FAQs - frequently asked questions

If we already have the cards can you undertake the personalisation for us?

Yes, whilst we prefer to provide the full service because we only supply the best quality cards, provided the cards are 760 micron PVC we will be able to offer the full range of personalisation techniques. We also offer match mailing.

How much does it cost per card?

Whilst we like to be transparent in our offer, this question is difficult for card production, as with all printing, it benefits from ‘scales of volumes’. Furthermore, cost is necessarily ‘per application’ as the choice of personalisation techniques required is varied, as is the requirement for match mailing.

We issue payment cards can you help with Luhn check digits?

Yes, we have specially written and developed software to enable the Luhn check digits to be calculated as an additional security feature on the payment cards we produce.

What data formats do you accept?

We accept ASCII text files, and most commonly used data files, including those used on competitors systems.

When encoding the magnetic stripe what tracks do you use?

We use all three tracks on both LoCo (low coercivity) and HiCo (high coercivity) magnetic stripes.

What is track 1 on a magnetic stripe?

Track 1 is the first magnetic track on a financial transactional card. It is read-only and recorded at 8.3 bpmm (contents are defined in ISO 7813).

What is track 2 on a magnetic stripe?

Track 2 is the second magnetic track on a financial transactional card. It is read-only and recorded at 3 bpmm (contents are defined in ISO 7813).

What is track 3 on a magnetic stripe?

Track 3 is the third magnetic track on a financial transactional card. If present it is read-write and recorded at 8.3 bpmm (contents are defined in ISO 4909).

Do you have a minimum order?

We can supply as few as 100 off lithographically printed cards. An alternative is to print either full colour or monochrome on a low cost CPS system.

What are your turnaround times?

We pride ourselves on a same day turnaround for personalisation of cards.

So, provided we receive the data by midday, we typically despatch the cards that same day.

Where card supply is required, usual lead times from sign off of artwork for litho print cards is 10 – 14 working days.

What is tipping?

Tipping is the personalisation technique of laying down a contrasting colour, by means of heated foil, onto embossed OCR (optical recognition characters) and simplex characters should they be applied to a card.

What is the minimum and maximum thickness of card that your system will accept?

400 microns is the minimum thickness accepted and the maximum is 760-microns on our extensive range of thermal printers. For embossed cards 760-micron credit card is the minimum that can be used.

During the card design process do you count white as a colour?

No, white is a base colour, so it is not counted as a colour.

What is the difference between lithographic and screen-printing?

Lithographic printing is the most common form of commercial printing. This is based on the principle of that oil and water does not mix. A litho printing plate has non-image areas that absorb water. During printing the plate is kept wet so the greasy ink is rejected by the wet areas and adheres to the image areas.

Screen-printing is a process where ink is transferred to the printing surface by being squeezed through a fine fabric sheet. The screen carries a stencil that defines the image area. This process is most suitable for short runs. This process is used for golds, silvers and solid flood base colours.

What are the minimum and maximum dimensions of the card?

All our systems are designed to use the standard CR80 credit card format. This card is 84 mm long and 54 mm wide.

What is the difference between dye sublimation and resin ribbon?

Dye sublimation ribbon systems utilise the control of heat to enable the correct amount of colour or black to be transferred to the card.

Resin transfer is effected by a binary process.

What does CMYKO stand for?

CMYKO is shorthand for the colours used in Four Colour Process Printing - this is the printers name for full colour printing. The CMYK are the actual colours from which almost any shade of any colour can be reproduced.

Y Yellow, M Magenta (Red), C Cyan (Blue), K Black, O One clear Overlay used in card manufacture.

What is the difference between high and low coercivity?

Coercivity is a measure of the data density retention of a magnetic stripe. The data on HiCo (High Coercivity) stripe cards is more resistant to corruption from normal use and handling.

What are typical HiCo transactions?

Typical HiCo applications are: financial, credit and debit cards. High Coercivity magnetic tape requires more than 2,750 Oersted to encode, change, or erase.

What are typical LoCo transactions?

LoCo (Low coercivity) card applications include driver’s licences, membership and access cards. LoCo magnetic stripe is made from gamma ferric oxide and requires more than 300 Oersted to encode, change, or erase.

Can my equipment be attached to a network?

Yes, all systems can be networked.