With the recent launch of the Evolis Primacy Lamination Printer, creating secure and professional-grade ID cards has never
been easier. This easy-to-use direct-to-card printer can produce up to 210 full-color or 850 monochrome single-sided cards an hour with its surprisingly compact and modular design and simple user interface.
For a successful ID card program, it’s very important to have the right supplies for the Primacy. That’s why we’re providing this overview of the types of ribbons you’ll want to know about when it comes to selecting the right one for not only your Primacy Lamination printer but also for your card program.
Let’s start with the basic options: types of laminate films.
Depending on whether you want your cards to withstand the daily wear and tear of normal use or you need to also provide higher security or both, you’ll need to know the difference between lamination patches and varnishes.
Patches
Protecting cards from ultraviolet rays and everyday wear, patch laminates are
recommended for cards that require additional security and longevity. Although patches can be affixed to one or both sides of the card, they do not cover the entire surface of a card. Available in thicknesses of 0.6mil and 1.0ml, Evolis lamination patches are available in standard with the same patches on the ribbon or alternated for dual-sided lamination.
Styles:
- Near-to-edge surface coverage
- Magnetic stripe
- Contact smart cards
Types:
- Generic or custom hologram patch
- Clear smart-cut patches for single-sided lamination:
- full surface (near-to-edge)
- contact chip
- magnetic stripe
- Clear smart-cut patches for dual-sided lamination:
- smart/full: for smart contact cards with a full back
- smart/magstripe: for smart contact cards with a backside magnetic stripe
- full/magstripe: for cards with a magnetic stripe on the back (full front)
Varnishes
Generic holographic varnish
Lasting up to two years, this type of ribbon provides a protective layer that covers the entire surface of a card, adding durability and helping prevent standard wear and tear. There are two types of generic hologram varnish types to choose from:
- continuous – features an all-over wallpaper pattern
- registered – features a single hologram in the same position on all cards
Clear varnish
Compatible with both PVC and composite cards, clear varnish ribbons cover the entire card, protecting personal data with a clear, thin layer that generally lasts about two years. Clear varnish cannot be used on contact or magnetic stripe cards.
