Types of ID Card Printer Ribbons

Just like any other type of printer, ID card printers require ribbons to print ID cards. The type of ribbon you’ll need for your card printer will depend on your ID card program’s business requirements. For credentials that will feature colors or images, we offer a wide variety of ribbons to accommodate even the most complicated card designs and layouts. Color ribbons allow full-color images and one-color text or barcodes to be printed onto plastic card surfaces. The primary print colors used in ID card printing are yellow, magenta, and cyan. Different amounts of these three colors are blended in varying degrees of heat to make a full spectrum of colors. Here are the most commonly used color ribbons: YMC – Yellow, magenta, cyan These ribbons are optimal for standard, full-color ID cards. YMCIKH – Yellow, magenta, cyan, inhibitor, monochrome, heat seal This ribbon prints to cards requiring specific areas to be unprinted and with difficult-to-print-to card surfaces. The “I” panel is an inhibitor panel that prevents defined areas of the card to not be printed over. Monochrome or “K” is the black resin panel is used for monochrome printing on the front or back side of the card. The “H” panel helps HDP film bond to surfaces that are not made of PVC, like polycarbonate or ABS plastic, and in some cases, matte-finish cards. YMCK – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome Monochrome or “K” is black resin panel, most often used for printing crisp text and barcodes. YMCKI – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, inhibitor Monochrome or “K” is the black resin panel is used for monochrome printing on the front or back side of the card. The inhibitor or “I” panel allows cards with surface foils or signature panels to be printed on by preventing the retransfer film from being applied to those specified areas during printing. YMCKIKI – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, inhibitor, monochrome, inhibitor Monochrome or “K” is the black resin panel is used for monochrome printing on the front or back side of the card. The inhibitor or “I” panel allows cards with surface foils or signature panels to be printed on by preventing the retransfer film from being applied to those specified areas during printing. The latter “K” and “I” panels are used for printing dual-sided cards that require not printing on portions of both the front and back side of cards like contact smart chips or holograms embedded into cards. YMCKK – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, monochrome Monochrome or “K” are black resin panels the latter “K” is used for monochrome printing on the back side of a card. YMCKT – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, topcoat Monochrome or “K” is a black resin panel, and the topcoat panel provides the card with minimal protection against everyday use and environmental elements (e.g., UV rays). YMCKO – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, overcoat Monochrome or “K” is a black resin panel, and clear overlay or “O” is a thin, protective layer. YMCKOK – Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, overcoat, monochrome Monochrome or “K” is a black resin panel, and clear overlay or “O” is a thin, protective layer. The latter “K” is used for monochrome printing on the back side of a card.