Illinois - still worth it? - advice needed

Just got mine, so I thought I'd follow up on that short post with a more detailed breakdown. I compared it side-by-side to a friend's real Illinois ID—same issue date range and all—and honestly, I'm pretty impressed with how close it is. For anyone wondering if Illinois is still worth picking up, here's what I've found after really putting it under a loupe and a UV light.

So about the microprint. If you look closely at the line that runs along the top of the "State of Illinois" text and around the blue seal on the right, the microprint is there and it's actually legible under a 10x loupe. I can make out the repeating "ILLINOIS" patterns without any blurring or smudging. On the back, the microprint along the top border is crisp too. That's usually one of the first things that gives a fake away, but here it's solid. No obvious breaks in the lines, which is nice.

UV response was a big concern for me because a lot of fakes either glow too bright or have the wrong color. Under a 365nm UV light, the state outline overlay on the front pops up clearly—it's a nice soft blue, not too neon or washed out. The brightness is spot-on with the real one I compared; it's not overpowering but definitely visible. The repeat pattern of the word "Illinois" in UV ink on the back is also present and aligned properly. The color matches the real one in terms of hue and intensity, which is rare in my experience.

The OVI color-shifting ink on the left side of the card (the big "IL" and the seal) shifts pretty accurately. Tilting it, you get a clean change from a deep green to a coppery gold. The transition is smooth, not abrupt or patchy like some cheaper attempts. Under direct light, the metallic flake effect looks authentic too. I'd say it's about 90% there compared to the real deal—maybe only a slight difference in the reflectiveness, but that's only noticeable when you're really nitpicking side-by-side.

Card material feel is solid too. It's got the right weight and thickness, doesn't feel flimsy or too rigid. The laminate has that slightly slick but not glossy finish that real Illinois IDs have. Edges are clean, no rough spots, and the card bends just enough without cracking. The raised text (like the date of birth and expiration) is tactile but not overdone. It's subtle, which is correct. I've handled some that felt like braille—this isn't that.

Overall, I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10. The microprint and UV are the strongest points, and the OVI is very good. The material feel is definitely passable for casual use. If you're looking for an Illinois, I'd say it's still worth it—just make sure you're getting one with updated holograms if that's a thing on your batch. No major red flags from me.

They updated it a few weeks ago to match the new design