Optically Variable Devices (OVDs) are the metallic, shifting elements on the data page of a passport and ID card: kinegrams, holograms, diffraction patterns, and colour-shifting inks. They are the single hardest security feature for forgers to reproduce, which makes them the single most valuable feature for inspectors to check. A 10x magnifier under proper lighting reveals whether an OVD is genuine in under ten seconds.
This guide is the procedure for OVD inspection: how the feature is built, what to look for, what counterfeits typically get wrong, and which equipment makes the inspection fastest.
What an OVD actually is
An OVD is an embossed or printed surface that reflects light differently depending on the viewing angle. The visual effect can include:
- Colour shift: gold to green to blue as you tilt the document
- Motion or animation: a pattern that appears to move or change
- Hidden image: a secondary image that appears at specific angles
- 3D depth: an apparent depth or relief in a flat surface
- Micro-detail: extremely small text or patterns visible only at high magnification
OVDs are manufactured using techniques that consumer-grade printers and even most commercial printers cannot replicate. Genuine OVDs require diffraction-grating masters, specialised foil application, and precise registration with the underlying print. This is why they are so effective as a security feature: counterfeiters can mimic the appearance crudely but not the underlying physics.
Security holograms
A security hologram is a diffractive foil or laminate element that shows an image with apparent depth, or an image that changes, when the document is tilted. Holograms are used on passport data pages, ID cards, banknotes and on labels and certificates. A genuine security hologram is made from a master that is very difficult to copy, and on documents it is usually integrated with the printing or the laminate rather than stuck on top.
To check a security hologram: tilt the document under a single light source and confirm that the image moves or changes as on the reference. Look at its position and its edges under a 10x magnifier: the hologram should sit exactly where the reference shows it, without lifted edges, glue traces or a cut-out shape. A printed metallic imitation shines but does not change when tilted, and under magnification it shows a print structure instead of a diffraction pattern.
Kinegrams
A kinegram is a type of diffractive OVD, named after the KINEGRAM brand, that is used on many passports, ID cards and banknotes. Where a classic hologram shows depth, a kinegram shows bright, flat graphic elements that appear to move, switch or change shape as the document is tilted, often in a defined sequence.
To check a kinegram: tilt slowly in two directions and follow the movement against the reference, because the sequence of effects is specific to each document. Then use a 10x magnifier on the edges and the fine line work, which in a genuine kinegram is sharp and continuous. On a data page the kinegram is often placed over the portrait or the personal data, so a replaced portrait or an altered entry tends to disturb it.
What genuine OVDs look like under a 10x magnifier
Genuine OVDs share specific properties that a 10x magnifier reveals quickly.
Sharp diffraction edges. Genuine OVDs have crisp boundaries between regions of different reflection. Under 10x magnification with side lighting, the edges look razor-clean, with no fuzziness or printed-ink texture at the boundary.
Layer registration. OVDs are usually overlaid on printed elements like the data page background, the photograph, or a country crest. The registration between the OVD and the print is exact within a fraction of a millimetre. Counterfeit OVDs are typically misaligned by 0.5mm or more, visible immediately under magnification.
Microprint or microtext inside the OVD. Many genuine OVDs include microprint at their edges or within their pattern. The text might say the country name, the document type, or a serial reference. The microprint should be legible under 10x, sharp-edged, and unbroken.
No ink texture. Genuine OVDs are foil-based, not ink-based. Under 10x you see a smooth, mirrored surface with diffraction patterns. Counterfeit OVDs printed with metallic ink or holographic stickers show ink dot patterns, halftone artefacts, or paper texture showing through.
Proper depth effect. Genuine 3D-effect OVDs maintain their depth illusion at multiple viewing angles. Counterfeit versions usually have the illusion at one specific angle only and look flat or distorted at others.
How to inspect an OVD with a 10x magnifier
The procedure is short but specific.
- Use side lighting. OVDs respond to angled light, not direct overhead light. Tilt the document or angle the magnifier light to one side. A magnifier with built-in side LEDs works best; some Dexeq models include this lighting geometry specifically for OVD work.
- Position the lens at 10x working distance (around 2cm above the OVD).
- Tilt the document slightly while looking through the lens. The OVD should show its full colour shift or motion as you tilt. The transition should be smooth and continuous, not jumpy.
- Inspect the edges. Sharp on genuine, fuzzy on counterfeit. This single check catches the bulk of forged OVDs.
- Look for microprint inside or around the OVD. If you can read it, check it matches the expected text for the document.
- Compare against a reference. Each document version has a specific OVD design. A different design in the same document version is a forgery indicator.
- Add UV illumination if your magnifier supports it. Many OVDs have a UV-reactive layer that genuine documents show clearly and counterfeits omit.
For documents flagged at 10x, switch to 15x or a digital microscope for confirmation.
Where forgers typically fail
Patterns repeat across counterfeit work.
Holographic sticker, not foil. The cheapest counterfeit approach is to apply a generic holographic sticker, often from a craft supplier, on top of a printed data page. Under 10x the sticker edges are visible as a separate layer above the page. The hologram inside the sticker usually has no connection to the country, the document type, or the underlying print.
Printed metallic ink instead of OVD. Some counterfeits attempt to mimic the OVD with metallic or pearlescent ink. Under 10x the ink texture is obvious and there is no diffraction pattern, just a flat metallic appearance.
Wrong design entirely. A counterfeit OVD might be the right shape and approximate colour but the wrong design pattern for the document version. Inspectors who know their reference catch this immediately.
Misaligned overlay. Genuine OVDs sit exactly where they should on the data page. Counterfeits are often offset by half a millimetre or more, which 10x magnification reveals at a glance.
Missing UV element. Genuine OVDs frequently include a UV-reactive component that appears under 365nm illumination. Counterfeits almost always miss this layer.
A practical OVD check for the Dutch passport
The Dutch passport has a kinegram on the data page that is one of the most studied OVDs in document security circles. For Dutch passports issued since 2014:
- The kinegram shows the Dutch coat of arms in colour shift between gold and silver-blue
- Microprint reading “NEDERLAND” runs along the kinegram edge
- A secondary image of the document type appears at specific viewing angles
- A UV-reactive layer is embedded under the foil; visible under 365nm illumination
Under a 10x magnifier with side lighting:
- Confirm the kinegram is foil, not sticker (edge inspection)
- Read the “NEDERLAND” microprint (should be sharp and unbroken)
- Tilt and confirm the colour shift is continuous
- Add UV and check for the embedded fluorescence
Most counterfeit Dutch passports fail at step 2 (microprint legibility) or step 4 (missing UV response).
Other nationalities have their own OVD designs and reference patterns. Build a memory bank for the nationalities you inspect most.
The right magnifier for OVD work
Not every 10x magnifier is equally good for OVD inspection. Three properties matter:
Side lighting. Direct overhead light kills OVD contrast. A magnifier with built-in side LEDs or a swivel-light geometry is essential. The 10x Magnifier Immigration Expert and the 10x Magnifier Borderguard Advanced include angled lighting for this work.
UV-365 capability. OVDs frequently include UV-reactive elements. A magnifier with white plus UV-365 plus IR-980 covers all OVD inspection layers.
Glass optics. Acrylic lenses introduce false colour fringing that mimics OVD shift patterns. Glass optics show the genuine response cleanly. The Dexeq DXQ 15x range uses anti-reflection-coated glass; the DXQ Basic and DXQ Pro editions are calibrated for this work.
For team deployment, the standard pairing is a 10x with white + UV + IR for primary inspection and a 15x for confirmation. The full magnifiers category lists current options.
Frequently asked questions
Can I inspect OVDs without a magnifier?
For the visual colour shift, yes. For the microprint and the edge inspection, no. The unaided eye cannot resolve the detail that distinguishes genuine foil from a sticker or a printed imitation.
How long does an OVD check take?
5 to 15 seconds with the right magnifier and lighting. Faster than the surrounding inspection steps.
Are OVDs always on the data page?
Most often yes. Some passports also include OVDs on visa pages, on the cover, or on the personal-information data page in addition to the photograph page. Inspection should cover all of them.
Can a 5x magnifier handle OVD inspection?
For the colour shift and the rough alignment check, yes. For microprint and edge inspection, no. 10x is the practical baseline.
What if the document is too old to have an OVD?
Some pre-2000 passports do not have OVDs. For those, the inspection relies more heavily on UV response, microprint elsewhere on the page, and watermark detail. Modern documents almost universally include OVDs.
What to do next
For OVD inspection, the working tool is a 10x magnifier with side lighting and UV-365 capability. Browse the magnifiers range for current options or upgrade to the DXQ 15x range for detailed microprint and edge work. The companion guide on 10x vs 15x vs 30x magnification covers when to step up from a 10x baseline, and how to use a UV flashlight on a passport covers the inspection step before the OVD check.
