
Artwork size is recommended in a 3024 x 1323 px canvas size, or 1512 x 662 for less detailed artwork.
You can download a blank template file in the 3024 x 1323px canvas here.
Once you have submitted your order, our team will review the artwork and Approve or Reject the submission with reasoning if the artwork has been rejected.
The bottom line
If you have invested time, money, or emotion in a custom-made card — and it is cut to the same size as Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, or Magic — custom card encapsulation is the cleanest way to protect it and show it off. Imperium Grading offers that service in the UK, with premium slabs and the same collector-first process we use for graded TCGs.
Ready to seal yours? Submit through our grading services page and tell us it is a custom card.
Frequently asked questions
Can Imperium encapsulate custom cards?
Yes. Imperium Grading offers custom card encapsulation for personally made, fan-made, artist, and commissioned cards when they match standard TCG dimensions similar to Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, and Magic: The Gathering.
What size do custom cards need to be for encapsulation?
Aim for the standard TCG size of approximately 63 × 88 mm (2.5″ × 3.5″). Cards designed to fit standard Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, or Magic sleeves are the right footprint. Smaller Yu-Gi-Oh!-sized cards and oversized jumbo cards are outside this service.
Why would I encapsulate a fan-made or artist card?
Collectors encapsulate custom cards for long-term protection, shelf display, finished gifts, and archival copies of artist or homebrew work — not only for resale value.
Is custom card encapsulation the same as grading an official TCG card?
No. Official cards receive Imperium’s full grading process and a numerical grade. Custom cards are encapsulated for protection and presentation and are not treated as official manufacturer products.
Submit your custom card for encapsulation with Imperium Grading.