A method for automatically determining an optimized setting of a card marking system, in particular a card marking system for the personalization of plastic cards by means of laser marking, wherein the card marking system comprises a marking subsystem for marking a card, as well as a vision subsystem for inspecting the card, and wherein the method comprises: (a) a vision subsystem setting process for automatically determining an optimized target setting of the vision subsystem, comprising: inspecting a reference element by means of the vision subsystem and generating an inspection result, wherein the vision subsystem has a currently set actual setting; and determining a target setting of the vision subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the inspection result with a reference inspection criterion in such a way that the target setting defines a target setting of the vision subsystem for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system, which target setting of the vision subsystem, with respect to the reference inspection criterion, is optimized relative to the actual setting; (b) a subsequent marking subsystem setting process for automatically determining an optimized target setting of the marking subsystem, comprising: marking a card by means of the marking subsystem so as to form a predetermined reference marking, wherein the marking subsystem is currently set to an actual setting; inspecting the marked card by means of the vision subsystem set according to its target setting which has been determined in the vision subsystem setting process so as to generate a card inspection result; and determining a target setting of the marking subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the card inspection result with a predetermined marking inspection criterion so that the target setting of the marking subsystem defines a target setting of the marking subsystem which, relative to the actual setting, is optimized with respect to the at least one marking inspection criterion, for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system; and (c) a reconciliation process in order to automatically reconcile the coordinate systems which are used respectively by the vision subsystem and the marking subsystem. (a) a vision subsystem setting process for automatically determining an optimized target setting of the vision subsystem, comprising: inspecting a reference element by means of the vision subsystem and generating an inspection result, wherein the vision subsystem has a currently set actual setting; and determining a target setting of the vision subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the inspection result with a reference inspection criterion in such a way that the target setting defines a target setting of the vision subsystem for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system, which target setting of the vision subsystem, with respect to the reference inspection criterion, is optimized relative to the actual setting; inspecting a reference element by means of the vision subsystem and generating an inspection result, wherein the vision subsystem has a currently set actual setting; and determining a target setting of the vision subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the inspection result with a reference inspection criterion in such a way that the target setting defines a target setting of the vision subsystem for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system, which target setting of the vision subsystem, with respect to the reference inspection criterion, is optimized relative to the actual setting; (b) a subsequent marking subsystem setting process for automatically determining an optimized target setting of the marking subsystem, comprising: marking a card by means of the marking subsystem so as to form a predetermined reference marking, wherein the marking subsystem is currently set to an actual setting; inspecting the marked card by means of the vision subsystem set according to its target setting which has been determined in the vision subsystem setting process so as to generate a card inspection result; and determining a target setting of the marking subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the card inspection result with a predetermined marking inspection criterion so that the target setting of the marking subsystem defines a target setting of the marking subsystem which, relative to the actual setting, is optimized with respect to the at least one marking inspection criterion, for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system; and marking a card by means of the marking subsystem so as to form a predetermined reference marking, wherein the marking subsystem is currently set to an actual setting; inspecting the marked card by means of the vision subsystem set according to its target setting which has been determined in the vision subsystem setting process so as to generate a card inspection result; and determining a target setting of the marking subsystem in dependence upon a comparison of the card inspection result with a predetermined marking inspection criterion so that the target setting of the marking subsystem defines a target setting of the marking subsystem which, relative to the actual setting, is optimized with respect to the at least one marking inspection criterion, for a subsequent operative marking mode of operation of the card marking system; and (c) a reconciliation process in order to automatically reconcile the coordinate systems which are used respectively by the vision subsystem and the marking subsystem.