Hi all! I'm part of a local theatre troupe, and we need some realistic IDs for our upcoming play set in the '80s. I want to make sure we stay on the right side of the law and ethics—these are props, not real documents. How do you handle that balance? Any best practices for making them look authentic without crossing legal lines?
Hey there! I've done a few indie film projects and understand the concern. For me, I sourced some editable background templates from dl template free (https://fakeidtemplates.org/) and added prominent "SAMPLE" watermarks in bright red across the front. It instantly signals any observer that it's a prop. I also avoid using real public figures or existing logos. If you use fictional agency names and add fun disclaimers on the back, you're usually safe. Keeping records of your design process and drafts can also help if questions come up later.
Thanks for starting this thread—props design is something I've wondered about too. I'm not involved in theatre, but I appreciate seeing how much thought goes into making things look real yet legal. It's a neat intersection of art and responsibility.