Scan glossy IDs and laminated cards without glare

Laminated cards are tiny mirrors. Point a camera straight at one under a ceiling light and a white blob lands exactly where the photo or hologram is. Beating glare is pure geometry — two minutes of it.

The geometry in one line

Glare appears where angle in = angle out between light, card and lens. Change any one of the three and the reflection moves. The card is the easiest to change.

The tilt trick

1. Card flat, camera above — note where the blob sits.
2. Tilt the card 5–10° (slide a coin under one edge) — watch the blob slide off the surface in your preview.
3. Shoot when the blob is off the text/photo. ToPDF's perspective correction squares the small tilt right back.

Two-shot insurance for stubborn holograms

Security holograms are engineered to shine from every angle. Take two shots with opposite tilts so the sheen lands in different places; scan whichever leaves your critical fields clean. Where a verifier needs hologram presence, a modest sheen is expected — a blob over the portrait is the thing to avoid.

Frequently asked questions

Should I turn off the room light entirely?

If a window remains, often yes — one soft source is easier to steer than three ceiling spots. Fully dark rooms trade glare for noise; bounce a lamp instead.

Does flash help pierce laminate?

No — the flash sits next to the lens, guaranteeing the reflection lands dead centre. It’s the one light you cannot steer away.