The present invention relates to assembling identification documents in an over-the-counter issuing environment. In one implementation of the present invention, we provide an identification document capable of being printed by an ink jet printer-based system in an over-the-counter environment. The identification document comprises a core layer and a first indicium. The core layer has a first surface, and the first indicium is printed directly onto at the first surface of the core layer. The first indicium is formed by a pigmented ink jet ink. The core material can have an affinity for a particular substance ( e.g. , water) and the pigmented jet ink can include that substance ( e.g. , an aqueous-based ink jet ink). An identification document substrate can receive pigmented ink jet ink from an ink jet printer without requiring a receiver layer or receiver coating on the substrate. The absence of the receiver layer allows for direct bonding of additional layers, such as laminates, to an unprinted substrate, thereby not interfering with the bonding mechanism of the laminate to the substrate. Identification documents formed in this manner can meet or exceed all AAMVA, ANSI, and ISO requirements.