To begin with, there is a card:
There are a number of international standards that define all properties of plastic cards, ranging from their size, physical properties of plastic (surface quality, heat resistance, flammability, resistance to bending and twisting, electromagnetic compatibility, resistance to ultraviolet and X-rays, electrostatic properties) and ending with the content of information posted on the map.
The plastic card has the following dimensions: width - 85.595 ± 0.125 mm;
height - 53.975 ± 0.055 mm; thickness - 0.76 ± 0.08 mm; the radius of the circle in the corners is 3.18 mm, which corresponds to the internationally accepted ISO (International Standardization Organization) standards.
International standards
ISO-7810 Identity Cards - Physical Characteristics;
ISO-7811 Identity Cards - Recording Methods;
ISO-7812 "Identification cards - numbering system and registration procedure for issuer identifiers";
ISO-7813 Identity Cards - Cards for Financial Transactions;
ISO-4909 Bank Cards - Content of the third track of the magnetic stripe;
ISO-7816 "Identity cards - IC cards with contacts".
Printing technologies:
There are several technologies for applying images to a plastic card:
- sublimation printing or thermal printing
- offset printing;
- silk-screen printing;
- digital printing:
The combination of these printing methods makes it possible to produce plastic cards for every taste.
Sublimation printing (thermal printing) One of the ways to personalize cards, in which information is applied to plastic using special printers (thermal transfer or dye sublimation printers). The main advantage of this technology for printing plastic cards is: - photorealistic quality of the resulting images; - printing of small editions of cards; - the ability to personalize each card. The disadvantages include the high cost of printing, low resolution of text printing, 300 dpi lines.
In the case when the task is to print large runs of cards with high quality and low cost, this technology gives way to offset printing technology.
Offset printing
Unlike "classic paper" offset printing, plastic offset printing has a number of features. For printing on plastics, UV inks are used, specially designed for application on a non-absorbent substrate. To dry the applied paint, special drying chambers with ultraviolet light are used. At the stage of printing the image, various security elements can be applied to the card: micro font; non-copied raster from lines of different thickness; images visible in ultraviolet light; images with changing color depending on the angle of view, for example, a dove in Visa that is visible in UK light.
Silk screen printing
Typically used for simple line art printing, as well as for applying spot background fills. Gold and silver backgrounds in VISA and MasterCard are applied exclusively with silk-screen printing, because only in this way is it possible to achieve a crystal luster. Unlike offset (very finely dispersed metal powder is used), silk-screened gold and silver paints are called granular.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is done using special full color laser printers. We're not particularly interested.
Hot stamping
One of the polygraphic methods of applying images to the surface of the card. Unlike offset and silk-screen printing, embossing is done already on the finished (laminated) card. The main advantage of hot stamping is the ability to completely transfer metallic luster (gold, silver, etc.). In this technology, an imprint from a special matrix (cliche) is transferred to the surface of the card through a metallized foil by hot stamping.
Laser engraving
So far I have no information about this method of printing (engraving), except that, for example, in an apartment without a hood, all workers with such a laser printer will very quickly glue the fins. And it will be great if with links to equipment.
Further on the topic:
Varnishing
One of the ways to protect the surface of a plastic card from abrasion. As a rule, special UV varnishes are used for varnishing. Advantages: neat appearance, possibility of glossy and matte images, low price and fast production. Disadvantages: limited resistance to abrasion, fewer opportunities for subsequent personalization.
Lamination
One way to protect the surface of a plastic card from abrasion is with a clear plastic layer. Lamination technology is now used for most of the plastic cards produced, which are subject to increased requirements for durability.
After both sides of the card have been printed, a bag is assembled in which the sealed white plastic base is covered with a clear plastic sheet (often called a laminate or overlay) on both the front and back sides. These transparent plastic layers protect the printing design, and also allow you to apply additional elements to the card: a magnetic stripe, a signature panel, thermal embossing (including a hologram), etc.
For example, a magnetic stripe is mounted on clear plastic prior to collecting the laminating bag. Only this technology makes it possible to produce plastic cards with a magnetic stripe, completely "recessed" into the plane of the card, which is extremely necessary for long-term and reliable use in ATMs and similar devices, where the information recorded on the magnetic stripe is read.
The lamination process is carried out in a special heat-pressing machine, where, under the influence of temperature and pressure, the assembled package of individual plastic sheets is converted into a monolithic blank. Then, with the help of a contour die, standard size cards are cut from this blank. I will say that it is not a simple process.
Personalization
Application of individual information on a plastic card, for example, about its holder, as well as numbers, date of issue, expiration date, etc. By sublimation printing, inkjet printing, embossing, indent printing, laser engraving, digital printing.
Embossing
One of the ways to personalize plastic cards, when symbols or numbers are embossed on the plastic card. Usually, after this operation, the tops of the embossed characters are covered with foil (gold, silver) for better readability. This operation is called topping.
Indent seal
One of the ways to personalize plastic cards, in which various symbols are printed on the finished plastic card. A distinctive feature of this technology from embossing is that the symbols on the map do not have a relief, that is, the symbols are as if engraved and do not protrude above the surface of the map, for example, Visa has an electron.
The phrase “ID print” also means the printing of four numbers on the front of the card and on the signature strip.
Magnetic stripe
Storage medium with limited memory space. The magnetic stripe has three tracks for recording information. Each track can be marked with a sequence of numbers and letters (the owner's name, card number, expiration date, etc.). The magnetic stripe differs in its coercive properties (high coercivity and low coercivity). Recording and reading off the magnetic strip is performed using special devices. For standard readers, the magnetic stripe is 12.7mm (0.5 inch) wide and 4mm from the edge of the card.
Signature strip
A special layer applied to the surface of the card and allows you to make inscriptions with a ballpoint (etc.) pen. It is usually located on the back of the card in the form of a rectangle 80x9mm (VISA standard) under the magnetic stripe, although the shape and position can be varied. Signature panels are screen-printed, offset, and hot-stamped. When I try to erase the signature, the VOID inscriptions appear on the Visa, I don’t know the rest of the cards.
Dump aka track
A copy of the magnetic strip of the card, that is, information about the card number, expiry, and other information about the cardholder and the bank.
It looks like this:
Track 1: B4XXXXXXXXXXXXX ^ PUPKIN / VASEK ^ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Track 2: 4XXXXXXXXXXXXXX = XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Track 3:
There are a number of international standards that define all properties of plastic cards, ranging from their size, physical properties of plastic (surface quality, heat resistance, flammability, resistance to bending and twisting, electromagnetic compatibility, resistance to ultraviolet and X-rays, electrostatic properties) and ending with the content of information posted on the map.
The plastic card has the following dimensions: width - 85.595 ± 0.125 mm;
height - 53.975 ± 0.055 mm; thickness - 0.76 ± 0.08 mm; the radius of the circle in the corners is 3.18 mm, which corresponds to the internationally accepted ISO (International Standardization Organization) standards.
International standards
ISO-7810 Identity Cards - Physical Characteristics;
ISO-7811 Identity Cards - Recording Methods;
ISO-7812 "Identification cards - numbering system and registration procedure for issuer identifiers";
ISO-7813 Identity Cards - Cards for Financial Transactions;
ISO-4909 Bank Cards - Content of the third track of the magnetic stripe;
ISO-7816 "Identity cards - IC cards with contacts".
Printing technologies:
There are several technologies for applying images to a plastic card:
- sublimation printing or thermal printing
- offset printing;
- silk-screen printing;
- digital printing:
The combination of these printing methods makes it possible to produce plastic cards for every taste.
Sublimation printing (thermal printing) One of the ways to personalize cards, in which information is applied to plastic using special printers (thermal transfer or dye sublimation printers). The main advantage of this technology for printing plastic cards is: - photorealistic quality of the resulting images; - printing of small editions of cards; - the ability to personalize each card. The disadvantages include the high cost of printing, low resolution of text printing, 300 dpi lines.
In the case when the task is to print large runs of cards with high quality and low cost, this technology gives way to offset printing technology.
Offset printing
Unlike "classic paper" offset printing, plastic offset printing has a number of features. For printing on plastics, UV inks are used, specially designed for application on a non-absorbent substrate. To dry the applied paint, special drying chambers with ultraviolet light are used. At the stage of printing the image, various security elements can be applied to the card: micro font; non-copied raster from lines of different thickness; images visible in ultraviolet light; images with changing color depending on the angle of view, for example, a dove in Visa that is visible in UK light.
Silk screen printing
Typically used for simple line art printing, as well as for applying spot background fills. Gold and silver backgrounds in VISA and MasterCard are applied exclusively with silk-screen printing, because only in this way is it possible to achieve a crystal luster. Unlike offset (very finely dispersed metal powder is used), silk-screened gold and silver paints are called granular.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is done using special full color laser printers. We're not particularly interested.
Hot stamping
One of the polygraphic methods of applying images to the surface of the card. Unlike offset and silk-screen printing, embossing is done already on the finished (laminated) card. The main advantage of hot stamping is the ability to completely transfer metallic luster (gold, silver, etc.). In this technology, an imprint from a special matrix (cliche) is transferred to the surface of the card through a metallized foil by hot stamping.
Laser engraving
So far I have no information about this method of printing (engraving), except that, for example, in an apartment without a hood, all workers with such a laser printer will very quickly glue the fins. And it will be great if with links to equipment.
Further on the topic:
Varnishing
One of the ways to protect the surface of a plastic card from abrasion. As a rule, special UV varnishes are used for varnishing. Advantages: neat appearance, possibility of glossy and matte images, low price and fast production. Disadvantages: limited resistance to abrasion, fewer opportunities for subsequent personalization.
Lamination
One way to protect the surface of a plastic card from abrasion is with a clear plastic layer. Lamination technology is now used for most of the plastic cards produced, which are subject to increased requirements for durability.
After both sides of the card have been printed, a bag is assembled in which the sealed white plastic base is covered with a clear plastic sheet (often called a laminate or overlay) on both the front and back sides. These transparent plastic layers protect the printing design, and also allow you to apply additional elements to the card: a magnetic stripe, a signature panel, thermal embossing (including a hologram), etc.
For example, a magnetic stripe is mounted on clear plastic prior to collecting the laminating bag. Only this technology makes it possible to produce plastic cards with a magnetic stripe, completely "recessed" into the plane of the card, which is extremely necessary for long-term and reliable use in ATMs and similar devices, where the information recorded on the magnetic stripe is read.
The lamination process is carried out in a special heat-pressing machine, where, under the influence of temperature and pressure, the assembled package of individual plastic sheets is converted into a monolithic blank. Then, with the help of a contour die, standard size cards are cut from this blank. I will say that it is not a simple process.
Personalization
Application of individual information on a plastic card, for example, about its holder, as well as numbers, date of issue, expiration date, etc. By sublimation printing, inkjet printing, embossing, indent printing, laser engraving, digital printing.
Embossing
One of the ways to personalize plastic cards, when symbols or numbers are embossed on the plastic card. Usually, after this operation, the tops of the embossed characters are covered with foil (gold, silver) for better readability. This operation is called topping.
Indent seal
One of the ways to personalize plastic cards, in which various symbols are printed on the finished plastic card. A distinctive feature of this technology from embossing is that the symbols on the map do not have a relief, that is, the symbols are as if engraved and do not protrude above the surface of the map, for example, Visa has an electron.
The phrase “ID print” also means the printing of four numbers on the front of the card and on the signature strip.
Magnetic stripe
Storage medium with limited memory space. The magnetic stripe has three tracks for recording information. Each track can be marked with a sequence of numbers and letters (the owner's name, card number, expiration date, etc.). The magnetic stripe differs in its coercive properties (high coercivity and low coercivity). Recording and reading off the magnetic strip is performed using special devices. For standard readers, the magnetic stripe is 12.7mm (0.5 inch) wide and 4mm from the edge of the card.
Signature strip
A special layer applied to the surface of the card and allows you to make inscriptions with a ballpoint (etc.) pen. It is usually located on the back of the card in the form of a rectangle 80x9mm (VISA standard) under the magnetic stripe, although the shape and position can be varied. Signature panels are screen-printed, offset, and hot-stamped. When I try to erase the signature, the VOID inscriptions appear on the Visa, I don’t know the rest of the cards.
Dump aka track
A copy of the magnetic strip of the card, that is, information about the card number, expiry, and other information about the cardholder and the bank.
It looks like this:
Track 1: B4XXXXXXXXXXXXX ^ PUPKIN / VASEK ^ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Track 2: 4XXXXXXXXXXXXXX = XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Track 3:
