Glossary of Terms

Access Control Cards
Plastic cards used to gain access to premises, usually associated with magnetic stripe and proximity cards.

Bar Code
An array of machine-readable rectangular bars and spaces arranged in a specific way defined in international standards to represent letters, numbers and other human-readable symbols.

Biometrics
Biometrics utilize "something you are" to authenticate identification. This might include fingerprints, retina pattern, iris, hand geometry, vein patterns, voice password or signature dynamics. Biometrics can be used with a smart card to authenticate the user. The user's biometric information is stored on a smart card, the card is placed in a reader and a biometric scanner reads the information to match it against that on the card. This is a fast, accurate and highly secure form of user authentication.

Coercivity
A technical term used to designate how strong a magnetic field must be to affect data encoded on a magnetic stripe. Coercivity is measured in Oersteds (Oe). Coercivity is the measure of how difficult it is to encode information in a magnetic stripe.

Color Matching
Several color matching options are included with Card Printer/Encoders. These options are built directly into the printer driver so they are easily selected. Colors print with more clarity, detail and accuracy.

Contact Smart Card Encoder
The contact smart card encoder connects the ISO contact pins mounted on the e-card docking station to a Gemplus GemCore 410 smart card coupler mounted inside the printer. The GemCore 410's digital I/O is converted to a RS-232 signal which is accessible to application programs through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labeled "Smart Card."

Contactless Smart Card Encoder
The contactless smart card encoder connects an antenna mounted on the e-card docking station to a Gemplus GemEasyLink 680SL coupler mounted inside the printer/encoder. Application programs can access Mifare® contactless cards via a RS-232 signal through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labeled "Mifare/Contactless."

Digital Imaging
Scanning or otherwise capturing images which may be subsequently edited, filed, displayed or printed on a plastic card.

Direct-to-Card (DTC) Printing
The Direct-to-card printing process prints digital images directly onto any plastic card with a smooth, clean, glossy PVC surface.

Dye Sublimation
Dye sublimation is the print process Card Printer/Encoders use to print smooth, continuous-tone, photo-quality images. This process uses a dye-based ribbon roll that is divided into a series of color panels. The color panels are grouped in a repeating series of three separate colors along the length of the ribbon: yellow, magenta and cyan (YMC). As the ribbon and card pass simultaneously beneath the printhead, hundreds of thermal elements heat the dyes on the ribbon. Once the dyes are heated, they vaporize and diffuse into the surface of the card. Varying the heat intensity of each thermal element within the printhead makes it possible for each transferred dot of color to vary saturation. This blends one color into the next. The result is continuous-tone, photo-realistic color images.

Docking Station
ID Card printers provide an optional e-card docking station on select models that can be ordered with encoders for one, two or three different types of e-cards. These printer/encoders allow application software to read and/or store information in the memory of e-cards. The optional encoders provide everything needed for an application program to communicate with a specific type e-card through a standard RS-232 interface. The Fargo e-card docking station comes standard with the read/write pins (as defined by ISO) needed to communicate with contact smart cards. The e-card docking station also can be ordered with a magnetic stripe encoder for either an ISO magnetic stripe that supports dual high/low coercivity tracks 1, 2 and 3 or a JIS II magnetic stripe.

Encoding
The process of electronically "writing" information on magnetic stripes or smart card chips.

E-card Encoder
Select Card Printer/Encoders support reading and/or storing information in up to three different types of e-cards: ISO 7816 contact smart cards, Mifare® contactless smart cards and HID proximity cards.

Edge-to-Edge
Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printer/encoders with edge-to-edge printing capability can print just to the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with virtually no border.

HiCo
Abbreviation for High Coercivity. HiCo magnetic stripes provide the highest level of immunity to damage by stray magnetic fields. They are more difficult to encode than LoCo magnetic stripes because the encoding requires more power. HiCo magnetic stripe cards are slightly more expensive for this reason.

High-Volume Printing
Fast, efficient printing for producing large quantities of cards with minimal down time for supplies loading or maintenance.

High Definition Printing™ (HDP™)
The high-definition printing process prints full-color images onto clear HDP transfer film. The HDP film is then fused to the card through heat and pressure via a heated roller. This revolutionary technology enhances card durability and consistently produces the best card color available - even on tough-to-print matte-finished cards, proximity cards and smart cards.

High-Speed Printing
Card Printer/Encoders are among the fastest desktop card printer/encoders in the industry. High-speed printing allows for more efficient card production - saving time, money and resources.

Hologram
A unique photographic printing that provides a three-dimensional effect on a flat surface. Holograms cannot be easily copied and are used for security and aesthetic purposes on cards.

Image Capture System
A hardware and software system used to obtain and save personal data and cardholder photographic images.

ISO Magnetic Stripe Encoder
International Standards Organization specification for magnetic stripe encoding. The encoder supports dual high/low coercivity and tracks 1, 2 and 3.

JIS II Magnetic Stripe Encoder
Japanese Industrial Standard for magnetic stripe encoding; published and translated into English by Japan Standards Association.

Lamination
The process of combining lamination material and core material using time, heat and pressure. Laminate patches used in card printers come on rolls, with and without carriers/liners.

LCD Display
The LCD - or Liquid Crystal Display - shows the current status of the printer and changes according to the printer's current mode of operation. LCD communicates an error with text, which is easier to interpret than LED lights.

Loaner or Hotswap If your printer is experiencing technical difficulties or is broken the loaner(hotswap) option allows you to send in your broken printer and you will receive a functional printer from us in the mail while the broken printer is under repair.

Lockable Hopper
Some Card Printer/Encoders provide a lockable card hopper door. This lock is intended to help prevent theft of your blank card stock. This feature is especially helpful if using valuable card stock such as preprinted cards, smart cards or cards with built-in security features such as holograms.

LoCo
Abbreviation for Low Coercivity. Easier to encode and slightly less expensive than HiCo magnetic stripe cards.

Machine-Readable
A code or characters that can be read by machines.

Magnetic (“Mag”) Stripe
Mag stripe refers to the black or brown magnetic stripe on a card. The stripe is made of magnetic particles of resin. The resin particle material determines the coercivity of the stripe; the higher the coercivity, the harder it is to encode - and erase - information from the stripe. Magnetic stripes are often used in applications for access control, time and attendance, lunch programs, library cards and more.

Memory Card
A type of smart card. Also known as a synchronous card, it features 256 bit or 32 byte memory and is suitable for use as a token card or identification card.

Output Stacker
The output stacker stores printed cards in a first-in/first-out order. This feature makes it easy to keep printed cards in a specific order for faster issuance or to print serialized cards.

Oversized Cards
Oversized cards are used for more efficient visual identification and are available in many nonstandard sizes. The most popular sizes are CR-90 (3.63" x 2.37"/92 mm x 60 mm) and CR-100 (3.88" x 2.63"/98.5 mm x 67 mm).

Overlaminate
Protective clear or holographic material designed to offer advanced card security and durability. Two types are available from Fargo: Thermal Transfer Overlaminate is a .25 mil thick material that enhances card security and durability. PolyGuard Overlaminate is available in a 1 mil and .6 mil thick material and provides extraordinary protection for applications that require highly durable cards.

Overlay Panel
The clear overlay panel (O) is provided on dye sublimation print ribbons. This panel is automatically applied to printed cards and helps prevent images from premature wear or UV fading. All dye sublimation printed images must have either this overlay panel or an overlaminate applied to protect them.

Overlay Varnish
A thin transparent layer applied (using the print head) to cards to resist scratching and fading from exposure to UV radiation.

Over-the-Edge
Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printer/encoders with over-the-edge printing capability can print past the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with absolutely no border.

PolyGuard™
A card overlaminate available in 1 mil and .6 mil thicknesses that provides extraordinary card protection; ideal for harsh or more secure environments. Available as clear or with embedded holographic-type security images.

Proximity (“Prox”) Card
Proximity cards allow access and tracking utilizing contactless technology (usually by communicating through a built-in antenna).

Prox Card Encoder
The prox card encoder uses a HID ProxPoint® Plus reader mounted on the e-card docking station inside the printer/encoder. The ProxPoint is a "read only" device producing a Wiegand signal that is converted to RS-232 using a Cypress Computer Systems CVT-2232. Application programs can read information from HID prox cards via a RS-232 signal through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labeled "Prox."

Resin Thermal Transfer
Resin thermal transfer is the process used to print sharp black text and crisp bar codes that can be read by both infrared and visible-light bar code scanners. It is also the process used to print ultra-fast, economical one-color cards. Like dye sublimation, this process uses a thermal printhead to transfer color from the ribbon roll to the card. The difference, however, is that solid dots of color are transferred in the form of a resin-based ink which fuses to the surface of the card when heated. This produces very durable, single-color images.

Smart Card
Smart cards have an embedded computer circuit that contains either a memory chip or a microprocessor chip. There are several types of smart cards: Memory, Contact, Contactless, Hybrid (Twin), Combi (Dual Interface), Proximity and Vicinity.

SmartGuard™
SmartGuard is a printer security option that uses a custom access card and a built-in reader to restrict printer access. With this feature, only those with a valid access card can print cards. This makes both your printed cards and your overall system more secure.

SmartShield™
This option allows the printer/encoder to print custom, reflective security images on the card that fluoresce under a black or UV light source.

Standard Cards
The standard card size is CR-80. CR-80 dimensions are 3.375" x 2.125" (85.6 mm x 54 mm).

Thermal Printing
The process of creating an image on a plastic card using a heated printhead.

Thermal Transfer Overlaminate
A card overlaminate available in a .25 mil thickness that increases card security and durability; often used for moderate durability applications or when additional security (such as holographic images) are needed.

Resolution
Dimension of the smallest element of an image that can be printed. Usually stated as dots per inch (dpi).

YMC
Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. YMCKO is the same as YMC plus black (K) and clear protective overcoat (O).