Testing your card before using it out

Taking 10 minutes to test a card before using it anywhere reduces the chance of an uncomfortable situation later. Here is the test procedure I use on every card I receive.

Visual inspection

Compare the card against a reference image of the genuine state ID template. Check that the color scheme matches, the logo and seal are in the correct positions, and the font styles are consistent with the genuine card. The photo should be correctly cropped and positioned in the photo zone. Any obvious misalignment or color discrepancy is worth noting before you go further.

Barcode test

Download Cognex Mobile Barcode Scanner and scan the PDF417 barcode on the back. It should decode cleanly on the first try under adequate lighting. Once decoded, verify that the name, date of birth, and license number in the decoded data match what is printed on the card face. A barcode that decodes but has mismatched data fields is a quality issue that some venue scanners will catch.

UV test

Under 365nm UV in a darkened room, confirm that the UV features are present and in approximately the right positions. I use my phone camera in video mode with the UV light on — the camera is often more sensitive to UV fluorescence than the naked eye and makes subtle features more visible. Photograph the UV features for your records before any use.

Flex and tactile test

Apply gentle pressure to the card to feel whether it flexes like polycarbonate (minimal flex, springs back cleanly) or PVC (more flexible, slightly different rebound). Run a finger across any areas that should have tactile raised printing and confirm you can feel the elevation.

This full test takes under 10 minutes and tells you what you actually have before you are standing in front of a scanner at a venue.