How to spot a fake id by the microprint resolution

A lot of people think how to spot a fake id is all about the holograms, but it's really about the microprint. Most vendors use standard digital printers that can't handle text smaller than 1pt. Real IDs use offset printing or high-res laser engravers that can produce micro-text that is perfectly sharp even under a microscope.

If you have a jeweler's loupe, look at the fine lines in the background. They should be made of actual words (like the state name) repeated over and over. If it just looks like a dotted line, it's a fake. This is the first thing we look at if we suspect a card is high-quality but something feels 'off' with the material.