Which two primary lighting techniques are used to detect security features on IDs?

Which two primary lighting techniques are used to detect security features on IDs?

• A. Infrared and ultraviolet
• B. Transmitted Light/Back lighting and Oblique Light/Side lighting
• C. Natural light and fluorescent
• D. X-ray and gamma ray

Answer: (B)

Lighting reveals security features by showing different properties of the card. Transmitted light, or back lighting, shines light through the card from behind. This makes thin or embedded features—such as holograms, microprints, security stripes, and other subsurface elements—stand out as light passes through and interacts with the layers of the card. Oblique light, or side lighting, shines light at an angle across the surface. The angled illumination creates shadows and highlights that emphasize surface textures, raised printing, foils, and microtext that might be invisible under direct light. Using both techniques together gives a comprehensive view: back lighting exposes features beneath the surface, while oblique lighting reveals surface-level details. Other lighting methods like infrared/UV, natural light, or X-ray are used in different contexts, but they are not the two primary techniques for detecting the broad range of ID security features.

Lighting reveals security features by showing different properties of the card.

Transmitted light, or back lighting, shines light through the card from behind. This makes thin or embedded features—such as holograms, microprints, security stripes, and other subsurface elements—stand out as light passes through and interacts with the layers of the card.

Oblique light, or side lighting, shines light at an angle across the surface. The angled illumination creates shadows and highlights that emphasize surface textures, raised printing, foils, and microtext that might be invisible under direct light.

Using both techniques together gives a comprehensive view: back lighting exposes features beneath the surface, while oblique lighting reveals surface-level details. Other lighting methods like infrared/UV, natural light, or X-ray are used in different contexts, but they are not the two primary techniques for detecting the broad range of ID security features.