Buy IDP Color Ribbons

IDP printers use color ribbons that are sectioned into a number of panels. The panel types vary and can be a little confusing if you’re not aware of the different types. The ribbon panels are represented by letters, most commonly including:

Y = Yellow dye sublimation panel
M = Magenta dye sublimation panel
C = Cyan dye sublimation panel
K = Black resin panel for printing crisp text and barcodes
O = Overlay panel to protect the cards and delay fading
F = Fluorescent panel for adding anti-counterfeit security to cards
Uv = Fluorescent panel for printing grayscale text or images that are only visible with a UV light
Po = Peel-off panel for use with a retransfer printer to print on mag stripe and signature stripe cards

Two of the most common types of ribbons used in a IDP direct-to-card printer are YMCKO and YMCKOK. What's the difference? IDP YMCKO ribbons print in full color (YMC) and resin black (K) on the front of the card with an overlay (O) to protect the card. If you are using a dual-sided printer, you may print in YMCKO on both sides of the card. IDP YMCKOK ribbons, on the other hand, are designed for use in dual-sided printers. They print in full color and resin black on the front of the card with an overlay, plus have an extra K panel for printing in black on the back of cards.

The ribbon that best suits your needs will depend on your printer model, what you’ll be printing on your cards, and how your cards will be used. If you need assistance finding the right IDP color ribbon, call an ID Professional at (800) 321-4405.

Compare YMCKO and YMCKOK card samples

YMCKO vs. YMCKOK Card Samples

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