How to Scan an ID Card
Put the card on something dark — a wooden desk, a dark folder, anything that is not white paper — and photograph the front. A white card on a white table has no edge to find. If you already took a photo, upload that instead.
Do the back the same way. Both sides are straightened, trimmed and dropped onto one page at roughly life size, which is what an office asking for a copy of both sides expects to get.
Choose one above the other or side by side, A4 or Letter, and brighten it if the photo came out dark. Download it as a PDF to email, or a JPG if a form wants an image.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I scan with this?
Anything card shaped with two sides. National ID cards, driving licences, residence permits, student cards, insurance and medical cards, membership cards and business cards all work the same way.
What about a passport?
The photo page is the one that matters, and it is bigger than a card. Scan it as the front, leave the back empty, and set the card size to Passport so it comes out at the right scale.
The photo is shiny and washed out
Cards are laminated, so a ceiling light straight above bounces back into the camera. Turn a little, or step away from the light. Do not reach for the flash, which makes it worse.
Will it print at the right size?
Choose ID card as the card size and each side is placed at roughly life size. When you print, set the printer to 100 percent or Actual size. Fit to page quietly scales everything up and the copy comes out too big.
The edges of my card were not found
Hold the phone flat above the card rather than at an angle, fill the frame with it, and use a background that contrasts with the card. Corners are found for you, but a straight, close shot gives the sharpest result.
Is it safe to scan my ID here?
Your photos never leave your device. The whole thing runs in your browser, so your ID is not uploaded, not stored and not passed to anyone. An identity document is the last thing you want sitting in a stranger's file storage. Close the tab and it is gone.