Just got my Colorado - review

Good review, and I totally agree about the signature thing being minor, tbh. I just got my Colorado yesterday and thought I'd drop some detailed observations since I was pretty picky about checking all the security features before carrying it.

So about the microprint — the state outline along the top edge is there, but it's kinda thicker than I've seen in pics of real COs. The tiny "COLORADO" text inside the border is legible under a loupe, though the spacing is a bit off. On the back, the microprint in the license number area is present but some letters look kinda smudged. Still, unless you're scrutinizing with magnification, nobody's catching it.

UV response honestly surprised me. Under a 365nm light the state flag and the mountains behind the main photo light up clearly — like, really clearly. The color is a bright blueish-white, not too dull, not too hot. The sky area above the mountains has a subtle purple shift that matches what I've seen in reference videos. My only gripe is the UV isn't as evenly distributed across the whole card; the corners are kind of darker, but that's common with overlays.

The OVI on the big "CO" on the right side of the face actually shifts pretty well — green to gold from most angles. It's not as crisp as a real DMV-issued one, the transition is a little softer, but under normal lighting it's fine. The new Colorado style also has this color-changing star in the top right corner; mine shows a decent shift, though the gold comes through kind of brownish if the light isn't direct.

But the card material feel? That's where this thing really shines. It's got that heavy Teslin/poly blend that bends like the real deal — not too stiff, not too flimsy. Laminate feels bonded well, no peeling edges. The front has that slight glossy finish while the back is more matte, exactly like a legit CO. The thickness is spot-on; I compared it to a friend's real one from two years ago — identical stack height.

Overall, I'm giving this Colorado an 8.5/10. Microprint and OVI are a hair off, but UV and material feel are strong. As for the signature issue the OP mentioned — on my copy, the signature is slightly thinner than the typical DMV stroke width, but unless you're pulling out a magnifier right next to the bouncer, it's invisible. Most people don't even know what the real signature looks like. So yeah, minor nitpick. For the price and quality, it's a reliable daily driver.

Helpful as always

NY is tough to get right. Sounds like they did a decent job

Really appreciate this post