Colorado ID Review & Security Features Guide

I got mine from the same place and honestly the material thickness surprised me. My buddy's real one feels basically identical, passed the bend test without any issues. The microprinting clarity is spot on too if you look close with a loupe. Vegas tougher than you'd expect on IDs though, so glad this one holds up.

Nice write-up! I've been hesitant to grab a CO because of all the fakes floating around, but sounds like LuxuryFakes got the microprinting clarity right. I've handled a real one before and the tactile feel of the laminate is super specific—if it's off, it gets sketchy fast. Did yours pass the bend test okay? That's usually where cheap versions feel flimsy and give it away.

One thing to add - the background color on CO IDs is very specific. If it's too blue or too green, bouncers notice.

How does CO compare to Utah for mountain states? I'm trying to decide between the two.

The laser perforations are key. I got a cheap CO once that didn't have them and it got rejected at a club.

CO is better imo. Utah has some tricky security features and isn't as commonly seen outside of Utah, which can raise questions.

Saving this guide. Exactly what I needed. About to order CO next week.

Great guide, man! I've been sitting on my Colorado from LuxuryFakes for a little while now and finally got to put it through its paces on a trip to Vegas. Wanted to drop my detailed thoughts here since I spent a ton of time comparing it to a friend's real CO before I actually used it. Let's start with the ghost image. The original post nailed it – it's definitely there and looks solid. On my copy the ghost is right where it should be, over the left side of the main photo, and the opacity is pretty spot on. It's not so faint you'd think it's missing, but not so dark that it looks printed on top. Alignment with the main image is good – maybe a millimeter off if I'm being really picky, but honestly nobody's gonna notice that unless they're holding it next to a real CO with a magnifying glass. Now for the microprint – I took a jeweler's loupe to mine because I was curious. The "COLORADO" microprint along the top border is there and readable, though the letters are a tiny bit thicker than on a real one. The "C" in the state seal area also has microprint but it's kinda fuzzy under magnification. Not something you'd ever see with the naked eye, but if a bouncer really knows what to look for with a loupe, it might raise a question. For 99% of use, it's fine. UV light was a big one for me since CO has a pretty distinctive UV pattern. Under a blacklight, the front side lights up with the state outline and "COLORADO" text in a bright blue-white. The brightness is actually very close to the real deal – not too dim, not blinding. The back has the small state seal UV element, and that also glows the way it should. The color temperature is slightly cooler than a real CO, but I've seen real ones vary a bit anyway. No one in Vegas ever hit it with UV as far as I could tell, but it passed my own test. OVI (optically variable ink) is where it gets interesting. On the real CO, the "COLORADO" on the right side shifts from green to gold depending on the angle. My LuxuryFakes copy does shift, but the color transition is a bit more subtle – it goes from a slightly darker green to a lighter gold, not as big of a flip as the real one. Under direct light it's convincing, but in dimmer lighting the shift is less noticeable. I'd say it's acceptable for most club/bar environments. Card material feel is actually pretty decent. The thickness is right on, the laminate has that slight tackiness when you rub it, and the edges are smooth with no peeling. The back has the correct matte finish, not glossy. The only thing I noticed is that the card is ever so slightly more flexible than a real CO – like if you bend it a bit, it springs back a little slower. But again, unless you're handling a stack of real COs daily, you wouldn't clock it. The raised text (birthdate and DL number) is present and the tactile feel is close, maybe a hair less pronounced. Overall, I'd give this one a solid 8 out of 10. The ghost image and UV are the strong points. OVI and microprint are slightly off but not deal-breakers. Material feel is very good. Used it at a few casinos and clubs in Vegas without any hiccups – bartenders gave it a quick glance, no second looks. For the price range, it's a solid Colorado.