What is a PVC ID card printer?

What is a PVC ID Card Printer?

A PVC card printer is just another term for an ID card printer. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a popular synonym for plastic and while it most immediately brings pipes and construction to mind, PVC is a durable plastic that is also good for creating and printing ID cards. A PVC card printer, therefore, can refer to any type of photo ID maker.

How do PVC Card Printers Work?

PVC plastic card printers can use any number of methods to transfer a design on to an ID card. Some of the most common techniques to print on PVC cards include dye sublimation and reverse transfer.

Dye Sublimation

It can be said that the most popular method of printing ID cards is color sublimation printing, which has panels of three main colors (yellow, turquoise and magenta) along its entire length.

As the card is printing, a print head with heated thermal elements passes over the ribbon and evaporates the ink on the ribbon where appropriate, and transfers it to the PVC card.

Dye sublimation is a term commonly used with color PVC card printers – for a black and white PVC card printer, this process is called resin thermal transfer.

Reverse Transfer

One of the more secure forms of plastic card printing is called reverse transfer. With reverse transfer printing, the card itself isn’t printed, but instead a thin mylar or film overlay is printed with the reverse image of the card. After printing, the film is carefully applied to the PVC card.

Reverse transfer printing is popular for smart cards and proximity/RFID cards because these cards are oddly shaped (not flat like normal PVC cards) and running them through a normal dye sublimation printer can cause a warped or bleeding image.

The film from reverse transfer printing makes it easy to print secure ID cards without having to worry about compromising image quality.

The film overlay on the card also makes it nearly impossible to alter or damage an ID card. Any attempt at alteration (like scratching out a number or trying to change a name) would be blatantly obvious.

Lamination & Holographs

Reverse transfer printing is similar to Holographic and Lamination printing, where a holographic overlay (laminate film) is placed over the card at the end of the printing process in order to protect the card from being tampered with. Add more security to your PVC cards by designing a custom holographic image unique to your organization.

How do ID printers work?

ID card printer technology works by running a heater printhead over a ribbon, which transfers the colors to your card to make your design. With different print technologies and ribbons, you can make almost any design.

What is a PVC ID card?

A PVC (polyvinyl chloride) ID card is a typical PVC card. These cards are used for identification, credit/debit cards, membership cards, access cards, and more.

There are many ways to make an ID card, but in this tutorial, we’re only going to talk about how to make a PVC ID card using an Inkjet Printer.

Do you have any question? Please let us know.