How to scan your first item with samla.ai
Choose something within reach. A book, a record, the little object you’ve been meaning to look up. Open Add, take a photo and review what samla.ai suggests. You can add the details it missed and where you keep it, then decide whether you feel like doing another.
Key takeaways
- Photograph one object and any identifying details you want to keep.
- Review the suggested title, category and details, correcting anything that needs it.
- Choose a location and add quantity when it is useful for identical items.
- Start on the Free plan within its monthly scan and item limits.
Why start with a photo?
A photo gives you something to work from straight away. It keeps the object’s appearance close while the app suggests details, and you can add what you know as you go.
Start with one familiar thing. You will know which suggestions look right and which need a correction, making it a useful first record to build.
How do you scan an item?
Four steps, and the fourth one puts you back at the camera for the next thing.
1. Open the Add tab and photograph one object
Open Add in the bottom bar and photograph one object clearly. Good light and a readable label help. You can also choose an existing photo from your gallery. Add close-ups of identifying marks, the reverse side or any damage you want to record.
2. Keep the photo, or retake it
A preview appears with Keep and Retake. Flat things - record sleeves, book covers, comics, trading cards, stamps, prints - crop themselves to the subject, because those are the categories where a tight crop makes the difference. For everything else the full frame is kept, with an Auto crop link if you want it, and Adjust for a manual crop.
3. Add a location and a quantity, if you want them
The camera screen carries the location editor, so you can say that this bottle lives in the cellar on the second rack before you have left the camera. It remembers what you used last time, which makes a whole shelf quick. Skip it and add it later if you would rather keep moving.
4. Tap Add to collection
The AI starts working in the background and the camera stays open. Nothing navigates away, nothing blocks you, and you can photograph the next five things while the first one is still being identified.
What does the AI actually fill in?
The analysis suggests a title, category and relevant details it can identify. For a record, that may include an artist, label or catalog number. Review those suggestions against your copy and add anything missing. An estimated value may also be available.
The review queue helps you return to results flagged for attention. It is still worth checking every result: a confident identification can also be wrong. You can edit details or use Re-identify with clearer photos and a useful note.
What does it cost?
You can start cataloging on the Free plan within its monthly scan and item limits. The pricing page lists current capacity and features for each plan.
FAQ
What if samla.ai gets the item wrong? Correct it. Every field is editable, and the item screen has a Re-identify option where you can add a short note to steer the AI, which is useful when the model is confusing two similar pressings. Items the AI was unsure about go to the review queue so you can find them again in one place.
Can I photograph something that is not a collectible? Yes. You can record ordinary household things as well as collectibles, from the mixer in the kitchen to the records on the shelf.
How many photos can one item have? More than one. After you keep the first photo the session panel invites you to add more, which is worth doing for anything with a back cover, a label, a serial plate or damage you want on record.
Does it work without a signal? The photo is taken locally, and the identification needs a connection because the analysis runs in the cloud. samla.ai asks for your consent before anything is sent for AI analysis.
Turn a cataloged item into a listing
You’ve already photographed the camera, noted the scratch and found the box. That is a useful head start when you decide to sell. In samla.ai, use those saved details to prepare a marketplace listing, then check the draft and choose your price. The ‘I should list this’ pile can get a little smaller.
How do you turn the record into a listing?
Open the saved item and choose an available marketplace. Use the photos and details to prepare a draft, then check the description, condition, price and delivery information before publishing. Publishing is available with Pro and Ultra, with destinations depending on your country and the item.
eBay covers a wide range of goods. Discogs matches music releases to the right edition, while Reverb is available for musical instruments and gear. Choose the destination that fits what you have.
What is worth checking in the draft?
A listing form is an inconvenient place to remember the missing photo. If the object is still in your hands, capture its back, label and any wear now. The person considering it will probably want to see the same things you did.
- Check that the photos show this exact item and everything included.
- Describe the scratch, missing part or replacement strap plainly.
- Review the price, currency and delivery details.
- Publish after checking the draft; record the departure once the item has sold and left your collection.
FAQ
Do I start with an empty description? The draft uses details from your catalog. Review and adjust them for the buyer, including anything the photos leave unclear.
What if I want to keep the item after all? Leave it in your catalog. Preparing a record creates no obligation to sell it.
Try it with one familiar thing at samla.ai.