Card Security Features

Secure photo identification is the first line of security.

A photo identification system is easy to implement and easy to use. ID badges allow you to visually match photos to faces. Some people try to break that security by altering or copying stolen IDs or counterfeiting IDs to be used for illicit entrance. By adding security features to the card you can combat these attempts.

How much security you need and which features you choose will determine which ID card printer system you'll choose. We've provided a brief description of each feature.

Oversized Cards

An oversized card is larger than the standard credit card size card that most people carry. Oversized cards come in two sizes, CR-90 (3.63" x 2.37") and CR-100 (3.88" x 2.63").

Oversize cards are great for at-a-glance visual verification where you don't have dedicated checkpoints. They are easy to recognize and are an excellent first line of defense in high-security applications where fast, at-a-glance visual recognition is vital, such as airports, conventions, sporting events, government buildings and press conferences.

Color printing

Printing color ID cards can make a badge design difficult to reproduce. ID
card printers use a three primary color dye sublimation process which allows for
millions of colors to be printed. You can print your corporate colors or any
combination of colors which will make your card identifiable to security as
well as other employees.

High-definition color

HDC is the same as the retransfer printing process. Since the image is first printed to a film and then applied to the card there is no dye migration and the image and text remain clear. The standard resolution of a dye sub printer is 300 dpi and a high-definition printer is capable of 600 dpi resolution.

Also, during the printing process, the retransfer film is heat and pressure fused to a PVC card. Due to this process, it is impossible to remove or alter the film without destroying the card itself.

Card encoding

Today's cards now have a "memory" that can store information that can be verified by a card reader. This gives the card a much higher degree of security because it can store vast amounts of information, such as biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans and signature dynamics) that enable identity authentication and/or verification. Encoding also makes the card extremely tamper-resistant and enables access control and usage tracking (e.g., physical assets and data).

Overlays and overlay varnish

An overlay is a protective film that is applied after the color printing
process. Its primary function is to keep the dye from evaporating out of the
card. The overlay can be manipulated to have UV or frosted images in it
which are visable only under a UV light. Look at your credit card under a UV light and you will see the the overlay.

Overlaminates

Overlaminates are a tough vinyl coating applied to a card with heat and pressure after the color printing is applied. This makes the the card extremely tough and resistant to wear. It is also impossible to remove the overlaminate without destroying the card. The overlaminate also can contain other security measures such as holograms and UV printing.

Holograms

Holograms are 3D images imprinted into an overlay or overlaminate. Even with today's advanced color copiers and scanners, holograms can't be copied. The counterfeiters only option would be to re-create the hologram. The amateur counterfeiter would have neither the skill nor the financial resources to invest in creating quality replicas of original holograms. It is extremely difficult and cost prohibitive to re-create custom holograms.

Printing in the overlay

Several printers allow you to automatically print a custom transparent security image - a logo, symbol or text - directly onto your cards. Once printed, this image appears only when the card is viewed under ultraviolet (black) lighting or when viewed at an angle under normal lighting. This image enhances the uniqueness of every card you produce and may help you detect counterfeited cards.

Microprinting on preprinted cards

Text less than 15 mil high is unreadable without magnification. It is also beyond the capabilities of current copiers and scanners. Microprinting is generally done on pre-printed cards but can be done on some ID card printers.

"Invisible" UV ink

UV ink is only visible under UV or red laser light. It can't be copied by visible light color copiers. UV ink is often incorporated into security overlays.

Physical security of your ID printer is the first line of defense against unauthorized ID cards.

Card security means nothing if someone can sit down and
print unauthorized badges. Many of the ID card printers have external
security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized use. Listed below are the
external security features which are available. Don't forget that the entire
printer can be stolen, so be responsible and lock it up.

Lockable Card Hopper

By locking the input and output hoppers on a printer you can prevent people from stealing printed cards or unprinted cards with your unique security features.

PINs and smart cards

A number of printers incorporate a security code that must be entered before a printer will operate. Some use a keypad and require a PIN while others use a smart card that must be inserted into the machine.