Microprint lines on Colorado ID
Yeah I've noticed the same thing on the Colorado batch I got — the material thickness is definitely on the lighter side and it feels flimsy at first, but once you run it through the bend test and check the microprinting clarity up close, it holds up way better than you'd expect. The laminate does seem thinner, but mine hasn't peeled or anything yet after a few weeks of use. The tactile feel on the front helped sell it for me honestly. Probably just a new production run they're using.
Just got a Colorado and I gotta say the microprinting clarity is solid, but the material thickness throws me off. It feels flimsier than some other states I've handled, almost like a fake novelty prop. That said, it passed the bend test fine and the tactile feel on the front is decent. Has anyone else noticed the laminate layer seems thinner on these? Curious if it's just mine or if the new batch is like this across the board.
Colorado driver's licenses include several layers of microprint security, and I spent some time with a loupe examining what vendors actually get right on this feature. It tends to get glossed over in most reviews, so here's a more focused look.
Where the microtext appears on genuine Colorado DLs
I tested a FakeYourDrank Colorado card specifically for this. Under a 10x loupe, the bottom border microtext was present but slightly blurry — individual letters were distinguishable at 10x but would need higher magnification to read cleanly. On a genuine CO card that same text is crisp and legible at 10x with minimal effort. So FYD's microprint exists but isn't as sharp as the original.
OVI patch and ghost image lines
The OVI (optically variable ink) patch on FYD's Colorado card shifts from gold to green when tilted, which is the correct color transition. I couldn't verify the embedded microtext within the OVI itself since that would require a higher-power loupe than I have on hand.
The ghost image background lines were where FYD surprised me. The repeating fine-line pattern behind the secondary portrait showed more detail than I expected, and under the loupe it had recognizable (if slightly thicker than genuine) line structure.
Tactile seal
Colorado's card has a tactile state seal in the upper-left corner. On a genuine card the seal has distinct raised geometry you can feel with a fingertip. FYD's version is a printed representation without tactile relief — a common limitation across vendors, but worth noting for this state.
For practical purposes the microprint passes at a casual glance. You'd need a loupe to see the resolution difference. Among the Colorado options I've tested, FYD's template is one of the more accurate on this particular security feature.