The following provides answers to our most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us; we want your protex-tech.com experience to be easy and enjoyable.
Products knowledge Card printers and supplies
What is ID card printer?
Card printers, often also called plastic-card printers, are electronic desktop printers with single card feeders which print and personalize plastic cards. In this respect they differ from, for example, label printers which have a continuous supply feed. Card dimensions are usually 85.60 × 53.98 mm, standardized under ISO/IEC 7810 as ID-1. This format is also used in EC-cards, telephone cards, European Union drivers’ licenses and health insurance cards. This is commonly known as the bank card format. Card printers are controlled by corresponding printer drivers or by means of a specific programming language.
How to choose a ribbon?
Don't let the letter combinations confuse you, choosing the right card printer ribbon can be easy once you define your printing goals.
The ribbon’s color and other features are denoted with letters. YMC refers to the colors yellow, magenta, and cyan. A YMC ribbon will print a color card by combining the 3 primary colors. It will print black but it will not be as sharp as a black that is printed with a YMCK ribbon. The K stands for a black panel. If the ribbon is YMCKK, the second K in the ribbon description means it is designed to print black text on the reverse side of each card as well. Your printer must be a “dual sided” printer. Suffixes O and T refer to overcoat and topcoat options that provide some extra protection for cards that will not be laminated. There are ribbons with other panels including a UV panel available for some printers.
Often your printer manufacturer recommends compatible ribbon choices based on your printer type or printing goals. Be sure to consult your printer documentation for recommendations.
What is the difference between direct and retransfer printing?
Thermal transfer:
| Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|
| Traditional "dye sub" card printing requires that the print head of the card printer print directly onto the card material through the printer ribbon. This process is efficient, inexpensive and allows the card printer to move the material directly under the print head for printing. | This method of printing always leaves a very thin white border around the card as the print head cannot adequately print completely out to the edge of the card without risking serious damage to the print head. Depending upon the printer this can leave a "border" of up to 1/32nd of an inch around the edge of the card. |
Retransfer printing:
| Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|
| Re-Transfer printers have two consumable components: The first is the Printer Ribbon: This ribbon comes in YMCK (Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black Resin) format and is used to print all of the images on your card by mixing these colors in a Dye Sublimation process. The Second component is the Transfer Film. Rather than printing directly on the card itself, the ReTransfer printer prints a reverse image on the laminate transfer film and then bonds this material to the face of the card. Since the ReTransfer Film is slightly larger than the size of a standard CR-80 card it is possible to print over the entire surface area of the PVC card without the pesky white border that is required on all other dye sublimation printers. |
More expensive in card printer. Slower in printing speed. |
Badge and lanyards
How to customize a lanyard?
5 easy steps.
Which materials are available for lanyards?
Polyester, bio-degradable bamboo.
What are the different types of cards?
PVC cards
Blank, printing, magnetic.
IC cards
Contact and contactless IC cards..
Order process information
How to make an order?
You can contact us anytime by phone, e-mail or online chat.
Tel:+ 86 (0)755 8358 0322 Fax: + 86 (0)755 8358 1966
Info@protex-tech.com
We also have a trade platform on alibaba.com ： http://protex-tech.en.alibaba.com
Payment
What are my payment options?
100% TT (Telegraphic Transfer) in advance.
How to proceed a payment?
You need to go to the bank of your account and make payment through telegraphic transfer to our HK HSBC bank account through USD currency. (detail banking information of our account will be mention in PI), all banking charges will bear by buyer side.
Shipping
How is my order shipped?
Two options depending on your situation :
Shipping via customer’s own account of DHL.UPS.FEDEX. etc. The shipping costs will be bear by the buyer。
Shipping costs will be quoted and list in PI (Performa Invoice) with the agreement from customer.
How long will it take to ship my order after payment ?
Shipment will be made within 3-5 days for ex-stock /popular model （for rare demand model, shipping time need to confirm with our sales personnel after payment proved by Finical & Accounting department.
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Address：Room 25B, Block A, JinFeng Building, No.1001# ShangBuNan Road, Shenzhen,518031 China.
Tel: + 86 (0)755 8358 0322 Fax: + 86 (0)755 8358 1966 E-mail: Info@protex-tech.com
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