|
Six Steps to Custom Holographic Cards
1. Consider your card security features
2. Consider additional card features
3. Consider custom personalization
(Choose this if we will be desigining your cards)
4. Consider the card formulation type
5. Consider the QTY desired (Min order on some features is 1000)
6. Please contact us by phone at 866-773-0188 or by our contact us form and let us know you are interested in a quote on custom holographic cards.
We will contact you for your artwork, pricing and other configurations.
Card Security Features
Guilloche Pattern: By definition: an architectural decoration formed by two intersecting wavy bands. P3 stocks 17 generic patterns for you to choose from if designing a pattern is not a possibility. These fine intersecting line patterns cannot be duplicated via thermo or dye-sub, ink jet, or laser printers. This does not need any special lights or readers to verify. Verification is as simple as using a magnifying glass to confirm design. This application is appropriate as a low-cost/high security feature. These cards are 100% video grade.
Watermark Technology: Exciting, unique technology that can be utilized when higher security is desired/needed for applications such as correctional facilities, amusement parks, government or high security facilities, single access door/areas or where a guard or sentry looks at all credentials, driver's license, or voter registration cards. Simply moving the card toward a light-source will reveal the custom watermark. These cards are 100% video grade. The entire card real-estate is your's to use via dye-sub or thermo transfer.
Invisible Ink: Ultra-violet ink can be pre-printed into your card stock. The ink is covert and can be viewed only under a black light source. This application is appropriate as a low-cost security feature where there is an individual that examines the authenticity of cards. Current applications are amusement parks, military bases, airports, night clubs, and memberships. The UV ink is invisible without the black light source, thus harder to duplicate. These cards are 100% video grade.
Embedded Holograms: DO NOT be confused with surface holograms that can ruin print-heads and scratch or wear in usage. Embedded holograms are appropriate for any application where forgery can be or is a problem. Current applications are schools or universities, consulates, hospitals, ski lodges, governmental agencies or company I.D.'s, police departments, and organizations or membership clubs. The depth in the hologram, be it diffraction foil or 2D/3D cannot be duplicated via desk-top copying or imaging software. Invest in your identification, company/corporate security, yearly events/promotions, or membership and high-security functions. These cards are 100% video grade. The entire card real-estate is your's to use via dye-sub or thermo transfer.
Mico-Fine Printing: Micro-fine printing is small registered type in 2-4 pt. size. The size and registration will appear as a line or an element of artwork until viewed under a magnifying glass. This security feature cannot be duplicated via thermo or dye-sub, ink jet, or laser printers. This does not need any special lights or readers to be seen. Micro-fine printing is recommended for all cards. For example, the California driver's license incorporates micro-fine printing on top of the word "DMV". It really is easy to incorporate into existing artwork! These cards are 100% video grade.
DNA Matrix: The DNA Matrix is imbedded into a security ink that is applied directly to the card stock, allowing positive identification that is traceable back to the card manufacturer. This application is currently in use in the apparel industry (woven labels), for fine art and high-end celebrity signed sports memorabilia. Authenticity verification occurs with special hand-held readers that show the DNA mixed with optical labels. This application is very secure and appropriate for government agencies, driver's licenses, consulate cards, voter registration cards, and other high-security environments.
Additional Card Features
Magnetic Stripe Cards
P3 offers many different sizes, coercivity & output levels of magnetic stripes. The standard in the industry for years used to be a low coercivity (300 oerstead) level magnetic stripe with a 100% output level.The problem with this stripe was that it was adversely affected by common household magnets or magnetic fields. The encoding (information on the magnetic stripe) could be moved and jumbled simply by passing it near a magnet or a stronger magnetic stripe on another card. This moving around of the information meant that the information on the stripe no longer could be read. This was commonly referred to as the stripe being de-magnatized. Though this term was inaccurate, it came to mean that the stripe no longer worked in the readers or terminals it for which it was designed.
High coercivity magnetic striping was invented to alleviate this problem. The new magnetic striped cards are a 2, 750 oerstead with 100% output and because it uses stronger magnetic particles in its make up, common household magnets or standard magnetic fields do not effect it.
P3 offers both types of magnetic stripes and the very high output, high coercivity magnetic stripes commonly used on 1/8 wide magnetic stripes. Sizes from 1/8 to 7/16 wide are kept in stock to facilitate quick deliveries. P3 produces mag stripes that are flush mounted to achieve maximum wear and usability in direct to card printers.
Signature Panel Cards
A signature panel is the small rectangular box on your plastic card where you sign your name. Signature panels can be clear, white, or tinted to almost any color in the rainbow. Signature panels are broken down into 2 different types.
Silk screen panels are the only type that can be done on thin plastic cards. By utilizing a silk screen, we can make the panel any size or shape you desire. We can even give you multiple signature strips on the same side of the card, for no extra cost. Silk screen signature strips are also the only kind of panel recommended for cards that will be going through "direct to card printers." Silk-screened signature panels are thinner than hot stamped panels so they lay flatter in the card hoppers and because they are thinner they tend to not offset onto the card beneath it.
Hot stamp panel look identical to silk screened ones except they are thicker. They are usually applied on special hot stamping equipment; which causes rails to feed the cards into the printing station. These rails are made to accommodate credit card size and thickness pieces only. If a custom shape is needed a metal die is made in that shape. These dies are then put into the machine, heated up and special white matte foil is processed. This matte foil is pressed against the heated die and the shape of the die is ten transferred onto the card, pressing the matte white foil onto the card.
Custom Personalization
Personalization
P3 offers many different types of personalization. We can thermo print or dye sublimate variable information or photographs onto PVC cards using direct to card printers.
We can laser print on special plastic and laminate the laser printing for protection. We can emboss cards with raised lettering and indent on plastic cards. Cards can also be coated with a special matte finish so high speed imprinters can print on certain areas. We can also ink jet variable data from a file.
Full Bleed
Bleeds are an additional cost to any printing job. A bleed is when the ink goes off the edge of the printed piece. It can be a thin line going from one side of the card to the other or a white card that is flooded with blue ink to make the card look blue. As long as ink goes off the card, this is considered a bleed. Bleeds cost more because the only place the clear laminate ( used in laminating the cards ) sticks in lamination is to the white plastic and does not stick to ink. If ink goes off the edge of the piece, this breaks the seal between the clear and white plastic and the clear laminate will peel off the card.
To make the clear plastic stick to the ink we must use a clear laminate with a heat activated adhesive on it. This way the ink sticks to the white plastic and the clear laminate, while the adhesive sticks to the ink. All pieces will now bond together when they are cut. The additional cost of this adhesive on the clear laminate is why there is an extra cost for a bleed.
Card Formulation Types
DS Cards
| Cards are 100% PVC, with a pristine "print quality" surface on both sides. Cards are inspected and shrink wrapped in 100's. This 100% PVC formulated card is an economic, basic card utilized in most Dye-sub card printers. |
|
|
|
|
Great for everyday use, for example, in visitor badges, membership cards, VIP passes, and convention badges. DS cards, like all 100% PVC cards are best used in short term applications.
DS 2 Cards
|
This formulation is an upgrade to the standard PVC card. This is one piece of P3's proprietary "Softouch" material in the center of the card to provide greater resistance to cracking or chipping. A composite formulation card, utilizing Softouch material which resists cracking and is suitable for environments requiring longer lasting cards. DS2 's are only available from P3 or its dealer network.
|
|
|
|
|
Longer life than DS cards. Normally used for cards that need a one-two year life, such as name badges, photo I.D. cards, employee badges, membership cards, etc.
C 4 Cards
One of P3?s most durable formulations has 40% polyester, plus 60% PVC. This 40/60 formulation enables this card to be used with the in-line or aftermarket lamination processes.
| This 40% polyester formulation was developed to resist warping when utilized in one-sided laminators. It?s the perfect blend of PVC and polyester to add durability and extended card life. |
|
|
|
|
Used most commonly for photo I.D. cards and employee, college and university badges, or any other use where longer card life is needed. May be laminated.
C 6 Cards
Need durability in a high stress/high usage environment? This 60% polyester/40% PVC formulation is the answer. This type of card can also be used in the in-line laminator.
| This 60% polyester formulation was developed to extend card life in harsh environments. |
|
|
|
|
For utilization when cards require more durability and longer life, such as four year membership cards, driver?s licenses, voter registration cards, etc. May be laminated.
C 8 Cards
This formulation which includes 80% polyester, 20% PVC ensures maximum durability, with maximum ?lay flat? characteristics after laminating.
| This 80% polyester formulation is perfect for the environment which demands the longest life and/or extreme usage. |
|
|
|
|
Maximum durability formulation which may be used for high stress/high usage environments, such as airports security cards, driver?s licenses, military I.D.?s and cards that must last a long time. May be laminated.
XP 1 Cards
This softer formulation, 20% polyester, 66% Softouch, and 14% PVC, provides maximum durability in high use environments.
| Maximum durability is achieved by using 66% Softouch material in this formulation. This softer material has the highest resistance to cracking and warping. The XP1, like the DS2, is manufactured at P3 and available through its dealer network. |
|
|
|
|
Softer card than other formulations, but still achieves a high level of durability and extensive card life. Mostly used in college, university, ski lodges, airports, and driver's license applications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
