A method for determining and verifying ply orientation of an entire thickness of a composite laminate, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an edge of the composite laminate comprised of a plurality of plies, to obtain a prepared edge that facilitate visibility of the plurality of plies at the prepared edge, in scanned images of the prepared edge, after the prepared edge has been scanned, and wherein preparing the edge comprises one or more of smoothing, polishing, abrading, finishing, and cleaning the edge of the composite laminate to obtain a prepared edge that is smooth or polished prior to scanning; and when the prepared edge is placed on a top surface of a glass plate of a scanning device: performing a first scan of a prepared edge of the composite laminate using an off-axis inclined light source directing light at a first acute angle to a first area on the prepared edge to produce a first scanned image, wherein the off-axis inclined light source is not perpendicular to the prepared edge, and the first acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; rotating an orientation of the off-axis inclined light source 106 relative to the prepared edge, such that the off-axis inclined light source directs light at a second acute angle symmetrically opposite the first acute angle, wherein the second acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; and performing a second scan of the prepared edge using the off-axis inclined light source directing light at the symmetrically opposite second acute angle to the first area on the prepared edge to produce a second scanned image; comparing the first scanned image and the second scanned image to determine a ply orientation of each ply of the composite laminate, wherein the ply orientation is determined based on light source reflections of the off-axis inclined light source; and, verifying the ply orientation of the composite laminate against a baseline ply orientation of a baseline composite laminate. preparing an edge of the composite laminate comprised of a plurality of plies, to obtain a prepared edge that facilitate visibility of the plurality of plies at the prepared edge, in scanned images of the prepared edge, after the prepared edge has been scanned, and wherein preparing the edge comprises one or more of smoothing, polishing, abrading, finishing, and cleaning the edge of the composite laminate to obtain a prepared edge that is smooth or polished prior to scanning; and when the prepared edge is placed on a top surface of a glass plate of a scanning device: performing a first scan of a prepared edge of the composite laminate using an off-axis inclined light source directing light at a first acute angle to a first area on the prepared edge to produce a first scanned image, wherein the off-axis inclined light source is not perpendicular to the prepared edge, and the first acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; rotating an orientation of the off-axis inclined light source 106 relative to the prepared edge, such that the off-axis inclined light source directs light at a second acute angle symmetrically opposite the first acute angle, wherein the second acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; and performing a second scan of the prepared edge using the off-axis inclined light source directing light at the symmetrically opposite second acute angle to the first area on the prepared edge to produce a second scanned image; performing a first scan of a prepared edge of the composite laminate using an off-axis inclined light source directing light at a first acute angle to a first area on the prepared edge to produce a first scanned image, wherein the off-axis inclined light source is not perpendicular to the prepared edge, and the first acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; rotating an orientation of the off-axis inclined light source 106 relative to the prepared edge, such that the off-axis inclined light source directs light at a second acute angle symmetrically opposite the first acute angle, wherein the second acute angle is relative to the prepared edge; and performing a second scan of the prepared edge using the off-axis inclined light source directing light at the symmetrically opposite second acute angle to the first area on the prepared edge to produce a second scanned image; comparing the first scanned image and the second scanned image to determine a ply orientation of each ply of the composite laminate, wherein the ply orientation is determined based on light source reflections of the off-axis inclined light source; and, verifying the ply orientation of the composite laminate against a baseline ply orientation of a baseline composite laminate.