Plastic cards used to gain access to premises usually associated with magnetic stripe and proximity cards.

 

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A code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that are designed to be scanned and read into computer memory as identification for the object it labels.e

Biometrics utilize "something you are" to authenticate identification. This might include fingerprints, retina pattern, iris, hand geometry, vein patterns, voice password, or signature dynamics. Biometrics can be used with a smart card to authenticate the user. The user's biometric information is stored on a smart card, the card is placed in a reader, and a biometric scanner reads the information to match it against that on the card. This is a fast, accurate, and highly secure form of user authentication.

The contact smart card encoder connects the ISO contact pins mounted on the e-card docking station to a Gemplus GemCore 410 smart card coupler mounted inside the printer. The GemCore 410's digital I/O is converted to a RS-232 signal which is accessible to application programs through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labelled "Smart Card."

The contactless smart card encoder connects an antenna mounted on the e-card docking station to a Gemplus GemEasyLink 680SL coupler mounted inside the printer/encoder. Application programs can access Mifare® contactless cards via a RS-232 signal through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labelled "Mifare/Contactless."

The standard card size is CR-80. CR-80 dimensions are 3.375" x 2.125" (85.6mm x 54mm), which is similar to standard credit cards.

Scanning or otherwise capturing images, which may be subsequently edited, filed, displayed or printed on a plastic card.

The Direct-to-Card printing process prints digital images directly onto any plastic card with a smooth, clean, glossy PVC surface.

Measurement of a printer's resolution. Example: 600 dpi indicates that the printer can produce 600 dots of colour in each inch of a card. NOTE: When judging colour reproduction for a CardJet Card Printer, the inkjet resolution must be at 2400 dpi or better to achieve the colour equivalent of a 300 dpi dye-sub printer.

Dye-sublimation is the print process card printer’s use to print smooth, continuous-tone, and photo-quality images. This process uses a dye-based ribbon roll that is divided into a series of colour panels. The colour panels are grouped in a repeating series of three separate colours along the length of the ribbon: Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan (YMC). As the ribbon and card pass simultaneously beneath the Print head, hundreds of thermal elements heat the dyes on the ribbon. Once the dyes are heated, they vaporize and diffuse into the surface of the card. Varying the heat intensity of each thermal element within the Print head makes it possible for each transferred dot of colour to vary saturation. This blends one colour into the next. The result is continuous-tone, photo-realistic colour images.

 

Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printers with edge-to-edge printing capability can print just to the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with virtually no border. Virtually all brands print standard CR-80 cards edge to edge.

The process of electronically "writing" information on magnetic stripes or into a variety of smart card types.

Magnetic coding on a magnetic stripe. High coercivity stripes are generally black and store information on a more secure basis than low coercivity magnetic stripes due to the higher level of magnetic energy required to encode them.

The High-Definition Printing process prints full-colour images onto clear HDP transfer film. The HDP film is then fused to the card through heat and pressure via a heated roller. This revolutionary technology enhances card durability and consistently produces the best card colour available - even on tough-to-print matte-finished cards, proximity cards, and smart cards.

A printer or an all-in-one unit that shoots fast drying ink through tiny nozzles onto a page to form characters. The inkjet is currently the standard for personal computer printing. Inkjets are fast, affordable and relatively quiet, they provide high quality graphics, and prints in colour.

A connection standard for transferring data that's recognized by all PCs or Macintosh computers. For example, a parallel printer port is a common interface found on virtually all PCs for transferring data from the computer to a printer.

International Standards Organization specification for magnetic stripe encoding. Encoders support dual high/low coercivity and tracks 1, 2 and 3.

The process of combining lamination material and core material using time, heat and pressure. Laminate patches used in card printers come on rolls, with and without carriers/liners.

A screen that shows the current status of the printer, and changes according to the printer's current mode of operation. LCD communicates an error with text, which is easier to interpret than LED lights.

Some card printer manufacturers provide a lockable card hopper door. This lock is intended to help prevent theft of your blank card stock. This feature is especially helpful if you are using valuable card stock such as pre-printed cards, smart cards, or cards with built-in security features such as holograms.

Magnetic coding on a magnetic stripe. Low coercivity stripes are generally brown and store information less securely than high coercivity magnetic stripes.

Mag Stripe refers to the black or brown magnetic stripe on a card. The stripe is made of magnetic particles of resin. The resin particle material determines the coercivity of the stripe; the higher the coercivity, the harder it is to encode -- and erase -- information from the stripe. Magnetic stripes are often used in applications for access control, time and attendance, lunch programs, library cards, and more.

Mag Stripe refers to the black or brown magnetic stripe on a card. The stripe is made of magnetic particles of resin. The resin particle material determines the coercivity of the stripe; the higher the coercivity, the harder it is to encode -- and erase -- information from the stripe. Magnetic stripes are often used in applications for access control, time and attendance, lunch programs, library cards, and more.

A type of smart card. Also known as a synchronous card, it features 256 bit or 32-byte memory and us suitable for use as a token card or identification card.

A type of smart card, also known as an asynchronous card. Features 1 kilobyte to 64 Kbytes of memory and is suitable for portable or confidential files, identification, tokens, electronic purse or any combination of uses.

A printer available for use by workstations on a network. A network printer either has its own built-in network interface card, or it's connected to a printer on the network.

The Output Stacker stores printed cards in a first-in/first-out order. This feature makes it easy to keep printed cards in a specific order for faster issuance or to print serialized cards.

Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printers with over-the-edge printing capability can print past the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with absolutely no border.

Protective clear or holographic material designed to offer advanced card security and durability. Two types are available from FARGO: Thermal Transfer Overlaminate is a .25 mil thick material that enhances card security and durability. PolyGuard Overlaminate is available in 1 mil and .6 mil thicknesses and provides extraordinary protection for applications that require highly durable cards.

The clear overlay panel (O) is provided on dye-sublimation print ribbons. This panel is automatically applied to printed cards and helps prevent images from premature wear or UV fading. All dye-sublimation printed images must have either this overlay panel or an overlaminate applied to protect them.

Oversized cards are used for more efficient visual identification and are available in many non-standard sizes. The most popular sizes are CR-90 (3.63" x 2.37"/92mm x 60mm) and CR-100 (3.88" x 2.63"/98.5mm x 67mm).

The software that enables your operating system to properly build and format commands and data bound for your printer. In effect, a printer driver tells your operating system all that it needs to know to successfully operate your printer.

Short for Proximity card; a form of contactless smart card used for access control applications. Embedded in the card is a metallic antenna coil, which allows it to communicate with an external antenna. Because the cards require only close "proximity" to a RF antenna to be read, they are also referred to as contactless cards.

The prox card encoder uses a HID ProxPoint® Plus reader mounted on the e-card docking station inside the printer/encoder. The ProxPoint is a "read only" device producing a Wiegand signal that is converted to RS-232 using a Cypress Computer Systems CVT-2232. Application programs can read information from HID prox cards via a RS-232 signal through a dedicated DB-9 port on the outside of the printer labelled "Prox."

Polyvinyl Chloride. The primary material used for typical plastic cards.

Resin Thermal Transfer is the process used to print sharp black text and crisp bar codes that can be read by both infrared and visible-light bar code scanners. It is also the process used to print ultra-fast, economical one-colour cards. Like dye-sublimation, this process uses a thermal Print head to transfer colour from the ribbon roll to the card. The difference, however, is that solid dots of colour are transferred in the form of a resin-based ink which fuses to the surface of the card when heated. This produces very durable, single-colour images.

Dimension of the smallest element of an image that can be printed. Usually stated as dots-per-inch (dpi).

Smart cards have an embedded computer circuit that contains either a memory chip or a microprocessor chip. There are several types of smart cards: Memory, Contact, Contactless, Hybrid (Twin), Combi (Dual Interface), Proximity and Vicinity.

An electronic device, which uses heat to transfer a digitized image from a special ribbon to the flat surface of a plastic card.

The process of creating an image on a plastic card using a heated print head.

A card overlaminate available in a .25 mil thickness that increases card security and durability; often used for moderate durability applications or when additional security (such as holographic images) are needed.

Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan are the primary print colours for cards. The three colours are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colours.

YMCKO is the same as YMC plus Black (K) and clear protective overcoat (O).