Frequently Asked Questions & Download Links

[skibulk]

Please reply with any corrections or additions to this FAQ.

Our Mission

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We maintain an image archive of collectible trading cards featuring Magic the Gathering. We aim to document these cards with superior quality and completeness.

Disclaimer

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The accompanying images are copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast LLC. We are making the images available in our effort to create an archive with superior quality and completeness. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of the images as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the images are distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving them for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use the images for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107.

The images are provided "as-is." You bear the risk of using them. We give no express warranties, guarantees or conditions. To the extent permitted under your local laws, we exclude the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

We are not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.

What topics belong in the pictures forum?

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The pictures forum at SlightlyMagic.net is for tracking MTG products and for tracking the production of their high resolution image counterparts. Relevant topics may include:

• Announcing a new card set, box set, or promotional card
• Digital Cards, official artwork
• Photoshop templates, vector assets
• Scripts that download, rename, or resize card images
• Info about this project

When / Where can I download {Set Name} or {Card Name}?

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Booster Sets are usually released about one month after the official WotC release date. Box sets vary from one to three months.

Newer Stuff

• CCGHQ More Releases (Post-Fate Reforged, All Sizes)

Older Stuff

I recommend uTorrent for downloading torrent files. Run uTorrent and click File > Add Torrent... and enter one of the magnet links below. Please Seed the Torrents!

• 2016-02-05 XLHQ Sets Torrent (All Sets, 300DPI Only):

Code: Select all

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:b07f3c3b288b20d49f5bbedcdf73214045abcce5&dn=XLHQ-Sets-Torrent&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.openbittorrent.com%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Fopentor.org%3A2710&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.ccc.de%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.blackunicorn.xyz%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.leechers-paradise.org%3A6969

.

• 2016-02-05 XLHQ Promos Torrent (All Promos, 300DPI Only):

Code: Select all

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:e9b27add0a5a0f53f3c46c39eb9c27f02899cb32&dn=XLHQ%20Promos&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.openbittorrent.com%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Fopentor.org%3A2710&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.ccc.de%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.blackunicorn.xyz%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.leechers-paradise.org%3A6969

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More Links

• Magic Album Torrent (All Sets & Promos, 200DPI Only)
• OUTDATED CCGHQ 2013 Torrent & Update (Alpha to M13, All Sizes)
• OUTDATED CCGHQ Releases (M15 to Fate Reforged, All Sizes)

About MEGA.nz / Download Errors

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Why we use MEGA

• Files are never deleted, Based in New Zealand
• Mega Sync enables us to manage files without using a web form
• Zip Options are offered upon download
• People often post to the Pictures forum asking for individual images. This way they can grab what they want.
• People need to download corrected images. Doing so individually saves bandwidth.
• 50GB free storage

Download Errors
Most people download the images without any issues. MEGA has occasional service outages. Some countries have trouble downloading files. If you are having problems, try using a proxy located in the USA. Try Hola Better Internet.

Help with Forge, Magic Workstation, {Application Name}?

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Ask for assistance in your application's dedicated forum. For example:

• Forge
• Magic Workstation

What does CCGHQ, FULL, XLHQ, 4KHQ stand for?

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• CCGHQ = Collectible Card Game Headquarters
• FULL or 200DPI = Our lingo for high resolution card images. 480px by 680px
• XLHQ or 300DPI = Our lingo for x-high resolution card images. 745px by 1040px
• 4KHQ or 600DPI = Our lingo for xx-high resolution card images. 1490px by 2080px

Can I download 4KHQ images?

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We do not plan to distribute 4KHQ images. Releasing them would require a dozen hours labor and ongoing maintenance.

Most of the images that we release are scaled down from 4KHQ scans. We start with 600DPI images because at that size, dust is easier to remove and we are able to remaster the images without a loss in quality. However the printed dot pattern is highly noticeable and blurry. The image files average 1.75MB each. On the other hand 300DPI images have a more naturalistic dot pattern and sharpness. The image files average 0.75MB each.

A high-resolution digital image does not translate into an equal quality print. Pixels are uniform and do not vary in size. Up close, the image is still visible. The offset printing process converts pixels into dots of ink. You could characterize the dot pattern as "varying sized dots with gaps in-between". What used to be a single uniform pixel has become four ink dots with complex overlapping and spacing. Gaps allow the white of the card stock to show through. The dot pattern is a low-quality abstraction of the original pixel. Up close, the pattern dominates and the image is not visible. So although magic cards may be printed using 600DPI offset printing presses, they characterize a much lower-quality digital image. As a result, 4KHQ images have little to no value over XLHQ images.

We have released around 15GB of XLHQ images. 35GB of 4KHQ images would only serve to fill your hard drive.

What is DPI? Why are my images only 72DPI?

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DPI is a decades old term which originates from printers. If you scan a card at 600DPI, you get an image with 600 dots (pixels) for every 1" across the card. Of course the cards are larger than 1" x 1", so if you multiply DPI by the actual dimension of the cards, apoproximately 2.48" by 3.47", you get the corresponding pixel width and pixel height of the image. (Within a few pixels. Our 200DPI images have the corners cropped off.)

Sometimes people report a "72 DPI error" with our images. This is a per-application phenomenon. We don't actually specify DPI in the file metadata, but most programs display a default of 72 DPI anyways. 72 DPI was the standard screen resolution before Retina and HIDPI displays were produced.

How are the image files named?

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Refer to the following:

• http://www.slightlymagic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12336#p136359
• http://www.slightlymagic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12336&hilit=naming&start=420#p188030
• http://www.slightlymagic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=445&hilit=wisp&start=1635#p129678

How can I assist?

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Help us keep this project alive! We need assistance with the following tasks:

• Seed the torrents.
• Report errors.
• Mirror / Host the files.
• Scan promo cards. See What Cards Are Missing and How to Scan below.
• Photoshop Card Scans.
• Update the torrents.
• Write scripts.

What cards are missing?

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MTG Apps Missing Promos List
Deckmaster Missing Scans List

Summer Magic
Alternate Fourth Edition
Hachette Magic Encyclopedia Rats Deck in English
Salvat 2011
Magic Premier Shop Promos (Zendikar Cycle, Scars of Mirrodin Cycle, Innistrad Cycle)

How to scan?

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We hold high standards here at the CCGHQ. Some scanners simply cannot produce high quality images. To determine if your scanner is usable, we ask you to scan three non-foil cards (one blue, one red, one green) with three different settings. Include all three cards in each scan:

• Resolution: 600DPI, Filetype: PNG
• Resolution: 600DPI, Filetype: JPG (Max Quality)
• Resolution: 1200DPI, Filetype: JPG (Max Quality)

Please disable all automatic image correction options including color/contrast adjustment, dust/scratch removal, unsharp mask, and descreen.

When scanning foil cards, try to achieve the whitest possible reflection. Blue or pink reflections can usually be eliminated by rotating a card on the scanner glass. It may take a few scans to find the best angle.

You may also watch my YouTube videos:

• How to Scan Magic Cards Dust-Free
• CanoScan 9000F MKII: How to produce raw scans

Here is an example of a bad, pink-orange foil reflection:

Here is an example of a good, white foil reflection. I rotated the card on my scanner to eliminate the color.

[kudit]

This is awesome! Thank you for doing this and including our missing scans list!

Noticed in the "What is DPI?" question, it says "200DIP" instead of "200DPI".

[skibulk]

I added answers for:

About MEGA.nz / Download Errors
Can I download 4KHQ images?
How are the image files named?

[doupegic]

The 2016-02-15 torrents are not working. Is there torrent with all the images (xlhq quality)? or do i have to dl the old torrent and then get the images for the new editions from mega?

[charlequin]

It looks like the tracker I'd had set up previously was having some issues. Try out these magnet links, see if they work:

Sets:

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:b07f3c3b288b20d49f5bbedcdf73214045abcce5&dn=XLHQ-Sets-Torrent&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.openbittorrent.com%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Fopentor.org%3A2710&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.ccc.de%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.blackunicorn.xyz%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.leechers-paradise.org%3A6969

Promos:

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:e9b27add0a5a0f53f3c46c39eb9c27f02899cb32&dn=XLHQ%20Promos&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.openbittorrent.com%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Fopentor.org%3A2710&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.ccc.de%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.blackunicorn.xyz%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A6969&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.leechers-paradise.org%3A6969

[adinsx]

I'd recommend against recomending Hola. Please read reddit doot com/r/netflix/comments/37jwdo/all_do_not_use_hola_you_become_an_unwitting_exit

Had to mangle the link because the forums won't let new users post urls.

[skibulk]

I'm aware that they sell your bandwidth. But reportedly it's less than 1MB per day. They use some of that money to pay their team and create a great working product for which there is no end in sight. You don't often get that with freeware. How about offering an alternative instead of just shooting it down?

[wants4x]

What is the process by which the Magic Album Torrent file gets updated as new sets come out?

[skibulk]

What is the process by which the Magic Album Torrent file gets updated as new sets come out?

You'll have to ask Goblin Hero about that, he maintains it as part of his software. Try posting in the Magic Album forum section. I think there's a topic about the torrent.

[Burritor]

How do I open this .torrent file? I'm on a Mac

[skibulk]

I recommend uTorrent for Windows or for Mac.

[Burritor]

I have uTorrent, but I dont get how to download, like I go to the page and it will say "filename.torrent" and when I go to the page nothing happens

[Burritor]

holy shit, I just clicked on "where can I download ~~~~~" and it opens up a new part of the page, it's been just sending me to the link

[kudit]

How do I open this .torrent file? I'm on a Mac

I personally like Transmission for Mac.
https://www.transmissionbt.com

[Mitsunari]

Is it just me or the download link to "Promos\pMPS - Magic Premier Stores\300DPI\Island.xlhq.jpg" in the "CCGHQ More Releases" MEGA drive is broken?'
Everything else in that MEGA release link works fine for me, but just not this particular image.