Card quality checklist when your order arrives
Good call on the lighting, that's honestly where most people mess up. When I was getting started I skipped the sticky and regretted it—that step-by-step tutorial would've saved me a lot of guessing about things like signature background and shadows. My tip: photograph your card at a slight angle under the lamp, flaws jump right out that way. And yeah, don't feel bad asking a noob question, just use the search bar first.
Welcome! Honestly the first thing I do is hit the lights—check that the PVC isn't peeling or warped under a bright lamp, since a bad lighting setup can hide flaws until it's too late. If you're just getting started, read the sticky on card basics first; it's basically a step-by-step tutorial that covers everything. Also, don't be afraid to use the search bar if you run into a noob question. Half the battle is knowing what to look for before you even take the ID photo at home.
Most people open their order, look at the card for thirty seconds, and put it away. I started doing a structured check after receiving a card with a barcode issue I did not notice for two weeks. Here is the ten-minute checklist I use now.
Visual inspection in normal light
Check the card face against a reference image of the target state. Look at field placement — is the photo zone in the right position? Does the font match what you expect? Is the color correct? Small deviations in background color or font weight are visible immediately and indicate the template is not accurate.
Check that all printed text is sharp, not blurred or pixelated. Inspect the photo for correct cropping and positioning. Look at the ghost image if the state uses one — is it present and sized correctly?
Holographic overlay
Tilt the card under a direct light source through a 30-degree arc. The overlay should shift color smoothly. Check coverage — does the overlay extend edge to edge across the area it should cover? Any thin spots or missing areas at corners are detectable this way.
UV check
If you have a 365nm UV light, check the UV features under controlled conditions. Note whether the features are present and in the correct positions. Compare against a reference if you have one for the state.
Barcode scan
Scan the PDF417 barcode with at least two different scanner apps. Confirm it decodes without error. Use an AAMVA barcode parser tool to verify the decoded data fields match the printed card face — name, date of birth, expiration date should all be consistent.
Physical feel
Check edge delamination by running a fingertip along all four edges. Feel for any layer separation or raised edges. For polycarbonate cards, apply light pressure near each corner to check for flex or delamination at the corners specifically.
Document any issues immediately with photos — this is your evidence if you need to contact the vendor about a defect.