an identity card is provided with a character set usable as a printing block , whereby the &# 34 ; natural foamability &# 34 ; that laser action brings about in the plastic materials commonly used for identity cards , such as pvc and polycarbonate , is exploited to obtain a relief height sufficient for a clear impression of the characters . the standard total height of the embossed characters relative to the rest of the card surface is reached by an additional deformation of the card body in the embossed character area so as to form flat underlying the characters .