I had a similar experience when I was working on a mockumentary last year. I got this one template that looked decent in the preview, but once I zoomed in—oh man, it was a mess. Blurry text, misaligned elements, and don’t even get me started on the fonts.
What I look for now are three key things:
Layered PSD files – so you can adjust every element without ruining the layout.
Realistic textures and security details – like UV patterns, barcodes, and microprint.
State-accurate formatting – things like font size, spacing, and placement make a huge difference.
I actually found a solid collection over at https://fakeidtemplates.org/ — their fake ID templates are layered properly, super sharp, and they even include editable text fields with font suggestions. I used one of their Pennsylvania templates and my DP couldn’t believe it wasn’t real. It saved me so much time trying to recreate it from scratch. Plus, you can tell the designers have actually studied real IDs.
Also, if you’re using these in film, don’t skip on printing details. A great design means nothing if your printer butchers the clarity.
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