Method for comparing the surface of an object, in particular a banknote, a chip card or an identity card, comprising a DOVID area, with a reference object also comprising a DOVID area, a) wherein the object is imaged by an image acquisition unit and digital images (32a, 32b,...) of the same size are created in this way, wherein each digital image (32a, 32b,...) is created in each case using illumination from an illuminant (31a, 31b,...) with a different angle of irradiation (φ, θ) in each case, and an image stack comprising the individual digital images (32a, 32b,...) is created in this way, b) wherein a feature image having the same size as the created digital images (32a, 32b,...) is created, wherein for each pixel (34x, 34y,...) of the feature image - in each case an illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) is determined from the pixels of the individual digital images (32a, 32b) corresponding in position to the respective pixel (34x-34y) of the feature image, which illumination distribution function indicates to what extent the part of the DOVID area depicted in the pixel (34x, 34y,...) reflects light when illuminated at the respective angle of incidence (φ, θ), and - one or more characteristic features (37x, 37y,...) are extracted from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) and assigned to the respective pixel (34x, 34y,...) of the feature image, and c) wherein the feature image is compared with a reference feature image created from a reference object according to the same criteria, characterised in that the eccentricity (e) is extracted as a characteristic feature (37x, 37y,...) from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...), and/or in that the orientation angle (ω) is extracted from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) as a characteristic feature, which orientation angle indicates the tilt direction in which the DOVID area changes its reflectivity the most or the least or indicates the dominant direction of the reflection distribution in the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...). a) wherein the object is imaged by an image acquisition unit and digital images (32a, 32b,...) of the same size are created in this way, wherein each digital image (32a, 32b,...) is created in each case using illumination from an illuminant (31a, 31b,...) with a different angle of irradiation (φ, θ) in each case, and an image stack comprising the individual digital images (32a, 32b,...) is created in this way, b) wherein a feature image having the same size as the created digital images (32a, 32b,...) is created, wherein for each pixel (34x, 34y,...) of the feature image - in each case an illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) is determined from the pixels of the individual digital images (32a, 32b) corresponding in position to the respective pixel (34x-34y) of the feature image, which illumination distribution function indicates to what extent the part of the DOVID area depicted in the pixel (34x, 34y,...) reflects light when illuminated at the respective angle of incidence (φ, θ), and - one or more characteristic features (37x, 37y,...) are extracted from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) and assigned to the respective pixel (34x, 34y,...) of the feature image, and - in each case an illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) is determined from the pixels of the individual digital images (32a, 32b) corresponding in position to the respective pixel (34x-34y) of the feature image, which illumination distribution function indicates to what extent the part of the DOVID area depicted in the pixel (34x, 34y,...) reflects light when illuminated at the respective angle of incidence (φ, θ), and - one or more characteristic features (37x, 37y,...) are extracted from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) and assigned to the respective pixel (34x, 34y,...) of the feature image, and c) wherein the feature image is compared with a reference feature image created from a reference object according to the same criteria, characterised in that the eccentricity (e) is extracted as a characteristic feature (37x, 37y,...) from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...), and/or in that the orientation angle (ω) is extracted from the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...) as a characteristic feature, which orientation angle indicates the tilt direction in which the DOVID area changes its reflectivity the most or the least or indicates the dominant direction of the reflection distribution in the illumination distribution function (36x, 36y,...).