Today, there is a so-called free sale. "white" plastic, i.e. the required size plastic with an adhesive magnetic stripe. By the way, it is not necessarily white, there are any colors, this allows you to save on ink for the printer. To make a full-fledged card out of this "white" plastic, you need to perform a number of operations using special equipment. This whole process will be described below.
It all starts with printing images on a card, for small runs (up to 1000 pieces), the method of sublimation printing is used. To get a high-quality image, you need a special printer for printing on plastic cards. When choosing a printer, you should carefully study its characteristics. Printers are classified into the following groups:
Single-sided and double-sided, on two-sided you can print both sides at once, this can be done on single-sided, only you have to print on one card 2 times.
Most printers have built-in or optional (i.e. with the ability to purchase and add the required unit) additional functions, namely:
Laminator. After printing, it is necessary to cover the image with a special protective film, this process is called lamination.
Encoder. Magnetic stripe dump recorder.
Embosser. A device for extruding numbers and letters on plastic.
Tipper. Device for staining embossed symbols.
A device for pasting a hologram and signature strip.
To make a full-fledged card, you need to perform all of the following operations:
Printing images on both sides of the card.
Lamination
Embossing or embossing (as you like).
Tipping
Paste a hologram and a signature strip.
Write information on a magnetic tape (can be done at any stage of production)
When choosing equipment you it is necessary to initially decide what volume of production you will have.
Now, in detail about choosing a printer.
Regardless of the volume and other things, to obtain high-quality images you need the following printer characteristics:
Resolution at least 300dpi
Borderless printing
Ability to print on cards with a thickness of 0.75mm
If the printer you have chosen does not match at least one of the listed parameters, then it does not suit you.
Also inquire about the cost of consumables. subsequently, this will be one of the largest expenditures. In addition to the cost, you should also inquire about the availability of these same materials in your region. I advise you to purchase equipment from well-known companies. The leaders in dye-sublimation and thermal transfer printers are Eltron and Fargo. And also later to purchase only original films, buying a replacement cheaply, you lose in quality.
Embosser. Unlike printers, everything is simple and clear here. The quality that you get in the output is absolutely the same for everyone, the only difference is in the price, which depends on the performance. The simplest, manual embosser does not even require a power supply.
Tippers. There is also nothing complicated here, the only thing that needs to be checked is the cost and availability of foil for it.
Laminators. I advise you to buy a printer or embosser with a built-in laminator, because separately, this device is more expensive, and more time will have to be spent on making one card.
Encoders. If you buy a complete set of equipment, then just check either your printer or embosser is equipped with this device. The only requirement for it is to record high and low coercivity maps. I don't know exactly how to translate this into Russian, probably low and high magnetization. If your encoder can write both types, then any card will work for you. An important note about tracks. Don't chase an encoder that records all three tracks. The third track is not read by almost any POS terminal and even more so by ATMs. You may need it only if you are going to issue credit cards specialized for large chain stores such as Marks and Spencer or Bali, and giving their owners certain discounts.
It all starts with printing images on a card, for small runs (up to 1000 pieces), the method of sublimation printing is used. To get a high-quality image, you need a special printer for printing on plastic cards. When choosing a printer, you should carefully study its characteristics. Printers are classified into the following groups:
Single-sided and double-sided, on two-sided you can print both sides at once, this can be done on single-sided, only you have to print on one card 2 times.
Most printers have built-in or optional (i.e. with the ability to purchase and add the required unit) additional functions, namely:
Laminator. After printing, it is necessary to cover the image with a special protective film, this process is called lamination.
Encoder. Magnetic stripe dump recorder.
Embosser. A device for extruding numbers and letters on plastic.
Tipper. Device for staining embossed symbols.
A device for pasting a hologram and signature strip.
To make a full-fledged card, you need to perform all of the following operations:
Printing images on both sides of the card.
Lamination
Embossing or embossing (as you like).
Tipping
Paste a hologram and a signature strip.
Write information on a magnetic tape (can be done at any stage of production)
When choosing equipment you it is necessary to initially decide what volume of production you will have.
Now, in detail about choosing a printer.
Regardless of the volume and other things, to obtain high-quality images you need the following printer characteristics:
Resolution at least 300dpi
Borderless printing
Ability to print on cards with a thickness of 0.75mm
If the printer you have chosen does not match at least one of the listed parameters, then it does not suit you.
Also inquire about the cost of consumables. subsequently, this will be one of the largest expenditures. In addition to the cost, you should also inquire about the availability of these same materials in your region. I advise you to purchase equipment from well-known companies. The leaders in dye-sublimation and thermal transfer printers are Eltron and Fargo. And also later to purchase only original films, buying a replacement cheaply, you lose in quality.
Embosser. Unlike printers, everything is simple and clear here. The quality that you get in the output is absolutely the same for everyone, the only difference is in the price, which depends on the performance. The simplest, manual embosser does not even require a power supply.
Tippers. There is also nothing complicated here, the only thing that needs to be checked is the cost and availability of foil for it.
Laminators. I advise you to buy a printer or embosser with a built-in laminator, because separately, this device is more expensive, and more time will have to be spent on making one card.
Encoders. If you buy a complete set of equipment, then just check either your printer or embosser is equipped with this device. The only requirement for it is to record high and low coercivity maps. I don't know exactly how to translate this into Russian, probably low and high magnetization. If your encoder can write both types, then any card will work for you. An important note about tracks. Don't chase an encoder that records all three tracks. The third track is not read by almost any POS terminal and even more so by ATMs. You may need it only if you are going to issue credit cards specialized for large chain stores such as Marks and Spencer or Bali, and giving their owners certain discounts.
