If you're new to ID card printing, you've probably realized that there are a checklist of things to consider when it comes to the production of your final product:
- What software should I use to design my card?
- What type of badge holder works best for my work environment?
- Which cleaning kit is the right one for me?
Luckily, a fairly simple decision with ID card printing has to do with the
size of card you choose. When it comes to plastic ID card sizes, the most popular kid on the block is the standard
CR80 PVC card.
"CR80" refers to the dimensions of the actual card – 3.375 inches x 2.125 inches, complete with rounded corners. For a frame of reference,
CR80 cards are the size of an everyday credit card.
But there's a second part of this equation, namely the thickness (or "mil" of the card…not to be confused with our metric friend, the millimeter). In simple terms, "mil" equates to 0.001 inches. At ID Wholesaler, we carry CR80 cards with varying thicknesses, depending on your requirements. For example:
- CR80.10 = thickness is 1/100 of an inch
- CR80.20 = thickness is 2/100 of an inch
- CR80.30 = thickness is 3/100 of an inch
Not only is the CR80 size the most common go-to choice for consumers, they're most revered by the general majority of ID card printer brands.
On the other hand,
CR79 cards measure 3.303 inches by 2.051 inches in size with rounded corners. These types of PVC cards are generally used for printing on most direct-to-card printers and are applied to proximity or technology cards. It's very important to note that if you intend to use
CR79 cards that your ID card printer is capable of printing on them.
When designing a card, you may or may not be able to print to the very edge of the card. Direct-to-card ID card printers leave a small border around the perimeter of the card. If you are using a retransfer printer, however, you can print over the edge of the card with no issues.If you're new to ID card printing, you've probably realized that there are a checklist of things to consider when it comes to the production of your final product:
- What software should I use to design my card?
- What type of badge holder works best for my work environment?
- Which cleaning kit is the right one for me?
Luckily, a fairly simple decision with ID card printing has to do with the
size of card you choose. When it comes to plastic ID card sizes, the most popular kid on the block is the standard
CR80 PVC card.
"CR80" refers to the dimensions of the actual card – 3.375 inches x 2.125 inches, complete with rounded corners. For a frame of reference,
CR80 cards are the size of an everyday credit card.
But there's a second part of this equation, namely the thickness (or "mil" of the card…not to be confused with our metric friend, the millimeter). In simple terms, "mil" equates to 0.001 inches. At ID Wholesaler, we carry CR80 cards with varying thicknesses, depending on your requirements. For example:
- CR80.10 = thickness is 1/100 of an inch
- CR80.20 = thickness is 2/100 of an inch
- CR80.30 = thickness is 3/100 of an inch
Not only is the CR80 size the most common go-to choice for consumers, they're most revered by the general majority of ID card printer brands.
On the other hand,
CR79 cards measure 3.303 inches by 2.051 inches in size with rounded corners. These types of PVC cards are generally used for printing on most direct-to-card printers and are applied to proximity or technology cards. It's very important to note that if you intend to use
CR79 cards that your ID card printer is capable of printing on them.
When designing a card, you may or may not be able to print to the very edge of the card. Direct-to-card ID card printers leave a small border around the perimeter of the card. If you are using a retransfer printer, however, you can print over the edge of the card with no issues. 