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Document capture

A document capture step is the part of a DocIDV journey where the end user is asked to capture images of their identity document.

Its purpose is to collect the visual information needed for the next verification checks, such as:

  • document data extraction
  • authenticity checks
  • image quality checks
  • fraud detection controls
  • downstream identity verification processing

In practical terms, this step guides the user through capturing the required sides of a document, typically with a mobile device or webcam, and submits those images to the verification flow.

What happens during a document capture step​

Document capture step

A document capture step is responsible for:

  1. Prompting the user to present their document

    • The user is asked to prepare a supported identity document.
    • The interface explains what is expected, for example capturing the front side, back side, or both.

  2. Collecting document images

    • The system captures one or more images of the document.
    • Depending on the journey, this can include:
      • front only
      • front and back
      • multiple attempts if quality is insufficient

  3. Checking capture usability

    • The step helps ensure the captured images are usable for verification.
    • Typical expectations include:
      • document is fully visible
      • text is readable
      • image is sharp enough
      • glare, blur, cropping, or low lighting are limited

  4. Preparing data for subsequent checks

    • Once accepted, the captured images become input for the next parts of the flow.
    • These later checks may include OCR, document classification, security feature analysis, and consistency checks.

Why this step matters​

The document capture step is foundational to the overall verification outcome.

If the capture is poor, later checks may fail or become less reliable. A well-designed capture step improves:

  • user completion rates
  • image quality
  • automation performance
  • fraud prevention effectiveness
  • operational efficiency

In other words, this step does not only collect pictures. It creates the conditions for accurate and trustworthy document-based verification.